Anybody here have any good reduced loads for the 375H&H? I've got the rifle and it's without a doubt the "prettiest" rifle I own......one of the black and gray high gloss Remington 700's in stainless with a Q Industries brake on it. THE WIFE LIKES TO SHOOT IT!! Not a bad thing!! Just wondering if anybody had any pet light bullet/ reduced recoil loads they use and would they share. Do I need a 375 in VA? NO!! And don't know if I'll ever get to Africa but I own the rifle andwould like to play with it more. I've shot some 235 grain Speers and even they have a bit of "kill on both ends" effect when stoked ahead of liberal doses of Varget or Accurate 2520!!! I know, I'm a wuss! I prefer 17Fireballs and 204's but just need to use the rifle or sell it!! GHD

310gr hard cast bullets at 1700fps are a real "shoot mice in the garage and Mamma and the neigbors don't hear"" load. I got a 16 year old niece and her 14 year old sister who shoots about a box a week, as long as I cast, size, lube the bullets, and set them down in front of the press. Then she and her sister can go to school the next week and show all the boys (cell phone video) the two of them shooting "Uncle ISS's big rifle".

Rich
DRSS
Searcy .470 NE and Chapuis 9,3x74R
and five CZ's.

26.0-30.0 grs SR4759 under the Speer 235 makes for some very pleasant shooting. Accurate in my rifle, 1500-1700 fps.

I have shot the following loads, and they are accurate in my 375's.

Hornady 220 FP 40gr of Dupont SR 4759, vel @2225fps.

I have killed deer with the following loads:

220 Hornady FP with 60 and 64gr of IMR 3031, vel @2400 to 2500fps.

Speer 235 SP with 64 gr of IMR 3031, vel @2500fps.

My buddy killed deer with this load I did for his gun...

250 Sierra with 64 gr of IMR 3031, vel @2400fps.

One of the posters above mentioned a similar load, heres my latest:

235g Speer, 30.0G XMR5744 w/Fed St Prim.

Accurate but maybe a bit too light kicking as the transition back to full 300g loads is a huge recoil jump. I have used the SR4759 & now the XMR5744. i prefer the SR4759 as it is cleaner burning.

I working on bit less than starting loads for IMR4064 and/or IMR4895 to get at about 2200-2300. Ought to shoot well with not too much but enough recoil for practice.

Pete A.

I have wanted to do the same. Do you guys fill the cases with something when using 25 and 35 grain charges? I've read about fillers, but I've heard some create their own problems.

We have this saying in the Army; "Train Like You'll Fight"

Shoot full-charge loads, you'll be the better for it!

Try Trail Boss, check the Hodgdon manual for details.

I have also used SR4759 with the Speer 235s at 1700 fps.
There is no filler required and they work well on Texas deer.
For elk, I go with Barnes X monolithic bullets at much higher velocity.
Bob Nisbet

Does anyone use filler for the 220 grain Hornady and 30ish grains of powder? Or is it not necessary?

Have bought a Sako L691 375 H&H and have been thinking about practice loads.

Why bother with "mouse loads". The 375 H&H does not have enough recoil to talk about. You want a "reduced load, then shoot 270 grs. in stead of the 300 grs.

Keith

Groundhog, If you are going to step up and shoot a real rifle, then shoot full house loads. I have shot chucks with my first 375 and then with my 458 Lott, again with my new Kimber 375, and still use my double 450#2 "boomer" on chucks and deer.
You will get used to the recoil and you do not have to get hurt doing it either. Load Hornady bullets and plink away. Want lest recoil go to the lightest bullet available and walaw...

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Tebsinar:
I have also used SR4759 with the Speer 235s at 1700 fps.
There is no filler required and they work well on Texas deer.
For elk, I go with Barnes X monolithic bullets at much higher velocity.
Bob Nisbet

Interesting. When we used to shoot handgun match the big fear was that the powder was not up against the primer. Low loads like 3.0 grs Bullseye in a .38 case. We've all heard the story. I was taught to point the gun up between shots and lower slowly. Maybe this was all myth.

I am also one of those who don't find a lot of practical use for "light" loads. Better off just shooting a .222 Remington for shooting enjoyment and making holes in paper and not having to deal with a heavy rifle and all that casting, fussing with special powders and fillers, worrying about leading, etc.

I'm curious whether any of you who are against reduced loads are also against dry-firing?

Sierra makes a 200gr FN jacketed bullet intended for the 375Winchester. They show 375 H&H loads for SR-4759, IMR-3031, 4895, 4064, 4320 ad 4350. One of those starting load should give the least recoil.

Couple of reasons in using reduced loads over full loads.

Money; reduced loads cost far far less. Box of Speer 235's & 38g of powder is pretty low cost. Brass lasts forever if you neck size. Full 300g loads & 70-80g (guess the anti "mouse loads" guys wouldn't even practice with low cost slugs having to use Bear Claws & Sledge Hammers even in practice)) and budget goes pretty quick.

More Shooting time; I like 4-1 light to heavy at each session. 30-40 light loads and 8-10 heavy loads. Often at 50yds POI is very close with both loads. The more you shoot your rifle the better!

I am honest with myself and know about 8 rounds of full loads in the 375 & I'll start flinching. But if I space this with say 2+ magazines of light loads then 1 magazine of heavys in a 40 round sequence and all goes better.

With the light load you still have to fully cycle a full length action versus a 223 or 308 length action. Seems the warning of shooters not familiar enough with their magnum length actions is oft discussed.

Lastly my sons shoot with me often and they have fun with heavy centerfire and lite loads but otherwise wouldn't shoot them at all.

But hey its all about fun if you feel you can't have more fun shooting light loads then live & let live.

Pete A.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodhits:
I'm curious whether any of you who are against reduced loads are also against dry-firing?

With snap-caps it shouldn't give cause for any concerns about mechanical degradation. If the idea is to dry fire a heavy rifle at home, at a target on a television for instance, I think it is a pointless exercise. At a range where the aiming points are at close to hunting ranges then it can be useful practice. We're not talking about pistols here.

I do enjoy using the larger rifles for practice but also try to control costs by using cast bullets where I can. If the loads get too light, though, it doesn't really make for high quality practice.

As a result, my .375 H&H load is 40 gr of AA 5744 284 gr Lyman bullet #377449 cast in wheel weights. Am using Carnauba Red lube.

(I also use cast bullets in the .416, .458, and .470 chamberings. The most accurate have turned out to be the .416 rifles.)

reduced loads in an HH?
270gr hornady factory loads are a POP ...

i hear trailboss and lead bullets are a great combo, seriously

Jeffe,

Agreed ... ,375 H&H is not a big kicker to begin with, but there is the matter of ammo costs and easing young ones into the bigger bores.

The 12 year old's grin resulting from shooting one is very much fun!

Another reason is, I just do not need a full power 375 H&H to shoot deer and pigs at less than 50 yards.

Plus if you shoot a lot it is easier on the gun/scope.

Reduced loads are not a cure-all but I believe that they have a role to play. Any time you shoulder the rifle, obtain a sight picture, and create a clean trigger break you are moving the ball forward.

I am currently working on a load of trail boss & 250gr. lead GC bullets from Mt. Baldy.

Thanks for the info on Trail Boss and SR4759 guys. For those that question the need, I guess I'm somewhat sensitive to recoil. However, I've learned about "other" causes of discomfort reading this forum since the last session with my .375. It's a Ruger #1 FYI. I believe alot has to do with hunching over at the bench rather than being upright. Firing this gun offhand was never as bad and I didn't put 2+2 together. Also it's had a facelift including a 1" Pach Decel pad since then. Oddly I didn't start flinching. As a matter of fact, the heaviest loads, latest in the day, shot the best groups. It just became painful to pull the thing into my shoulder. And this was less than 20 rds. We'll soon see how the pad and position help. There's more 4350 and 300 grainers in the cabinet!

BTW:
A fellow loaded a 375 H&H with a full load of Black Horn 209 black powder replacement powder with a 300 grain cast bullet.
Damn thing got 2000 fps.
That stuff has more power than I figured.

Of course I never was all that bright anyway.

John

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Another reason is, I just do not need a full power 375 H&H to shoot deer and pigs at less than 50 yards.

Plus if you shoot a lot it is easier on the gun/scope.

And they are just plain fun to use.

Also lets you use your rifle a lot. I have used 40 grains of an Australlian powder that is the same as 4227 and 220 grain Horndays in 375. Extremely accurate and a bit over 2000 f/s and I have used it spotlight shooting roos. A 223 ia more efficient but so what. Tyr shooting a 375 for 5 nights straight with full loads

This is interesting. There are two parallel threads going on here; tips and ideas for reduced loads, and a roster of studs who can take whatever the biggest of boomers can put out day or night. Over many years I have introduced many people to shooting with a Sako lightweight "hunter" style rifle in 375 H&H with "introductory" loads. If they wanted more, I gave them a couple hand fulls of mid-level "practice" loads.

If they came back for round three with that glazed over "more, I need more" look, I hooked them up to some decent 270 grain loads. That helped produced a better shooter who concentrated on the fundamentals of trigger squeeze and stock/rifle control.

Professional shooters (at least those whose goal is to win practice 20 dry fire "shots" for every "live" shot. If they are center fire shooters, especially in the off season they often alternate light/.22LR day with full power practice. The way to win is form and getting at least 10,000 to 50,000 hand/eye/motor loops under their belt. That is how they hold their form together over an 80 round match.

If you want to shoot full patch all the time, great. Just vary your positions, and learn how to swing with the recoil instead of standing up to it.

ALL of our abilities to deal with recoil lessen with time.

When/if I am ever cleared to try shooting again I would like to get one of those Sig .22LR training pistols that have the same weight , ergonomics, trigger squeeze etc. of my good old P-220s. Then I imagine that range sessions would start out as 50 rounds or .22LR, 50 rounds of 9mm from a P-226 and then shoot a P 220 until my form starts to break down.

Back to the Ostensible thread; thank you for these suggested lighter loads. I used to use a lot of Accurate 5744, and then 60% of the maximum stated H-4895 load. This will broaden my horizon.

'Tis all good, some is great!