I am looking for any and all loads that anyone has worked up to try in my 21" barreled Remington XCR bolt gun! I have sent nearly 100 300 gr Barnes TSX's downrange trying to find a load that will work well in the rifle and it just plain don't like Barnes! Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks...

- Clint

my standard line: Glass bed the action and free float the barrel!

Ihave no experience with the .375 RUM but have shot quite a few .375 bullets and can advise that Northforks and A-Frames usually shoot quite well.

Others as well but the barreled action must fit the stock first.

Clint,

Try H4350 (we call it AR2209 in Oz) with the 300gr Barnes - load formula is in the photo. Mine is still the old X Bullet but should work with the TSX as well. I don't push it too hard but it shoots to the same point of impact for me as my 350gr Woodleighs.

Rifle is a factory M70 Stainless in 375H&H rechambered.

Good Luck.

Regards,
John T

Alaskacajun,I feel sorry for you because I had a similar experience with a 300RUM in a 700BDL and before that a couple with 300 Win Mags.What saved the day was the switch to Nosler or Lapua cases.The reason that I would not buy a 375 RUM is because only Remington makes cases for it.What MAY save you is something that will fix your Remington cases(not that I know what's wrong with them).Other than changing bullet brand or type, I don't see a solution,except for buying the Bersin tool and giving that a try.

Clint, sorry to hear that the RUM is not up to shooting them Barnes. My .375 LSS RUM shot like a champ-printing a clover leaf with the XLC 270's. Using 94.5 IMR4350- a wonderful load. I did buy some of the 300 grn. TSX but never got to develop a load.

I sold it to a buddy of mine for 650.00 without scope-just doesn't make sense to me now.........don't give up on it yet. I have taken some nice grizzlies with it and one 60" plus bull-overkill for moose even at 400yds approx. Thors fricking hammer if I ever seen one!

Now on to the .375 Ruger or........


edit: I did have it bedded/free floated, trigger pull @ 3#'s and I replaced the J-Lock to a Hollands.

Thanks guys... I knew this was the website to get real answers! I've been reading everything I can find on the RUM's and think I'll just start from scratch and develop a new load that the gun likes!



- Clint

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskacajun:
... I have sent nearly 100 300 gr Barnes TSX's downrange trying to find a load that will work well in the rifle and it just plain don't like Barnes! ...

Hey Clint, What size groups are you getting?

Did you use the never improved upon Creighton Audette Load Development Method?

Occasionally a factory barrel just begins to shoot better after it has been shot awhile. Call it Break-In or Seasoning or whatever. How many shots "Total" do you think have been through it?

That should be a great cartridge and rifle for Alaska. Best of luck to you.

Hot Core, I bought the new Barnes Manuel, 100 brass and 100 Barnes TSX's from Midway last March. I started by having the barrel chopped to 21" and open sites reinstalled because I intended on using this rifle at short distances...

Then I went to my Barnes book, picked a powder (reloader 22) and loaded (6 shots) the minimum load went and shot the rifle w/open sites at the range. If I remember correctly I was getting 6-7" groups at 100 yards...

Then I loaded some at a middle of the road load (96-97 gr's) and went (21 rounds) and shot the rifle. I had 4-5" groups with open sites at 100 yards...

Then 2 weeks ago I bought a 3-9x40mm Burris scope for moose season. I used Leupold dovetail bases and rings that I had laying around... mounted the scope and headed to the range! I bore-sited the rifle and then shot my first 3 at the 25 yard distant target to get the scope lined up! once I got windage done I adjusted for elevation then moved the target out to 100 yards.

The first shot was on the paper but about 12" high, the second shot didn't hit the paper at all and the third shot hit the bottom of the target destroying the base and made it fall over... so I brought the target back to the 50 yard line and shot 3 more and they grouped about 3" apart.

At first I thought it might be the scope, but doubt it... what I think might be happening after researching the Barnes bullets is that I'm using load data for the Barnes original and the FXB for the TSX's... From what I understand the TSX's have the rings around the body of the bullet to reduce friction and increase velocity or something and evidently I'm loading these to "HOT" and it is effecting their accuracy! Does that sound about right? A Wildcatter buddy of mine suggested that I try a minimum load using IMR4350 with the short barrel... He has loaded for the 2 - .375 RUM's, .378 Wtby, .375 Wtby, and all 19 of the .375 H&H 's that he owns, for years, so it's sounds like he may be on to something.

- Clint

Get a box of standard factory loads (Hornady Interlocks are consistent). Clean all of the Barnes copper from the barrel before shooting. If you still get a scattered pattern, the problem is likely in the gun. Take a look at your barrel's new crown under magnification. It should be even and have no burrs.

If your stock is factory TupperWare (looking at your picture), it could easily have problems. These stocks usually employ tip pressure as a means for dampening barrel vibrations. If the barrel contacts the stock anywhere between the tip and receiver, it can cause a problem. Also, I'm not convinced that tip pressure is uniform on a heavy kicker. You can simulate free-floating the barrel by placing a cardboard shim under the barrel in front of the recoil lug.

Good luck.

My 375 RUM (based on a Zastava/FN action) shoots 20mm 5 shot groups att 100m with the 270 TSX, I use 100grs Norma 15 (a Bofors powder VERY similar to RL22, col 93mm, Fed 215 primer. This load is safe in my gun, but is near max,so be careful.

quote:

Originally posted by 375RUM:
My 375 RUM (based on a Zastava/FN action) shoots 20mm 5 shot groups att 100m with the 270 TSX, I use 100grs Norma 15 (a Bofors powder VERY similar to RL22, col 93mm, Fed 215 primer. This load is safe in my gun, but is near max,so be careful.

375RUM,what barrel and which cases are you using?

Hey Clint, There are any number of things that you have listed which could be contributing to the current inaccuracy.

When they shortened the Barrel, if they did not get the Muzzle cut Square "to the Bore" and do a nice Crown, that could be a problem. I doubt that is the situation, but...
-----

When you "randomly pick a Load", there is about a 10 in 360 chance (5 on each end of the Harmonic) that you will happen upon a Node where the Barrel is near the Null Point in the swing. Some folks are fairly lucky about a Randomly Picked Load - I'm not one of them. So, I find it best to Develop a Load using the never improved upon Creighton Audette Method.

I'll Fire Form some Fully Prepped and Weight Sorted Cases with the lease expensive Bullets I can find, with one of the Starting Loads shown in a Manual, and just enjoy plinking. Gives me a chance to get the Trigger adjusted the way I like it and to Clean and Shoot, Clean and Shoot, etc.

I normally use some kind of Match Grade Bullets to do the Initial Load Development to see what the Barrel is actually capable of shooting. Not necessary, but it gets a good number of shots through the relatively new Factory Barrel.

Then is when I go to Developing a Hunting Load. If I had your rifle, I might have started with the TSX's, but there is a better chance I'd have gotten at least one Load going with a bit less expensive Hunting Grade Bullet before going to the TSX.
-----

You mentioned Leupold Dovetail Bases. If you mean Dual Dovetail - excellent. If you mean Redfield Style with a Dovetail Front and the Rear Base having the two opposing Screw heads "trying" to hold the Rear Ring in place - very BAD!!!. I can't see the flick well enough with my old eyes to tell which Style it is. If it is the "Redfield Style", you can stop the Load Development until you get either Dual Dovetails or Weaver Style Mounts and the appropriate Rings. The Redfield Style Mounts are fine on 22s and weenie rifles, but they CAN NOT hold the scope in place on a serious rifle. Only the Front Ring is doing any holding.

If it is Redfield Style, go back to the Iron Sights until you can get rid of them. I have "Pinned" the Rear Ring in Place on some Redfield Designs with Drill Rod, but they were still going onto weenie rifles. I don't like them.
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Concerning your choice of the RL-22 Powder. I've just not had good luck Developing Loads with ANY of the RL-Powders. By that I mean they have been Erratic concerning Pressure. Lots of folks think they are wonderful and recommend them highly, but as I approach what should be a SAFE MAX with them, the Pressure varies over a wide extreme.

On the other hand, I was just looking at some Groups shot in two of my rifles yesterday with RL-Powders. Fine accuracy at those load levels(below a SAFE MAX) and no Pressure fluctuations.

You may do fine with RL-Powder, but keep in mind as you increase the Pressure you may see what I've seen in the past.
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Barnes Bullets used to recommend Seating "at least" 0.050" Off-the-Lands. Don't know if they still do with the TSX or not. But it would be worth finding out.

Best of luck to you.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
375RUM,what barrel and which cases are you using?

24" LW barrel w/Holland brake, sorted R-P cases.

375RUM,what is your group size at 200m and how did you sort out the cases?

quote:

Originally posted by JohnT:
Clint,

Try H4350 (we call it AR2209 in Oz) with the 300gr Barnes - load formula is in the photo. Mine is still the old X Bullet but should work with the TSX as well. I don't push it too hard but it shoots to the same point of impact for me as my 350gr Woodleighs.

Rifle is a factory M70 Stainless in 375H&H rechambered.

Good Luck.

Regards,
John T

Nicely done, JohnT. I have linked your post to a thread on 375 accuracy on the big bore forum.

Cheers,
Canuck

Thanks for all of the responses guys, I have learned more about the .375 RUM and reloading in the last week than I have in the last 5 years... LOL

Hot Core, they are Redfeild style bases, I will pull them off in a couple of weeks... I'm just trying to get through moose season. I plan on buying a more permanent set up when I get my Profit Share check from work in March.

I bought a box of factory Remington 300 gr A-Squares today for moose season. I will shoot them tomorrow, if they don't print well I'll bring the rifle back to the gunsmith who chopped the barrel.

Also I talked to Dave @ Barnes today and he gave me some load data on using IMR4350 and the 300 gr Barnes TSX... He told me to start at 86.0 gr's and stop at 94.0 gr's... the idea behind using IMR4350 is to burn more powder in the shorter barrel and hopefully gain more consistant results! At least that's what everybody keeps telling me!

- Clint

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
375RUM,what is your group size at 200m and how did you sort out the cases?

I have not measured groups at 200, but it will do between 40-50mm at 300m, good enough for me, this is after all a hunting rifle

I sort my cases by weight and "look", I discard cases with sharp dents or other flaws that the FL die will not straighten out, trim, chamfer and fireform - then necksize only.

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskacajun:
...they are Redfeild style bases, I will pull them off in a couple of weeks... I'm just trying to get through moose season. ...

Hey Clint, Look closely at those Lateral Adjustment Screws holding the Rear Ring. If you notice them beginning to deform where they contact the Ring toward the muzzle(no longer perfectly round) then the problem can't be ignored. Doesn't matter how much you want to Hunt, if they are deforming, then the bullets can go anywhere.

If that is the situation, there is nothing wrong with using Iron Sights. I did it for years and am currently setting-up a rifle just for Iron Sight use.

Anyway, I hope the Factory Ammo does well for you. And I hope you get a real TROPHY Moose.

Best of luck to you.

Well I went out and shot it this weekend. I changed to IMR4350 and the first shot I took was a fowling round at a beer bottle and I hit it dead on. Then the next 3 shots were 2" high and 2" left.... I adjusted for windage after letting the barrel cool and put 2 almost inside each other and one slightly up and left of the first 2 with a group near 1". It was raining and I didn't even unpack the camera or I would have taken pics! The load was just a middle of the road load so I could experiment with the powder, I guess I lucked out again....

- Clint