Friends-

I am in the early dreaming/planning stages of a .375H&H. My question(s) relates to the specifications for the barrel.

Barrel Length - Seems like 24 inches is the standard?

Barrel Contour - I have not a clue but, I am guessing a #4 contour?

Recoil lug - Do I need one or not?

Twist - I have not a clue?

Anything else - What am I missing?

Thanks in advance.

[quote]Barrel Length - Seems like 24 inches is the standard?- subjective opinion I like 23"

Barrel Contour - I have not a clue but, I am guessing a #4 contour?-

Again this is a personal taste item, do you want heavy or are you trying to keep your gun lighter. A good rule of thumb is .125" x 2 plus your major bore (groove) diameter is a min. diameter. Some barrel manufactures will go down to .116-.120", not all though. Using the above formula thats .125 x2 = .250" + .375" = .625". Ok here is the rub, this number is usually rounded up to the next available contour. In this case a #4, if you wanted to pay for a custom contour a #3 1/2 would actually work in the 375. All of the above is based on CM steel, if your looking at stainless add one contour.

Recoil lug - Do I need one or not?

Not absolutely neccessary, highly recommended though

Twist - I have not a clue?

Anywhere from a 1-10 to 1-15, although I think Browning built some with some 1-16 years ago. The real answer here is answered in a question, what weight bullets are you intending to use? Always decide and range what you are planning to use in bullets first and adjust your twist accordingly. For very heavy go slower and very light go faster. If you don't have a clue ( and you should before buying a barrel) a good compromise for all bullet weights is a 1-12.

Anything else - What am I missing?

SOme of us in Gundom are picky you might consider custom barrel contours, such as a H&H or a pre 64 Win model 70 clone. This a small extra charge usually for them to dial in a custom profile on the machinists lathe.It does allow you to get the lightest barrel many times though as you can get a 3 1/2 custom contour with a H&H profile if you wish.

Another item is stainless or CM what type of steel do you want. Another item is do you want cut or button rifling? Most barrel makers do one type or the other, not both. Button rifling is the more common, and a few still make cut rifling. I own both and both work, I favor cut rifling though. But as I said I own both and arguements can be made in favor of both. If your on a budget or a tight timeline stay with button rifling.

A last item you will very soon need to address is the crown on your barrel, I use a target crown on all my customs, doesn't matter who's barrel I use this is a none negotable item on my build rifles.

Hope this helps

I have a 375 blank ordered from PacNor right now for a Model 70 project I have "in process."

I ordered a Remington factory Magnum profile as it is a shade lighter than a #4 but still cleans up the factory Winchester barrel channel. I'll finish it at 25 inches as I don't like short barrels.

I specified a 1 in 12 twist, 5 groove. I am not using a barrel lug but the action will be steel bedded into whatever stock I settle on.

Good luck!

Mark,

My .375s have all been 12" twist, and I haven't run into any limits using that (I don't shoot over 300 grain bullets).

The .375 H&H as the Brits originally built them were 25" or 25.5" in length. I have used 23.6" (600 mm), 24" and 25.5". I can't say I noticed any difference in field shooting.

Most recently I had a Lothar Walther barrel at 24" and that barrel like to shoot everything into the same group regardless of weight or manufacturer.

I don't have barrel lugs, and none have shoot loose yet.

FWIW, my 375 has a 25 inch barrel, but I fell it's too long when sneaking around in dense bush. I'm shortly going to have it cut down to 22 inches. Muzzleblast will of course increase, but the practicality of a shorter barrel outways that IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by schromf:
[quote]
SOme of us in Gundom are picky you might consider custom barrel contours, such as a H&H or a pre 64 Win model 70 clone. This a small extra charge usually for them to dial in a custom profile on the machinists lathe.It does allow you to get the lightest barrel many times though as you can get a 3 1/2 custom contour with a H&H profile if you wish.

Schromf,

Do you know of a barrel manufacturer that has already made a barrel in the Pre-64 M70 375H&H contour?

Thanks.

Tim

Sure do, talk to Woodie at Lothar Walther or Krieger, both have custom programs ready to go on their CNC lathes and they download and charge you a minimal setup fee.

Spoke with Woody at Lothar Walther previously, and he only has the standard contour (30-06, 270, etc.) with the dognut. He does not have the 375H&H contour. I actually want the .458 WM contour which is the same as the 375H&H.

I like Lothar Walther and I'm having a 3rd LW barrel being made right at the moment. However, if Krieger has the Pre64 375H&H contour ready to go, I may go with Krieger.

Thanks.

Tim

30 Caliber Mag Fan,
You got it figured very well for a .375 H&H:

Barrel length: 24" is my favorite (anything from 23" to 25")

Barrel contour:
#3 for a featherweight (yes, 0.625" at the muzzle) with a 1 pound synthetic stock,
#4 for a medium weight rifle, or
#5 for a heavy sporter with a heavy stock to balance it

No secondary recoil lug on the barrel is needed.

12" twist is almost universal for any .375 caliber rifle, and I would need no other twist.

Friends-

Thank you one and all for your input.

I failed to mention that the barrel is going on a sporterized 1917 Enfield. It will be a twin to a .300 H&H I have on the same action. Given the heft and weight of the action, I will probably do the following:

Barrel length - 24 inches

Barrel contour - #4 with 1.25" shank for the Enfield

Twist - 1 in 12"

Lug - undecided still; Enfields don't have the largest recoil lug in the world, it may make since to have one on the barrel.

Any other thoughts you might have will be appreciated.

Thanks,

quote:

Spoke with Woody at Lothar Walther previously, and he only has the standard contour (30-06, 270, etc.) with the dognut. He does not have the 375H&H contour

Hmmm, Woodie is a very capable barrel maker, in no uncertain terms he knows his shit so to speak. Everytime I have talked to him I walk away with a almost information overload, he really impresses me with his technical knowledge of barrel making.

If Woodie doesn't do a 375 or 458 Winchester profile it is because he doesn't have the rifles to copy the profile. I am not at home right now but if your really serious I will pull my model 70 apart and get you some dimensional drawings, he will need to program it but once he has the dimensions I am certain Woodie can reproduce that profile.

I also spoke with Krieger in the past, and I know they have the 30-06 etc profile, I did not inquire about the heavy calibers.

Like I said if you can wait till I get home at Xmas I will pull my 375 apart and get you some dimensions, once Woodie got that programmed and dialed in others could buy it. I don't have a drawing package but I could hand draw the critical dimensions, or you could wait until I get bak in Jan sometime and I could get this done up in a Visio file ( autocad is possible also but would take longer), easy and quick would me to hand draw it though and .pdf the drawing so it could be electronically transfered.

Let me know, who knows I might want to use it in the future myself.

I got to state right up front that the extra screw on the model 70's is more trouble than its worth in my opinion. Very original, but also it can be a PIA if it isn't tensioned just right and unless I had an original stock I was fitting a new barrel into, I would delete the feature. A great percentage of old model 70's that had accuracy problems were directly related to that screw and barrel tension. The second item I check when I have an old model 70 that isn't grouping is check the torgue on the three screws and barrel tension. First is insure that the condition of the barrel is satifactory.

A two screw setup and free floating is a much better setup in my mind. Again if you have an original stock; that is a horse of a different color entirely.

I think that Winchester's 24", post-64 Model 70 375 H&H barrel contour is very tough to beat.

AD

Schromf,

I am in no hurry given that I have 3 ongoing and unfinished projects at the moment.

I currently have a Pre-64 M70 Long Magnum action (I believe it was originally a 300H&H) and a Pre-64 M70 low comb Supergrade stock from a 375H&H. I am thinking about having it barreled in 458Lott and I would like to stick with the Pre-64 barrel contour for the 375H&H/458 WinMag.

If you get a chance to send Woody the details/dimensions, it would be greatly appreciated and I would happily wait until you have time to do it.

Tim