I want to know what the shortest barrel length for a 375 H&H is without giving up any bullet performance.

No idea, but I would speculate the optimum trade off in handling vs performance is around 22 inch.

There are a lot of considerations: Velocity is one. Others are: Recoil, noise and follow up shot traded of for less fatigue, easy of carry and quick first shot.

fourbore
That is what I had in mind,but there are a few guys going from 18 to 22 inch all telling me how good it works for them.I want it as short as possible,especially in the thickets!

There was a magazine article several years back where they started sawing off a rifle's barrel an inch at a time and recording the velocity loss. Can't remember which magazine but IIRC the velocity lost was about 50fps per inch of barrel removed. Don't know how this would relate to a 375H&H or if you could mitigate the vel loss with a faster powder. So if you had 2500fps with a 25 inch barrel, you could figure 2250 with a 20 inch tube. If you do this, chrono your gun/load now and then let us know what you get when you cut it off.

my thoughts here would be; if you are going with a short barrel, use the Norma 350gr bullets. I owned a Sako mannlicher stocked 375 carbine with an 18" barrel. And, the guy I got it from had had it magnaported. Flamethrower! And Recoil! Woof!

Rich

go to a "Faster" powder .. if you use the same loads in a 25" barrel, you will "give up" performance if you make it 24.999999 ... there aint no free lunch.

20" is about the shortest you can go and adjust loads to make it perform close to 300gr at 2500dfps ... at least the 375ruger can do that!

I personally wouldn't go under 22 for my taste, but I'm sure some people go shorter and are happy. But another idea is rechambering to 375 weatherby or ackley to get velocity back. just an idea.

Presuming that your interest is in terminal performance of the bullet, maximum velocity is not the primary consideration; that is the performance of the bullet on a particular animal. You have three components: the animal, the bullet, the velocity of the bullet at contact. If the proposed barrel length does not compromise terminal performance, then your project is feasible. Bullet selection is key.

There is a member of this forum who identifies himself as Ganyana. He is a PH and the chief examiner for Zimbabwe's PH qualification. He has stated his preferred barrel length for magnum-length actions as 20 inches. His basis is balance and handling of the gun. He has also mentioned the CZ as a candidate for barrel-length modification.

Perhaps he will respond here, but you may have some success sending a PM with any specific questions. Here is a link to a post on the topic:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...501093511#4501093511

Thanks a million for all the info guys,it helped me a lot,until next time!!

I believe the magazine was a reloading magazine...I can't remember the title right now but the old article was written by Phil Sharpes who has been dead for a long time. He did a lot of development work with the 357 magnum and helped design it as well. He used a 30/06 1903 I think for the tests. I've got the article somewhere I think. Phil Sharpe also turned down 30/06 barrels down to 1/8" thickness back to the chamber to see what barrel thicknesses did for accuracy. Sadly I don't think the writeup he did made it into his "complete guide to reloading book" of which I have some signed copies...from 1934

btw, there's no such animal as a BRNO cz550 .. there's the brno602 in 375 OR the cz550 .. these are NOT the same product and never has a CZ550 been marked BRNO

I've got a 20" bbl on a Montana action. 80gr. of H4350 (*I think) gives me 2,550 chrono'ed with a 300gr. Sierra GK.

No issues with flame at all. No issues with pressures. And yes, I fired it at night. In an enclosed indoor shooting range. With the lights out. DAMN that was FUN!

quote:

btw, there's no such animal as a BRNO cz550 .. there's the brno602 in 375 OR the cz550 .. these are NOT the same product and never has a CZ550 been marked BRNO

Even though many writers refer to the CZ as a BRNO- or as "Currently called a CZ550".
As Jeff says "they are different animals'.

Thanks for clearing that out(no such thing as a brno cz550).What about my question dr drol,do you know anything about the length,the other guys gave me some good info,it's one thing I DONT want to get wrong,otherwise I must buy a new barrel and that means a new license and that means wating for another 3 years for a new licence before I can shoot the weapon.

Ahh. Can you buy a rifle barrel in one length and trim it to length over time?

Robert,
That is correct,one can buy a barrel,let's say here in South Africa at Truvelo.If I can remember correctly the barrel is about 50mm in width(raw product)then they press the bore with twist and lastly machine the barrel the thickness of your choice,so let's say u start with a 24,5 inc barrel and later on shorten it to your liking.