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Anyone play with a .375 Nitro Express.

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https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/10610568

02 January 2004, 21:33
Far Canel
Anyone play with a .375 Nitro Express.
I'm thinking of building one of these on a Lee-Enfield action I've got laying around.

I've got a .375 H&H barrel sitting here aswell and I'd like to put it together and give it a try.

What do you think?




03 January 2004, 04:38
mbogo375
I have contemplated the same conversion on a Lee Enfield sporter that I have which has a bad barrel. It appears that it would feed with minor (or no) modification to the mag and bolt. The action certainly is strong enough for the 375x2 1/2" Flanged Nitro Express.

I have two rifles in this caliber at present. One is a double, and the other is a bolt action built on the Steyr 1892 by H&H. These are extremely fun to play with, and make great short range (out to 200 yards) hunting rifles.

Bullet selection is varied, especially if the spitzers can be seated a bit longer than factory length. In my Steyr max length is only 3.15", so the 270 Hornady RN and 235 Speer etc. have to be seated deeper than normal for other cals (past the beginning of the ogive on the Speer and the cannelure on the Hornady) to accommodate this OAL, but they work great. You could shorten the case to accommodate this OAL if you want to crimp the bullets, but it is not really neccessary. The 200 and 220 grain bullets designed for the 375 Winchester are naturals for this cartridge, and essentially you can consider it a 375 Winchester on steroids .

In a good bolt action you can slightly exceed factory ballistics which were developed with the weaker actions like doubles in mind, and 2100-2200 fps is achievable with the 270 grain bullet. Factory loads were 270 grain at 1975 fps (14.5 tpsi) most commonly, but a some like my double were proofed for a 320 grain bullet at 2000 fps (17.0 tpsi).

I think that this would be a great conversion on the Lee-Enfield, and one of these days I intend to do just that (so many projects, so little time and money ). Let me know how your project turns out.

Good luck,
Jim
03 January 2004, 09:47
Bullet_Proof
I don't have any experience with the cartridge but some old commercial lee enfields were made in this caliber.
Here's a picture of one in this thread - http://pub182.ezboard.com/fbritishmilitariaforumsfrm4.showMessage?topicID=107.topic

Brett
03 January 2004, 15:08
WashougalChris
Quote:

Bullet selection is varied, especially if the spitzers can be seated a bit longer than factory length. In my Steyr max length is only 3.15", so the 270 Hornady RN and 235 Speer etc. have to be seated deeper than normal for other cals (past the beginning of the ogive on the Speer and the cannelure on the Hornady)




Dear Mbogo375,

What powders are you using? I'm experimenting with RL-15 and the Hornady 270 gr RN, also in an 1892 Steyr (William Evans).

Thanks,
Chris
03 January 2004, 16:15
mbogo375
Quote:


Dear Mbogo375,

What powders are you using? I'm experimenting with RL-15 and the Hornady 270 gr RN, also in an 1892 Steyr (William Evans).

Thanks,
Chris



Funny that you should ask about RL 15. That has proven to be the best powder in both my 375x2 1/2" FNE's. Not only does it give the best groups, it also shoots to the sights out to 300 yards in my H&H/Steyr. Best groups and regulation with the 270 Hornady RN come at 44.0-45.0 grains with CCI 200 primers in Bertram brass with OAL of 3.10-3.15". My rifle also loves the 300 grain Hornady RN with 44.0 grains of RL 15, but with all these loads please start at no more than 42.0 grains and work up. These loads are completely safe in my rifle, but may not be in break open singles or doubles etc., so I make no warranty about their use in other rifles (end of public service announcement and disclaimer ). The targets below were shot at between 40 and 50 yards, and are typical of what the rifle is capable of when I do my part (it certainly shoots better than I do, even though it is around 100 years old).

I would love to see a photo of your rifle .

Jim






04 January 2004, 06:46
WashougalChris
Quote:

Funny that you should ask about RL 15. That has proven to be the best powder in both my 375x2 1/2" FNE's. Not only does it give the best groups, it also shoots to the sights out to 300 yards in my H&H/Steyr. Best groups and regulation with the 270 Hornady RN come at 44.0-45.0 grains with CCI 200 primers in Bertram brass with OAL of 3.10-3.15". My rifle also loves the 300 grain Hornady RN with 44.0 grains of RL 15, but with all these loads please start at no more than 42.0 grains and work up.



What sort of velocities are getting in the 44 - 45 gr range? I've already worked up beyond that without any pressure signs, and was getting 2050 fps with the Hornady 270gr RN with 51 grs. (I've also worked with RL-15 in the 9.5x57 M-S, so I extrapolated some starting load data from that.) Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to fire any group yets to see where I'm hitting. I'll have to work on a picture also!

Thanks,
Chris
05 January 2004, 15:40
WashougalChris
Quote:


Very interesting. What length barrel do you have? What groove diameter and bore condition? What is your overall cartridge length?




26" barrel. Overall length is 3.10" - 3.12". I'll have to slug the bore to get the groove diameter.


Quote:


With 44.0 to 45.0 grains of RL 15 I get from a bit above 2000 to almost 2040 fps from a 26" barrel.




Wow! I need 50+ gr of RL-15 to break 2000 fps in the 9.5x57 M-S, which has smaller case volume (w/ 270gr RN).

Quote:


All part of the fun of working with vintage cartridges and rifles for which there is little available load data and much variation in dimensions .




Couldn't have said it better!

Thanks,
Chris
05 January 2004, 16:23
mbogo375
Quote:


Wow! I need 50+ gr of RL-15 to break 2000 fps in the 9.5x57 M-S, which has smaller case volume (w/ 270gr RN).




Therein may lie at least part of our difference. My Bertram 375x2 1/2 FNE has a capacity of 65.5 grains of water, and my Bertram 375x2 1/4 Rimless Nitro Express (9.5x57 MS) has a capacity of 68.0 grains. Maybe your brass has greater capacity than mine?

I have used reformed 40/70 Sharps Straight brass for the 375x2 1/2 FNE that has a capacity of 71.0 grains of water, and this does require adjustment of charge weight with Varget (I have not used this brass with RL 15 though).

Don't forget to post a pic of your rifle !!!

Good shooting,
Jim