Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles What’s your favorite 375-06(standard or improved) load?

I’ve got the reamer, dies, barrel, and action to build a 375-06. Now I just need some time. Until then, I’m curious what you favorite loads are?

You'll find data for these cartridges varies widely from a number of sources, probably because none of the loads have been pressure tested. There's an article in HANDLOADER #119 on the Improved with data. The same article was re-printed in Wolfe's "Wildcat Cartridges" Volume 2 (perhaps still available). HANDLOADER has published at least two other articles on the standard and/or improved versions, but I don't have the references on these, though they weren't recent.

As for a favorite load in the Improved version, mine was the Hornady 270 grain Spire Point and 56 grs. IMR 4064 for a muzzle velocity of 2340, very accurate.

I started loading for the 375 Whelan twenty some odd years ago. I had no intention of loading jacketed bullets and kept my experimenting to cast bullets. There was no loading data available, so I plagiarized all the data I could find for 35 Whelan for starting loads. I worked up loads starting at 225 grins up to 300 grains. the best powder I found for near max with all bullets IMR 4064. I used a Mark X Mauser Bolt action, Douglas barrel. I don't remember the gunsmith who did the work was. I liked the 375 caliber so much I had a browning 1895 30-06 rebored and chambered for 375 Whelan that I tinkering with now I was pretty consistent with recording my loading experiments with the Mark X so I used that data as my reference for the 95. I think the original data book is out in the loading shed so dig it and pass it on to you. The best cast bullets were the mid weight cast bullets from RCBS and Saeco. NEi's 300 grain bullet was very accurate also, I get back to you when I get time to toss the loading shed.

Fially found my data records for the 375 Whelan. I created my own alloy a mixture babbit metal, wheel weights and a bit tin water chilled at casting, sized .378. The bullets were lubed with LBT blue Using IMR4064, IMR 4895, IMR 4350. With all the bullets, very hard alloy proved to be very accurate at all ranges 100 yards to 400 yards off the bench rest. You'll soon learn to not not shoot any of the heavier loads off the bench for extended periods. Enjoy!

Be aware that various loading data in vintage Handloader articles were not pressure tested and were simply the authors’ experiences. Use that data as no more than starting loads, they may - or may not - be above SAAMI maximum pressures for the cartridges. I know, I wrote for the Wolfe publications for years. Most data quality is probably no more reliable than what you find on the Internet today.



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Here's my favorite375 Whelen AI load:

375 Whelen AI, M98, 235 Speer, 61 grains H335 0.729 " at 54 yards (iron sights) or 1.29 MOA

Here is my favorite 375-06 load:
60 grains of IMR 4320 with a 260 grain Nosler Accubond, just about 2600 fps out of a 24 inch barrel.