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.

I don't know how ft/lbs are calculated, but the 180 fps difference in muzzle velocity and 0.017" difference in bullet diameter doesn't seem like it would make that great a difference in either calculated ft/lbs or actual down-range performance.

X35R1 is Winchester/Olin's lone 35 REM load that has a claimed 2,020 fps and 1,812 ft/lbs at the muzzle.
X375W is Winchester/Olin's lone 375 WIN load that has a claimed 2,200 fps and 2,150 ft/lbs at the muzzle.

The 35 REM and 375 WIN are physically quite different, but performance wise they seem more alike than different.

A couple of tangible advantages that the 35 REM has over the 375 WIN are as follows:

1. 35 REM factory ammo is a regular production item from FED, REM, and WIN. 375 WIN factory ammo is a seasonal run item that is only produced by WIN.
2. 35 REM factory ammo is widely available, particularly in the northeast, while 375 WIN ammo is quite uncommon.
3. Far more rifles have been chambered in 35 REM than 375 WIN, so they are much more common and generally less expensive.

I still have several boxes of both 200 and 250 grain Winchester/Olin 375 BIG BORE ammo squirreled away somewhere.

In 1987 I took a small buck in Cornish, NH, with 1 shot from a Savage 99 Brush Gun using 200 grain BIG BORE factory ammo. The shot was taken at very short range, no more than 25 yards, and the point of impact behind the shoulder knocked the small buck over, dying in its tracks.

Got a big boar the old man gave me, dandy rifle, need to make meat with it...

Have 3......…………. 2 remain NIB. One rests at 99%. I've never shot any of them. Interesting to read all the comments coming from experiences.

I think of a 45-70 as primitive.

Yoder,
I kinda wished I had saved the 375 win. You're a lucky man.
I chain up an old 1968 chevy 3/4 ton or an old diesel ford one ton for cutting fire wood off and on trail. There are many times I wish I had a 16 in barreled model 94 under the seat.

Paper thin stock and receiver, shortest overall length possible, medium bore intermediate cartridge. I couldn't think of a better truck gun.

Rebored model 94 isnt worth much, if someone breaks into your truck and thieves it from yah.

Mariner......….

Years ago, I looked at a .375 every day in a local hardware. Finally bought it NIB (and 10 years old) for $255. It's a 29xxx SN. Then happened into a 5xxx SN gun in 99% condition for $250 years later. Then picked up an American Bald Eagle Silver NIB about 5 years ago. No idea if I'll ever shoot ANY of 'em……………..

But I got' em.

I have a glenfield 30a that was rebored by JES to 375. It is pretty much hand load only but it likes the 200 grain sierras over a close to max charge of RE-7. Have 2 deer with it now as I’ve only had it little over a year. Both were during deer drives and one was a bang flop on the run. The other was at a standing deer than went about 25 yards. Biggest reason is it’s legal as a strait wall here in Iowa. Starline makes new brass and bullets can be found. Have a stack of Barnes if I ever go do anything big. With peep sight getting about 3” groups over bags at 120 yards as that all I have measured to shoot.

Full3r, your rifle must be handy down there. It'll take big game too.

If I lived in your world with the straighwall cartridge case restrictions, I'd take a 375 re-bore any day of the week, over the newer 350 legend.

Funny, my grandpa had one and killed a pile of deer and elk with it. I used to shoot it when i was 12. Some people just cant handle recoil. I now have the rifle in my collection and it still doesnt kick that hard.

Heath, i might be shooting you a pm regarding your load. I recently bought a few hundred sierras for my grandpas old big bore 94.

33grs of imr4198 in Winchester or Starline brass, WLR primer and 3/4 turn with a Lee Factory Crimp die.

Mines in a Savage 99 and is very accurate. I really miss the 250gr factory load, I used it for deer hunting in northern MN and WI and it would shoot the length of a deer from any direction. It is one gun that will stay with me until I'm gone.

Bearcat made a great point, accuracy on mine increased greatly when I started using the factory crimp die. I have some cast bullets I got from Edwin264 here on the fire. They are 262gr Lyman has checks that he uses for his contender I believe. They were easy shooting with 4227. With a 4 Mx scope during load development it was scary accurate. Like 5 shots in 1 1/2” at 100. Have several left that I loaded. Just need to see how the impact is compared to the Sierra 200s I have the peep set for.

I think it gets overlooked by guys looking for newer and faster but it bores big holes and is way lighter recoiling than either the 444 or 45-70 that is legal here as well. And in no way compares to a slug gun. They are all brutal.

Had 2, a Winchester XTR and a Marlin factory 375. Really great round, was getting 2400 fps with AA1680 and 200 gr sierras, just under 2400 with 220 Vollmer bullets. Can't remember the powder. It was a serious animal killer. Very easy to load, being straight walled. Knocked the stuffing out of a 35 Remington, 400 fps faster with same bullet weight. I could probably have gone hotter, absolutely no extraction issues with 200gr Sierras at 2400 fps. This was with Starline short 38-55 brass. That brass would not feed in the Winchester so I sold it. But it ran great in the Marlin.

I've got a 336 24" I'm going to send to JES.

Yep,that Winchester 94. Kicked more than my .06 or 7 mag.Those 94 stocks are not the best for recoil.Not as bad as my 1886 Browning 45-70 reproduction shooting 500gr cast, but my 1907 Winchester 94 in 38-55 is pussy cat compared to that Big Bore. Of course it is only running about 1200 fps with 250 gr cast

Oldman3, I’d like to give you some sort of dazzling resume.....but can’t. However, we’re presently holding onto a like new, Winchester XTR, that belonged to my stepson, which we lost in October. He had inherited the rifle from his Dad. I had bought him a set of dies and 100 rounds of Starline brass, which haven’t been used. The rifle and components is destined to go to his older brother! It will probably never be hunted, but “will” remain in the family! memtb

I've had .375's in a 21" T/C Contender Carbine and Marlin lever rifle, both were great shooters. Recoil in the 5lb Contender was interesting, definitely not something you wanted to shoot off the bench all day.

I would take a 200yrd shot with my 336 Marlin 375win, I shoot it a lot 220gr Vollmar bullets & AA1680 powder works for me !!

Bottom one is a 18" carbine that shoots 200 Sierras very good. For fun I've fired it too 500 yards and it's a lot of fun.




One shot kill on this bear at about 70 yards. Stuck it in his throat patch, drt.

I have a Marlin 30TK rebored to .375. My experience has been that the .375 kills as good as the .35 rem and has less recoil. I shot quite a few with a Savage .375 Brush gun, but to me the 99s are way too long and would benefit from a much shorter barrel. Just couldn't bring myself to cut one down as they bring a nice premium in sale or trade.

The 30TK is very handy. Short mag tube, straight stock and 18" barrel.

Only coyotes and antelope with my Marlin 375 Win. Had it out to the range a couple times in the last month.

Handy looking little unit there!

I've a Bishop stocked mauser action mated to a Ruger #3 barrel in this caliber I bought at a gunshow back in 01. Put a cheap red dot out on the barrel scout style, and killed some deer with it. Love the gun, it really fits nice and kills things very dead. This was all with factory 200 grain loads. I had a gunsmith drill and tap the receiver, and bend the bolt handle so I could mount a conventional scope and bought all the stuff to reload for it. It's been collecting dust for quite a few years now, as I couldn't get the bullets to stay put in the brass, and factory loads are too much $$ for me to fugg with. I bought the Lee FC die and the regular dies were RCBS. No idea what the issue is and never too the time to really sort it out.

I do like the round and would love to stumble into a Marlin at the right price, or have one rebored.

I bought my Marlin 375 new when they were $199 at a local store. Still have lots of factory ammo, mostly 250 gr. However I mostly hunt with 220 gr. Hornady over 36 gr. of Re 7. My practice loads are cast 240 gr in Starline 38/55 brass over 22 gr of 4198. Plinkers over 8 gr of Red Dot are lots of fun.

The cast loads will group under an inch at 75 yards. The 220 grain Hornady penetrated a doe from center chest (it was facing me at 80 yards) and exited next to the tail. It only took one step.

My son with a Jesse occumpagh rebore 375 many years ago, 150 yd shot:

Very nice. Great pictures.

Yeah, looks like heaven. A canoe with a little motor, kid and a dog, levergun and a caribou.

I had one years ago that no one seems to have mentioned.. It was a Ruger #3 single shot and very accurate. Unfortunately it too kicked hard. I couldn't add a recoil pad due to the design of the stock. The butt plate curved above the toe of the stock and adding a recoil pad would have left an inlet into the top of the stock. It was short and a pleasure to carry and I likely would have kept it if it hadn't been for the recoil. And before anyone says I can't handle recoil my favourite rifle is a .338 Winchester Magnum

Jim

Thanks, a moose in there too. See the velveted moose antlers? We did three total trips to move all the meat and camp. We broke the canoe dragging over gravel with all that meat. Motor rattled so hard, the muffler fell off.

Took 20+ years but I finally got my dream Savage about 10 years ago.