375's. These are the only 2 choices, so the H&H, 378, RUM, so on and so forth don't matter and won't be taken into consideration. But, I'm stuck on some projects.

pre-64 375 Ruger which currently needs bottom metal, follower, magazine, and stock

M70 SS Classic which would need all the above, but with more choices and much more economical on parts.

Is there reall really much difference between the two in real world use? I'm starting to find the original pre-64 project is going to require a LOT more money then I had planned on. The 375 Wby could be done faster, easier and cheaper.

Thoughts?

the 375 w or ruger are REALLY close in case capacity -- about 2% difference, with same length barrels, you could except 1/2 a percent greater speed with the W ..

the ruger should require less gunsmithing from a standard length 3.35/3.4 OAL POV

MHS,

I have actually measured the gross water capacity of fired brass:

.375 H&H, WW-Super, greatest capacity make in this chambering: 97.6 grains

.375 Ruger, Hornady, the first and only make of this chambering I know of: 101.1 grains

.375 Weatherby Magnum, Norma, greatest capacity make in this chambering, and the only properly headstamped brass I know of: 111.5 grains

The .375 Weatherby Magnum has a 10.29 % advantage over the .375 Ruger, if you use the proper brass supplied by Norma and used to load the Weatherby factory ammo.

The .375 Ruger has only 90.67 % of the case capacity of the .375 Weatherby Magnum,
if "best case, only case" comparison is made.

A 10% advantage of powder capacity gives a 2.5% advantage in velocity to the .375 WbyMag over the .375 Ruger.

I own both and have shot both.

The .375 Weatherby will do 2740 fps in a 24" barrel with factory 300-grain Nosler, or with my handload.

Therefore, the .375 Ruger with same 24" barrel length (usually not the case with factory rifles)
and same pressure of load (which is the case with proper loadings of both rounds),
the .375 Ruger will give a muzzle velocity of about 2673 fps.
The .375 WbyMag: 2740 fps.

(23"-barreled .375 Ruger African: About 2650 fps MV
20"-barreled .375 Ruger Alaskan: About 2575 fps MV)

Not a big difference, about 2.5% greater velocity for the .375 Weatherby.

The Winchester M70 Classic Stainless makes a sweet .375 Weatherby.
Easily just a rechamber of a .375 H&H.
Just a little more expense and effort to rebarrel.

A Pre-64 M70 Winchester, even a .375 H&H, will require a lot more feed work, etc.

Riflecrank Internationale Permanente

Well, I don't have RIP's experience with measuring these cartridges, but AmmoGuide's computer generation of the capacities only list a 2.5 grain difference between the two. It makes me think that RIP may be firing his 375Weatherby in an oversize chamber that is adding a bit of capacity.

Both rounds would make wonderful hunters. Give yourself a little freebore, say about .15-.2", not over .25", and you should have quite a bit of flexibility with the standard length Ruger.

416Tanzan,
I checked the ammoguide.com-listed case capacities before I posted.
Their listed capacities are independently generated by a computer algorithm proprietary to them, they are not what is reported by submitter of each cartridge.
There is a great variability between makes of brass.

What I reported is the real measurement of the only possible choice of properly headstamped brass:

Hornady .375 Ruger: 101.1 grains water
Norma .375 Weatherby Magnum: 111.5 grains of water

The chamber of my rifle used for this is a re-chamber of a Winchester M70 Classic Stainless .375 H&H, expertly done by Rusty McGee with a Dave Manson reamer.
Not over-sized, nor oval, nor even any cosmetic rings to mar it.
Perfect.

If I had an over-sized chamber, I would not be getting 2740 fps with 300-grainers in a 24" barrel. No way.

Pictured:
L to R
.375 H&H
.375 Wby, Norma-made
.375 Wby, home-made from Hornady basic cylindrical, gives smaller case capacity of 108.2 grains water at 2.850" trim-to length


Brass for the .375 Weatherby of three different makes (and lengths):
2.860" is max length from Norma factory.
2.850" is the .375 WbyMag trim-to length, given to the Hornady "home-made."
When you fire-form the WW-Super .375 H&H to .375 WbyMag it shrinks from max .375 H&H length of 2.850" to 2.832".

Norma___ Hornady___ WW-Super

2.860___ 2.850___ 2.832___ (case length in inches)

228.3___ 248.4___ 248.7___ (case weight in grains)

111.5___ 108.2___ 108.4___ (overflow water capacity)

Case (general) water capacity may be specified for a calibre, but every brass maker case capacity is different.

Even the most common brass like .308W. will have more than 10% case volume capacity difference from different manufacturers.

Pyzda

quote:

Originally posted by Pyzda:
Case (general) water capacity may be specified for a calibre, but every brass maker case capacity is different.

Even the most common brass like .308W. will have more than 10% case volume capacity difference from different manufacturers.

Pyzda

True, a specified case capacity applies only to a specific make of brass.

I did a 375 Ruger on my LH Montana 1999.

I like the 375 ruger...it has all the pop my H&H ever did for sure---not as much as my RUM though!!

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Perfect.

If I had an over-sized chamber, I would not be getting 2740 fps with 300-grainers in a 24" barrel. No way.

100% spot on there Ron.

My son shoots a 375 ruger and I shoot a 375 WBY. In the game fields under real world hunting conditions I can't see any noticable difference between the two. Over the chrony, about 75 to 100 fps with the same bullet.

I prefer the 375WBY as it allows me to use 375H&H ammo if I choose to. I like having choices.