No 3 In 375 Win

[Iowahunter]

Picked up a used No 3 in 375 Win the other day.   I want to shoot my 38-55 cast loads in it.   anyone have any tips to share ?
Thanks

[John Traveler]

The nominal groove diameter of the .375 Winchester is usually 0.375"-.376".

Bullet and groove diameters of .38-55 rifles can vary considerably from the nominal 0.379"-.382".

Assuming that your reloaded .38-55 ammo will chamber easily, they willl shoot just fine in the .375 Win chamber.  The larger diameter cast lead bullets may not chamber easily.

I find that using .30-30 cases blown out to .375 Winchester and loaded with 0.377" 250 grain RNF lead bullets gives the best accuracy.  Powder charge will be that of of a .38-55, of course.  Avoid hot .375 Win lead bullet loads.  Jacketed .375" bullets will give satisfactory hunting accuracy, but nothing spectacular.

HTH
John

[Critter]

Jacketed .375" bullets will give satisfactory hunting accuracy, but nothing spectacular.

I agree, I never could get mine to shoot better than 2.5" at 100 with jacketed bullets.  I never got real in depth with loading for it because 2.5" at 100 in the U.P. of Michigan in the swamps is plenty good for deer.  Cast bullets shot a little better but the gun never was a tackdriver.

[Iowahunter]

I havn't tried any hot loads in it yet but, 8.5 grs of Unique with a 245gr cast will shoot under an inch at 50 yds . Scoped of course.
With the faster twist I don't think I'll try to push cast much faster. I just wanted a light carry plinker anyway.