I have some 255gr cast bullets for my 375H&H,i have no idea what powder to use or how fast i should shoot them.

I will only be using these bullets for target practice or maybe the odd feral goat.

Thanks for any help.

TOP_PREDATOR,

This data comes out the the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook Thrid Edition. They are mostly reduced loads. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

.375 H&H Magnum

269gr #2 Alloy, 3.400 Inches OAL

Powder / Starting Gr / Max Gr / Velocity FPS

Red Dot / 10.5 gr / 14.5 gr / 1335 fps

Green Dot / 11.5 gr / 15.5 gr / 1370 fps

Unique / 13.0 gr / 17.5 gr / 1460 fps


I use 265 gr cast gas checked bullets from the Bullet Barn in my 375 H&H using a WLRM primer and 14.0 gr of Unique. I use no fillers, yes, NO fillers required. Never had ignition issues, etc. Not very accurate, but light recoil, fun to shoot kind of load.

Cheers,

Maurice

I've been loading 265grain cast gas-checked bullets designed for the .38-55 in my .375 H&H Magnum. Load is 18gr Herco, W/W primer and case. (Safe in my rifle, but use at your own risk.) Can't seem to find the velocity, but IIRC is was near 1700fps. My grandsons really like to shoot the load because it does have a little recoil, but not like my jacketed loads. It does a good number on deer, too.

TP,

I've used this 38-55-245 RNFP BB bullet from several different commercial casters.

http://www.magmaengineering.com/bulletmolds.php?bm=3855

They are cast from 92/6/2 which I think is too hard for the "pistol powder" loads.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

These bullets over 13 grains of Red Dot and a Rem. 9 1/2 M in a PMP case are super accurate but severely lead the bore when using the hard lube that is the "commercial cast" standard in the States. Removing the supplied lube and re-lubing the bullets with 50/50, or beeswax w/ jojoba and/or castor oil, auto grease or something works well. I have not had good results with paraffin or lanolin. Substituting a F215 can increase velocity by 100 fps.

I bought a Lee mould and melted a few wheelweights just to see if I could cast a bullet and think the WW alloy is better suited to the 1200-1400 fps loads. I air-cooled these bullets so the BHN is supposed to be about 12.

The 92/6/2 bullets are supposed to be 15 or harder. I got poor results when I tried them at higher speed with SR 4759. Maybe they need a gas check for velocities over 1500 or so using mid-range powders.

I've shot these bullets sized .377, .378, .379, and .380. Diameter does not seem to be too important but the .377 were the most accurate. I read that the larger diameters may cause increased wear to the throat.

Looks like WW (or BHN 12) bullets plus a softish lube is what works best for the pistol powder loads.

Being right by Oz, can you get Trail Boss or an Aussie equivalent? Red Dot works great but so does Trail Boss and TB cuts loading time because it takes up much more room in the case, greatly reducing the chance of double charging.

My purpose for the pistol powder/cast loads is general off-hand, snap shooting, and moving target practice. Of course the recoil is missing but any practice is good, these loads are very economical, and they allow me to do much more shooting per session since the barrel does not get hot so quick. I will still shoot plenty of full throttle jacketed loads but it's too time consuming in summer, waiting for the barrel to cool.

To answer your question, if your bullets do not have a gas check then it looks like you should use a flake, double base pistol powder load that produces about 1300-1400 fps. Assuming your bullets are large enough in diameter, if you get leading then try a different lube. Softer lubes can stop leading from bullets that are too hard for the pressure, but if the lube is too slick, too much grease, accuracy will suffer.

I read that ball or spherical pistol powders should never be used for these loads. I have not tried fillers for fear of ringing the chamber and from my testing so far, fillers would not be beneficial.

Am using a Lyman 375449 GC bullet cast in WW, sized to 0.377" and lubed with Carnuaba Red. Am loading w 40.0 gr of AA5744. Little smoke, little lead fouling, and good accuracy in an M70 SS Classic.

Have not checked the velocity by Chrono ... need to do that ... but it is not a low velocity load.

Carnuaba Red produces, by the way, less smoke and less leading than does 50/50 Alox.

Makes a good practice load for the .375 H&H.