.375 winchester vs. .375 jdj

[throttleman]

Hello, I am trying to decide between the .375 Winchester and the .375 JDJ for my G2 contender, but have not found a distinct advantage for either.  I plan to mainly hunt whitetail, but may take a moose trip or two.  I will most likely use factory ammo.  This leads me toward the Win because Conley Precision and Buffalo Bore both make ammo.  Only Hornady for the JDJ.  I posted this question on the contender/encore page and received limited response.  Any opinions are welcome.  Thanks.

[Questor]

I think you get a heavier bullet at a higher velocity with the JDJ.  It's really made for big game. The 375 Win is more of a deer cartridge, which uses bullets about 220 grains.  If you're using it for whitetail, I think the Win will be better because you don't have to fireform the cases or pay the price of proprietary dies.

[handirifle]

throttleman
If it were me and I had the choice (you do) I'd get the JDJ.  I have a 375 Win 94 Big Bore and whlie it is very new to me, the JDJ clearly out performs the 375 Win.  The JDJ is made from 444 Marlin brass, necked down to 375.

Far more potential for game like elk and moose at longer ranges.  You didn't state if this barrel is rifle or pistol length.  The JDJ's claim to fame is 375 Win performance "from a pistol barrel".  Shot from a rifle barrel it will out do it quite nicely.

I doubt either is limited in bullet weight, and cases for either is not going to be easy to find or cheap.  Factory fodder for the 375 Win is 200gr only.  They loaded 250gr but I have yet to find any.  While dies might be a bit more, you only pay once.  You'll probably get enough velocity from a rifle barrel to allow the use of bullets intended for 375 H&H as well.

[Buckeye]

375 win ,A deer rifle cartridge ,Hmmm..,well I feel the 375 win. is a great med. bore round when hand loaded ,is capable of taking anything that walks this continent. A 220 gr. .375 bullet pushed to 2,290 fps. out of a Light wgt. 20 in. barreled levergun makes a DEADLY combo !!

Buckeye

[JOE MACK]

375 win ,A deer rifle cartridge ,Hmmm..,well I feel the 375 win. is a great med. bore round when hand loaded ,is capable of taking anything that walks this continent. A 220 gr. .375 bullet pushed to 2,290 fps. out of a Light wgt. 20 in. barreled levergun makes a DEADLY combo !!

Buckeye

For large game, I much prefer the Hornady 270grSP at around 2000-2100fps out of a 14 or 15 inch barrel. For deer the lighter bullet would be good but the 270gr would be many times better for elk or moose. Take it from J.D. or Larry Kelly as they've taken elephant and cape buffalo with it.

[Buckeye]

I'm planning on working up a few loads useing 250gr. hardcast,Right now I've only found, Beartooth , making the 250gr.s, do you know any other sources ??

Buckeye

[SLAVAGE]

what one is biger an longer ae if he gets the 375 win can he have it opened up to the jdj later if he dosent like the round?

[Graybeard]

what one is biger an longer ae if he gets the 375 win can he have it opened up to the jdj later if he dosent like the round?

NO! SSK will NOT rechamber a .375 Win. to .375 JDJ. So you cannot have a JDJ if you buy the Win. round. Now you "might" find some fly by night outfit willing to make you a copy but remember it will always be a copy and not a real JDJ and yeah it "might" work as well or it might not. SSK will not knowingly sell dies to folks who do this.

Given equal pressures the JDJ should out perform the Winchester round by 150-200 fps with equal bullet weights. You decide if you want or need that.

[Buckeye]

Trottleman,
The 375 JDJ is a very powerful round , with a 23in. barrel it throws a 220 gr. bullet at a reported 2300fps.

The 375 win. with a 20in. throws a 220gr. bullet at 2,229 fps. really i see no advantage with th 375 JDJ. Ive read where up to 2400fps. can be reached with 235gr. bullets have been reached with a 375 BB (20in. barrel)

Buckeye

[handirifle]

I asked SSK this same thing and they replied with the one answer I hadn't considered, the action isn't long enough anyway.

I even asked about a Handi conversion and he said "he wouldn't do it in THAT rifle" which rubbed me a bit the wrong way.  The Handi action is MORE than strong enough to handle his reported 42,000 psi.  That report was from JDJ himself.

Since the 444 and 45-70 and 450 Marlin have all been safely loaded in the handi to those pressures, I feel it is a personal taste thing.  Oh, well his loss.

[freddogs]

I found a used 375 Winchester barrel last year. It was only $100 so I picked it up (12" with a muzzlebreak). I got cases at a gun show and started reloading. I like shooting it. It seems plenty powerful. I had been using a 7x30 barrel for deer which works well. The 375 groups well. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for moose or anything else. The JDJ is more powerful but I can't see where I need more power. The 220 gr Hornadays work well. I shot a 10 pt buck witha big rack opening day (last Saturday) with the 375 Win. I shot a bit low and the 375 broke both front legs above the knees. The buck jumped in the brush and only went 15 yds before dying.
The 375 seems to shoot a lot better than the 44 mag (for me), has less recoil, and seems like it would have longer range potential. It's easy and cheap to load the 375 win. Next summer I'll work with it at longer ranges. A 14" barrel without the break would be nice but I'm not complaining for $100.

[kirkwhitaker]

i have a super 14" with a brake on it...i shoot 200gr bullets at 1975fps..220/225 at 1935fps...and cast 265/270/280 in it at around 1100fps all the way up to 1500fps...and yes...out to 100yds...don't get in its way...out to 150yds...it still has enough to do in an elk if you know what you are doing...the 375 jdj has a couple hundred fps on it...but...i hunt mostly whitetails in the woods...average shot has been 50yds...you shoot...deer drop very quickly by virtue of a large hole in them...that is the kicker here...once you get to 1500fps + with a 375 cal or larger bullets...put one in the boiler room and bad things happen...
if you plan to hunt at 150yds or less...the 375 win is all you need...if you wish to hunt bigger animals than say deer, antilope, etc...and maybe occational elk in close timber...get the jdj......i have no problem with either round...they both are very good for what they do...
and i can tell you from experience...it does a great job and doesn't tear up a lot of meat like a magnum rifle...
kw