Opiniions on the 375 Winchester

[Smokey]

I own a .356 Model 94 (pre-crossbolt) and am considering buying a .375 Winny.  How does the .375 compare to the .444 and .45-70?  Specifically, does the .375 have any advantages over these other two calibers?  Anxious for some advice...

[John Traveler]

Hi, Smokey!

More than 20 years ago, a friend bought one of the first .375 Winchester Big Bores that came out.  I delveloped reloads for him and found the following:

The .375 Win is basically a modernized .38-55 cartridge, and that is based on the .30-30 Winchester case blown out to straight-wall configuration to take a .378-380" bullet.  the .375 improvements include stronger brass, and a stronger lever action rifle chambered for it.

The caliber remains a good 200 yard cartridge for medium to medium-heavy North American game.  It has nowhere near the power and capability of the .444 Marlin or the classic .45-70, especially if loaded up to full potential in modern rifle actions.  Both these calibers are suitable for the largest and heaviest game on the continent.

I found it to be expensive to shoot, and had to rely on cast bullets.  The American Rifleman posted a good article on reloading for that caliber and recommended NOT using blown-out .30-30 Win cases or the old .38-55 cases.  The bullet situation is better today, but it is still a novelty caliber to shoot.
 :shock:

[Enforcer]

Smokey first it(375) is fine to use 30/30 or 38/55 brass for the 375Win.In fact the 38/55 is a little longer and would allow more usable case capacity(375win CL 2.02,38/55 CL2.12). It is not that far off the 444 Marlin and exceeds the 356win.

444 Marlin 220gr 2350fps-2698fpe,Sierra
375Win 220gr 2372fps-2754fpe,Accurate
356Win 220gr 2300fps-2585fpe,Speer

444 Marlin 240gr 2300fps-2820fpe,Hornady
375Win 235gr Speer 2250fps-2641fpe,Conley

444 Marlin 250gr 2250fps-2811fpe,Sierra
375Win 250gr Barnes X 2150fps-2565fpe,Conley
356Win 250gr Hornady 2163fps-2595fpe,Hodgdon

444 Marlin 265gr  Hornady 2273fps-3040fpe,Hodgdon
375Win 260gr Nosler 2100fps-2546fpe,Conley

Don't believe the hype or the crap.The 375win is a mean motor scooter and a bad go getter.Brass is easy to fine,and bullets are plentiful and spitzers can be used in the Ruger #3 and Savage M99A.In those two rifles the 375win really shines and is where the ballistics for the spitzer rounds are chronoed from(22in barrels). Good Day Enforcer

[flyfisher]

Had a buddy who bought one years ago and never liked it...said that it would never group for him.  My opinion...he couldn't shoot.  I do not own a rifle chambered for this round, but I do have a T/C Contender with a 14" .375 Win. barrel.  I would not sell it even if I needed to get a heart/lung transplant.  A great caliber that knocks the snot out of nearly anything on this continent.  I believe that it is slightly faster than both the .444 and .45-70 as a whole with a lighter bullet.  If you handload, bullet selection is large (just be sure not to get a bullet specifically designed for the .375 H&H).  I use Hornady round noses.  Hope this helps.

[Trails650]

:grin: I know I'm coming in kind of late on this post but here is my two cents worth.
You can't really compare the 3. And if you did then it would have to be with recoil. The 375 is a hard hitting round. Good bullet selection in a very handy carbine.
I've nothing aginst the 444 or 45-70 but after buying a 375 I wonder why would I need one.
Check out Paco Kelly over at sixgun.com he just loves them.

[txpete]

I have a win BB 94 in 375.top eject xtr(first model).I have dropped lots of deer with this rifle.I shot 1 dead deer.most times you have to track a deer about 10 ft.last year I killed 2 under 100 yards they just fall down.
fav. load
220 gr hornady
36.0 grs RL7
win primer & brass.
cast bullets shoot ok but the twist of the win 375 (1 in 12) doesn't lead it self to the best accuracy.my win 94 38-55 shoots cast much better.
you are right about not needing a 45/70 owning a 375 win but I went out and bought one anyway.
pete :grin: