I know every rifle and powder lot, etc. can be different, that being said, is it realistic/possible to shoot 300 gr. bullets in the 2600-2750 fps range, with safe pressures, if the chamber is intentionally cut with a longer throat which would enable bullets to be seated further out? This would be a standard 375 H&H with a max 26" barrel. I know I could go with a 375 Wby and be done, but wondering if these velocities can be achieved safely with a standard 375 H&H.

Hello Prewar,

I'm no expert but 2600 fps is achievable most of time with a 300gr bullet in std 375H&H. I would consider this a pretty hot load but I doubt that it would be unsafe when using the right powder, bullet combo. Hodgdon list the H4350 for a max velocity of 2650 fps with a Sierra boat tail... in a 24 inch barrel!

Enigma

quote:

but wondering if these velocities can be achieved safely with a standard 375 H&H

No.

lawndart

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
[QUOTE]but wondering if these velocities can be achieved safely with a standard 375 H&H

No.

How about 2600-2700?

You can do 2600 fps safely with H4350 and a short 300 gr bullet like the round nose Hornaday . The Hodgdon data for this weight shows very moderate pressure . I can't say if it would work with the longer bullets .

And at least some H&H Winchesters are cut with quite a long throat . My old push feed had over 0.400 inch freebore .

I can't safely do it and I have Three 375 h&h rifles. I'm talking about chronographed measurements and not what some publisher says you can get. If you want to acheive just that alone I suppose if you tried enough different bullets and powders maybe you could. If I would want that kind of velocity safely I'd rechamber to 375 Weatherby or just go to a 375 RUM.

People who want the next cartridge level of performance out of the one they have in their hands are idiots. After all, there are several readily available chamberings that safely do what you are asking for. If there is something wrong with 2500 fps for a 300 gr bullet out of a 375 H&H, it went unnoticed in the 20th century.
Paul

I was refering to actual chronographed velocity in my Winchester .

If using improved modern powders and other components to boost the performance a bit from some of the old cartridges is idiocy , there are for certain sure a whole lotta idiots posting on these pages.....

Prewar You can have the rifle rechambered to 375WBY for little money. This will give you 2700-2800 fps with a 300gr bullet, there is plenty of loading data in Saeeds reloading pages. Also ,when you fire 375HH cartridges you get fire formed brass for the Weatherby cartridge. good luck Rug.

quote:

Originally posted by ppod:
People who want the next cartridge level of performance out of the one they have in their hands are idiots. After all, there are several readily available chamberings that safely do what you are asking for. If there is something wrong with 2500 fps for a 300 gr bullet out of a 375 H&H, it went unnoticed in the 20th century.
Paul

That's pretty big talk for a guy whose brainpot probably sports a slice of cheddar and cheers the Packers every Sunday

Gunslinger I'm more along your lines of boosting performance with modern componets and a little smithing. If I can squeek an extra 50-100 fps and keep it safe, why not.

Rug, thanks for the input. I have always been a magnet for extra velocity which is why the 375 Wby appeals to me. But at the sametime, the nostalgia of the ole H&H, feeding characteristics and 100 years of taking game are very nice. It obviously must work. I don't want to make the H&H something that it's not and most likely whatever I'm shooting won't know the difference between 2600 and 2800 fps. So anyway, there's my dilemma.

I agree with the others, if you want more velocity go to one of the other cartridges. I purposely load my .375 H&H to the original 2500-2600 FPS with a 300 grain Swift A-Frame. I've only shot about 25 animals with this and they all dropped dead. The longest shot was a Kudu at about 275 yards (the PH's guess, mine was about 225). I've never recovered a bullet and I have shot length wise thru an Eland. I really can't take the recoil but then again, I'm getting to be a wimp in my old age.

It is gratifying to see reference to the .375 Wby loading data page of Saeed's pages.

Please note that I discovered H4350 Extreme after that data was tabulated. That is THE powder for 300 grainers and lesser bullets in the .375 Wby.

2800 fps with 300 grainers in the .375 Wby is attainable with H4350. Just load it to 2742.5 fps for best results with 300 grainers.

And I will echo the others above on trying to get .375 Wby ballistics out of the .375 H&H: No.

RIP......don't be too sure H4350 is "THE" powder for the Weatherby , unless you have already tried Ramshot Hunter as well.....(grin)

quote:

Originally posted by sdgunslinger:
RIP......don't be too sure H4350 is "THE" powder for the Weatherby , unless you have already tried Ramshot Hunter as well.....(grin)

Does Ramshot offer any pressure data for their loads? The H4350 does offer attractive vel at reasonalbe pressures (per Hodgdon).

Ja, O.K., I'll look into Ramshot.
MRP is dandy too, and RL-19 and RL-22.
Your mileage may vary, but in three rifles I have tried, the new "H4350 Extreme" is very good.
AA4350 is better than IMR 4350.
AA4350 is closer to H4350 Extreme than is the IMR4350, at least in the lots I have tried.

Your lots and mileage may vary, but that is a pretty good neighborhood of powders for the .375 Wby.

Shorter lead core 300 grainers are easy to work with.

For the long monometal copper or brass 300 grainers, seating out to 3.75" in a longer box is a help.

85 to 88 grains of H4350 Extreme will be a max load depending on the rifle, the bullet, and the brass. Start at 80 grains and work up, as usual.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
Does Ramshot offer any pressure data for their loads? The H4350 does offer attractive vel at reasonalbe pressures (per Hodgdon).

I just checked the Ramshot web site and they list the pressures with their load data.

http://www.ramshot.com/powders/

-Bob F.

Prewar,

.375 H&H, 300 gr. FMJ-RN 8509
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
2705/4873 2386/3792 2089/2908 1817/2198 1568/1637 1354/1221

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
-1.50 2.30 0.00 -10.10 -31.30 -66.50

Not bad for a .375 H&H, 24" Barrel - 2705 fps - Factory ammo.

Roland

Wow Roland, that is darn good! Which factory stuff were you shooting, i.e. manufacturer? Thx for the info.

Is that the Heavy Magnum stuff from Hornady or the Federal stuff?

Factory quoted ballistics are most times 100 fps optimistic.

Erratic and 2600 fps is what I have known one person who chronographed that stuff to get.

Of course by using the mysterious Heavy Magnum technology, we could turn a .375 Wby into a .378 Weatherby, but that would be a step in the wrong direction.

You will not find that ammo in most places nor be able to duplicate those quoted ballistics at home when reloading.

It can be done and even gleen 2700 FPS, but your operating at max pressure...The point being, what do you think all that velocity will gain you?...I will answer that question for you, absolutly nothing in killing effect nor enough to make any difference in trajectory...

I shoot my .375 h&h, 26" barrel at 2500 TO 2550 FPS and it works quit well and I have never had any problems in Africas extreme heat....Tried it both ways, and found no difference in killing effect BTW....

Yep,
Ray can get 2700 fps with any 300 grainer in the .375 H&H using a 28" barrel, a 48" drop tube, his special lot of IMR-4831, and a chrony specially tuned for total eclipse on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls.

Ray better tell Saeed he is silly for shooting a .375/404 with Walterhogs at +/- 2700 fps.

At least Saeed gets lower pressures at 2700 fps than Ray's .375 H&H loads.

quote:

Originally posted by Prewar70:
Wow Roland, that is darn good! Which factory stuff were you shooting, i.e. manufacturer? Thx for the info.

Prewar,

I get 2742 fps with a 26†barrel – Measured with a Digital Chronograph – Hornady .375 H&H 300 GR Full Metal Jacket Round Nose HEAVY MAG - https://www.hornady.com/shop/

Roland

quote:

Originally posted by Roland1:

quote:

Originally posted by Prewar70:
Wow Roland, that is darn good! Which factory stuff were you shooting, i.e. manufacturer? Thx for the info.

Prewar,

I get 2742 fps with a 26†barrel – Measured with a Digital Chronograph – Hornady .375 H&H 300 GR Full Metal Jacket Round Nose HEAVY MAG - https://www.hornady.com/shop/

Roland

Wow, indeed. That is what I expect out of my handloads (and the Wby factory loads) in a 24" .375 WBY.

I suppose this is 62,000 psi if Hornady sells it.

It is nice to be able to roll your own and not be dependent on a factory load.

And accuracy?

Oh well, according to Ray it is all for naught anyway, totally useless to excede the classic .375 H&H ballistics.

Roland and Saeed and I better just hang it up.

Rip,

The biggest improvement in the firearm industry the last 15 years has been in ammunition development and bullet design, not only Hornady and Federal but companies like Nosler and many others are consistently striving to improve performance and accuracy. They have the equipment and resources, it is their business and with today’s technology, what is new today might be old tomorrow. Regarding accuracy most factory ammo today shoots moa or better.

Roland