Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 375 Winchester

Anyone using a 375 Winchester for hunting? Or, maybe I should have asked.... Has anyone ever used the 375 Win for hunting?

If so, how did you like it? Pros? Cons?

I once owned one but it was the least accurate Marlin I've ever owned. Traded it to BIL and returned to my .35s.

I use 38/55s loaded fairly heavy but safe for my 1935 model 64 rebore. A friend uses a marlin 375, it’s a hog killing master. And it’s very accurate

I had a Winchester Big Bore in it. Damnedest kicking rifle I ever owned. It killed a few deer and elk,but wasn't worth the punishment it gave my shoulder

Had one and should've kept it. Great woods round.

SS, your comment about kicking really surprises me. Are we talking about the same rifle? I'm referring to the 375 Win, based off the 38/55, the same thing the 30-30 sprang from. Not the 375 H&H Mag or the Rem Ultra Mag.

Yes, I have two, both Winchester 94 XTR Big Bores. I really like them, although I can't tell much difference in how they kill deer versus a 30/30. I'm sure bigger game would be different story.

I use the Hornady 220 FP in both, although I thought about trying the Sierra 200 FP to see if they'd be better for deer. The 220's don't seem to expand much on our deer.

They'll be two rifles I'll hang onto for a long time.

I have two (Win XTR and Marlin)
Using Buffalo Bore 38-55 they shoot well at 50 yards (irons only) on one range trip each.

I haven’t hunted with them, but recoil is mild and a joy to shoot.
Went on a rampage buying levers last year.
Though I may sell them both.

Have a 375 rifle barrel for Contender. Been shooting 200 Sierras and R7.Bought the barrel for Iowa deer this year but ended up using something else.

I've owned 375 WINs in Marlin, Savage, and Winchester/USRA lever actions.

I reloaded for the Marlin and Savages and liked the 220 grain Hornady better than the 200 grain Sierra.

I have come to think of the 375 WIN as a more expensive and more difficult, because of the lack of component bullet options, way to get the same performance as the 35 REM.

Please shoot me a PM if you do wanna divest yourself of one.

I have one in a Marlin. Mine is very accurate with the 200 Sierra and imr4198. It’s worked great on whitetails.

Hmmm... Maybe I'm not comparing apples to apples. A 35 Rem would do what I want to do, but comparing Winchester ammo info, I'm seeing across the board approx. 200 ft/sec more velocity and 300 ft/lbs more energy out of the 375 Win over the 35 Rem. Comparing 200 gr bullets in both. Agreed that's not an astronomical difference, but at the speed these bullets travel, we're talking approx. 10% and 15% differences, if I did the math right.

Lack of components or the cost of a box of ammo is a big difference.

If you can shoot, you'll never notice the difference. If you can't shoot, you'll never notice the difference either.

I came close to getting one but then realized that it wouldn't do anything my 356 Winchester would do. That's my esoteric lever action cartridge.

In the end, it comes down to what you want, and if you want to scratch that itch, have at it and enjoy.

PS: I may still send a 30/30 to JES to rebore to 375 Winchester. Because I still get itches.

Randy,

do you have one or are you looking at getting one?

If you want more punch, but are concerned about ammo availability, or are reloading...

I have a 444 Marlin, so I'd suggest that one...ammo is available and its easy to load for, with plenty of bullets etc available since it is just a lengthened 44 Rem Mag case, and using 44 Rem mag load data, will yield pretty much the same velocity out of a lever action barrel in 44 Rem mag...

If you have a 375 Rem or end up with one and are looking to handload for it, let me know...

I have a 375 Win die set, from RCBS that isn't doing anything but collecting dust.. it'd be yours for the asking...

I'm not a hammer of Thor guy, but the 444 Marlin is a hammer of Thor on deer up close.

For me, it was all about legal straight-wall cartridge for deer in Iowa. 38-55 would work but not 35 R.

Your getting close..... In La. we have a primitive weapon season that lets you use any .35 caliber or larger, single shot rifle. I've got a Marlin 30-30 Win, but was looking for a single shot to primitive hunt with. Just thought it would be different to find a single shot 30-30 and have it bored to 375 Win. Lots of folks have the 35 Rem, but I know of none that shoot the 375 Win.




John, I'm just thinking out loud and asking questions for now. Thanks for the offer. Tell Mrs. Judy I said hi.

Oldman3,

My son shot his first animal, a fat bull caribou at about 150 yds away. The load was a 255 grain Barnes original. He was 10 years old and claimed he didn't feel any recoil on the shot. He complained of recoil on sight-in though. Bullet plowed through bull on a quartering towards angle and was found against the hide. Instant drop.

This rifle was a rebored 30-30 model 94 by Jesse ocxumpagh. I used reloader 10x as opposed to reloader 7 to keep pressure down.

I sold the rifle. I later learned it was used in a dlp of a brown bear at 10 feet. It worked.

Forum member Yukon254's son used a 375 winchester on a 50" antlered moose over in the Yukon.

You can use starline 38-55 brass. It's very cheap. If the range be within 200 yards, The 375 Winchester kills better than I thought possible, from a 33 grain charge of reloader 10x.