Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 375 H&H ackley improved

Friends had a couple of 375AI's. Plus it was Bill Steigers favorite elk rifle and I spoke with him frequently about it. I shot and chronographed a friends rifle, compared notes.

At the same time i was working with the 8 Rem Mag necked to 35 caliber,and with 250 gr bullets was pretty much the same kind of cartridge.IIRC my load was 90 gr Rl19 for a bit over 3000 fps.

The 375AI took a heavy does of slow burning powder(I forget details) to get about 2900 fps with a 275 Bitterroot and similar weight bullets. In the 8.5 pound rifle recoil was noticeable.

The standard 375 H&H took 76-77 gr 4064 with the 250 gr Bitterroot for the same velocity. The faster powders and lighter charges in the 375H&H produced less recoil...it was manageable.

I knew I was leaving 25 gr of bullet on the table but the H&H round was easier to manage in the same weight rifle(Back then we all "built" the same;pre 64 actions, Krieger barrels and Brown Precision stocks).

There was no doubt that the AI was the faster cartridge(so was the big 35) but I stuck with the standard 375H&H and the 250 BBC. There are no flies on a 250 hr-375 bullet at 2900 fps.

don't know why, but I have been halfheartedly looking for a .350 STA lately...

I think mine was manufactured in 1956. It looks like about a 26" barrel. Could that be? (It is in the mail and I've not handled it yet.)

I too like heavy bullets for the caliber. The 235's are mainly for practice. I'll be practicing shooting standing up and I don't mind practicing with lighter bullets, maybe not full throttle either.

Bugger if it's a pre 64 375 barrel ,it is 25".

How about a 35 on the Ruger case? I've been looking into taking a 7mm RM barrel off a 77 and installing such a caliber. But the question briefly passing by is do I NEED IT??

Your 35 on the Ruger case would be the old 35 Newton....about 100+ years old maybe?

Need it? No. Not with the 375.

Want would be a different story.

THANKS

I have a .350 WSM on a SS M70 Classic, so I'm in the same "DO I NEED IT?" boat, but I had all of the 'needs' covered a while ago.

Of course a guy ALWAYS needs a back up gun, don't they?

Bugger of course!

The 35 Newton is a good one. I like mine.



Doesn't do anything a good 375 doesn't though.

Definetly a better price because it's an AI....

IMR4350 for 300 grain bullets
IMR4320 for 250 and 270 grain bullets

Yes, they do, I use RL-17 and the 270 TSX for an easy 3K fps with a 24" barrel.

toad,

I'm guessing you meant the .358 Shooting Times Alaskan when you typed .350 STA"? If so, I had one for a while, and discovered that it was essentially the .375 H&H with a larger selection of lighter weight bullets, and a smaller selection of heavier weights.

you are correct.

I suppose that the .338 RUM would make more sense...

Probably. Elmer Keith switched from the .35's to .33's around 75 years ago, because the .33's performed better at longer ranges. (That doesn't mean I don't own some .35's!)

John,

If one is a handloader/shooter/plinker as many of us are, the .35's also offer the ability to shoot handgun bullets(1000-1500 fps). Cheaper to purchase,and if shot at reasonable velocities gives the shooter the ability to have cheap fun with very little recoil during the off-season with his/her magnum big game rifle. Of course, cast bullets in any caliber offer the same benefits. Just a thought! memtb

got 35's and 33's. But this will be my first 375. Yes, I'll be shooting some heavy cast in it too

must....resist.....





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