Hey does anybody know what the ballistics of a .375 Imp. would be? I was thinking of getting a rifle chambered for this, but would like to know if its "much" better than the H+H. And if anyone knows where on the net I could find some info to compare the 2?

Hello cmfic1,

Do a search on this forum and you will find many many posts about the 375 improved. It is mostly a question of taste... I get depending on the day between 2550 and 2600fps with a 300gr bullet and that is good enough for me. I don't think that the improved versions are much better. I think that they have a slight advantage when loading 300gr monolithic like the Barnes since they are so long and take up so much powder space!!!

Have fun,

Enigma

I would expect gains of approximately 150fps over the standard H&H. Like any gain in any caliber, it is worth it if you want it.

The 375 Wetherby is basically that, and you should have little trouble finding data and performance for it. As far as whether it is an improvement, that is up to debate.

I'm in the camp that thinks, if the 375 H&H isn't enough, then go to a heavier larger dia bullet vs pushing .375" bullets faster. That isn't to say a faster a 375 isn't a good thing, just not the approach some of us would take.

I actually have a .416 Rem. Mag. Just a little heavy for some of the hunting I am wanting to do,. The main reason I want a .375 of one flavor or the other, is for an upcoming Brown Bear hunt I am booking this winter. The 2nd reason is just because I want one, I have previously had an H+H in a Ruger, and would like to acquire another. Thanx for the replies guys, keep 'em coming.

I can't think of a better brown bear cartridge than the 416 rem mag, but that's no reason not to get a 375

I was really throwing around getting a .404 Dakota made, but not being that great on a comp. I am having some serious issues with trying to find some ballistic info on any of the Dakotas!

Doesn't Dakota list the velocities of their factory loads on their website?
Anyway I think the 375 Dakota does about 2850-2900 with a 270 and about 2650 with 300g. The 416 Dakota does about 2550 with a 400g. And since the 404 is the same case necked up, you should get a little more than that in .423" bullets. (Although I have to say, I love the idea of every one of the Dakota rounds BUT the 404!)
Be aware that when you look at 375 Wby data, that's high pressure and long throat. The factory load for the 300g was 2800fps!

Many use the "improved" versions, and are quite fond of them. Myself I think combining 375 H&H and improved is an oximoran. But it is really a matter of personal preferences. I launch a 300 grain bullet at about 2550 with the about the same pressures as an '06 that is good enough for ME.

Thanx Bwana-be, your right about the ballistics on their page, I was just looking for a little more, I will keep searching. As far as the Weatherby is concerned, I have zero interest in getting a gun chambered in one. Maybe you could share why you dislike the .404 Dakota. I am always willing to learn some new stuff.

Hi cmfic1
I have a 375 Weatherby and 2700 is very easy to achieve with a 300 grain bullet but my advice would be to shoot the 350 Swift A-Frames in your 416 Rem. You could reach 2650 fps with it and have some real stopping power. I use my 416 Taylor up North with the 350's and it an awesome round.
Take care
Dave

Paul H and 470 Mbogo are right. Just look at the 375 Weatherby. I have a 375 JRS Magnum. an "improved 375" or the 375 on the 8mm Rem mag case. It sits in the gun rack and whenever I need a 375 I pick up my 375 H&H in a Model 70 Winchester. Personally, it is not worth the trouble. Loading and shooting just to fireform ammo, blah, blah blah. I went the whole wildcat round several years ago. THought you just weren't in the know unless you shot one. Then I got real. Figured I would rather hunt than load ammo twice to shoot it once. Its not worth the gains in FPS and if you need more power than a H&H, go to a larger bore size. I am currently thinking about setting the barrel back on my Mauser 375JRS and recutting a H&H chamber. I still think about a 375 Weatherby though. NO, NO NO. Get you mind on something else.
Doug

quote:

Originally posted by cmfic1:
I actually have a .416 Rem. Mag. Just a little heavy for some of the hunting I am wanting to do,. The main reason I want a .375 of one flavor or the other, is for an upcoming Brown Bear hunt I am booking this winter. The 2nd reason is just because I want one, I have previously had an H+H in a Ruger, and would like to acquire another. Thanx for the replies guys, keep 'em coming.

Do you mean light in weight or lighter recoil?

The 375 AI is kind of sharp in the recoil department in a light gun like a Whitworth. It also doesn't kill any better than the standard.

I had one, liked it and might do it again but only if I stumbled on a great deal. If my standard 375 isn't enough I am inclined toward my 416, not faster 375 bullets.

I meant lighter in weight.

quote:

Originally posted by Magnum Hunter1:
Paul H and 470 Mbogo are right. Just look at the 375 Weatherby. I have a 375 JRS Magnum. an "improved 375" or the 375 on the 8mm Rem mag case. It sits in the gun rack and whenever I need a 375 I pick up my 375 H&H in a Model 70 Winchester. Personally, it is not worth the trouble. Loading and shooting just to fireform ammo, blah, blah blah. I went the whole wildcat round several years ago. THought you just weren't in the know unless you shot one. Then I got real. Figured I would rather hunt than load ammo twice to shoot it once. Its not worth the gains in FPS and if you need more power than a H&H, go to a larger bore size. I am currently thinking about setting the barrel back on my Mauser 375JRS and recutting a H&H chamber. I still think about a 375 Weatherby though. NO, NO NO. Get you mind on something else.
Doug

With the nearly straight body on the 375 JRS vs the heavily tapered H&H, you'll have set the barrel back something like 2 to 2 1/2" to clean it up to an H&H Chamber, so not really an option.

If you don't mind reloading, the .425 Express is a neat compact round that would fit this application well.

PaulH,
I have a barrel that has a very long straight chamber area, 3 inches plus. I am not sure what make the barrel is but I believe there would be plenty of metal left for a rechamber. It has an unusually long chamber area.
Doug

Get the perfect .375 improved, The .375 Weatherby Magnum. I have both and the Weatherby is head and shoulders above the H&H. Best part is you can shoot .375 H&H ammo in the .375 Weatherby with very little to no loss of performance on the part of the H&H. Lawdog

quote:

Originally posted by cmfic1:
Maybe you could share why you dislike the .404 Dakota. I am always willing to learn some new stuff.

Well, the reason, sound or not, is that basically they just took out the taper and shortened the neck, but didn't really improve the round. Modern pressures allow for 400/2400 already as I understand, and the main thing the Jeffery has going for it is nostalgia of the classic.
Taking the 404 case with less taper and necking it to modern calibres was a great idea. Assuming a need for a 3 1/3" round, the 330 Dakota is to the 404 what the 300 Win was to the H&H. And for that matter, the 416 Dakota is as good a use of the 404 case as the 358 STA is of the H&H case. But the 404 Dakota does nothing good as for as I can tell.
"Love that 404 with its excellent bullet selection, but your action is just a little too short? We've got your answer."
Nowadays most medium actions are just long actions with a block in the mag, and even if you're using an old Mauser, it's nothing to open it up to 3.5" COL. If they had just necked up their 416 Dakota (3.6") then it might have been something different. Better? I don't know.
Also rubs me wrong, their blanket assertion that the 404 Dakota bests the 416 Rigby on all accounts. Really?
JMHO.
Oh, and as for loading 375 Wby twice to shoot it once, why not just neck basic brass?

quote:

I have both and the Weatherby is head and shoulders above the H&H.

How so, Lawdog-Gary? Terminal performance on game? Speed through a chrono? Flatter shooting (a H&H is easily a 350 yd + rifle)?

If it's just #'s versus actual field performance between the 2, I have to wonder about what you've said here, no flame meant.

DB

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
The 375 Wetherby is basically that, and you should have little trouble finding data and performance for it. As far as whether it is an improvement, that is up to debate.

I'm in the camp that thinks, if the 375 H&H isn't enough, then go to a heavier larger dia bullet vs pushing .375" bullets faster. That isn't to say a faster a 375 isn't a good thing, just not the approach some of us would take.

Read this several times. It's worth your effort.

My gut feeling , though I've got no prove of it ,is that the fast 375 s would be pretty darn effective on large bear . I have a feeling you would never be able to tell the difference between a fast 375 and one of the normal speed 416 s in the field .

Reguardless the 375 Weatherby or other improved version , is a wonderful cartridge for the handloader , and Saaed's luck with a .375 300 gr monolithic slug @2700 fps , as well as Atkinson's observations on the effectiveness of that combo , tells me it's quite a worthwhile level of performance .

FWIW , I gained a good 200 fps from re-chambering from H&H to Weatherby .

My gut feeling is a 416 pushing a 350 gr to 2700 fps is day in day out going to be a better choice than any 375 against the great bears.

The African calibers are IMHO the best choice for the big bears, but not with the heavy for caliber bullets. Go 270 gr .375, 325-350 .40 and 400 gr 45 and load em in the 2500-2700 range and you have the combo.

Why anyone who has a 416 would consider building a 375 for use on bears is beyond me, but to each their own.

I've shot a 375 of one flavor or another for over 20 years and I think the Weatherby version is a worthwhile step up from the H&H. I've recently thinned out my over 30 cal rifles and Lon Paul is building me a 375 Weatherby. I would not put that kind of money into a harder kicking rifle if I did not feel it was worth it. It also is simply the easiest way to improve 375 H&H performance without going to a heavier and less handy rifle. The 375 Improved versions are fine but why bother with case forming etc. plus the headstamp issue in Africa if you don't have to.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Dungbeetle:

quote:

I have both and the Weatherby is head and shoulders above the H&H.

How so, Lawdog-Gary? Terminal performance on game? Speed through a chrono? Flatter shooting (a H&H is easily a 350 yd + rifle)?

If it's just #'s versus actual field performance between the 2, I have to wonder about what you've said here, no flame meant.

DB

In my opinion an increase of 200 fps. is an improvement. As the .300 Weatherby is an improvement over the .300 H&H so is the .375 Weatherby over the .375 H&H. I'm not saying the H&H versions are not any good, they are excellent cartridges. I own both along with my Weatherby's. But the Weatherby’s offer greater velocity, flatter trajectory which is an improvement. What makes the Weatherby versions PERFECT to me is they can also shoot the H&H ammo should the need ever arise. This you cannot do with the H&H. Also by being able to use H&H brass this brings down the cost of reloading. I like my H&H’s but I really love my Weatherby’s. Lawdog

Quote..
Why anyone who has a 416 would consider building a 375 for use on bears is beyond me, but to each their own.

Paul H, Your right I do have a .416, but as I stated earlier, it is a little heavy for packing around, on what could be a physically demanding hunt! I would use it for a main rifle in Africa, with whichever .375 I decide to build as a back up/plainsgame rifle. I really like my .416, but was just wondering about the .375's, as I used to have one as well and wouldnt mind getting another. But i think if I decide to get one, it would probably be just the plain old nostalgic .375 H+H....but the .404 Dakota has me a little intrigued

The 375 Improved is not a good cartridge. If brass is made from the standard .375 HH the expansion web will thin during fireforming. Skip over this cartridge.

If you want something larger in capacity use the 375 Weatherby or 375 RUM.

I'm discovering that it is often more expedient to buy or build rifles in factory calibers as if it's made I *should* be able to buy loaded ammo for it somewhere. I came to this realization when it dawned on me that its more fun to shoot than tinker. Sometimes you just don't want to sit at the loading bench, ya know?

As such, I think I'd pick either a 375 H&H or a 404 Dakota and skip the H&H AI all together.

Also, wouldn't a 338 Win Mag kill a brownie just as well?

I know what you mean Tex21, but I love shooting at the bench, and just shooting period. I also have a Mark Bansner .338 Win. mag...Guess I could use that as well....wait a minute, nope wanna build a different gun

The .375 Holland & Holland cartridge cannot be improved.

quote:

In my opinion an increase of 200 fps. is an improvement. As the .300 Weatherby is an improvement over the .300 H&H so is the .375 Weatherby over the .375 H&H. I'm not saying the H&H versions are not any good, they are excellent cartridges. I own both along with my Weatherby's. But the Weatherby’s offer greater velocity, flatter trajectory which is an improvement. What makes the Weatherby versions PERFECT to me is they can also shoot the H&H ammo should the need ever arise. This you cannot do with the H&H. Also by being able to use H&H brass this brings down the cost of reloading. I like my H&H’s but I really love my Weatherby’s. Lawdog

I see your points. Thanks, Lawdog.

DB

I am satisfied with the 375 H&H as is and consider blowing out the case a waste of time and money....

If I to need a more powerful 375 then I would opt for a 375/404 such as Saeed shoots..It very effective on dangerous game with monolithic bullets at 2900 plus....

I personally opted for the 416 Rem as I think killing power on big mean animals comes a lot from the cross section of the bullet....

A 350 gr monolithic bullet at a chronographed 2620 FPS in my .416 Rem is as flat shooting as a 180 gr. 30-06 and does major damange to Buffalo or Bear....

A 400 gr. at 2400 FPS shows no mercy to anything that walks, talks, breaths, or crawls...