The .375 H&H: Salute to a Great Cartridge

by
posted on December 15, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

It is often surprising to realize that some of our most useful hunting cartridges have been around for a long, long time. One of my favorites is the .375 H&H cartridge which was introduced in 1912, by the English gun firm of Holland & Holland.

The .375 H&H was one of the first, if not the first, rifle cartridge to feature a belted case. There are those who believe that the case belt was designed to give more positive headspacing for this tapered cartridge. Others will tell you that it was included to make the cartridge reliably eject from double rifles. Regardless, the .375 H&H quickly built a reputation for power, accuracy, and reliability, that continues to this day.

There are a couple of factors that favor this grand old cartridge as a hunting proposition. The first is that it operates at relatively low pressure levels and this is especially important to those hunting in hot climates as it avoids sticky extractions. The second is that the felt recoil from most .375 H&H rifles, while stout, is manageable for most hunters.

The .375 also offers bullet weights and velocities that make it suitable for taking a wide variety of game animals around the world. The cartridge, loaded with bullet weights in the 235 to 270 gr class, can produce velocities up to 2900 fps. In the 300 to 350 gr class, velocities can run from 2300 to 2500fps. Proper bullet selection make the .375 H&H suitable for taking game animals from the size of elk and moose right on up to bison and the various buffalo.

My .375 H&H is a Ruger No. 1, mounted with a 1.5-5x Leupold scope. To date, it has accounted for eleven head of Australian and African buffalo. While I have had good luck with the 300 gr Swift A-frame bullet, my preference is the Barnes TSX bullet for buffalo. And, in the near future, I plan to put that combination to work on American bison and Alaskan brown bear.

We certainly don't need the power of the .375 H&H for taking most of the game animals in the continental United States, however it will do the job. But, when the big stuff is on our hunting menu—especially those critters that fight back—the .375 H&H is simply hard to beat. It is truly one of our classic hunting cartridges.

Latest

BTB 7Mm RUM Lead
BTB 7Mm RUM Lead

Behind the Bullet: 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum

Launching a 160-grain bullet in excess of 3200 fps, the 7mm RUM is among the fastest commercially loaded 7mm cartridges available.

USFWS Debuts 2025-2026 Federal and Junior Duck Stamps

The 2025-2026 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp—commonly known as the Duck Stamp—became available for purchase on June 27, 2025.

Tested: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener

Digital Associate Editor walks viewers through the features of the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener, the perfect tool for a hunter looking to keep all his knives factory sharp season after season.

Recipe: Green Curried Black Bear

Green curry sauce is an excellent base for simmering bear meat, making it flavorful, tender, and safe to consume. Read on for another instant classic recipe from Brad Fenson.

Coyotes to Competitions: An AR-Build for Accuracy

ARs make great coyote guns. But what would the absolute best coyote rifle look like? Digital Associate Editor David Herman builds his take on the best AR for shooters who like to plug coyotes in the winter, and ring steel all summer long.

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Sunday Hunting Bill

Legislation that will fully repeal Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban was signed into law on July 9.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.