Author Topic: 375 Win - Good for anything? (Read 4025 times)

BattleRifleG3 · « **on:** May 10, 2005, 07:06:54 PM »

I was wondering if anyone knew of a reason someone would want a 375 Win levergun. See a few around and they look nice, seems like it should be a good caliber but just isn't offered in more than one loading. Some say it never got a chance.

But in a world where we have 375 H&H and 444 Marlin, what would a levergun in 375 Winchester be good for? There's a local Marlin for $450ish with scope.

Just interested to know, hoping to learn something.

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2005, 02:05:40 AM »

battlefieldG3 - I think you are right, the 375 Winchester never got a chance. What's it good for - anything the older 38-55 was good for - they are almost identical cartridges. The 375 is a good medium bore lever and will serve you well on whitetail, boar and black bear. I may suffice on some of the larger game animals too.

There is enough reloading information and supplies available to assist 375 shooters in maintaining that caliber, so it ain't dead yet. And $450ish (even with a scope) is just a tad high, I think. JMHO. Mikey.

jro45 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2005, 03:40:24 AM »

Wouldn't it be good for sitting in front of bait 25 yds, for black bear? I know a 375 bullet is ideal for the black bear. The H&H is to powerful at 25yds for black bear.

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2005, 09:17:19 PM »

jro45 - yep, it would surely be good for that, and a ton of other critters as well.

Ramrod · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2005, 06:38:25 AM »

Quote from: BattleRifleG3

But in a world where we have 375 H&H and 444 Marlin, what would a levergun in 375 Winchester be good for? There's a local Marlin for $450ish with scope.

Just interested to know, hoping to learn something.

A levergun is a fast-handling, close range woods gun. I think the .375 Win would be good for anything in North America you would use those cartridges for, and without as much recoil.

idahoelk101 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2005, 09:16:20 AM »

How about elk at about 35 yards. My buddies boy (17) took a spike this last season with one. Through the front of the shoulder, and took the heart apart from strait on. Now not what I would chose for anything over 100 yards, but in the dark stuff we hunt here nice set up.

crash87 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2005, 01:53:13 PM »

Gentlemen, I picked up my first .375 WIN. in the early 80's, a ruger no.3, took my first B. Bear with it plus a slew of Wisconsin whitetail. I used a 220 gr. Hornady F.P. exclusively for years, with a max. charge (Hornadys book) of reloader-7. Just recently picked up a Win. BigBore 94, excellent condition w/ a box of shells (20) through it. Am now going the cast bullet route. To those who condemned the .375 Win. from the start I cant believe ever tried it, I'll give these "experts" the benefit of dought and say they probably read other experts condemnations and past judgement that way. At least the viewers on this page are giving it the respect it deserves. Marlin also chambered it and I almost had one, almost.
CRASH87

Buckeye · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2005, 05:35:01 PM »

Heres a pic. of my 375's a 375win. in a BB
& a 375H&H in a Mauser
The 375winny is a great cartridge with lotz of power without the kick!

handirifle · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2005, 08:32:04 PM »

While I haven't had my 375 BB long enough to hunt with it yet (this fall) I have worked up loads from Paco Kelly's reads, and am now pushing chrono'd loads of 250gr bullets at 2135fps from the 20" barrel. Now when you read the Hodgdons manual shows the 30-06 pushing a 250gr load at max of 2200fps from a 24" barrel, it puts its power into perspective.

These loads have been carefully worked up .1 gr at a time and have zero over pressure signs. They are safe in MY gun but don't know about anyone elses. I'd use this load on anything on this continent out to 200yds with the exception of a brown bear, and I might limit it to 100. But since I'll never hunt brown bear, that is not an issue for me.

But like ramrod said, the levergun is fast handling and built for the woods. By the way, in factory loads, the 38-55 is nowhere near the 375 Win. In handloads, and in the RIGHT RIFLE, the 38-55 can match the 375. Both rounds are like comparing factory loads of 45-70 to the 450 Marlin.

It is like apples and oranges to compare a 375 H&H bolt to the 375 Win lever. If you want a big heavy slug from a woods gun go with the 375 and reload. Otherwise get the 444.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2005, 06:46:36 AM »

I'd love to have a .375 win in a good lever action! Plenty of gun for around these parts!

Buckeye · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2005, 09:17:35 AM »

Quote from: BattleRifleG3

I was wondering if anyone knew of a reason someone would want a 375 Win levergun. See a few around and they look nice, seems like it should be a good caliber but just isn't offered in more than one loading. Some say it never got a chance.

But in a world where we have 375 H&H and 444 Marlin, what would a levergun in 375 Winchester be good for? There's a local Marlin for $450ish with scope.

Just interested to know, hoping to learn something.

There worthless ,so if you got one laying around I'll take it off your hands ,I need a stove poker. :lol:

glock29 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2005, 06:52:29 AM »

It is a good cartridge for replacing the 38/55 with.
Same realtive bore size, but much better energy.
Would I choose one ?
No way....the range is no longer than a hot-loaded 45/70 and it packs much LESS wallop at the target.

oliverstacy · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2005, 06:00:52 PM »

I just purchased a TC Custom Shop 375 Winchester Encore barrel, 24" standard taper...matte finish. I have to say it's a nice combo, going to be a good close cover deer thumper and black bear (if I ever draw a tag).

Just purchase a Leupold base and rings and I'm saving some pennies for the VX-II 2-7x33, can't wait. Shooting it with the iron sights for now, makes load testing somewhat hard but what a broke person to do. I have an older Weaver 2.5x that I'm going to mount on it for the time being. Might even keep it there since my longest shoot is going to be well under 100 yards.

Just started loading for it, 200 gr. Sierra's, 220 gr. Hornady and 235 gr. Speer bullets so far. The gun is very light and will handle well in the tight cover. Going to be fun.

Josh

P.S. If you don't want your Marlin 375 anymore I'll give it a very good home. :wink:

txpete · « **Reply #13 on:** August 20, 2006, 05:53:38 AM »

mine has served me well for years.early 375 top eject.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2006, 07:30:30 PM »

The .375 Win is a pretty worthless cartridge. Hardly any factory ammo around and not much in the way of bullets for reloading, either. It’s a 52,000 CUP cartridge but still has to work hard to send a 220g bullet out the muzzle at 2300fps. Such a load falls below 1,000fpe shortly past 270 yards.

The trajectory closely matches that of my .45-70 but where’s the fun -- the recoil is much less. Last time I had the Marlin .375 and .45-70 at Whittington Center both knocked down the 500 meter rams 4 out of the last 5 shots. Good thing I wasn’t shooting live game...

The buck antelope I shot at 167 yards ignored the 220g Hornady and leapt away. I was not impressed.

Not, that is, until the buck collapsed on landing and never got up, a hole in and out through the lungs.

Think of the .375 as a .30-30 on steroids. About the same range and trajectory as a .30-30 with a 170g bullet, but it makes a bigger hole with a heavier bullet.

yotesmoker · « **Reply #15 on:** November 14, 2006, 02:10:05 AM »

How does it compare to a 35 rem if handloading them both?

Duckbill · « **Reply #16 on:** November 14, 2006, 05:44:37 AM »

Quote from: yotesmoker on November 14, 2006, 02:10:05 AM

How does it compare to a 35 rem if handloading them both?

From a handloaders standpoint, not much. Mainly just a little bigger bullet. I load for both, and love both. My Marlin 375 is one of the best shooting guns I've ever owned. It lays the smack down on hogs and is good to 200yds for deer(even farther for crackshots like CoyoteHunter

). The reloading components are a little more readily available for the 35Rem.
I never leave home without my 375. I don't carry it to every stand because I do have a few clear cuts, but 80% of the time it gets the nod.

GEMSBUCK · « **Reply #17 on:** November 15, 2006, 02:57:00 AM »

IMHO the 375 win is a better option than the near twin 38-55 because JSP can be had at .375 while the newer Marlins have been bored to need 3.77-3.79 bullets and few JSP exist for them. Cast lead can be had in those sizes but even with gas checks when pushing a cast a higher velocities it will shortly "lead" your barrell up pretty bad.
I've owned a few 375 Win and 2 newer Marlin 336 CB 38-55, and while the 38-55 is endeared in Canada for black bears and moose it is normally the older 38-55s that were bored to .375.
IMHO Marlin should have dropped the 38-55 336CB and kept the 336CB 30-30 in production. Seems they went after the CB crowd that wanted the authentic bore size with the surge in CB Action shooting. Now that the craze has waned somewhat there are a bunch of the 38-55 sitting on dealer shelves waiting for reloaders that pour their own lead.

nabob · « **Reply #18 on:** November 15, 2006, 05:23:32 AM »

I own a 375 Win in the Winchester Big Bore lever action rifle. About the best gun I've come across for still-hunting in the Adirondacks. Light weight, fast-handling and accurate. It is good for deer or bear. However, it isn't used much. There was a marketing push back about 20 years ago when the Big Bore rifle came out, then nothing. I think it is an excellent round and while I use a bolt 30-06 with a scope for stand hunting, it is either my 35 Whelen pump or the 375 that I take walking.

sidenote: when I first started coming here, I was all excited about a forum devoted solely to the Winchester Big Bore rifle. Couldn't believe it was so popular to merit its own forum. Oops.

lefteyedon · « **Reply #19 on:** November 16, 2006, 07:42:44 PM »

Back when am men wore wool hunting jackets and pants Winchester offered for sell the perfect mid-bore lever action rifle and cartridge, the Model 71 chambered in 348 Winchester. This was in a time before the eye damage caused by watching TV and reading gun magizines in poor light, when real men stood on thier hind legs and shot deer, elk and bear without the add of telescopic sights.
By 1957 human males had suffered so much eye damage that Winchester out of charity removed this rifle from production. Leaving the model 94 in a humble 30-30 meet the needs of those that could see without the aid of a scope for the next 21 years. The Model 71 not lending itself to scopes was put to rest but a relic of a time when men could focus on a front sight.

Some numbers from Cartridges of the World 6th edition

348 Winchester
200 grn 2530 MV 2840 ME
250 grn 2350 MV 3060 ME

375 Winchester
200 grn 2200 MV 2105 ME
250 grn 1900 MV 2005 ME

and for Sh*t and Giggles
356 Winchester
200 grn 2322MV 2403ME
250 grn 2040MV 2318ME (20" barrel)

flintman · « **Reply #20 on:** December 16, 2006, 01:47:34 PM »

I like cast bullets and use them nearly exclusively,in everything but a .22LR!
Really,you can only push a cast bullet to about the speed of a .375WCF,so since I already have one in great shape there is NO need to buy another .375 H&H.......

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #21 on:** December 16, 2006, 05:57:53 PM »

Quote from: lefteyedon on November 16, 2006, 07:42:44 PM

Some numbers from Cartridges of the World 6th edition

348 Winchester
200 grn 2530 MV 2840 ME
250 grn 2350 MV 3060 ME

375 Winchester
200 grn 2200 MV 2105 ME
250 grn 1900 MV 2005 ME

and for Sh*t and Giggles
356 Winchester
200 grn 2322MV 2403ME
250 grn 2040MV 2318ME (20" barrel)

Or actual chrono'd loads from a Marlin:

.375 winchester
200g @ 2390fps = 2550fpe
220g @ 2294fps = 2571fpe

Drilling Man · « **Reply #22 on:** December 20, 2006, 06:48:58 AM »

If you want something different and very nice, look for a Valmet 412 double rifle chambered in 375 Win., lots of them were sold in the US.. I've had several, and all of them shot really well. Also, you can regulate the bbls to shoot together with any load at any range....

DM