375 Barnes Banded Solids

Anybody else have a challenge in the overall length with this bullet?? I'm loading for a Model 70 375 H&H - made in 2001, I think. SAAMI overall length is 3.600". But this seems too long for the magazine, and it certainly doesn't feed well. Looks like the shape of the bullet may have something to do with it. If I shorten the OAL to something around 3.560, it does better.
Thanks for any help. Hope I'm not alone in having this problem.......
20 August 2006, 20:07
jstevensI have some, but haven't loaded any .375's yet. It feeds fine in my .416 Rigby though and is only abour .050 off the lands. Measure the mag box with some calipers and start your load approximately .040 shorter than the box and go from there. Also don't assume a load will shoot worse if you have to seat if a ways off the lands as that is far from being a universal truth. I have seen several Weatherbys with the long freebore that will pretty much 1-hole (including my .257) and they usually shoot best at Weatherby's specified overall length. Most any rifle won't feed well if the OAL isn't at least .030 shorter than the mag. box, at least that is my experience for what it's worth. When reloading SAAMI specs for length are meaningless, I couldn't care less what their specs are as the rifles are individuals and handloading is about making optimum loads for YOUR rifle. SAAMI is about making loads for everybodys and I don't care about whether mine will work in my neighbors rifles.
20 August 2006, 23:25
FjoldI had the same issue with the 300 grain banded solid in my M70. I seat them just at 3.550" but at any length they will not group in my gun worth a crap. The Barnes TSX will go Sub MOA all day and less than 1/2 of that if I do my part but the solids group anywhere from 1.5 - 3" with every load that I try.
The 300 grain Hornady encapsulated solids will group in 1"-1.5" in the same group as my TSX load but everyone says that the encapsulated solids don't perform well on game so I'm still trying to find a solid load for my 375.
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21 August 2006, 04:02
Hog Killerquote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
...I'm still trying to find a solid load for my 375.
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NF, FP or CP
Hog Killer