Bullet Penetration .44 Mag vs .375 H&H

[FEENIX]

WOW! This is quite a claim from Garrett ... Is this for real??? Please help me understand. Thanks.

(C&P - Garrett Cartridges Inc.)

Are our 44 Magnum loads really capable of handling grizzly?
The answer is yes, in the hands of a reliable shot. From a comparative point of view, our 44 Magnum Hammerheads provide far more penetration than the 300-grain NosIer Partition fired from the 375 Holland & Holland. Also, both bullets present an extremely blunt front end (meplat). Our 44 bullets also offer far greater security from bullet fracture or deflection than any expanding bullet. Since beginning production in 1988 we have had many customers defend themselves from grizzlies, and always our 44 Magnum ammo has provided super-deep penetration, generally to the hips on a frontally shot bear (even when the skull is engaged.)

Garrett .330gr .44 MAG off 7.5" barrel, MV=1400 FPS, ME=1435 FT/LBS

vs

Nosler .300gr .375 H&H off 24" barrel, MV=2450 FPS, ME=3998 FT/LBS

[LouBoyd]

Obviously a poor choice of bullet selection in the 375 H&H.

[comfisherman]

well, the first thing that hits me is how fast that 330 is going.

I've seen that fast with that size bullet, but not in a 7 inch barrel (ruger 44 mag rifle). Seems like they must be runing the ragged edge of pressure to get that. I've no doubt that a good alloy cas bullet does penetrate but as a primary over a 375?

As for use on big bears.... their little paragraph says it has been used as defense for grizzly bears. Heck if I'm close to a big bear anything that goes bang would make me feel better, but the 375 with a partition/a frame is the gold standard.

In a hunting situation with a guy packing a 375 or bigger next to me sure id try a 44mag. Angry old bear that is accidentially jumped when were beach combing on the Alaska Peninsula.... I'll just pack the ol 375.

To each their own. Mine is a 375 ruger cranking partitions to 2780....

[HARPERC]

If penetration is the only criteria, yes I believe that a hard cast 44 may out penetrate many expanding bullets, including the .375 300 partition.
However, if penetration is all we are looking for a .375 350 grain Barnes Banded Solid will compete more favorably, as will a 385 grain Rhino in .375. The old 350 originals also create a long wound channel.
While I've been favorably impressed with 300 grain .44's, in our Ruger carbines, the impact of the old H&H is visibly more.
If Ruger ever makes a stainless version of the semi-auto, with a synthetic stock, pistol grip, collapsible buttstock it would be a tough to beat fishing gun.

[royinidaho]

2 + 2 = 5

For very large values of 2 and very small values of 5.

[paphil]

I think it has everything to do with expansion. I recall reading about a guy shooting elephants with a 22-250 with full metal jackets and also another story about loading the bullet backwards to prevent expansion , again in 22-250 to shoot elephants. Doubling the diameter by the bullet expanding nearly quadrouples the surface area, causing a larger wound channel but but greatly reducing penetration. The more the bullet expands, the less it penetrates. A ballance must be achieved between velocity, expansion and desired penetration. That is why there are varmet bullets that expand on impact and big game bullets that expand more slowly, The bigger and tougher the game the less expansion and the more penetration that is desired. That said I believe the 44 mag would penetrate further but the H&H would deliver more energy because it starts with more and both shed all their energy in the targeted animal.

[FEENIX]

The I fully understand the difference in bullet design. However, the complimentary energy-velocity difference between the two is massive.

Case in point, check out this video (not the same as the Garrett's but close concept for comparison) ...

The .44 Mag and the effects of a 405 Grain Bullet - YouTube

I believe the .300 gr partition off the .375 H&H will penetrate better than the .44 Mag on the same test.