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Mark Hampton
    Columns - February 2004                                    Mark Hampton
    The 375 JDJ - No Longer A Custom Affair

    Since Thompson/Center Arms announced the introduction of the 375 JDJ as a factory offering, interest has risen in this unique handgun cartridge. My experience with this round goes back a few years. It was in 1983 when I made my first African safari along with JD Jones and three other avid handgun hunters but I didn't own a 375 JDJ at that time. During that hunt it seems I was borrowing JD's 375 for the majority of this 10-day affair. The 375 was used successfully on eland and other large plains game. Although no fault of the gun or cartridge, I even managed to miss a leopard in broad daylight. The next year JD and I returned to Africa to hunt elephant and buffalo only this trip I had my own 375 JDJ, and have had one ever since.

    Personally I have used the 270 grain Hornady exclusively for over twenty years. This bullet has performed well on a wide variety of big, thick-skinned, large boned critters. Obviously I do not have any experience with any other bullets but I do have a good friend who hunts all over the world and uses the 220 grain flat point for almost everything except the big and potentially dangerous stuff. He has nothing but good things to say about this bullet and refuses to try anything else. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! For handloaders,there are several powders that work well in the 375 JDJ. I have shot H-4895 and AA-2520 with success so I have not had the need to experiment with others. The cartridge is easy to load and if you don't want to get into handloading, factory ammo will be available with Hornady's 220 grain FP bullet offered. Many serious deer hunters have found this bullet to be dynamite on whitetails.

    Until the factory started making barrels, I have always owned one of SSK's offerings, either a 12 incher with Mag-Na-Port or the 14 inch with an SSK brake. I liked both and accuracy was always superb. When T/C started chambering the 375 JDJ as a factory offering I wanted something a bit different. I ordered a Fox Ridge custom shop barrel, 16 1/4 inch, full bull with muzzle brake, for the Encore. Yes, this gun is quite a bit heavier than my Contender. A Leupold 2 1/2X-8X scope is mounted in Warne rings and base. This handgun is pleasant to shoot especially with the 220 grain bullets. It's not bad with the heavier 270 grainers. My favorite load at this time is a maximum charge of AA-2520 with a 270 grain spire point. Both time and weather have not allowed me to chronograph loads yet. I had my shooting buddy try this combination on the range just a few days ago. He was able to shoot three shot, one-inch groups consistently. His young eyes and steady nerves helped. The extra weight of the gun helped tame felt recoil and it wasn't the least bit punishing even after shooting many rounds. This will be the handgun I take to the Central African Republic in March for giant Lord Derby eland. There is no doubt the gun/cartridge will do the job, if I do mine.

    In my humble opinion, the decision to produce the 375 JDJ as a factory offering is a great one, and long overdue. This handgun cartridge has probably accounted for more large and dangerous game than all the others combined. I have taken everything from prairie dogs to all members of the big five, moose, grizzly, brown bear, water buffalo, banteng, and a wide variety of other big game animals with this fine cartridge. That last statement is not meant for boasting but to emphasize an important point; the 375 JDJ is a very effective hunting cartridge capable of handling any big game opportunities on planet earth. I thank JD Jones, Thompson/Center Arms, and Hornady for making this efficient cartridge a factory offering. Handgun hunters have never had it so good.

    Best Regards, Mark Hampton

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