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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Rifles

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coll416
.275 member

Reged: 19/02/12
Posts: 82
Loc: Central Queensland

.Reloading 0ptions for the .375 Winchester (bigbore)
#297615 - 23/03/17 05:37 PM

Hi folks,

I am interested in readers experience with the old .375 Winchester. I use mine to hunting feral pigs in thick stuff with an aperture sight. I find my little '94 to be quicker than my bolt guns & the .375W a very reliable killer even on bigger game.

I have resorted to changed reloading options because of brass availability (the lack of)....

I began using necked up 30-30 brass & discovered some interesting things:

1. the thinner brass (30-30) seals in the chamber at lower pressures reducing head-space issues which caused primers to back out at lower pressures (Winchester 30-30 & 38-55 brass weighs approx. 135 grains & Winchester .375W brass approx. 146 grains)

2. thinner, lighter brass requires more powder to achieve similar pressures (due to increased capacity)

3. accuracy is significantly improved due to a combination of reduced pressures & the chamber seal

My experience is limited to two rifles a '94 XTR & a Marlin M.375. Also I got such good results from AR2207 (H4198 in USA & Canada) that this is the only powder I have used.

My loads using the 220gn Hornady & 220gn Taipan achieve 2130fps without any trouble, many of my cases were fired many times before the necking process and continue with up to four firings since (evidence I believe of mild chamber pressures).

I have shot several groups at 100y of 1.5-2.0" which contrasts with my previous experience & reading on this cartridge. Winchester 38-55 brass is just as good (more expensive...) & need to be trimmed plenty. The 30-30 brass ends up slightly short of spec. but this is of no consequence.

PS.The Marlin doesn't like cast loads!

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A_Pepsi_Cola_Can
.224 member

Reged: 22/12/15
Posts: 13
Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: .Reloading 0ptions for the .375 Winchester (bigbore) [Re: coll416]
#297617 - 23/03/17 07:52 PM

I would try the Woodleigh Hydrostatis, or Barnes 235gr TSX anealed at the base of the petals. Got a fine deal on some Speer 235gr Hot-Cors they should be fun in 375 H&H. As far as powder I think you're on the right track, I'd use the same thing.

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Rell
.375 member

Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA

Re: .Reloading 0ptions for the .375 Winchester (bigbore) [Re: A_Pepsi_Cola_Can]
#297619 - 23/03/17 08:29 PM

I had a Marlin and a Winchester In that caliber and used by two loads. 220gr Hornady with RL7 and a gas checked cast 265gbr also with RL7.

I still ave a Ruger #3 in 375 Win, it it's sittting at my local shop on consignment. I played with 235gr Spitzers and even 260 Nosler Partitions but accuracy was atrocious.

I keep thinking the #3 will make a great little donor action for a 26 nosler but .....

I ended up having a custom Marlin 356 Win made on an SS laminate rifle with octagonal 21inch barrel and NECGS sights. Olso kept the original 356 Win big bore. Mostly I use 220gr Speer and 200gr Hornady flex tips in that with H4064.

Can't tell the difference on animals when using the respective 220gr loads.

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26997
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: .Reloading 0ptions for the .375 Winchester (bigbore) [Re: Rell]
#297655 - 24/03/17 04:41 AM

I no longer own a Winchester Big Bore 94 in .375. Mine was a 1978 model- the first and top eject.
It made a number of 5-shot groups of 1 1/2" at 100 yards at the Smithers range, then 100 meters here in PG.
I replaced the front sight with a Marble's Ivory bead, as well as filing the rear sight out to a shallow V, Express-shaped rear sight.
Killed 2 moose with it, using the 220gr. Hornady FN, at 1,940fps MV using 42.0gr.H335 powder.
one moose took 1 1/2 stops and dropped, the other slowly walked 4 paces and dropped. Both moose were double lung'd.
I used mostly 30/30 brass, but did have 40 rounds of .375Win. brass.
Same loads in both gave almost identical results.
Good little round.
I did test some Hornady 270gr. RN's with the noses flattened, as well as some 300gr. Hornady RN's with noses flattened.
Both shot well at close range, with the 270's running 1,840fps and the 300's at 1,565fps.
I did not use either of these on animals, but have the data somewhere.
Some time ago, a bunch of loading data surfaced about loading 300gr. or heavier bullets in the .375 - a google search might being that up.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26997
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: .Reloading 0ptions for the .375 Winchester (bigbore) [Re: DarylS]
#297660 - 24/03/17 06:28 AM

Further:

"Hornady's reloading manual lists A-1680 with the 220 gr FP with the max charge listed at 41.2gr and 2300 FPS out of a Winchester "Big Bore 94" with a 20" barrel. DP"

I tried this load in my .375 Win. and it delivered lousy accuracy.

This is not to say, that at some level, it might shoot - I merely went back to what worked well and that was H335 and the 220gr.FN Hornady, a bullet designed specifically for the round.
Here's a page of links with more pages listed under it.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=.375+Winc...eCYKYjwPQhIGQAg

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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coll416
.275 member

Reged: 19/02/12
Posts: 82
Loc: Central Queensland

Re: .Reloading 0ptions for the .375 Winchester (bigbore) [Re: DarylS]
#297683 - 24/03/17 01:21 PM

Hi Daryl

I read a post of yours on the .375W years ago, very informative & interesting. I have often considered changing my rear sight for an express style one, I have two rifles set up with these sights, however the Williams aperture has grown on me & is faster to use in thick scrub! Like you I have found the 220gn reliable on a range of game.

In my opinion the design of the stronger case for the .375W helped to defeat its popularity. The heavy case needs to be loaded to higher pressures to seal in the chamber properly, essential for both safety & efficiency. This pressure creates some extra power but at a price of accuracy! The stronger action design of the rifles contributes to rigidity which serves to improve accuracy over the previous actions.

I think that by using either 30-30/ 38-55 cases for reloading this cartridge, better performance can be achieved due to the ability of these cases to be loaded at lower pressures, increasing case life & likely improving accuracy potential. My rifle shoots reloads with AR2207 (H4198) much better than factory ammo.

I load cautiously as the 30-30/38-55 cases are designed to be used at lower breech pressures. I have shot many of my cases four times & most were second hand to start with!

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