Picked up a set of dies and a 375 barrel. Had it installed on a Tikka M65 and chambered in 375-06 Ackley Imp. Started fireforming cases. In smaller cal AI calibres I've always prefered necking up the cases and partially resizing the case until the case would chamber with some resistance. Didn't like the lack of resistance I was getting with the 375 so I seated bullets out far enough to jam them into the rifling. Things worked well there but 375 cal bullets are a little pricey for fireforming. Picked up a couple hundred case bullets. 10 grs of Red Dot under a 245 gr cast bullet jammed into the rifling yeilds perfectly fireformed cases. Playing with 235 ,250, 260 and 270 gr bullets. The 235 gr seems to like 4895. The 270 gr Hornady's shoot very consistantly with Varget. This is going to quite a bear basher.

While my 380PDK has a larger case I bet you can get anything you want done with 4895 or RL15. Those are my go to powders. I use a 260 Accubond for everything.

I simply used a 9.3x62 necked up to a 375, no other monkey business, and it duplicated the 375 H&H favorite African load with a 300 gr. bullet at 2400 to a tad over 2500 FPS..I really was fond of it but lent it to a friend and he took advantage of my good nature and bought it, it was that or it being a life time loan, he wouldn't have given it back!It mirrored the 375 Ackley IMP..The gun I built was way to light, but shot great and easy to pack..I broke the stock on a lead sled.

Did a little more playing around with fireform loads. 11 grs of Red Dot and the 245 gr cast bullets are delivering 1 1/2 inch groups @ 100 yds . Hope to get serious with some jacketed loads now that I have a supply of formed cases.

Did a little more testing with the 235 gr Speer bullet. H 4895 and IMR 4895 deliver very good groups (about 1 1/4 in @ 100 yds) 4320 is also in that range but the POI moved about 2 inches. The 270 gr Hornady and Varget delivered good groups with the POI about and inch lower than the 235 gr and 4895. Haven't chronoed anything yet.More interested in good groups than top vel.

Last bit of testing has included the 260 gr Partition bullets. This is looking like it could be the perfect bullet for this cartridge.....on game anyway. A little pricey for just playing around. The 270 gr Hornady spire pt is darn good as well

Its a great wildcat. A 375 H&H without a belt.

Cream of wheat works as well. When I was slugging a bbl. I would use about 7-9 G. of 700X. Just enough to get the slug out the bbl. + thus easy to find to mike.

Looks like a great choice for bear.

I would just expand the case neck on a o6 case to .375 load up some hunting loads and when they were all shot up and fireformed Id reload them hotter for the imp chamber..I will be doing that on my 8mm/06 Ackley, load up some 8mm06 and shoot some deer, cull some does in Texas and blow out the shoulder..it saves money this way, and those loads are fine for deer hunting or varmint hunting, but corn meal, rice Kleenex all work with a stiff load of Herc or 2400..

I obtained a small supply of Barnes 375 cal 210 gr flat base X bullets. I believe they are now discontinued. Has anybody used this bullet on lighter game like deer ?? I don't have many bullets and by the time I work up a load I may have most of them shot off. If anyone has a load that worked good in some sort of a 375/06 or Imp I would appreciate any load suggestions you could share

I suggest that you buy some blems from the Pro shop at $19. to $22 a box..I been using Nosler blems of game for years, used to buy them from Nosler, but now you go thru the pro shop. Blems are blems because of slight discoloration, but damned if I can see any difference. I just bought some 180 ballistic tips for my 8mm/30-06 Acklley Imp., for deer and fireforming, and some 200 each of 200 gr. Accubonds and Partitions..cheaper than lead! well maybe not!

If you are looking for top velocities with heavier bullets, I’m thinking that since Ramshot Big Game and RL 17 work so well in the 9.3x62, they just might be great in your 375. Hodgdon’s CFE-223 works well in 9.3x62 with 250’s, so there’s another one. I’ve considered the 375 Hawk in the past, but the 375-06 imp seems a better option in the “no sweat wildcat” department, and there isn’t enough performance difference to make a difference. Have fun.

Took my 375 Whelen Imp to the range the other day and collected these results:

235 Speer SSP 60.0 H4895 Fed 210 WW 2598
275 Hornady SP 60.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2206
275 Hornady SP 62.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2244
275 Hornady SP 64.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2296
275 Hornady SP 65.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2352
275 Hornady SP 66.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2346
275 Hornady SP 60.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2277
275 Hornady SP 62.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2371
275 Hornady SP 64.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2441
275 Hornady SP 65.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2481
275 Hornady SP 66.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2511

The best group of the day was 65.0 gr. of RL-17 which punched a 5/8" cluster at 100 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnly:
Took my 375 Whelen Imp to the range the other day and collected these results:

235 Speer SSP 60.0 H4895 Fed 210 WW 2598
275 Hornady SP 60.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2206
275 Hornady SP 62.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2244
275 Hornady SP 64.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2296
275 Hornady SP 65.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2352
275 Hornady SP 66.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2346
275 Hornady SP 60.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2277
275 Hornady SP 62.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2371
275 Hornady SP 64.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2441
275 Hornady SP 65.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2481
275 Hornady SP 66.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2511

The best group of the day was 65.0 gr. of RL-17 which punched a 5/8" cluster at 100 yards.

I am too lazy to go look them up myself, how do these compare to the 9,3x62? about the same?

About the same, depending on the barrel.
In reality, between the two I'd choose the 9.3x62 based on ammunition availability.

My 375/62 or 9.5/62, take your pick..gave me the same ballistics that I load my 375 of buffalo...a 300 gr. bullet at 2500 FPS. and Ive used that on enough buffalo to be more than satisfied with performance..I particaularly liked the 300 gr. Woodlieh...In my 375 H&H I really like the 350 gr. Woodliegh at 2400 FPS..both work fine.

That said the 9.3x62 with a 300 gr. Swift A-Frame at 2400 FPS is big time buffalo medicine IMO..

quote:

Originally posted by NormanConquest:
Cream of wheat works as well. When I was slugging a bbl. I would use about 7-9 G. of 700X. Just enough to get the slug out the bbl. + thus easy to find to mike.

Yes! The cream-of-wheat fire forming method is impossible to beat! Works for just about any case, and is super cheap!

Matt I agree that in most cases the creme of wheat method works. In my first message I mentioned that I was NOT happy with the lack of resistance when I chambered a case for fireforming. Long seating a cast bullet with 10 to 12 grs of Red Dot under a cheap cast bullet (jammed into the rifling) produced perfectly formed cases when fired. This is one situation I would not recommend the creme of wheat. But whatever floats your boat

Im of the opinion that my latest purchase voids all 375 Wildcats..The beltless Ruger 375 in my 7.5 lb. Hawkeye, blue and wood..Ive been a total nostalgic to the Holland for 40 years and had a half dozen wildcats on the 06 and 9.3x62 brass involving the .375...This Ruger has impressed me to no end..its only flaw I can detect is the action is not designed to take the 350 gr. bullets, but do we even need a 350 gr. 375 bullet, it would be nice and Im looking into that modification on the Ruger..If not I can live with or without a 350 gr. bullet.

Those are all good choices for Africa-Alaska. I still have some 350 gr Barnes originals that hold together
in my pre-64 M-70 375 H&H. I dont know if they would hold up on buffalo, however. Would prefer Noslers or Woodleighs. For everyday carry in the Alaska interior, I would probably choose a 35 Whelen -348 Ackley or a 450 Alaskan. In the Kenai-or on the ABC Islands-a 450 Alaskan for sure. Fast handling Model 71 or 1886-400 gr FP.

Any 350 gr. monolithic bullet will hold up on any animal, Id bet dollars to donuts even with a head shot on an elephant, they just penetrate and penetrate and penetrate...The .375 and .338 just penetrate exceptionally well..a 375 h&h With a solid with exit a broad side head shot on elephant most of the time anyway, maybe everytime Ive not seen it fail yet..

quote:

275 Hornady SP 60.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2206
275 Hornady SP 62.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2244
275 Hornady SP 64.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2296
275 Hornady SP 65.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2352
275 Hornady SP 66.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2346

How did you find the 414 to shoot other than velocity?
I have a big jug of it but haven't got around to trying it in anything - said to shoot quite dirty.

So far the best loads for accuracy have been:

270 Hornady SP 64.0 H414 Fed 210 WW 2296fps 3161
270 Hornady SP 65.0 RL-17 Fed 210 WW 2481fps 3691

Going to try StaBall 6.5 and RS Big Game when I get the chance.

My deer and PG 375 is deadly with the 270 gr. or any 300 gr. RN bullet at about 2400 FPS and doesn't' tear things up like the 235 and such does at 2800 fps I really like the 275 gr. speer and the rem core lokts...and do they ever leave a blood trail but pretty short trails before they bleed out.