I have a take-down BLR being rebarelled to .375 Ruger; I'd like to have a 2nd bbl. for smaller animals: antelope/varmints/predators up to 125 lbs or so. Also perhaps head-shot culling. My gunsmith sugg. .257 Wby Mag. I need a magnum bolt face, bullet can be long or short, he'll "adjust" magazine accordingly... Any suggestions?

.257Wby or .270Wby would be be good for the uses you mentioned.

George

Doesn't browning make them in 7mm mag already? If so that would be my choice, If not I'd go with 30-06. No use overcomplicating things.

To keep in line with the small bore theme I'd opt for a .264 WM. But, I think a 7mm Rem would be just as good.

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for smaller animals: antelope/varmints/predators up to 125 lbs or so.

you just described a .264 win mag....no need for more for this size animal.

Yea but a 264 Win Mag is just a louder 270 without a 26" barrel. I just can't see a 26" tube on a blr.

Since the .375 Ruger has the standard belted magnum dead size (0.532"), any cartridge not using that head size is simply not practical. Ditto for one which is much shorter, like the 6.5mm Remington as it may induce feeding issues. Your smith's suggestion of the .257 Weatherby is a very good one, as is the .264 Win Mag. I see no need for the power and recoil of a .270 Magnum or a 7mm Magnum for use on game weighing just 125 pounds and smaller.



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None of the small bore magnums will perform to spec in a shorter barrel so its apples and apples whether 257, 264 or 277 caliber magnums. The bolt face is for .532 case heads, so dropping to standard rounds isn't an option.

Were it mine I think my first choice would be a 300 Winchester Magnum. 130 grain TSX or similar bullets can be driven 3600 fps from a 24" barrel. It will seem a mere pipsqueak to shoot after several rounds of 375 Ruger and has bullets or factory loads for any other normal occasion one can think of. I suppose the 7Mag is similar but I don't have direct experience with it like I do the 300.

Then maybe a small bore magnum as a third set just to say you covered the bases. But that's just me and one free opinion.

I prefer 6.5-06 and that is rather similar to the 264 WM.
I also have a 375 Ruger and boringly enough I don't see any point in owning anything between those 2 cartridges.

Given that one could argue that a "Magnum" is not needed for 125 lb game, and several already have, it seems silly to argue that one should not select a cartridge because it will not reach maximum velocity. Yes, I would likely opt for something based off an '06 boltface. But, since the rifle in question has a magnum boltface, then choices are limited to cartridges with a magnum rim size.

Though I'd prefer the .264 WM the 7mm Rem makes a lot of sense in that it (ammo) can be found anywhere. Pick whichever appeals to you and have fun with it. The reaity is, no animal you care to shoot will ever notice that the bullet that just killed it was not travelling at its maximum achievable velocity.

I would have to say 264. 100 grain B-tips for vermine with very good velocity and 100 or 125 grain Partitions for 300lbs and under are absolutely devistating. Then there is a nice selection of heavier bullets for anything bigger. The 257 lacks the heavy bullet option and the 270 and 7mm lack the light bullet selection. The 264 is also quite pleasant to shoot.

Given the need for a magnum boltface, my first reaction is the .257 Weatherby, a cartiridge that I'm quite fond of. However, if you don't mind searching around a bit for brass, you might want to consider the 6.5mm Remington. It's an oddball and semi-obsolete, but it was originally designed for a shorter-barrelled rifle, and would certainly serve well on animals in the 125-bound range--and quite a bit larger.

Your natural pairing doesn't exist. That would be a Ruger case necked down to 270, 7m, or 308.

So as a compromise, the 257 weath, 264 WM or 7mRM are all good.

Meself? I would just get to know your 375 Ruger real well. It's a great design and a great cartridge.

The 375H&H with a 300 gr bullet and the 30-06 with a 180 gr bullet have almost the same flight path. Something to think about when changing from one to the other.

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The 375H&H with a 300 gr bullet and the 30-06 with a 180 gr bullet have almost the same flight path..

Sigh. As pointed out by numerous posts above, the '06 head size will not work in the OP's rifle - no joy for fans of the 'antiquated' .30-06. And on another note (also pointed out before) who cares if the .264 Win Mag loses 150 fps in a 22" barrel, it is still ample for the uses the OP has for it.

As for the 6.5 Rem Mag - feeding issues are probable with such a short cartridge used in a full length magazine. Why go out of one's way to complicate the issue of a switch barrel rifle? KISS.



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I would go with the 7mm Rem Mag.

You could use 120 to 140 gr bullets for the little stuff, and use 160/175gr bullets for the bigger animals.

Or even better go with a 300 Mag and just use an accurate load with the 180 Nosler Partition for everything.

What N E 450 No 2 said. And I think Browning makes them already, so no need for expensive gunsmithing

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Originally posted by TX Nimrod:

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The 375H&H with a 300 gr bullet and the 30-06 with a 180 gr bullet have almost the same flight path..

Sigh. As pointed out by numerous posts above, the '06 head size will not work in the OP's rifle - no joy for fans of the 'antiquated' .30-06. And on another note (also pointed out before) who cares if the .264 Win Mag loses 150 fps in a 22" barrel, it is still ample for the uses the OP has for it.

As for the 6.5 Rem Mag - feeding issues are probable with such a short cartridge used in a full length magazine. Why go out of one's way to complicate the issue of a switch barrel rifle? KISS.



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I think the point was that the 375 H&H (and hence the Ruger only more so) shot as flat as a 180 grain 30-06 so why bother at all? At least that's how I read it.

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Originally posted by tiggertate:

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Originally posted by TX Nimrod:

quote:

The 375H&H with a 300 gr bullet and the 30-06 with a 180 gr bullet have almost the same flight path..

Sigh. As pointed out by numerous posts above, the '06 head size will not work in the OP's rifle - no joy for fans of the 'antiquated' .30-06. And on another note (also pointed out before) who cares if the .264 Win Mag loses 150 fps in a 22" barrel, it is still ample for the uses the OP has for it.

As for the 6.5 Rem Mag - feeding issues are probable with such a short cartridge used in a full length magazine. Why go out of one's way to complicate the issue of a switch barrel rifle? KISS.



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I think the point was that the 375 H&H (and hence the Ruger only more so) shot as flat as a 180 grain 30-06 so why bother at all? At least that's how I read it.

They may fly the same but they sure as heck don't kick the same. For the shooter that is content using the .375 on a wide variety of game, you are right, there is no NEED for something smaller. However, sometimes it is more fun getting the job done with a smaller, gentler, round. Besides, if the OP really wnated to use the 375 on everything, he wouldn't have asked about a smaller bore barrel.

Thanks, Mike. I am looking for 2 bbls. My wife can shoot the .375 (she wants a kudu) but why subject all 5 -foot-2-inches of her to that recoil for jackals & honey badgers? Thanks to all for your help.

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Originally posted by z1r:

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Originally posted by tiggertate:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by TX Nimrod:
[QUOTE]The 375H&H with a 300 gr bullet and the 30-06 with a 180 gr bullet have almost the same flight path..

Sigh. As pointed out by numerous posts above, the '06 head size will not work in the OP's rifle - no joy for fans of the [B]'antiquated']/B] .30-06. /QUOTE]

My mistake! I thought the question was for a second rifle! In that case the 375H&H and the 30-06 with a 180 works well!

The 30-06 is not my favorite either, and it is antiquated, but only six years older than the 375H&H, and that cartridge has no peer for an alaround cartridge for the world!
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the 375H&H, and that cartridge has no peer for an alaround cartridge for the world!

Except for the 375 Ruger, now.
The Ruger is a well-designed case. The only thing equally efficient and elegant in its class is the 416 Rigby, which is the next step up if one handloads.

Insomuch as you will already have a .375 Ruger and presumably a good supply of brass for that, I would opt for a classic from 1914, based on exactly the same brass that the Ruger is based on, the .280 Newton. It's a smokin ,stompin, magnum with modern powders...or for that matter, with the powders of that day too. And you'e never gonna meet anyone else packing one, so it will be your own super-special rig.

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Originally posted by 416Tanzan:

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the 375H&H, and that cartridge has no peer for an alaround cartridge for the world!

Except for the 375 Ruger, now.
The Ruger is a well-designed case. The only thing equally efficient and elegant in its class is the 416 Rigby, which is the next step up if one handloads.

To be a n all-around cartridge one must be able to take all animals LEGALLY, world wide, and to be able to find factory ammo in all countries where big game hunting is allowed.

The 375 Ruger and the 376 Steyr are both new kids on the block, and though both are good cartridges neither of them will factory ammo be found in many countries around the world, nor will either do anything the 375H& will not do as well where animals are concerned! I do think the 375 Ruger will be around longer than the 376 Steyr , but the biggest reason for the ruger’s popularity is the RIFLES it comes in more than the cartridge. And I can tell you it will never replace the old three six bits from 1912!

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I vote 257 weatherby

Since you specifically asked for a magnum, I would support the 7mm RM - not too big and not too small.

Why not go old school and make the second barrel for the 7X61 S&H?

Wouldn't the 300 RCM be a good candidate as it's based on the same case just shorter?

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Originally posted by Ted68:
Wouldn't the 300 RCM be a good candidate as it's based on the same case just shorter?

But why waste the magazine space? If you have a 375 Ruger compatible magazine and feeding, then build a 270, 7mm, or 300 wildcat based on the 375 case. Feeding needs no adjustment, and you can have flat flat flat, especially at the .277 or .284 end.

Thanks for the add'l info; I'm not a reloader/wildcatter...I'm happy w/off-the-shelf stuff. For me its accurate enough (and then some) and makes my game targets just as dead. It seems I'll go w/.257 Wby but I'd really like an off-the-shelf .25 magnum thats cheaper to shoot...I know, reload something cool! Lets just all stick together as hunters and keep the antis at bay....