Author Topic: Opinions of the 375 Winchester (Read 5215 times)

kynardsj · « **on:** December 24, 2009, 10:16:25 AM »

This is a followup to another post I had about a caliber for hog hunting with my Contender. Everything so far that I've read about this caliber has been good. The info about how the Contender barrels handle this round has been good too. I'd like to hear any personal experience. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 24, 2009, 01:27:31 PM »

Don't have a 375, but my 38-55 plays one on TV. Really, the old girl steps out pretty good with modern reloading in strong platforms. I have one in the Marlin CB and a single shot that will take heavier loads. I don't want to give load info, you can find that other places, but it will put game down as well as many bigger cartridges. DP

mechanic · « **Reply #2 on:** December 24, 2009, 05:00:05 PM »

I bought one of the original "Big Bores" in 375. I can tell you within it's range it will stop about anything in the lower 48 quite effectively. The only problem with hogs is you will ruin a lot of meat with soft points.....

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2009, 04:16:46 AM »

I have never had the pleasure of hunting hogs, But let me tell you the .375 is a big hammer on whitetail. Puts a hurtin on them right now. I really like mine. Almost as much as my .45-70.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #4 on:** December 25, 2009, 04:22:29 AM »

This is one of my favorite calibers!!

I had a 21" carbine and a 10" pistol. (OUCH!!) Both in a contender. Great guns!!! Now I have a couple Marlin lever actions and still occasionally take it out hunting.

My favorite load is a Hornady 220SP and a near max load of RL7 powder. Easily inside 2" at 100 with peeps or the 2X scout scope!!

I prefer the 220 as I have the 35Rem for 200's, the 45-70 for over 300's and the 30-30 for anything lighter...

CW

jro45 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2009, 02:26:48 AM »

I shot my bore with my 7mm mag at distance of 40yds. He was running when I shot him.
I know this isn't about the 7mm but my 375 H&H isn't the Winchester either.

jedman · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2009, 11:13:17 AM »

I think of the 375 Win. round just like any other straight walled cartridge that is loaded at a reasonable pressure, " It dont get any better than this ".
Really you can't improve on the efficincy of a cartridge that has no wasted space, As[per powder capacity VS pressure you load it too, It's as good as it gets. Jed

Artful · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2010, 04:39:45 AM »

I have a Big Bore 94 and Ruger #3 in 375 win and I like the cartridge - never shot a hog but it dumps deer with heart lung shot right now. - all kills have been one shot and your done - excellent cast bullet rifle cartridge as well.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #8 on:** August 03, 2010, 08:55:05 AM »

Great round but it is even better when you rechamber it to 375JDJ...

JWP58 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2011, 12:47:38 PM »

What is the recoil like out of a model 94? The 356 and 375 winchester really have piqued my intrest..

rugerfan.64 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2011, 05:00:57 PM »

I just wish H&R chambered it in the Handi rifle,they'd sell a ton of em in MS.

Missionary5155 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:43:19 PM »

Good morning
Have a 94 & a Marlin in caliber .375 & 38-55. Either one will zap a hog right fast. Under 35 yards I would try for "the 1" under the ear" shot as that way no chasing and no meat damage.
Recoil... depends on your body size and what you are used to. If you shoot a 12 guage shotgun with mag loads you will not be offended by a .375 unless you hunt in a green T-shirt with a steel curved buttplate. I normally shoot 255+ grain cast out of my .375´s and .38 rifles. If 1500 -1700 fps will not get the job done I switch to a caliber .40 some.
Every moving beast was popped with the BP 38-55 loads for many years. That was a 255 grainer at 1200 fps. Bullet placement will do all you want or need. Critters have not gotten any tougher over the years. maybe biger as the crunch more corn & beans but they have yet to discover kevlar.
Mike in Peru

smokehouserex · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:03:14 AM »

Good Morning All:
I'm glad to see that others regard the 375 as I do, a sledgehammer. I have owned one since 1990 in a Marlin carbine. I have never got it too shoot small groups but I like it very much.
I do not load the 200 grain bullets to factory specs. as it is too destructive, 220's are not much different. The 250 gr. factory loads are not loaded anymore or at least I haven't seen them if they are,heavy bullets are much better, jmo. I load cast mostly 245's and they are bad on critters. They DO KICK with the narrow buttstock, needs a good pad, for me anyway. The recoil in my rifle is a sharp recoil not a push as with some others, a GREAT short-range critter-gitter. I also like re7 for powder, pretty much max as it is no use to have a 375 and load to 38-55 specs altho the 38-55 is also a very good ctg.
There was a good series,3 IIRC, on chuck hawks website on the 375. "Hunting with the 375" was the name of the series, a good write-up, good reading.
I enjoyed reading each post here. Enjoy the 375 Big Bore, I think most do not realize the potential of this ctg. or it would have been a more popular round. jmho.
safety first
HM

surehuntsalot · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2011, 03:06:28 PM »

Quote from: rugerfan.64 on November 29, 2011, 05:00:57 PM

I just wish H&R chambered it in the Handi rifle,they'd sell a ton of em in MS.

Amen to that

BBF · « **Reply #14 on:** December 16, 2011, 06:49:14 AM »

The Missus had a Ruger #3 in it. We never got a chance to kill anything. My bullet was the Speer 235 gr semi Spitzer in front of RL-7.

The Ruger #3 is a beast with in regards to recoil. Light weight and that awful butt with the Steel plate and that curly lever . We had the lever reformed since it kept rapping her knuckles. It is a long time ago and I seem to recall that we also replaced the stock with a pistol grip design.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #15 on:** December 16, 2011, 08:26:39 AM »

I just recently tried out my .375 Win barrel for my T/C. It's a 12 inch barrel with a muzzle break. While I don't shoot the .375 Win, the chamber is cut to fit 38-55 specs and so I have fired my 38-55 loads in it about a week ago. I was amazed at the accuracy from it. While standing and shooting off-hand, I was able to easily place roughly 8 or 10 rounds in about two inches. I was in no means taking a lot of time shooting these either, it was more like "fun shooting". I can only imagine what I can do while resting this thing!

I'm shooting 265 grain bullets and while the recoil is a little abrupt, it's definitely no worse than shooting my 30-30 from a 14 inch barrel and certainly doesn't have the muzzle blast that the 30-30 has. While I have no idea of what my 38-55's fired from this 10 inch barrel will do in a hunting situation, I can't imagine too many animals that would run off after being hit by these rounds. They've gotta be nearing .44 mag energy.

3 feathers · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2011, 06:32:44 PM »

I bought a Winchester Big Bore about 1980 and have killed a ton of deer and hogs with it. I have been using 220 gr. Hornady bullets and RL 7 powder. It really smacks the dickens out of anything I have shot with it. I know that you will love it.

oliverstacy · « **Reply #17 on:** January 14, 2012, 12:43:48 PM »

I have a 24" Custom Shop Encore barrel and it is a dream to shoot! I've gotten great accuracy with 200 grain Sierra's and RL-7...I'd have to look over my notes but I remember 5 shots around 1.5" or so with 3 normally under or right at 1" at 100 yards.

Funny thing was I tried several powders but loaded 10 up with the “hunting load” they recommend (to sight it in with) and it was the most accurate of all…ended up scraping the rest and loaded up about 25 more. I’m not in a rifle zone here in Michigan but when I get up north it’s always in the mix!

Just picked up a Winchester XTR Big Bore 375 Win in amazing shape (heck I don't think it was ever outside of the persons safe) and I'm trying to decide what to do with it. It doesn't have a scratch but it's calling my name and will more than likely go to the range this summer to see what it likes.

Still looking for a Marlin 375...wonder if I'll ever find one???

I may look for a G2 down the road and a 375 Win barrel will be ordered not long after.

Hope all is well!

Josh

P.S. Had a stainless contender with a 14” barrel and sold it…still regret that!

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2012, 04:00:01 PM »

Since my last reply on here, I have picked up a NIB Marlin 375 and a Ruger #3 in the same as well as another 38-55 barrel for an H&R frame. I have used a load from the Hornady reloading book with A 1680 for powder. This is a top end load for this caliber, out paces all other powders in their data. Some people on another site were concerned it might be over pressure for the Marlin, but after talking to one of the ballistians at Western Power that distribute that line of powder, he indicated it was almost too slow for the cartridge and you couldn't get enough in the case to hit an overpressure situation. I will be working with this powder more this year, only did 20 rounds with it and shot it in the Marlin 375 and 38-55. The CB 38-55 shot better with the load used than the 375, but I'm sure with some tweeking of loads and different bullets, both will be quite good. DP

Blackhawker · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2012, 10:31:07 PM »

dpe-ahoy, you might try IMR-3031, IMR-4198, RL-7, or 2400 for that 38-55.
Those are not listed in any particular order.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2012, 09:41:11 AM »

I have several pounds of 3031 and RL7 to try in the 375, 38-55, 444 marlin and 45-70. I think I have a lot of range time to pull this year!

DP

Couger · « **Reply #21 on:** February 28, 2012, 07:20:52 PM »

Quote from: kynardsj

This is a followup to another post I had about a caliber for hog hunting with my Contender. Everything so far that I've read about this caliber has been good. The info about how the Contender barrels handle this round has been good too. I'd like to hear any personal experience. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

You might mosey over to 'Rocky's Reloading Room' and look at a couple Contender articles he's written, including his LIKE for the .375 Win.

Don't be put off by the way the site is out of adjustment when a new server was changed. Tab well into one of the margins and you'll find it.

jlchucker · « **Reply #22 on:** February 29, 2012, 04:03:50 AM »

Quote from: rugerfan.64 on November 29, 2011, 05:00:57 PM

I just wish H&R chambered it in the Handi rifle,they'd sell a ton of em in MS.

Not if they did them the same way they did their 38-55 of a few years ago. That was absolutely the worst rifle I ever held in my hands. To make it shoot a cast bullet accurately would have required modification to a brand-new rifle, unlike other new guns of different brands. Look over comments made about their 38-55 on this and other websites. H&R couldn't get it right, so they did the only thing they could do--dropped it soon after they started making it. Would they do the same with the 375 Winchester, which is so similar? IMO the only way they'd "sell a ton of them" is if whoever bought them new had no trouble with them right out of the box, and flooded the internet with rave reviews. I don't trust H & R/Remington to make that happen but it would be nice if it did.

chefjeff · « **Reply #23 on:** February 29, 2012, 04:39:04 AM »

In about 1985 I bought a marlin .375 at a Davidsons christmas sale for $129.99!!!!!!I failed to keep it,traded off for a new flavor....look what they sell for now!

handirifle · « **Reply #24 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:49:02 PM »

Quote from: jlchucker on February 29, 2012, 04:03:50 AM

Quote from: rugerfan.64 on November 29, 2011, 05:00:57 PM
I just wish H&R chambered it in the Handi rifle,they'd sell a ton of em in MS.

Not if they did them the same way they did their 38-55 of a few years ago. That was absolutely the worst rifle I ever held in my hands. To make it shoot a cast bullet accurately would have required modification to a brand-new rifle, unlike other new guns of different brands. Look over comments made about their 38-55 on this and other websites. H&R couldn't get it right, so they did the only thing they could do--dropped it soon after they started making it. Would they do the same with the 375 Winchester, which is so similar? IMO the only way they'd "sell a ton of them" is if whoever bought them new had no trouble with them right out of the box, and flooded the internet with rave reviews. I don't trust H & R/Remington to make that happen but it would be nice if it did.

BIG difference between chambering for the Win 375 and the 38-55. The main reason was the standards for the old, but effective, 38-55 were all over the place regarding bore dia, chamber measurements and twist rate. I think H&R actually, for some unknown reason, chambered to one spec and bored to another.

There SHOULD be no such issue with the 375, as it has only been out with the one, well defined set of specs from SAAMI. But then again, it is the new REMLIN we are talking about.

For the OP, the 375 is a fantastic cartridge. I have finally developed, for my own use, a modified Barnes TSX, that is very accurate, and fully functional in my Model 94 BB. I just finished my first major range test with outstanding results using RL-7 and a 190gr bullet. Below is a pic of different bullet designs and powders. The 3 holes in the black are the 190gr backed by 33gr of RL-7, all shots at 50yds, peep sights, from a bench rest.

No on game tests done yet, but I hope this season will change that.