.375 H&H Magnum

The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is a powerful rifle round and arguably the best-known medium-bore cartridge in the world. A truly classic cartridge, the .375 H&H was only the second cartridge ever to feature a belt, now common among magnum rounds. It was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland in 1912 as the .375 Belted Rimless Nitro-Express. It initially used cordite propellant which was made in long strands - hence the tapered shape of this cartridge, which was also to ensure smooth chambering and extraction from a rifle's breech.

The .375 H&H is often cited as one of the most useful all-round rifle cartridges, especially where large and dangerous game occurs. With relatively light bullets in the region of 235 to 270 grains (15 to 17 g), it is a flat-shooting, fairly long-range cartridge ideal for use on light to medium game. With heavy bullets of 300 grain (19 g) and greater, it has the punch necessary for large, thick-skinned dangerous game. In many regions with thick-skinned dangerous game animals the .375 H&H is seen as the sensible minimum acceptable calibre, and in many places it is now the legal minimum for hunting such game. African game guides, professional hunters and dangerous game cullers have repeatedly voted the .375 H&H as their clear preference for an all-round calibre, if they could only have one rifle.

.375 H&H cartridge specification

 * Bullet diameter:           .375 in  (9.525 mm)
 * Maximum case length:       2.850 in (72.39 mm)
 * Trim-to length:            2.840 in (72.14 mm)
 * Maximum cartridge length:  3.600 in (91.44 mm)
 * Shoulder angle:            15 degrees
 * Industry maximum pressure: 53,000 CUP (Copper units of pressure)
 * SAAMI maximum pressure:    62,000 lbf/in² (430 MPa)
 * Case capacity:             96.3 grains (6.24 g) of water

A typical factory load will launch a 270 grain (17 g) spitzer bullet at 2,690 ft/s (820 m/s) with 4,337 ft•lbf. (5880 J) of energy at the muzzle. This load has approximately the same trajectory as the 180-grain (12 g) bullet from a .30-06 Springfield.

There are a great number of rifles (and even a few handguns) chambered for the .375 H&H. Many types of actions are used, including single-shots, double-rifles, and bolt actions. When hunting dangerous game, a double-rifle or bolt action rifle is recommended, as a quick follow-up shot may be necessary.

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Cartridge:rifles