What do you guys think about the 375 Weatherby for use as a big game rifle for North America? Elk, Bison, Bears, Moose, so on and so forth. A little more range and punch then the H&H, but at the same time still able to fire H&H when needed. I have a 300 Wby currently, but with other medium bore rifles hanging around, I don't feel like I need it anymore. I have stuff for deer and speed goats that is much lighter. I'm leaning towards something based on the '06 case for my shorter range big animal hunting....but for the longer range, why not the 375?

If you want a 375Wby go for it. In my opinion the gain the 375Wby gives you over the 375H&H is on paper. Anything you shoot will never tell the difference.

300gr accubond. the Wby give you 6 yds of point blank range and .5" less drop at 300yds. All the 375Wby is is a 375H&HAI with rounded shoulders. Gains for handloads 60-75fps.

While it is needlessly powerful for North American game (except for big brown bears) that doesn't disqualify it from consideration.

The issue is that a .375Wby. (or H&H) is usually heavy (over 9lbs.). You may not want to hump one up and down mountains while hunting elk and deer.

IMO, a .338 Win. Mag. is a better option for a one-gun North American battery.

George

I handload the 375 AI, which only has 2 grs more H20 case capacity than the 375 Weatherby.

Pushing the 375 H&H to its max and the 375 AI to its maximum will gain you ~150 fps for the 300 gr bullets and likewise for other weights.

If you buy a 375 Weatherby, commercial ammo is available that will give you ~2800 fps with a 300 gr. bullet. Best you can buy with a 375 H&H is ~2600 fps with a 300 gr. bullet.

This translates into ~550 more ft# of energy at the muzzle - that's significant in Africa, but not likely NA.

AIU

this would be a custom build from my existing M70 300 Wby, btw

quote:

Pushing the 375 H&H to its max and the 375 AI to its maximum will gain you ~150 fps for the 300 gr bullets and likewise for other weights

I took the time to look up my data instead of trusting my memory. I really only have one comparison between the 375H&H and the AI. Using a 24" MKX same barrel for both. Using 300gr part. MRP was the powder that seemed to give me the max velocity. Both were compressed around 10%. The AI in my case did give closer to 125fps. However I had to back off the AI a touch to get better accuracy.

Nothing wrong with a 375Wby so by all menas build it if you want. I do agree with AIU if your go factory loading the 375Wby gives you 200 if factory data is correct. I have no actual testing.

Listen to George. I'd say the only reason to go up is to use 350-grainers. Mine will never see use this side of the pond.

I modified a Model 70 classic stainless (375 H&H) to 375 Weatherby. Added a drop box McMillan safari style stock and Sunnyhill bottom metal. NECG masterpiece baned front sight and Brockman rear peep on Talley bases.
This gun shoots the the Weatherby 300 gr NP's @ 2800 & change from the 24" pipe. Through a Oehler 35 @ +80F and does it accurately.
I would agree with GeorgeS that a 338 would make better option for NA. Go Light!

After having taken a number of elk with the .375 H & H, I decided not to waste that much meat any more. The 235 Barnes tsx is absolutely explosive, the
sierra 250 gr at 2800 works well and, of course with good bullet placement, kills them DRT. I haven't tried the 300 grainer yet but if I continue to use the .375 I will go to the 300 gr.

I happen to really like the 375 AI. I'm reloading safely 250 gr. TTSX bullets (BC=.424) at 3100 fps (26" barrel) and I could use this as a 600 yd plus elk getter or whatever critter. The 375 is a long range gun, if you can handle the recoil. I've been to Africa, killing loads of plains game, including eland, disco donkeys, gemsbok, etc. Also, two Cape buffalo and an elephant, all one shot kills with 300 gr. Failsafe bullets at 2875 fps. On the last trip, with the same gun using a 250 gr TTSX, I killed a baboon at 350 yds the day before I dropped an elephant at 15 yds. People on the board will tell you that the 375 stinks, but it doesn't. In fact I've always felt over gunned, not under gunned with the 375 AI. It's a powerful and accurate cartridge, will shoot standard 375 H&H, will shoot 375 Weatherby, and has a plethora of good bullets available for it. I say go for it! AIU

Pagosa,

How bad was meat loss? I have always used a 300 mag of some sort, be it Win, WSM or Wby...could the blood shot be any worse then what I'm already used to? I was thinking more along the lines of the 260 Accubonds

Don't know what load Pagosa Wing Nut was using but I have shot elk wkith both 235 grain "X" bullets and 250 grain "X" bullet out of my 375 H&H and never experienced excessive meat loss.

I have used my 375 on Whitetails/Elk/Musk Ox and been happy with the performance.

I use my 375 H&H with the cheap 270 grain Hornady SPs for ground squirrels and feral pigs. I guess you could shoot bigger game with one.

I took a cow at 172 yards 2 years ago with that load. I hit her absolutely perfect behind the front leg, just scraping the elbow on the way in. She did not take a single step but wasted that whole front quarter. the entire rib cage was blood soaked as well as the meat on the shoulder up to the backstrap. That load is moving around 3025, flat shooting and accurate but too destructive for consumption. The 250 is not nearly as destructive and I have not tried a 270 gr yet. I went to a .338 win mag and either a 225 Hornady Interlock or a 225 gr Barnes TSX although the Hornady will leave 2 holes in an elk at 80 yards at 2850 fps. I hunt for meat and really don't lose that much on a front shoulder but I'm a greedy bastard and will miss the hamburger or jerky! I wasted a whole lot less meat when I used my 416 Rem on a nice bull4 years ago. Velocity is great for distance and flat shooting but hell on hydrostatic shock

From what you just posted, the answer might lie with slowing your bullet down just a little. As I said, I have never experienced the type of meat loss you are desribing, but I don't run my bullets near that fast, and I have never had that type of meat loss regardlrss of how fast I was running them with a Barnes bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:
What do you guys think about the 375 Weatherby for use as a big game rifle for North America? Elk, Bison, Bears, Moose, so on and so forth. A little more range and punch then the H&H, but at the same time still able to fire H&H when needed. I have a 300 Wby currently, but with other medium bore rifles hanging around, I don't feel like I need it anymore. I have stuff for deer and speed goats that is much lighter. I'm leaning towards something based on the '06 case for my shorter range big animal hunting....but for the longer range, why not the 375?

If you are looking for long range and short range and something on an 06 size action (instead of an 06 case) consider the 375 Ruger as a solution to both instead of 2 rifles.

Ruger gets 100 fps over the H&H and is light weight in an 06 size action. My 375 Ruger is damn accurate and I bought it just because I wanted a 375 caliber without a belt.

Personally if I was looking for a "shorter range" 06 based case to deal with "Elk, Bison, Bears, Moose" I would buy a 35 Whelen or 9.3x64.

Barstooler

I really enjoyed my 375 weatherby. I have a 378 now--and dont know if I need that big of jump. I really like the rifle it was in too. I had a LH 375 wby in a weatherby DGR--it was accurate and shot well.

I say go for it-- headstamped brass is expensive--but H&H brass is cheap!

Yes Crazy, I could but it is just easier to load a heavier bullet as it is to work up another load. Or to use either a bigger OR smaller caliber. I really like my .375's. I would have a hard time choosing between calibers if'n I had to but am pretty sure the 375 would be my go-to caliber!

I shot my 375-358STA for years. It killed a lot of elk and deer here plus I took it to Africa in 2000 and it accounted for 8 animals over there. I shot 250gr Sierra's at 3080fps (27" barrel) and 270gr fail safe bullets. I've shot elk over 600yds with it and my Kudu was 513yds.

A .375 Weatherby is almost the same thing as my gun and would have no problem hunting NA with one. Larger caliber guns kill elk with authority.

I am in the process of geting my 375H&H for an upcoming elk hunt. I have shot the 375 out to 400 and was really happy with it. I have on order a sako 375 brown bear. under 8 pounds without a scope so should be a dream to carry.

Matt

I have shot deer and blk bear wih my 416 so why not.

They are abit much for every day use but why not.

The only all-around global cartridge, legal for all game, competitive with the 375 AI is the 375 RUM. They're very similar. Saeed uses the 375/404 Jeffrey, which is also very similar. IMO the 375 AI is slightly superior, because you can shoot 375 H&H in the same gun, if you have too, and you can always find 375 H&H ammo almost anywhere on the Planet Earth. In Africa you could lose your ammo on the trip over. These are cartridges that will DO IT ALL anywhere!! Regards, AIU

For those that suggested the Ruger, I've toyed with that idea as well! But, I'm thinking about what actions I already have, and what I want to do/need.

It really is a toss up between using my pre-64 for the Ruger and using my post-64 for the Weatherby. I've got a GREAT shooting 308 which I think will serve antelope duty well, I mean with factory Hornady ammo I'm getting sub-MOA with ease. The 30-06 Feather weight I'm thinking will get a re-bore to 338-06, maybe lop another inch off the barrel to 21". So that leaves me with a magnum length M70, a standard length .532 face pre-64, and a 1903 action.

I don't see any reason not to have a 375Wby for NA. Since I got my H&H it has become my go to gun. Just under 9 lbs. Works like a charm on deer and coyotes. Stay with the 270 and up bullets tho, Their better BC makes them shoot flatter than the 235's and spoil less meat.

BT,

If I go this direction, I'm hoping the 260 Accubonds shoot well. BC of .473, and I ran it through the Nikon BDC program, pretty dang flat shooting.

Building one from my post-64 was my intention...but then Winchester had to go and do this

http://www.winchesterguns.com/...d=535142&family=001C

AIU is right. There is no round more versital for hunting the world than a 375HH improved.
The 375wby, 375AI, 375 barnes supreme, 375 ICL Kodiak, 375 Mashburn mag and probably others that I can't think of are all improved versions of the 375HH and will typically gain 150fps+ more velocity with 300gr bullets. And you can shoot 375HH ammo out of them all day long.

Mine is the 375wby.

Yentna,

Custom or Weatherby factory rifle?

Every person I've heard from that had a 375 wby loved them. I've owned a couple 375 calibers and have mostly punched holes in paper or water jugs with them, but they do work on smaller game too. I shot a 130 lb deer at maybe 15 yards and it did the trick. It also caused barely any meat damage. i was using the 270 tsx at 2700 fps and the exit hole was about the size of a quarter. I've also heard the 260 accubond works very well

MileHigh,

Left handed rem 700 blued action, new ss rem 375HH take off barrel rechambered when it was installed, factory iron sights, HS precision stock, ziess conquest 3x9 mounted in warren QD mounts. Not a custom, just a good solid rifle. Being a lefty I learned to make do.

My 375 Wby is built on a Rem P-14 action. I've taken a couple moose an elk and several black bears with it. Mainly used 270 gr Hornady and 300 Sierra bullets.I have not had a problem with excessive meat damage but most of my shots on moose & elk have been broadside lung shots.Just started with some test loads with the new 250 gr Barnes TTSX bullet. This may be an excellent bullet for NA game. First test loads were shot with 4320 and would like to try some RL17.

4320 loads are shooting such nice groups I may not try any other powders. Under an inch for 3 shots @ 100 yds.

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:
What do you guys think about the 375 Weatherby for use as a big game rifle for North America? Elk, Bison, Bears, Moose, so on and so forth. A little more range and punch then the H&H, but at the same time still able to fire H&H when needed. I have a 300 Wby currently, but with other medium bore rifles hanging around, I don't feel like I need it anymore. I have stuff for deer and speed goats that is much lighter. I'm leaning towards something based on the '06 case for my shorter range big animal hunting....but for the longer range, why not the 375?

I rechambered a Win Model70 Classic Stainless quite a few years ago now, and love the 375Weatherby to bits. No more case trimming!

The gains in velocity I have made were quite staggering to me, at first, until I realised just how efficient this case is. A 10% increase in powder for a 200fps gain is very efficient.
I get a genuine 200fps gain over the H+H round, and a lot more loads from each hull before they give up the ghost.

The only drawback is that it's heavy, over 10 lbs with scope and ammo. I have used it in the hills, and it does become a burden over a long days hunt.
I also run a 8lb 338WM, and would run that over a 10lb rifle any day in the mountains.

But, if a 375Weatherby is what you want, then go for it, I say!

Cheers.

Snowman, are you getting SubMoa loads with the 250 TTSX and 4320? Do you happen to know your speeds?

MHS,

I'm a 375 fan and really like the 375 WBY. With the 300 gr bullets your touching 2800 FPS for really big stuff and with the 250's you giving up nothing to the big 338s for long range work. What's not to like? I also don't see why the gun with scope needs to weigh more than about 8.5 lb which is very portable in anything but the most grueling mountain hunts. It will recoil more than the H&H version but you have to give up something to get that kind of performance.

Mark

Thanks Mark!

I'm really considering this....just for the fact that like you said, I'm not giving anything up to the fast 338's and I can still fire factory H&H in a pinch. The weight....well, small concern. The rifle I'm thinking about re-barreling is currently right about 10lbs loaded. Not sure how much more weight the bigger diameter barrel will add, even if I get it in the lightest contour possible. Its on a laminated stock, which in of itself is a wee bit porky. However, I'm young, dumb, and in fairly good shape and I carried that rifle quite a bit last year.

Would I be giving up a whole lot if I went with a 22" barrel? I know for sure I don't want 26"

Lee I haven't dragged the chrony to the range yet. It is Feb in Manitoba and that usually means pretty cold. We are getting some of the warmest winter weather on record. However the load data I received from Barnes shows 74 grs of 4320 @ 2786 fps and a max of 79 grs @ 2974. I've worked up to 77 grs with no signs of pressure on the primers. 76 & 77 grs are both under an inch @ 100yds and should be in the 2850-2900 fps range. With the groups I'm getting I see no need to go higher.

Thanks. I've got a CZ 550 in 375 H&H. It shoots great with Reloader 15 and the 270 TSX. However, I'm only getting 2600 fps. At those speeds I don't think the TSX will open at 350+ yards. When I try the 260 AB or the 250 TTSX with R15, things don't work out so well. I've got some N540, and I'm going to try 4320 for the 250-260 grain loads. I'm torn on whether or not to rechamber to the Weatherby. As I'm trying to make this rifle a 500 yard elk gun. I might just have a rifle that doesn't like light bullets.