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Joined: May 2014
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Bugger Offline OP
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I bought a big bore 94 in 375 Winchester from a fellow member on the forum and took it out to the range today. I don't often use a chronograph, but with a new cartridge and little published data I thought it prudent.

I have 5 molds in 375 caliber. two are NOE molds both use Gas Checks one cast bullets that weigh 237 grain lubed, the other weighs 287.5 grains lubed, I have a Lyman mold that says it will weigh 264 grains and it has a GC - I didn't try this one yet. I have a Lee mold that supposed to weigh 250 grain - I have not tried this one yet, I also have a plain base mold that casts at 235 grain.

I tried the two NOE bullets and the plain base bullet and 200 grain Sierra load and a 255 grain Barnes load. The two jacketed bullets had the same POI. The cast loads had the same POI only about 12 MOA lower than the Jacketed bullets.

The brass was Winchester, The primers were Remington 9 1/2.

My lead mixture was straight wheel weights.

Note: I had trouble finding data for the cast bullets at these weights.

Here are my results:

237 grain NOE bullet with 19,9 grains IMR4227 - 1,500fps accuracy = B
235 grain bullet no GC - 19.9 grains IMR 4227 - 1,500 fps accuracy = A
287.5 grain NOE bullet - 21.7 grains 5744 - 1550 fps - accuracy = C-
255 grain Barnes 34 grains Re 7 - accuracy = A+ - velocity in fps - 2027, 2034, 2013, 2015 and no read ~ average 2,022.25 fps
200 grain Sierra 33 grain IMR4198 - accuracy equal = B velocity = 2110, 2100, 2111, 2080, 2125 ~ average = 2,105.2 fps

Comments: I was surprised that such a small cartridge would kick as much as it did with those Barnes bullets in that rifle. The rifle weighs 6 lb. according to my digital kitchen scale.

I looked at Ken Waters' Pet Loads January 1979. The 200 grain Sierra load corresponded closely with his results (he didn't say whether the powder was IMR or Hogdon - I assume it was Hodgdon. IMR4227 is supposedly a slower powder than H4227)

The 255 grain Barnes load was 200 fps faster than his with the same load. He called the 34 grain Re 7 the best all-around load and he called the load normal pressure. This was the last load I shot and the barrel was getting pretty warm.

The temperature outside was 84 degrees F and close to 100% humidity. The elevation here is approximately 1,000 feet above sea level.

There was no unburned powder in the barrel and there was no lead left in the barrel. The barrel looks like I just cleaned it after all this range session.


Future:
I do have some Linotype and I may try mixing linotype with wheel weights and try again the 237 grain NOE bullet. I'll also cast using the Lyman mold. I'm going to try to get to at least 1,800 fps with cast loads. The 235 grain without GC and 19.9 grains of IMR 4227 will stay as my light load. I have a lot of Xlox 2500 plus white Label Lube that I'm switching too.

I will try other combinations for the Sierra bullet.

On the 255 grain Barnes load, I'm thinking I will drop to 32 grains and check velocity. I am planning on 1,900 fps as top load for the 255 grain bullet.


Last edited by Bugger; 07/09/20.

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In two 38/55’s I had really good luck with H-4895 and 220 grain Hornady’s (discontinued) and IMR-4198 and the 200 grain Sierras. Also got good results with cast bullets above 250 grains with H-4895. Check out Hornady’s data; they have 38/55 and 375 Win loads.


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Good luck! I’ve always loved that cartridge. Had an old marlin when I was a kid that shot the 220 Hornady into an inch at 100 yards with imr3031. I sold it when I was a broke college kid. Bought a different marlin 6-7 years ago but it doesn’t shoot anywhere near as well as my first one. It must be a cursed rifle as I’ve hunted it a dozen times or so and never pulled the trigger on a deer with it yet. Keep us all posted on your cast bullet results. Bullets and brass are tough to find for that old cartridge. I might have to start casting bullets for mine someday too.

Ben

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I shot my 375 the other day and you are right, it kicks hard off the bench. Offhand, its not bad at all. With those 200gr Sierra bullets, id try RL7. Thats what i run for that bullet. The big bore 94's are pretty good shooters. My only gripe was the rock hard red WRA butt pad. Ill probably pull it and add a red pachmayr for better recoil reduction and longer LOP. The factory LOP is pretty short.


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Originally Posted by Benbo
Good luck! I’ve always loved that cartridge. Had an old marlin when I was a kid that shot the 220 Hornady into an inch at 100 yards with imr3031. I sold it when I was a broke college kid. Bought a different marlin 6-7 years ago but it doesn’t shoot anywhere near as well as my first one. It must be a cursed rifle as I’ve hunted it a dozen times or so and never pulled the trigger on a deer with it yet. Keep us all posted on your cast bullet results. Bullets and brass are tough to find for that old cartridge. I might have to start casting bullets for mine someday too.

Ben


Starline will sell you all the .375 Win or .38-55 brass you could want:

https://www.starlinebrass.com/375-win

https://www.starlinebrass.com/38-55-brass-2080

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I've gone back and forth for years on reboring a Marlin to 375 . Every time I think I'm close, I look at my 356 and think, why bother?

Maybe one day.

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Bugger Offline OP
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After combing manuals, magazines and google searches I decided not to decrease those 200 grain Sierra loads with IMR4198, I do not understand how Ken Waters got 200 fps slower with the same model rifle though.

I read on another blog shooters using 1680, Two of them claimed that the Accurate manual went to 40 grains behind the 200 grain Sierra. I went to the Accurate manual on-line and the manual did not have any loads for the 375 Win. They must of had an older manual.

I took the rifle out with 39 grains behind the 200 grain Sierra bullet. The accuracy was there - about 2 MOA at 85 yards with iron sights and old eyes.

The velocity:
2352 fps
2401 fps
2355 fps
2374 fps
2376 fps

average 2371.6 fps - if corrected for chronograph 10' ahead of bench - 2411.6 fps (If it loses 200 fps in the first 50 yard, then maybe it lost ~ 40 fps in 10 yards.)

This is a bit faster than I expected. The accuracy is there.

The drop, velocity and energy according to the Application "Shooter"
distance POI Velocity Energy
50 yards= 2.1" 2,209 fps 2,167 ft-lb
100 yards= 3.1" 2,022 fps 1,815 ft-lb
150 yards= 2.0" 1,855 fps 1,528 ft-lb
200 yards= -1.6" 1,700 fps 1,284 ft-lb
250 yards = -8.2" 1,566 fps 1,088 ft-lb

I have quite a bit of 1680 on hand for the 17 Hornet, so I will probably use this load for my 200 grain Jacketed load.

Last edited by Bugger; 07/14/20.

I prefer classic.
Semper Fi
I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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Bugger Offline OP
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I took out some 30-30 brass, ran it through 32 Special dies, then 338, then 358, then 375 expander. It had a May West look. I had some reject cast bullets which I used ahead of 20 grains IMR 4227. Formed well. I lost one case, beck split.

I have no idea how many times these cases had been shot. 30-30 brass is plentiful - seems that not many reload 30-30.

Maybe I will be able get a load combination where I hold 6:00 with jacketed and center the front sight “dot” for cast.


I prefer classic.
Semper Fi
I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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OLNY powder I need is the RL7 and a 220 Hornady!!

Basically ya cannot get enough powder in to be over pressure.

CW


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