I may trade a Browning A bolt for a mint 94 in 375 Win. I have a couple of questions which I hope you all will be able to answer.
A. Most 375's will shoot 38-55s as well. The 38-55 is slightly longer but I have heard they work in Win 94's...True?
B. ON a top eject, can you mount a reciever peep sight?
C. What is the longest reasonable hunting shot one should take?

I have read almost everything I could on the round and it appears that it had great promise but never caught on. Will full power loads, 200 yards would not be out of the question or am I wrong?
By the way, the A Bolt is a White Gold Medallion 300 Wn Mag Boss....the problem is that while it is a truly beautiful rifle, I don't plan on ever taking a shot beyond 200-225 yards. Frankly, I am not in that good a shape to drag game to heck and gone anyway.

I have a Win 94 in 450 Marlin it came with an XS peep. The sight bridges the receiver. I don't know about ammo

I answered my own question. The bore diameter in a 375 is to small to accomodate a 38-55. Darn, I thought I had something going there!

Not really.

The bullets for the 38-55 can measure anywhere from .375 all the way up to .380.

If I am not mistaken Barnes makes their bullets for the 375 winchester in size 375 only, but also offers or did offer their original bullets in .377 diameter..

There would be a slight build up in pressure firing a 38-55 in a 375 Win chamber.

Ok, it would create a little higher pressure but I can still do it correct? With the 38-55 being about 20,000 cup less than the 375, it sounds like it shouldn't be. Right?

bigcabin,

375 win are under-rated in my opinion. I've been playing with one on and off for a few months and I like it, sort of like a 45/70 lite.

In answer to your questions:

a. I've never fired 38/55 ammo in mine but I do use 38/55 cases in my 375 Win. On a like for like basis 38/55 cases hold about 10% more powder due to the lighter construction.

The chambers in 375 Win are long and have long throats, which is why they can accommodate 38/55 cases.

b. Yes you can fit a peep sight. Mine is fitted with a Lyman which had to be filed to clear the bulge at the rear of the receiver. You could opt for an Ashley Outdoors peep site - this one is D&T-ed into the top of the rear of the receiver. These have quite a large aperture for fast work and are really rugged, but they are not as easy to adjust if you like to fiddle with loads.

c. Loaded to potential they can pack a real wallop. I have loads pushing a 278gr cast FN bullet at just over 2000 fps with good accuracy. You can push them quite a bit faster but accuracy begins to fall off somewhat. I have another load launching a 305gr cast FN at around 1800 fps. The accuracy is there as is the down range energy, but I still like to keep my shots under 100 yards. If your eyesight is sharp then 150-200 yards should be do-able.

I chrono-ed factory loads and they were only doing about 2000 fps with a 200 gr bullet. To me they appear to be way underloaded. This version of the 94 is apparently rated to 50k psi (not CUP), so they are quite strong.

Trust this helps.

Joe

Thanks..If I understand you correctly, I would be ok shooting 38-55 cases in a big bore 94. the rounds that I have (200) or so are fairly low pressure with what I thing may be 240 + grain lead bullets. They were originally loaded to be shot in an old steven sporting ss that had been rebarreled. I guess I may have some length problems but from what you tell me I would be ok pressure wise.

The cast bullets I use in 38/55 cases in my 375BB are sized to 0.377 and my loads are loaded way over factory 38/55 pressures. As pointed out by another poster, 38/55 bullets can be slightly larger in diameter, perhaps up to 0.380/0.381. This will bump up pressures somewhat.

I cant comment with any certainty about using the 38/55 ammo you have as they sound like reloads. However if the cases are of recent manufacture and are in good condition, they really are low pressure reloads and they fit the chamber OK, they should probably be OK. But there are too many variables to give you a definitive answer.

For the sake of good order I would pull one of the rounds and check bullet diameter.

One other point, the loaded rounds would need to have an OAL of 2.55" to cycle through the mag, otherwise you will need to feed them singly.

HTH

Joe

I just put a caliper on them and I think they will work. I have 230 loaded and another 100+ cases. Hell, with all that ammo I can't not buy the rifle. The cartidges and brass are a good $200 by anyones measure.

As Mr. Barum put it, "one born every minute."

This is the worst "can o worms" I have ever seen. The .32/40 was given a shoulder and made the .32 WCF Special before WW I. No idea what took the .38/55 so long. And absolutely no idea why they shortened the .375 case. The outside measurements are supposed to be the same except for the case length. And the .38/55 is not supposed to go into a .375 chamber... SUPPOSED! (.280s are not supposed to go into .270 chambers either... bet?)

.38/55 was loaded to the 20K CUP range. Shotgun pressures today. .375, reportedly, stronger case loaded in the 40K CUP range. I suspect that you can fired about any .38/55 load without exceeding the 40K CUP of the .375, but accuracy might suffer. And use you can cut off .38/55 cases... Mr. Brown, eabco.com, has a wildcat on that line.

Great combination. Heavy bullet at decent velocity. How good can you shoot. They used to shoot competition at 1,000 yards with .45/70. I suspect that 200 yards would challange most of us, especially with iron sights. But anything that bullet hits will know it has been hit. I would go for the deal. Enjoy the gun lightly. Best of luck.

I am a pretty fair shooter. I live in Mule Deer country which temps one to take long shots. I am not a long shot taker because I am not a long hike game dragger. 200 yards is very max I would try a shot. I usually hunt alone and I really don't want to have to drag a carcass farther than that. I also don't want to chase a wounded animal because I tried to long a poke. I love to hunt even if I am not successful. I love to stalk and get close. If I can't oh well, the critter won one.

Below is a link to chamber and cartridge drawings that provides more detailed information.

http://www.leverguns.com/dimensions/images/375win.jpg

One can only speculate why Winchester designed the 375 Win the way they did, but it is what it is. Winchester 38/55 brass is 2.08" in length and fits my 375 Win chamber and those of several others that have tried it. Using 38/55 cases in my chamber and having a bullet filling the relatively large throat results in better accuracy.

I hope this clarifies the situation.

Joe

Joe, I can't wait to try it myself!!!!

BC,

FWIW Reloader 7 is the 'go to' powder for this cartridge. Much denser than similar powders.

For jacketed bullets Hornady's 220 gr FN has a good reputation here on our large deer, though I personally havent used it. I took a deer with a cast bullet load using my 375 Win a couple of months ago and it worked perfectly. The bullet entered the rear of the rib cage as the deer was quartering away from me. The bullet went through the top of the heart and exited out of the brisket. It had a 375 caliber entry hole and about a 2" exit hole. It was an amazing sight as I could see blood gushing out of both holes and the animal went down down within 15 yards. Great performance and without much bloodshot meat too.

I'm sure you will like it.

Joe

WAhoo! I got my 94BB top eject...like new and my little experiment worked great. It cycles 38-55's like it was made to do it and there are not signs of excessive pressure either. What fun! I can shoot cowboy loads, ie 38-55's or powerhouse 375's as well. I am a happy camper!