375HH, getting set up questions

[TScottO]

Hey Guys,

I ordered a Ruger 77 Magnum series 375HH for 1278 + tax. How is this price? I tried a few different places and this was the best price I found.

This is my first big bore that would be considered a DG rifle. I have some questions and want you to help me out.

What type of reloading components do you prefer for this calibre? What brand brass? Favorite bullets? Powders? Primers? Any tricks or secrets for this round?

I reload using either a dillion 550b or a rock chucker press. What brand dies do you prefer. I prefer to seat and crimp in two different steps. What process do you prefer?

I'm going have a smith bed the action and do a trigger job or either replace the factory trigger with a new one. Are there anyother smithing tasks I should have performed on this gun? I want to have this gun in top shape. This rifle go along with me to Africa in the near future.

Be Safe,
Scott

[warf73]

If you’re happy with the price then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

I don't reload for a 375H&H but do reload for a big bore. Here is what I would start with. You can choose what you like.

Primer: Use a Magnum Primer your call on brand (I use CCI, my friend uses Winchester, and my uncle uses Federal)

Powder: in my big bore I use IMR, Hodgdon, and Alliant. (It all depends on what I'm trying to get out of what bullet and bullet weight.)

H414 it has great FPS and low pressure. Seems to be a good all-round powder.

R15 has a nice all-round performance.

IMR4350 I would only use this powder if you are using your chucker.

Bullets: I would use Hornady 225 Grain Spire Point for plinking and getting use to the gun and then for the hunting what ever is your favorite brand is the on I would go with.

Brass: I would buy the Remington but there is one big down fall to the Remington brass, case volume is always  smaller by 1-3 grains depends on what caliber it is.
If you are going to shoot allot really allot I would go with Remington if you are going to shoot just to get OK with the rifle I would buy Norma brass.
Reason being you shoot allot you can buy 500count of Rem. brass for $170.00 and you can rotate out what you shoot. If you are going to shoot just to get OK with the rifle then the high dollar Norma would be my choice but 100count is $107.00.

Reloader: I love my RL550 but don’t use it on my big stuff I only reload 20-100 rounds when I reload the big stuff so I use the old Pacific for my big bore.
Not only that but to get big extruded powder to meter well in the Dillon isn’t what I would call great. I use my RCBS powder dropper, trickier, and digital scales and weight every charge.

Dies: I like the Hornady Custom Grade New Dimension 2-Die Set.
But RCBS makes a very nice die set.

As for the gun work goes well its all up to you, I do all my own work unless it is something major (like barrel work)

[Florida Jim]

See my post on Browning A bolt as a Dangerous game rifle. My gun likes 260gr Nosler partition with Reloader 15, R P cases, and federal 215 primers. I like RCBS dies, and use a "Rock Chucker" press.

[TScottO]

This is what I picked up:

Brass- Winchester and Remington.

Bullets- Hornady interlock 220 gr flat point, hornady interlock 270 gr spire points and swift A-frame 270 semi-spitzer

Dies- Redding dies

Powders- RL15 and H414

How about scope choices- Leupold VXIII 1.75x6x32mm or VXIII 2.5x8x36mm?

Be Safe,
Scott

[Florida Jim]

I've got the VX111 1.75x6x32 on Leupold QR mounts.
My browning shot 260 Nosler partitions better than the Hornaday

[Lawdog]

Scott,

I like your choices, especially the Ruger M77 Magnum :wink: .  Go with a Timney adjustable trigger instead of just honing the Ruger trigger.   Timney is what I put on all of my newer Rugers.  I prefer Winchester/Federal brass, Remington always seemed to be to soft.  Norma is really good but really expensive.  Dies is a matter of choice.  I have a set of RCBS and a set of Redding dies in .375 H&H and really can't tell the difference loading wise.  Bullets I go with Hornady for practice and Nosler Partition for hunting.  Again it is a personal choice.  As far as a scope goes Leupold is a good choice but so is the Burris, 1.75X-5X-32mm Safari model, which is what I use on all of my big bores.  Keep us informed on your progress with your new .375 and Welcome to the World of Big Bores.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[TScottO]

She came in today. The fit and finish is good and this gun is heavy! My reloading stuff should be in next week. The only hold back now is the scope. The Leupold distributor my dealer uses is out and is waiting on the 2004 models to arrive. Maybe in a few weeks I can have some results to post.

So far so good. Thanks for the replies.

Be Safe,
Scott

[Riflemanz]

I only use Magnum primers only if the load book calls for them.

[oso45-70]

TScottO
Well it looks like LAWDOG stole my thunder again but he gets it right every time so no complaint. you are going to have one fine peice there.
If you enjoy yours as much as i do mine you will be one happy man. Best of luck to you sir. Joe

[Con]

I only use 2 loads in my 375H&H. A "full power" 300gr load and a practice load made up of 220gr FN, infront of AR2205 (H4227) that shoots to the same point of aim. Nice having that practice load when your working on your shooting and want to take the recoil out of the equation... The 375H&H is rapidly becoming a favourite of mine, it's just so damn versatile and balanced it's scary!!
Con

[pc]

I use win brass with normal win Large rifle primer. I have worked up two loads one using the speer 235 gr spitzer and another "thumper load" using the Hornady 300 gr Round Nose. I like the effect of round noses and flat nose bullets on game.

I agree totally with what Con has said, it is the best all rounder there is and if you have .375 H&H you do not need a lot of other rifles you might own....but I still want them all the same  

[flintman]

I use cast bullets in my .375,great for getting used to a new gun,or for plinking.

[ed in idaho]

flintman have any cast bullet loads you would care to share thanks in advance ed in idaho

[oso45-70]

MR. Flintman,
Im enjoying the gift you sent me, It does every thing it is supposed to do.
Have a good day Pard, and take care,...........Joe....................

[Larry Gibson]

ed in idaho

"flintman have any cast bullet loads you would care to share thanks in advance ed in idaho[/quote]"

I'm not flintman but my M70 Classic Stainless loves the Lyman 377449 (cast of WWs or harder alloy) over 46 gr of 4895 with a 1.5 gr Dacron filler.  Runs 2050 fps and is accurate and deadly.  Great for practice and I wouldn't hesitate hunting deer with it or elk at short range of 200 yards or under.  I use neck sized WW brass with WLR primers.  

My BG/DG load is the same WW brass, WLR primer with the Speer 285 Grand Slam over 71 gr of Varget for 2650 fps.  69 gr of Varget does well with the 300 gr bullets should I choose to use them.

With the 270 Hornady or the 270 Speer SPBT 73 gr of Varget gets 2700 fps and excellent accuracy.  Same brass and primer.

For small game (ptarmigan, grouse, hares, etc.) I like the Hornady 80 gr .375 RB with a very light coat of Lee's Liquid Alox over 4 gr of Bullseye (no filler or wad needed) in very well fire formed WW cases with the same WLR primer.  They run 890 fps and 10 shot will go into 1.5" at 50 yards, even out of a jacketed bullet fouled bore.  They hit just 1" below POA at 50 yards in my rifle so edible small game is always on the menue when I hunt with my three six bits.  I have also found that a full bore load fired after 4 or 5 of these will not show any signs of excess pressure and will go to zero.

Above Jacketed loads are safe in my rifle as I worked up to them.  Should you choose to try them please work up as I did.

Larry Gibson

[vhunter]

I use hornady bullets 220,270,300 grainers and speer 235 + serria 250 grain. Good accuracy with them all! I use varget powder and winchester brass with federal match mag primers along with Redding press, Lee collet dies (which are great!!). Also bought a set of Hornady dies for my 375 H&H and can't keep the decapping pin in the dies, it always pulls out after resizing the case. ( Don't like the hornady dies). RCBS and Redding dies are great also.  Remington brass is good and I also like cci primers! Good luck!!