Here's another sickening thought from Bill
(thought I'd post it now before all that's left of the 376 Styer is a memory)

376 Styer necked up to 416. How worth while is it?

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When in doubt, do a nuclear strike.

Alright- I missed the boat on this thing-must have slipped in under my radar. What are the case dimensions on this thing? Will it fit in a "standard" boltface or is it a magnum, new size, what?! What is it comparable to, capacity wise?

CAL

Okie doke: From the new Hornady reloading manuel:

OAL: 2.362"
Rim: .048"
Shoulder: 17.5*
Rim Length: .495"
Mouth: .400"

She'll go in a standard length action all right.

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When in doubt, do a nuclear strike.

Curtis,
A 416/376 Steyr? The parent cartridge is D.O.A. to begin with. I'd guess I'd have to ask the obvious...."why?" Now I'm all for experimenting and I've been known to do some goofy things, but I can't possibly see a good reason for a 416 version. Unless it was just simply to be different. Yes, you'd probably be the only one on the block with one. And true, if being practical was a criteria most all of us would be in biiigggg trouble. But that would be like inventing a machine that converts diamonds into jelly beans.

Wait! I don't have the Hornady manual, but I do have the 9th edition of "Cartridges of the World" right in front of me, and quite a few notes that I made from various other places.

The .376 Steyr, is, according to Jeff Cooper, derived from the 9.3x64. I have no idea what the relevance of that is....

The data that I have says that for the .376 Steyr:
rim diameter = 0.494"
head diameter = 0.501"
diameter at shoulder = 0.4732"
length to shoulder = 1.8596"
shoulder angle = 15 deg.
length to base of neck = 2.0000"
case length = 2.3500"
overall length = 3.0750"

I have seen at least one reference which mistakenly lists the overall length as 2.35", which is actually the case length.

Whether and/or how expanding the neck to .416 would affect these dimensiions, I have not a clue.

[This message has been edited by Infidel (edited 12-09-2001).]

Matt,

I know that no one is going to chamber in 376 Styer anymore. The only real prblem is if Hornady is going to stop making brass. If they are, I was unaware of that fact, and that changes a lot. If not, then it makes very little difference.

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When in doubt, do a nuclear strike.

Curtis_Lemay,

I have a .376 Steyr in the ProHunter model; this rifle and caliber combination is still in production. The Steyr factory did stop making the Steyr Scout version in the .376 Steyr caliber. This change has some people thinking the cartridge itself has been discontinued. Not so, at least so far!

I took the rifle to Zim in September 2001 and whacked a large eland with the Hornady 270 grain factory load.

I also have some correspondence with the engineer at the Steyr factory who is involved with the .376. He sent me the drawing of a .416 on the .376 case. The decided not to proceed to development because they did not think the expected muzzle velocity would pass the marketing test with hunters (too low).

I find the .376 Steyr in the ProHunter (20" barrel) an excellent rifle. Although the distributor GSI had loaned me the rifle to test it and write a magazine article, I bought it from them when I returned to the US of A. I like the short, handy qualities of the rifle -- it will replace one of my .375 H&Hs...jim

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

I'm glad you like it, jim, but no one but Steyr chambers for it and Steyr, though a very skilled company, doesn't have sales in the U.S. sufficient to make an impression. To me the .376 is, at best, a "propriatory" rather than a factory round and IMO still won't do anything a 9.3x62 can't do better.

Sarge,

I will offer the following for your consideration!

GSI does get deserved criticism for their laid-back marketing, some even put it more strongly.

I like the *combination* of the .376 Steyr cartridge and the Steyr ProHunter rifle. Mine has a 20" barrel, and is 40" long and 9 pounds and something ready to go hunting with ammunition, sling and scope mounted. It approaches the power of the .375 H&H in a much smaller package. Felt rifle from this rifle is moderate, a lot less than my .375s.

It is easier for me to buy .376 Steyr ammo than to buy 9.3X62 ammo here in California, but obviously the ammo will be scarce elsewhere. I can also handload and choose from a wider selection of great bullets made for the .375.

I put this rifle in the category of "good enough", and it is going to go after a Cape buff the next trip over the pond.

jim

"The excellent is the enemy of the good."

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

Steyr aren't the only ones who chamber for the .376 - Varberger also chamber for this round. Please check out the Meacham Rifles website. I'm not sure the Varberger will find that much favour with big game hunters because of it's being push-feed and not controlled feed, but then the Steyr rifles weren't controlled feed to begin with!

Take a look at my thread on the African board.

HunterJim,

If YOU like the round, and the particular rifle its chambered in thats all that matters. As I'm sure you have done or plan to do; stock up on brass and/or factory ammo and if it does go DOA, who cares? One must plan to have ammo sent ahead or be very careful it arrives on over the pond trips but ultimately your the one who needs to be happy and confident with a rifle.

I also agree that sometimes "less is more" and a .375 H&H isn't always needed. I have a .338-06 that I am very fond of and know all the pitfalls of African trips with that cartridge. It all boils down to what "floats your boat". Enjoy.

FN

I'm in favor of the 376 Steyr, regardless of the orignal rifle it came in. A custom made rifle will do, in my view. I'm merely waiting for the stainless MkX actions to come into my possesion.
One can simply modify the 9.3x64 brass, and no one seems to complain that one's death. ~~~Suluuq