A new .375 cal. Wildcat

[jedman]

     This is my latest wildcat project. A very simple to make case and after some research have found nothing just like it already been done.  I dont have a name for it yet but for now I am going to refer to it as 375 X 2 5/8 N E.
  There is a 375 X 2 1/2 N E but its a straight walled case and a bit lower in capacity.
  I am going to rebarrel a Greener Martini Police shotgun I have to make a sporting rifle out of this cartridge.
  The case its formed on is a Starline 45-100 or 45 X 2.6" and after sizing it has a case length of 2 5/8".
  In the pic its next to a 308 Win. for size comparison. I will let a few of you guess what this looks like before I tell what it is. A real low budget project like everything I do.       Jed

[briannmilewis]

Jed, I like the way you use your spare time...

[jedman]

    Brian,     I wish I could get my wife to think that way too.  I really don't need a cartridge of this size and power but need is not the goal.
    The new cartridge is a 375 H & H mag without the belted case , about .220 shorter than the parent.
  I want something to shoot cast bullets with and something inexpensive to build.
 I was able to get a like new pre chambered take off barrel and a set of RCBS dies for under $ 50.00, now I just need to put it all together.
    Working with a Martini is fun, for a 130 year old design, the drop block single shot action is a marvel of simplicity.
               Jed

[briannmilewis]

Jed, if it ain't broke why fix it? I have found that old, simple, efficient, clever is almost always a good, way to go no matter where you encounter it.

Where did you get the barrel and dies? I'll have to shop where you do.

Good luck, and will always be looking for pix and range report.

[jedman]

   I won the barrel on Gunbroker it is from a CZ 550 Safari Rifle, a real nice barrel for $ 32.00
 The RCBS die set I bought on E bay, There is 2 seater dies in the set plus the FL size die listed as used , when I got them and checked them out they were all brand new never used for $16.61       Jed

[wookie76]

Very cool project hope it all comes together for you.  How are you planning your loads?  Do you have QuickLoad or Load from a Disk?

I was thinking of the .380 DWM (Delta Wildlife Management) as a nod to the LA / MS primitive laws.

[jedman]

Very cool project hope it all comes together for you.  How are you planning your loads?  Do you have QuickLoad or Load from a Disk?
 

    When I get that far as to loading the first ammo I will compare its case capacity to others in the same ballpark and start at low end start loads.
  I would think I could stat loads for this about 15 % below 375 H & H start loads.
      But I will be shooting cast bullets at first and I have some reduced velocity loads from Hornady with AA 5744 that I will start with.           Jed

[cooper]

Jed, except for the caliber, your new cartridge is somewhat similar to the Sharps 40/90 bottleneck.  Case length of the 40/90 is 2 5/8.  Also the 40/90 has a longer neck than your cartridge; it's about 0.6" long as I recall, and it looks like your 375 neck is closer to about 0.3" long.

I think there is such a cartridge as the 38/90 Sharps, but I don't know if it was a bottleneck or straight.

I shoot my 40/90 BN mostly with Goex Fg and with duplex loads (RL-7 and Goex Fg), but I've also been playing with 5744 and Trail Boss, mostly with a 320 gr LFN mould from LBT.   

[redneckdan]

so does your cartridge use .375 H&H dies?

[jedman]

  Yes it does, I cut off about .240 off the bottom of a standard RCBS 375 H & H mag sizing die , at that point just above where the belt was the die ID measures .4995.  The head diameter on the Starline 45-100 cases is about 1 thousand under that. When you run a case thru the die the neck " grows " about .035 and I just trim them to 2.625 ( 2 5/8" ).
  The extractor on the Martini action only pulls the cartridge a very short distance so I beleive the generous taper in the body of this cartridge should help it fall out of the chamber.   Jed