I got my new toy all set up and ready for Sunday!

[Slowpoke Slim]

First off, I want to say THANK YOU to Tim (tlflynn) for making this possible.

Here's my new (to me) baby, SSK 375 JDJ, all set up with the 3x TC scope off of my 14" 45-70 bbl:





I hope the scope holds up until I can upgrade to something a little better. This scope needs to go back onto my 45-70 bbl so I can shoot it too.

I'm starting off with the 270 gr Hornady sp, loaded with 48.0 grs of IMR 4064. This load is 1.2 grs under JDJ's "max" listed on the data sheet for this bullet and powder combo.



Still trying to decide if I need to wear my brown pants Sunday to shoot it. This will be a "first" for me...

 

Life is good

 

[Jay HHI6818]

Nice looking Tender and plenty of power!!!

[I make oil]

Nice Slim!  Please let us know how it shoots and your thoughts on recoil.  I am back and forth on the .375JDJ or a 45/70 curious about the recoil between the two.  I am sure you review will push me either way.  Looing forward to your range report.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Well I made it to the range and back today. I'm still whole, all arms and legs still attached. I still have the use of both hands. I only had the 10 pcs of brass to work with, so only loaded up and fired 10 rounds. I was surprised how fast we went through those! I did let my buddy shoot a couple, so he could try it too. He had to shoot it wearing a glove (he's delicate), and refused to try it "bare handed". I had no trouble shooting it bare handed. It never felt like it was going to come out of my hand.

Now first off, this is a 16" bbl, and it's brake'd, but the recoil was surprisingly mild. It was there, don't get me wrong, but no where near as bad as I was expecting. There was no muzzle climb at all, the gun only recoiled straight back. The report was not as great as I thought it would be. It was a sharp "crack", like a rifle round, but not a big "boom" or anything. It was quite reasonable with good ear muffs on. My buddy brought his 10" 357 Max barrel, loaded with max charge of 296 and 110 gr XTP's, and it was pretty close on volume, but his was a much deeper "boom", so it seemed louder to a few bystanders we asked. We DID cause one "tacti-cool" shooter to pack up and leave in a huff because we were making so much noise though. I consider that a "victory" for the 'tenders!

The recoil was definitely there, but not even close to the recoil of some of the smokeless 45-70 rounds I've fired from my 14" brake'd 'tender bbl. The 45-70 would buck up sharply and try to twist out of your hand. Not so the 375 JDJ. I also think my smokeless 45-70 rounds were louder. The blackpowder 45-70 rounds are still far and away the loudest, deepest "BOOM" so far out of any 'tender bbl I've fired.

I was shooting it just off of my rear tall ear bag, with the butt on a piece of carpet. After the first couple of rounds, I started just shooting it one handed, since it was only coming straight back. Next week I'll be shooting it from my front rest and rear flat bag, with the wide fore end on it, and actually try to hit something with it.

I did pick up some more brass and bullets today at Cabela's. So next Sunday I'll have 100 rds, and can actually run up a few series of test loads to see what it likes.

[I make oil]

  Glad to hear you made it home safe with all your parts attached Slim.  I was very curious how you would find the recoil compared to the 45/70.  The ammo you have is it .375 JDJ Brass or is it made from .444?  Have you found .375JDJ ammo or will you make your own?  I have been looking for a .375 JDJ barrel and have seen some over on ED's site.  I hate to have one made because I am cheap!  I usually find good deals on used.  Will have to give him a call after I come home from Disney next week.  (If I still have any money after going there! LOL)  Looking forward to reading about future range reports on this Barrel.  Thanks!

IMO

[Slowpoke Slim]

The 10 I started with were genuine TC 375 JDJ headstamped brass that I got with the barrel and dies from Tim. I bought a bag of Rem 444 Marlin brass and just ran them through the sizing die, and done. Pretty simple really. I'm only going to be rolling my own ammo.

[I make oil]

Found a decent price on 375 JDJ ammo on Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=996747

I have never formed my own brass.  Just getting into reloading.  Is there a benifit to forming your own brass over buying headstamped brass? 

[Slowpoke Slim]

It's cheaper to buy 444 Marlin brass. It's also easier to find. As far as "forming" goes, in this particular case, all you do is run the 444 Marlin brass through the 375 JDJ sizing die, the same as you would if you were just resizing any other "normal" brass in any other "normal" resizing die. There are no other steps required.

Some "wildcat" brass can be more complicated to make from "parent" brass. This is not the case with the 375 JDJ. There are no additional forming dies or steps to the process.

The only time I would be concerned with proper headstamped brass would be if I was taking it to a foreign country that required it. Some African countries require the brass stamp to match the chambering stamp on the firearm, for example.

In this particular case, for me, it is a non-issue.