Gentlemen,

You have the title correctly. This is a momentous occaision.

I have before me on my coffee table, not one but two (2) yes two (2) boxes of original .375 Weatherby ammunition. One is a complete box, the other is missing seven cartridges, I had the empties but traded to a cartridge collector awhile back before I took possesion of these boxes.

One box front is very dark and difficult to see, the other is lighter and you can see a crouching tiger on the front. The back is nice and clear. I believe the front of the box was exposed to something as it smells strongly of oil. Both boxes have the address as 2781 Firestone Blvd., South Gate, Cal. (spelling and punctuation copied)

The back reads, "The .375 Weatherby Magnum is an ultra-modern cartridge which produces higher velocity and energy levels than obtainable in any other hunting cartridge of this caliber. This cartridge was designed for the largest of big game animals, including rhino and elephant. Its increased velocity insures more humane kills than larger, slower moving bullets."

Amazing isn't it? This ammo was made before I was born. Now to carbon date some of you gents. How much do you think this ammo cost way back when? The tag on one box, "$8.95".

[ 07-13-2002, 08:29: Message edited by: Roger Rothschild ]

That ammo must have been made around 1950-1954.In 1955 Roy axed the 375,as he brought out the 378 that year,and also the Mark V rifle to house it.BTW,until recently with the advent of the Mark V DGR,the 375 Weatherby had NEVER been made on a Mark V action,exsept for those who chose to rebarrel their 300s and 340s and such.

I always thought the 375 Weatherby was an exellent idea.So is the 378.Why they get such a bad rap,I'll never know.

The 375 Wea Mag was introduced in 1944, and was loaded till shortly after the 378 Wea Mag came out in 1953. There were two factory loads, advertized, as a 270 gr,@ 2940 fps, and a 300 gr @ 2800 fps. this cartridge was only commercially chambered in Weatherby rifles, and because The advertized velocities were a little optimistic,and hand loaders only got a little over 75 fps gain over the old H&H, and it required 9 grs more powder in the Wea to get that 75 fps more than the old H&H, with the 300 gr bullet, and the same IMR4350 . This fact inspired the 378 Wea Mag which actually did get just over 2900 fps,with the 300 gr bullet, and the 375 Wea Mag was dropped.

Your ammo was most likely loaded in 1952, or 3. I remember the tiger box, and it is too bad it is damaged, this would make a fine addition to a cartridge collection. Even sold as single cartridges it is worth quite a bit, but not like a complete box, in perfect shape. It would be a shame to shoot it, however!

Back in 1968 I wrote to Weatherby and asked about getting a 375WM made. They wrote back and said no problem, they could do it in their custom shop. They also zeroxed two pages from an older Weatherby Guide that shows the 375WM chambered in their Mk V rifle. They quote the velocities for the 270gr @ 2940fps and 300grs @ 2800fps. Both of these velocities are very realistic, judging from the rifle I owned.

John S,

No sh!t?That's BIG news to me.Never heard of one and never seen one for sale.If they did make them,they are very,very rare.

Of course the custom shop will make you anything-for a price.I've always wanted a Mark V Deluxe in 458 Winchester Magnum,but I'm not about to shell out $3500 to them to do something I can do with a $900 rifle and a $200 barrel.

Brian,
I imported a ZKK-602 from a gent in Kamloops B.C. and began thinking of converting the rifle to .375 W even before I received it. I had the work started before I even knew Weath was bringing it back. Here I thought I would have something fairely rare. I had been looking at .378 W and the .375 A-Sq but decided on an older more obscure cartridge...before.

Either way I am happy with how it feels. I know there has been much discussion regarding any need for the extra 100-125fps but I wasn't even thinking of that. I juist wanted something different.

Roger,
The 375 Weatherby never really went away after Roy cut it-there are boo-koo Model 70s and 700s that have been rechambered.There's probibly been more H&Hs rechambered to the Weatherby than the AI.

I always did like the round.If they'd have wisened up and made it in the Mark V Deluxe instead of the Sythetic (who's idea was that one?),I would have gotten one of those instead of a 378.

Of course,NOTHING outshoots a 378.

Usually when I get a couple extra boxes of cartridges Ill just skip the fondeling and use the loads to make holes in the boxes..