375 Win and TC Encore

[oliverstacy]

Does anyone know if 225 gr Spire points can be loaded safely in a 375 Winchester and perform well?  Will they expand?  

I have a 24" barrel from the custom shop.  Should be able to get them around 2200- 2300 ft/sec.

Also does anyone have a good 200 grain sierra or 220 grain Hornady load?

Josh

[handirifle]

If you are loading these in a single shot rifle, then safety is not an issue.  Do NOT use the spire point if it is a levergun.

The velocities you mention should be easily obtainable.  Use the 2004 Hogdons Annual Manual for both the 200 and 220gr loads.

I'm running compressed loads of RL-7, in 38-55 cases using custom made 250 Hornady bullets (see my web site, click the www button) and getting over 2100fps with these, from my Winchester 94 BB's 20" barrel.

[Little Magnum]

I have a BigBore 94 in 375win. Pretty much the two powders that work best for the 375win are RL-7 and IMR-4198.  I have only used flat point bullets, because of the lever action. But Hornady 220fp and Sierra 200fp
are good bullets, expand well and tuff at 375win vel. Max load of either powder, std primer non-magnum, use a lee crimp die med crimp.
With your single shot, you can seat the bullet out there and not worry about OL. Still use the crimp die, just give the bullet a 1/4 turn crimp, meaning turn the crimp die 1/4 turn into shell holder. If you ever used a lee crimp die you know what I mean.  Crimp tension effects groups in my 375win. I shot both bullets into my bullet tester ( stacks of rubber sneaker soles) at point blank range and both bullets expanded well and had good bullet shank length and a good mushroom.

[Lone Star]

I would be dubious about using the 225-grain Hornady on game, it is designed for much larger capacity cases and higher velocities than the .375 WCF can attain.  I suspect that expansion past 150 yards would be minimal on deer-sized game, but I haven't tried it.  The 220 FN works so well that for deer there is no reason to use any other bullet in this cartridge.  The 200 FN Sierra has a rep for being softer than the FN Hornady, but I have not used the latter on game in my .375 WCF or the .38-55s.

I find I get better performance using AA1680 powder rather than RL-7.  Both worked well for me - didn't work much with 4198.  AA1680 give velocities with the 220 FN near 2400 fps in a 24" barrel, with non-max pressures and sterling accuracy.  Go here:
http://www.accuratepowder.com/loaddata_caliber_rifle_standard_375cal.htm

[handirifle]

I can get 2200fps with a 250gr load using RL-7 and 38-55 brass, but the RL-7 doesn't perform as well in ther 375 brass.

2200fps with a 210gr bullet is easily doable but as lonesatr pointed out is bullet design to wonder about.  Call the maker of the bullet in question and ask what velocities it was designed to expand at.