Hi folks,
Finally got to test the 375cal, 350gr SMK on game. The animal is an estimated 800kg feral camel. The bullet was fired from a 375CT @ 3150fps at a distance of approx 100yds.
The results was an instant bang flop, entry just behind the shoulder, but no exit. I put another 2 rounds into the carcass for further ballistic testing at different body girths, and again, no exit from any of them. Unfortunately i didnt have any knives with me at the time as i wasnt hunting at the time, more of an opportunistic situation as it happened, so was unable to examine the wound cavities.
My conclusions were that the bullet is highly frangible at this velocity, too frangible infact. Even the thinnest part of the body i shot at, the neck, was only 12inches thick. The area felt very spongy but no exit here tells me the bullet is exploding/fragmenting very quickly inside.
This is promising results from a long range hunting perspective, as we know a fragile bullet is needed at the reduced impact velocities at long range. These results were also very similar to what i have observed from shooting the 300gr SMK from a 338 edge at close ranges. No exits and exploding bullets.
Due to the high BC of the 350gr SMK 0.78, i think it would be an ideal LR hunting bullet and a worthy bullet to build a 375cal rifle around. it would be nice to see more 375RUMs in this game, not to mention the 375CT beside all the 338`s. From my calculations, a 375RUM using this bullet should be able to ballisticly match a 338 edge and deliver more energy at any distance.
Finally got to test the 375cal, 350gr SMK on game. The animal is an estimated 800kg feral camel. The bullet was fired from a 375CT @ 3150fps at a distance of approx 100yds.
The results was an instant bang flop, entry just behind the shoulder, but no exit. I put another 2 rounds into the carcass for further ballistic testing at different body girths, and again, no exit from any of them. Unfortunately i didnt have any knives with me at the time as i wasnt hunting at the time, more of an opportunistic situation as it happened, so was unable to examine the wound cavities.
My conclusions were that the bullet is highly frangible at this velocity, too frangible infact. Even the thinnest part of the body i shot at, the neck, was only 12inches thick. The area felt very spongy but no exit here tells me the bullet is exploding/fragmenting very quickly inside.
This is promising results from a long range hunting perspective, as we know a fragile bullet is needed at the reduced impact velocities at long range. These results were also very similar to what i have observed from shooting the 300gr SMK from a 338 edge at close ranges. No exits and exploding bullets.
Due to the high BC of the 350gr SMK 0.78, i think it would be an ideal LR hunting bullet and a worthy bullet to build a 375cal rifle around. it would be nice to see more 375RUMs in this game, not to mention the 375CT beside all the 338`s. From my calculations, a 375RUM using this bullet should be able to ballisticly match a 338 edge and deliver more energy at any distance.
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