Since we're starting over, I'll start a thread on this load.

Russ

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"Out here, 'due process' is a bullet!" -- John Wayne, "The Green Berets"

Well, I can't let the grand ole .375 thread sit here without any posts, so here goes...

I used 76 grains of RL-15 with a 270 grain Hornady Spire point bullet, Norma brass, CCI Magnum primer. This was in my Brno 602 which allowed about 7mm of extra cartridge overall length -- rather like a poor man's .375 Ackley Improved in powder capacity.

I had to back this load off a bit with a Barnes 270 X bullet, so...

As always, work up slowly! This load has been fine in 2 different rifles I've shot it in, but this is a maximum load -- NOT a starting load.

Recoil is, well, kind of stiff: after all, it is a .375 H&H and this is a fairly hot load!

jpb (who, until recently had a bunch more posts!)

72g of RL15 behind a 300g Swift A-Frame for 2550fps. Seems to be a popoluar load. In fact, I think I heard about it on this board.

.375 H&H Magnum Winchester M70 Classic Stainless
225 grain Hornady Spire Point
R-P brass
CCI 250 primer
70 grains of IMR 4064
2710 fps
Deer, black bear and elk load
Moderate recoil, start at 64 grains of IMR 4064 and work up in your rifle

My current "favorite" load in my old pre '64 M70 is:

260gr Nosler partition
WW case
74grs R15
fed. 210 primer
2940fps avg.

Since others have covered the high end:

220 Hornady
39 grains of H4227 Extreme
Fed 210
Just on 2100 f/s in this rifle.

Accuracy. Ragged hole group for 20 shots. Group looks lie one shot froma 700 Nitro

The load in my experience that is most likely to shoot well in a wide range of 375 rifles:

78 grains of Win 760 and 300 Hornady Round Nose and also 300 Sierra Boat tail. Most rifles I have seen do around 2450 f/s with this load.

Best powder in 375 for the best combination of accuracy and velocity....Reloader 15.

Mike

THe load I use most of the time is the NEI 280gr. RNGC with 57gr. of VV N140 for around 2200 fps. This gives moa accuracy and is just comfortable enough to shoot prone without a problem. Cheap too; I can load five rounds for the price of one jacketed bullet. The rifle is a Ruger No.1 Tropical.

285 Speer GS
82 gr IMR 4350
Fed 215
WW Case
3.78" OAL
2725fps Ruger #1 24"
1.5MOA

235 Speer SS
79.5gr H380
Fed 215
WW Case
3.63" OAL
2700fps Weathermark Alaskan 22"
1MOA

300 Nosler Partition
79gr IMR 4350
CCI 250
WW Case
3.77 OAL
2500fps Weathermark Alaskan 22"
1.25MOA
The bolt has to be released to remove an unfired cartridge this long...I figure I'll only be in a hurry to remove an empty. Don't use this length for DG, though!!!

And Jackfish, I lived in Eau Claire for 5 years and loved it...wish I was still there. How is the old range on County Road QQ doing??? Busted many a cap there in the '80's.

Tim

Can someone tell me what the related pressures from all the RL-15 loads are like? Especially in comparison to those from the three 4350 powders? I'm not opposed to using RL-15 (my goodness, it sure seems popular -- not just from postings here, but elsewhere on the Internet), but I would like to keep pressures comparable to no greater than "max" 4350 loads. I'm using a converted Mauser, not a new gun, so I'd like to keep pressures sane. RL-15 burns faster than all the 4350s, but I can't find any .375 H&H Magnum data that lists pressures for it.

Thanks for all the replies, gentlemen.

Russ

Russ,

I would say that the Re 15 loads are generally higher in pressure than the 4350 loads.

4350 is really too slow for the 375, especially with long spitzer bullets, unless you have really compressed loads.

What makes Re 15 so good in the 375 is the burn rate is just right. On one side the 4350s are too slow and on the other side the 4064s, Varget etc. are a bit quick.

Also velocities are helped a bit because Re 15 is a double base powder.

Like other calibers, a 375 that has bedding that is not as good as it might be or a barrel not as good as it might be, will often shoot best with lower pressure loads of slow powders. Thus many 375s will show better accuracy with 4350 type powder than they do with Re 15. In fact I believe that one of the reasons that so many shooters get good accuracy from both the 375 and 416 Rigby is that they are using lower pressure loads of slower powders for the caliber.

Mike

Thank you, Mike.

I'm confident about the bedding and the barrel -- all the usual accuracy-affecting things -- but my gunsmith buddy was adamant about me using 4350 powders to be safe with pressures. He said if I wanted a "new" gun, that could handle hotter pressures, I should have bought one -- which would cost a lot more than what this one is (plus, this one will fit me, a production rifle never does -- I'm 6'5" tall).

So, I might go with "easy" loads of RL-15, but time will tell. I noticed that W760 has pressures close to the 4350s, so I bought some of it. I have all three 4350s, SEVERAL different weights/styles/brands of bullets, and I'll be up and shooting in a week or two.

Again, thanks for the response, Mike.

Russ

Russ,

375s are pretty common in Australia (usually BRNOS) and many shooters use our local powder called AR 2209.

You will know it at as H4350, the one with the short little grains.

Most of these blokes get good accuracy when using the 2209.

The burn rate is actually a couple of grains slower than IMR 4350, about like IMR 4831 but the small grains mean you can get another couple grains into the case.

For whatever reason, the AR 2209 often seems to get better velocities than IMR 4350 when used in a case like the 375, where the powder is too slow get maximum pressures.

Win 760 is a commonly used powder in the 375 and as I mentioned in an above post, 78 grains of 760 and 300 Hornady roud nose is my standard load to first try a 375. If does not shoot OK with that load, then there is usually a problem with the gun or scope/mounts.

Mike

tarbe, the Eau Claire National Rifle Club is still there and going strong. Can't wait to get my W&H 1871 Buffalo Classic rigged for long range to shoot at 600 yards. Otherwise its load work for now and will start hunting practice in another month or so for Wisconsin and North Dakota deer. No Rocky Mountain hunt this year.

jackfish

Jackfish

Glad to hear the club is still going strong. Do you know Rick Janke? He was a silhouette shooting buddy that was pretty active. Lived in Elk Mound. Usually outshot by his wife (LouAnn, I think). I imagine there has been quite a turnover of members in the 17 years since I've been there. Many of the oldtimers are probably dead now (old Doc Akin??).

Anyway, it's neat to have even just a remote connection back to the old club range. I spent countless hours there during my college years, and I have to admit I miss the place and the people. And it sure was fun to stand there back near the road at the silhouette line and launch bullets at the 500 meter rams! Did they ever put a permanent bench up at 600? We only had a portable in years past.

Does the club still do the deer hunting sight-in for the public, prior to the November opener? I used to love working that event...

tarbe, sorry I don't know those people, I've been here 11 years. Of course Laurie Gapko is still around. Still no benches at 600 yards, they still haul out the spotter trailer and benches. The gun sight-in clinic is still held two weekends before the deer gun season. I like to go out and watch the Schuetzen, those guns sure are cool.

Did you have some custom work done on that Weathermark Alaskan?

Laurie is still around? Say hi to him from Tim Arbeiter. I used to waste a bunch of his time when he worked at the University and I was a student. I know he must have cringed when he saw me coming. I was just glad to have a like-minded fellow to talk to. He was a good guy. He liked the odd and old stuff, as I remember.

On the Weathermark, I had the barrel cut to 22" and I bedded the action in Acraglas. That's it. I probably should replace the stock...it is kinda poor as is from Weatherby. But I'm cheap and I guess it works...

Tim

[ 06-01-2002, 17:51: Message edited by: tarbe ]

My favorite powder is WW760. 77.5grains of this powder with either the 300grain Hornaday solid and soft point will achieve 2525-2550fps. I like the FC215Match primer, but the WW LR primer is also good. The WW LMagnumR has caused "blown" groups. The WW primers are pretty hot. Ku-dude

HI,

I am looking at a 375 AI and I am wondering if a 300 grain bullet could approach 2800 fps out of a 25 inch barrel?.I know this is not needed I am just wondering if this is reasonable fps in a 375AI with a 300 grain bullet or is this to much?. Thanks, Kev

BTT, just fishing for more favorite .375 H&H Magnum loads. Might as well revive the thread from time to time.

Russ

I've updated my 225 grain Hornady load.

.375 H&H Magnum Winchester M70 Classic Stainless
225 grain Hornady Spire Point
R-P brass
CCI 250 primer
70 grains of H4895
2850 fps
Found this one shoots .9" three shot 100 yard groups, probably me opening the groups to 1.2" with the fourth and fifth shot
Deer, black bear and elk load
Moderate recoil, start at 64 grains of H4895 and work up in your rifle. Maximum is 74.8 grains.

Does anyone have any more loads for the 1.800 - 2,100 fps range?

Thanks in advance,
Herb

I like the 350 gr. Woodleigh in front of 72 grs. of RL-15 in my gun. That is max in my gund and may be too hot for yours..Start at 69 and work up.......I also like the North Forks, GS Custom solids and HV, and Noslers...I only hunt big stuff with my 375 so I have no use for bullets lighter than 300 grs. with a GS monolithic being an exception where I use the 260 gr., but it penitrates as well as any 300 it seems.

[ 12-10-2002, 05:12: Message edited by: Atkinson ]

A good lesson on my above post...I went back and reread it and I had quoted my 416 Loads for the 375, that could be interresting, it would surly give outstanding velocity...at any rate I edited the post and its ok now.

Win Mod 70 Safari Express
250gr Sierra Gameking
Winchester brass
72.5 gr. RL-15
CCI 250 primers
5 shots in 1.5" group; 4 of the shots in less than 1"

[ 04-08-2003, 02:35: Message edited by: DennisHP ]