Reloading the 375 H&H

[havershap]

I recently bought a .375 H&H and I'm working on developing a hunting load for it. I'm focusing on the lighter bullets, 235 and 250 grain, to obtain a relatively high velocity and flat trajectory out to 350 yards. Does anyone out there have any pet loads that they are willing to share?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bambistew]

Varget and RL15 have worked well for the two I've had/have with 270 and 300gr bullets.

I doubt you'll see much difference in trajectory by going with lighter bullets inside 350 yards, the recoil will be a bit less, but depends on how hard you push them. The trade off of BC vs velocity is pretty negligible. I like shooting the 375,its not that hard on the shoulder, and it wrecks stuff on the receiving end.

 

[memtb]

I’ve only loaded 270 Hornady SP’s in my H&H, and was using WW 760. I was several grains above the suggested book loads of the day, but, it was a listed load in an ancient Hornady Loading Manual. I don’t know the velocities, as I didn’t have a chronograph at that time. But, it was very, very accurate. With 5 shot groups, not allowing for adequate cooling time between the shots....the first 4 were going around 1/2”, with the 5th opening the group to over an inch. I was able to repeat this several times, and called it “good enough for government work”! This was 30 years ago. Today I’m hearing very good stuff about RL 15. If I were starting over today with the H &H, I’d try one of the 250 grain mono’s, a Barnes TTSX or a Hammer. memtb

 

[fishing4sanity]

I've only used 300 grain A-Frames and solids, but after testing I settled on Reloder 16 and ended up reloading for two other guys as well. All three 375's seemed to like the RL 16.

 

[havershap]

Thank you all. That gives me a lot to chew on.
I've chronographed some test loads with 235 and 250 grain bullets and WW 760 powder and I was disappointed in the velocities. While the data on the Winchester Powder website shows velocities greater than 2900 fps, my actual measurements were about 300 fps lower. I didn't exceed the max load posted but the highest loads were compressed so I wouldn't have been able to go much over anyway.
The comment about recoil struck a chord with me. I've thought about a 375 for years because I am into the classics and, to me, it is the classic Old World caliber in the same way that, to me, .30-06 is the classic American caliber. But I was always put off by the fear of recoil. Then I met a guy in elk camp last year who shot one and told me that it wasn't as bad as people think. He convinced me that I could handle it so I bought one. I was pleased, and a little surprised, to find that the recoil is no worse than the .300 WSM that I've been shooting for years. In fact, it may be milder. I know this is partly due to the fact that the 375 is a heavier gun and has the Browning BOSS muzzle brake on it. Even so, the effect is the same.

 

[deer_shooter]

Not exactly the same but I'm shooting 235gr barnes in a 375 Ruger and getting very good accuracy using Varget.

 

[pre6422hornet]

I run a creampuff load of IMR 4064 with 220 hornadys and one day I will have that rifle in my hands when whitetail hunting. I run a 1950 pre 64 model 70 with Lyman 48 peep and that load is a 2-3 inch load at 100 all day long.

Took a 200 yard shot at a 18x18 piece of steel last fall and held on the upper half of steel and BONG a little low center... super easy on the shoulder too.

 

[Seamaster]

RL 15 started by Federal 215 primers would be a good place to begin.