I am looking for some ballistics (velocities) of the JDJ rounds. I am going to buy an Encore in the very near future, and I am thinking about JDJ calibers.

I am looking at the 375 JDJ seriously, but don't know a whole lot about it. Any first hand experience? Also, anyone with 375-06 JDJ info? I like the bigbores, so any insight on those would be greatly appreciated.

A Smith

Seenyore Smith:
I just touched off my G2 with a factory .375 JDJ barrel on it today for the first time. We were just plinking with iron sights, and the load was 45 grains H4895 under a Sierra 250-grain BTSP -- probably 300 fps from top-end. Recoil was considerable but manageable with the right position for the left hand so it didn't get whacked with the trigger guard spur. I think 300-grain bullets at full speed would be on the edge of not fun without gloves or a good rest, but certainly practical in the game fields, where recoil is not a factor.
I am looking forward to working up a range of loads from cast and gas-checked slugs at modest velocity to heavy thumpers.
Check the Hornady manual for ballistics of their various .375 bullets, from the 220 FP to the 300 RN.

Nothing wrong with the JDJ rounds.
But from a good # of people your MV figures will likely be below advertised speeds.
May not be the case with the 375 JDJ though.

Pick up the Thompson Center REloading manual. It has quite a bit of load data for the 375JDJ.

FYI, With their recommended load of H322, I was able to chronograph 230 grain bullets at 2200fps in a 14" barrel.

I have an Accurate No 1 Loading guide which gives load data on the 375 JDJ. I am sure some of the more reciently released manuals will also include data on the more popular JDJ Wildcats, especially since TC made the 375 JDJ a factoy round.

The best powder listed, velocity wise, was Accurate's 2520.

HDY 220 SP 2520 48.6 start 1984 fps 54.0 max 2255 fps @ 42,600 psi

HDY 270 SP 2520 46.8 start 1844 fps 52.0 max 2096 fps @ 45,100 psi

If you get a SSK barrel, JD supplies load data with the barrel. Load data can be bought from SSK separately for a slight charge...Rusty

I did a little more looking and found that my Hodgdon's 2004 Annual Manual, magazine format and suposed to be published yearly for $7.99, has 375 JDJ data. Here I'll just list the max loads with the best velocity powder in each bullet weight by mfg:

220 gr SIE FP 52.o gr H4895 = 2147 fps

220 gr HDY FP 51.0 gr H4895 = 2214 fps

270 gr HDY SP 48.0 gr H4895 = 1954 fps

300 gr HDY RN 46.0 gr H4895 = 1951 fps

I hope this is helpful, Rusty

Thank you for the info gentleman. I'll be checking out the new reloading manuals.

A question that comes to mind is brass availability. I know hornady now loads for the 375 JDJ, so that is a way of getting brass. But is 444 marlin brasss readily available if I choose that route? I used to shoot a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. I found it extemely difficult to find brass (this was 10+ years ago), even though it was 45 Colt.

With the published velocities, does expansion occur with bullets meant for the H&H cartridge? Or is it based on the use of 375 winchester bullets?

A Smith

38Supershooter: I can't tell you if you can go down to your local gun shop and pick up 444 brass off the shelf, but it is readily available through the various mail order suppliers.

On bullets, here's what JD recomends for the 375 JDJ:

The 200 Gr Sierra is a little fragile but works well if you drop the velocity a little.

The 220 Gr Hornady is the pick of the litter for deer sized game at about 2250 fps.

The 270 Gr Hornady spirepoint is accurate and usually shoots through elk at 250 yds but will take them from any angle, as will the 285 Gr Speer Grand Slam with velocity in the 2050 to 2100 fps range.

The 270 and 300 Gr hornady round nose do well on big animals at close range. The 300 Gr Hornady full metal jacket RN almost always completely penetrates buffalo on broadside shots.

I read somewhere that the 260 Gr Nosler Partition is too heavily constructed to expand at Contender velocities, so I would stay away from that bullet in a 375 JDJ...Rusty.

The .375 JDJ is a fabulous cartridge. Mine is an early 14" Contender. Originally did all my hunting with iron sights. As my eyes aged, I tried a 2x B&L scope in one of JD's "TSOB" mounts. There were no functional issues with that set-up, but I've discovered I just don't like shooting handguns with scopes. I've gone to the Leupold-Gilmore red dot and found that to be a decent way to resolve the problem. My best "light" bullet load is 235 gn. Speer over 40.0 IMR 4198. Groups VERY well and a proven performer on Plains game, up to Kudu. Hornady 300gn solid over 42gn. H-322 for an up-close brain shot elephant.
Your results may vary.
Cheers,
Don

Don: Is that an unbraked barrel? I shot my .375 JDJ last weekend for the first time with a mild load of 45 grains H4895 under the Sierra 250 BT and could not figure out a hold that would keep my left hand from being savaged. Made me think of a brake or magnaport, but doubt this is the answer -- and I hate the blast.

I've got 100 .375 JDJ once-fired made from R-P brass. Cleaned, deprimed, primer pockets cleaned and flash-holes deburred - $40 shipped to you. Let me know.

Bill,
Mine has been Magna-Ported. Helps somewhat with the significant muzzle-jump. I've found a padded leather glove on my "strong hand", and Pachmayer grips helps. No question though...with anything close to full-house loads, the .375 JDJ will punish you.
BTW: the 40 gn,4198 load I mentioned is for the "light bullet", i.e. the Speer 235 as compared to the 270, and 300 gn bullet loadings. There's nothing "lite" about that load itself.
Cheers,
Don

In the past I have shot pretty much Speer 230gr. bullets at full house but since have gone to the Hornady 220gr. FP.

So far recoil doesn't seen too much more than a top loaded 44 mag.with 320gr. bullets, Even though it is not ported, just a straight 14" Bull barrel.

I just got back from S.A. last week and used a 378GNR, 12" bbl. + 2" muzzle brake in the Encore. I believe six of us were using the 260 gr. Nosler Accubonds @2350 fps and their performance was superb on everything from Warthog to Eland. I would most certainly place a brake on that 375JDJ to control it or put up with bloody fingers. With the brake I find the gloves are not needed. I am new to this site so I hope I am not stepping on anyones toes.

Woody

Woodrow: Love to hear more about your loads, and about your trip!

Bill,

10 of us hunted on the DeBeers Estate about 65 miles or so from Kimberly. Its 400 square miles of great hunting. We took 90 animals, mostly with custom Encores, a few with custom wheelguns and a few with 375 H&H rifles. Of the 90 animals about 65 will go into the SCI book and with probably 3 new #1's and perhaps 2 or 3 #2's. Most of us were using either the 378GNR,338GNR or both and 1 newly developed 280GNR in the Encores. All performed very well. I shoot the 378GNR using a 260 gr. Accubond at 2350FPS in a 12"bbl. using IMR 3031. My longest shots were 240yds on a Kudu and 225yds on a Gemsbok. The Accubonds performed flawless, perfect mushrooms and in most cases the bullet was on the off side just under the hide. Shot out of the rifle with a little more steam they were mostly pass thru's. I passed up a few very high scoring animals, like in the top 5 due to budgetary constraints. Ya can't shoot them all. Besides, if I shoot everything this trip I won't have anything to look forward to down the road. I do have my eye on a Buff hunt that I seen on this sight though. One of the guys with us shot a Buff with his 378GNR using 300 gr. Barnes solids @2300fps and they worked well. Yes, this is a very hot load and you are not going to use this brass over again. It was loaded to shoot to the same point of impact as the 260 Accubond. The PH we used was Madubula Safaris and I can only say that it was a great hunt. Sorry for the rambling.

Woody

Hi Woody,
I was with the same group as Woody and hunted with Woody for about 5 days,I used the TC Encore 280 GNR (405 Winchester necked down to 280) also used a 475 Maximum.All I can say is we had a great time in S.A with Gary Reeder and Madubula Safaris.
If you are shooting an Encore go with one of Gary Reeders rounds they do have better ballistics a 260-270gr at 2300+ fps (Encore only). reedercustomguns.com

Sean

Hey Sean,

I think I still have Africa of the brain. Its hard not to think about what we experienced over there. Damn, its in my blood now. As Sean stated the GNR family of Encore only cartridges are just fantastic. The 416GNR, 378gnr, 338GNR and the 280GNR will cover anything there is to shoot no matter which continent you are hunting on. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are other fine Encore cartridges out there that I may not be aware of but I am partial the the power levels of the GNR's.

Woody

You can't go wrong with a .375 JDJ, I think it is the best singleshot cartridge available. Of course thats just my opinion.

The nice thing about the Encore is you don't have to limit yourselves to wildcats to get the gun to perform, but you really have to with the contender platform.

I'm not sure I'd want to set off a 375 H&H in a handgun, but it would solve the brass issue, and I'm sure it could be quite nicely downloaded to 375 JDJ performance, and recoil.

Personally I think a rimmed or belted cartridge is easier to handle in a break open action, so I'd lean towards that route. Especially if you'll be hunting with gloves.

the 375JDJ may be good, but the 378GNR is much faster for any given bullet weight by at least 200fps which is a lot in a handgun. You could purchase properly headstamped Hornady made brass at a reasonable cost as well as loaded ammo from either Raven Ammo or Cartridge Performance Engineering. It is based on a parent 405 Winchester case necked down to .375 which means it is rimmed for easy removal from the chamber. I shoot a 260gr. Accubond @2350fps with a 12" bbl.(plus 2" for the brake) and the bull bbl is very accurate. I like shorter barrels as they balance much better in the Encore platform. I am not knocking the JDJ but make the comparison and see the realistic differences.