Hi,

I'm from Brisbane, Australia and I am new to this forum. I tried this post on the "African Big Game Hunting" section but perhaps it is better suited here.

I have a 375 Chatfield-Taylor (375/338 developed by RF Chatfield-Tayor of 416 Taylor fame).

It was built for me by my brother-in-law, a gunsmith, on a Ruger M77 rebarrelled with a .375 barrel and chambered for 375 Chatfield-Taylor. I have had it for years, shot it now and again (mainly at the rifle range) but only last week decided to sit down and work out some loads for it. I found a load with the 270 gr Hornady spire point that shot a 3 shot group of just over 1" at 100 yards. I was happy with that as the load (using Australian ADI powder which is sold and repackaged in the US by the likes of Hogdson) AR2208 (similar to 4064 see http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp). Although I didn't chonograph it, it seems to be getting similar ballistics as the original British 375 H&H load.

I like to hear from any others who have this wildcat cartridge and have used it on big game (preferably dangerous game). I'd like to hear of your experiences with it, perhaps photographs, etc.

Regards,
Magnum

Magnum, I see no reason why it shouldn't be very potent on big game. The ballistics I've seen posted here show a 270g Swift A-Frame at 2690 fps and a 260g Nosler Partition at 2906 fps. I HOPE it is effective for big game, because I'm building one right now. I ordered the .375 Shilen barrel in #4 contour yesterday and will be mounting it in a McMillan stock, most likely the Supergrade model. The action is a M1999 Montana. It should be a 3-400 yd gun with plenty of punch. We'll see..... If you happen to chronograph some loads, please post them. I'll do the same when I get mine together.

MKane160 aka BigDogMK

Mkane160,

Keep me posted on yourr progress (PM if you wish).

I like the calibre.

It replicates the original H&H load in a "short" magnum length action. Rifle could be made a bit lighter than the 375 H&H. Though from my recent bench session I wouldn't want it too light. I found an extended session benchresting some initial loads to be unpleasant and could easily produce a flinch. I had to work jolly hard at it.

Brass is easily made from 338 WM don't even need to fireform. And for those who like wildcats it is a bit of fun.

I have access to a chronograph but I haven't as yet chronoed any of the loads. As I'm only starting to work up loads I haven't bothered chronoing them yet. But I feel that the load that shot best last time was getting about 2,600 fpsish with 270 gr Hornady. It will work at pressures a bit above the original English load from H&H as the latter were designed to keep the pressure low for the hot African conditions. Also since then we have learned a lot about pressures that can be used in Africa (Roy Weatherby, Elgin Gates and others heldped us there).

There must be a few others out there with this calibre and it would be good to hear from them and their experiences with it on game.

Magnum

I HAVE NOT used this fine cartridge on game, but my understanding is that it essentially produces .375 H&H velocities with the same range of bullets, in a shorter format. If so, why would it not produce the same results as the H&H round on game?

This seems reasonable, since the .30 magnums of the same length are as hot or hotter than the .300 H&H, and the relationship between the '06-length .30's and the H&H length .30 is the same as that between the .375 Chatfield-Taylor and the .375 H&H.

I just gave my .375 H&H Ruger No.1H to my son, and have been seriously considering replacing it with the Chatfield-Taylor version!

Good luck!!

This is by far the most useful big/DG wildcat ever developed, IMHO. The math is very simple...there is no loss in case capacity when going to 375 over 338 because the 375 is 50 grs heavier at the same length as the 338 for every bullet style. Expansion ratio is the same as the 308 Win, so bbls can be shorter and powders faster than the 375 H&H. All of the powders that work well in the 308 work well in the 375 Taylor, and accuracy potential is the same. The increase in ME over the 338 comes in at 15%, so you are getting at least 4500 FPE with bullets ranging from 210 to 350 grs. If there is any game out there that leaves you with a pucker with that power, you need to move up to 416 or 458. Neither of these calibers is as flexible as the 375, and you pay the price in recoil and/or rifle weight.