Hunting & Fishing 375 wsm

[robozebra]

So, I had such a great time on my recent trip to Africa that I'm already planning a return trip in a couple years. I want to go after "dangerous game" the next time. Specifically Cape Buffalo and Leopard, but may go for an elephant if the budget allows. I was considering have a 375 Ruger built, but Andrew McCourt mentioned building a 375 WSM. I presently have a 300 WSM and could get it barreled to 375. He and I have been searching for information on the 375 WSM. I'd rather not re-invent the wheel if it's been done. We found some information suggesting we could send a 270 gr TSX at 2700+ fps. This should be at H&H level or maybe even slightly ahead. Those numbers appear to be at COAL of 2.80". We should be able to get to 2.95" using an Accurate magazine (I think!! Correct me if I'm wrong...). That should allow us to push the velocity a little faster.

Is there anyone with experience on a 375 WSM?? Any idea on a source for a barrel?? Seems like all of the big players are not taking orders for a 375 blank.

CWJ

 

[Cuga]

The .375 H&H holds about 15% more powder.
To get the same velocity you have to increase the chamber pressure, the.375H&h already has a max pressure of 62k psi.
I'm not sure if that's a good thing in a DG rifle, when extraction might be important, especially in a hot climate.

 

[h4everything]

Either get a 375 H&H or a 375 ruger. I have both and I think that the 375 Ruger kicks less.

There are already several very nice 375 wheels.

 

[Muskox]

I have both as well and a 378 Weatherby. Unless you are a massochist don't get a 378.

Personally if elephant is on your wish list you want something bigger than a 375. A 375 may be legal, but it's like shooting a mule deer with a 243, there are much better moustraps.

Nothing wrong with a 416 in Ruger, Remington, Rigby or Weatherby guise. The 416 Weatherby has 270 Winchester like trajectory.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

I got to say, the 375 H&H is my vote. I have a friend that made a 338WSM, it is a killing machine, BUT... .some countries in Africa, your ammo headstamp has to match your chambering stamped on the barrel. If that is important to the sophisticated individual checking your ammo at the African airport police station, well, your rifle may be admitted, but your ammo not. You won't find any of that down there either.

I am a fan of the 416 Rigby - has all the energy of a 477 or 577, much less punishment on your end, penetrates better than anything out there, at 15k less chamber pressure. It is one of very few cartridges that Heym will build a double in, without a rimmed cartridge, because of the lower pressure. It's also the base brass for 338 Lapua, but I honestly don't think anyone is necking it down. I have seen the 416 necked down to 375, and it is a very effective round.

Any of the 375/416 are pretty flat, considering what they are pushing.

 

[robozebra]

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping to get away from building a new rifle that I'll shoot a few times every few years, but sounds like I may end up needing to do that. Oh well, it's just money... LOL

I was thinking if elephant became more of a reality, I'd borrow a rifle from someone. The 375 would be more for a hopeful return trip to Africa and a trip to Alaska for bear and moose one of these years.

CWJ

 

[Tyler Kemp]

I have a GAP built 375wsm. Haven't shot it yet, but we should compare notes if you make one!

 

[DB Bill]

I had a 9,3 Lazzeroni HellCat (actually the first one) which is the Lazzeroni Patriot case necked up to .375. Basically the same shape as the WSM case but a little more capacity. I never shot anything lighter than the 300gr Nosler Partition and I could get almost 2600 fps but my rifle was fairly ltwt and even with the Vais brake the recoil was stout --- drop down to 2550 fps and there was a big drop in recoil.

If I sighted the 300gr Nosler (2550 fps) in so it was 1" high at 100 yards my solids would hit dead-on at 50 yards.

Best powder at the time was RL15 and Varget --- more velocity with the RL15 and a little better accuracy with the Varget.

If I were to build another one I'd go with the RCM as there are so many counties that will check your head-stamp on entry.

 

[robozebra]

Thanks for all of the posts. A friend has a 375 RUM that he only shot a few times. He said it's too much gun for him and wants to sell it to me. I might just buy that rifle and send it to GAP for a little loving. I can probably put it in a heavier stock and have it barreled to a slightly heavier profile, which should help with some of the recoil. Also thinking of having barrel threaded for a suppressor. Should make a nice rifle for hunting big game. Goodness, I hate options....

CWJ

 

[LegioX]

Just a thought Robo, if you thread the bbl, you might consider have your can maker of choice send the gunsmith a spec sheet on the threads.

 

[Early Cuyler]

I got back from SA this week and had an interesting conversation with the PH on dangerous game rifles. He said a side by side is preferred due to the ability for a follow up shot (if required), but most clients end up hitting both triggers at the same time in the heat of the moment. They're currently working with a gunsmith stateside (Idahoian fella I believe) on making a breach loaded side by side with a single trigger where the first pull would fire one barrel, and the second pull would fire the other barrel. If you wanted a truly one of a kind rifle, that'd be it.

 

[Jerry m]

Leave for SA in two week for a trip including Lion and Cape Buffalo. I am taking a .375 H&H, and my 06 for plains game. Started with a .458 WM but after several trips to the range and not so wimpy reloads, I bought a .375 H&H Sako. After going for the first time last year I can't wait to get back.

Good Luck

Jerry

 

[RyanScott]

Why not build a .375 Ruger? You could use CDI bottom metal and .300WM mags in a Model 70.

 

[AMG04]

I went with a .375 Dakota. Almost identical to the 375 Ruger, but with a slightly longer neck. Gives me a little more room to work with when reloading. The 375 Ruger components and ammo will be easier to find though.

Walked into Cabelas the other day and they had 375 Ruger dies (Hornady), brass, bullets and everything you need to get started. The same cannot be said for the Dakota. MidwayUSA had what I needed though.

 

[T J]

I got back from SA this week and had an interesting conversation with the PH on dangerous game rifles. He said a side by side is preferred due to the ability for a follow up shot (if required), but most clients end up hitting both triggers at the same time in the heat of the moment. They're currently working with a gunsmith stateside (Idahoian fella I believe) on making a breach loaded side by side with a single trigger where the first pull would fire one barrel, and the second pull would fire the other barrel. If you wanted a truly one of a kind rifle, that'd be it.

If i'm reading you correctly. That was done quite some time ago. The trigger mechanism used the recoil of your first round to reset the trigger to fire the second. The problem is..... if your first round is a dud, you don't get a second as there is no recoil to reset the trigger. I remember reading an article about that very problem when the rifle maker brought in a well respect hunter/writer to test it..... first round went "click" & the gun was limp, no second round. Not the type of trigger mechanism I would want when chasing down one of the big 5.

t


t

 

[Tyler Kemp]

Anyone loaded 225s in the 375 WSM? Gonna use these for deer season!

 

[Hunt4life]

Honestly, I think tradition trumps technology in Africa, don't reinvent the wheel. Take a nice control round feed in a pretty walnut stock in .375 handh. Want to drop a bunch of coin on a dangerous game rifle, go double rifle. Either would be an awesome addition to any collection and a neat heirloom for your great grandchildren one day.

 

[FN in MT]

I'd do a .375 H&H, Winchester M-70 CRF, tune the trigger a bit. Have the action bedded into the stock by a pro, especially the recoil lug area.
End of problem.

Or....Get a .416 Rigby in an equally good bolt gun. The Rigby is TRUTHFULLY probably the recoil limit for most shooters. The three seven five is in my opinion VERY easy to shoot accurately. And there are lots of good 300 gr solids and premium SP's available too.

Have a buddy over in Zim as we speak. Shooting an elephant and a pair of buffalo. He is a Certified Rifle Loony. Has tons of them, likes to experiment. This trip over he took over a .505 Gibbs. Built on a MT Rifle Company M-70 CRF clone action...except scaled UP for the LARGE African cartridges. I've shot it....too much gun for me.

I took over a .338-06 years back and we split my ammo up into FOUR different peoples luggage. Luckily ALL my ammo arrived. But I was worried about taking over a wildcat/tough to find cartridge, should ammo get lost/stolen or luggage not arrive. Should your luggage get delayed or lost, with your ammo...one can always find .375 H&H, .30-06 and .308 Win it seems. Probably .458 Win too. Doubtful one would find any .375 Ruger over there.

 

[pc3]

I love the .375wsm I load 225 gr hornadys at 2860 fps it will feed from an ai mag. I wanted more thump for feral pigs over .308. But I would opt for a .416 cal if buff are on the menu. I prefer the traditional Rigby over the .416 Ruger it's a great round. Buy a cz550 in .416 Rigby get a big bore smith to check it over and go hunting.

 

[rigmaster10]

The 375 ruger in a 27" barrel is capable of 2,900 fps with a 260 gr Nosler accubond. We have built several rifles on this case and you can even go with a 350 gr SMK to about 2600 fps. The ruger case is very efficient and will treat you very well. Hornady even sell its 270 gr Dangerous game ammo running 2850 out of a 20" barrel in the Ruger Alaskan.

 

[Earnhardt]

Anyone loaded 225s in the 375 WSM? Gonna use these for deer season!

(Yes, i know... zombie thread revival)
Did you ever do any reloading for your .375 WSM?
Thanks

 

[FCS]

 

[FCS]

270 TSX @ 2740 fps.
Seems to work.

 

[Earnhardt]

What is the powder type? How many grains? What is the overall length of the cartridge? Did you have to throat the barrel out with a special reamer?

 

[FCS]

3.100” OAL.
Reamer was ground specifically for this OAL, 270 TSX.
Defiance “medium” action that allows 3.125” OAL from mag box.

 

[Earnhardt]

How many step ups with sizing buttons? 2?...
300 To 338 to 375?
60-65 grains of powder (similar to the 300 wsm)?
Or does the .375 bullet eat up a lot of case capacity?
Thanks

 

[FCS]

Reamer was designed to put base of bullet at neck / shoulder.
I annealed virgin brass.
Redding tapered expander, went from 30 to 375 in “single” pass.
Start expander into neck, as soon as I felt resistance change, remove case, add more lube to neck of case, go a little deeper with expander, resistance changed, add more lube....

powder charge is really going to depend on how chamber is set up, how far out bullet can be seated.
Too many variables, won’t go into possible powder charges that can be used.

All the pictures are customer rifle, game he has dropped with 375 WSM.

I have a donor Win 70 CRF LA I’ll use when I build one for me. Mainly because the Win 70 LA CRF will work fine & dandy, much cheaper than custom action, Win 70s have served me well. Wife says I’m cheap, I prefer “I’m frugal” but whatever.

 

[h4everything]

375 ruger before any kind of wildcat

 

[FCS]

375 ruger before any kind of wildcat

Depends, 375 Ruger doesn’t scratch the itch so wildcat it is.

 

[robozebra]

I’ve had my 375WSM for about 2 years now. FCS posted those pictures of some of my hunts above. Those pictures were from Argentina in March and SA in October. Also shot a BC moose from 250 yards with a 1 shot kill in 2018 and a nilgai in south Texas this past weekend from 297 yards. I love the rifle. It’s been very accurate to 500 yards (follows BDC for 308 almost exactly) and certainly has excellent terminal performance. Jon Beanland build this rifle (22” barrel with XM action) and it makes for a very compact rifle for moving through brush and stuff. It’s about a 10 pound rifle with S&B scope. Thinking of spiral fluting barrel to dump a bit more weight and balance it as it’s a little front heavy. Recoil is VERY manageable unless you are shooting 20+ rounds prior to a hunt. That’s when my shoulder isn’t a fan. Haven’t noticed recoil at all when hunting. Andrew McCourt loaded great rounds. Would highly recommend a build like this for anyone wanting a mobile dangerous/large game rifle.

I’ve debated building a 375 Ruger, but fall in love with my 375WSM every time I hunt with it. If I can trim another 1/2 pound off, it might be the perfect hunting rifle for big game. I almost always end up grabbing it when I pack for a hunt. Plan to use it in Macedonia, Russia, New Zealand and Canada over the next couple years. Maybe SA again soon too.

 

[FjallJager]

There are only like 5 rounds I would take to Africa to hunt dangerous game. 375 H&H, 416 Remington, 458 Win, 375 Ruger and 416 Ruger. Everything else you would be stuck without ammo if your rifle made it and not your ammo. They might have 450/400 NE, 404 Geoff, 416 Rigby, 470 NE, 500 NE, and maybe 9.3x64, or the Weatherby 378, 460, 416's.

Then the entire of point of building a custom rifle would be out the window.

 

[Earnhardt]

So your custom reamer allows you to use your rounds in the extended mag ~ 3.1". What is the freebore on oyur reamer?
It looks like it's in the .300's, or more
I'm assuming the 375/300 WSM reamers from PT&G have a much shorter freebore, and would be set up for the SAAMI length of 2.86" (depending on bullet BTO of course)

Have you ever tried any of the high BC bullets from Lehigh etc...and ran your 375 WSM as a single shot?
Just for gits and shiggles...
Thanks

 

[h4everything]

I've got a 375 ruger. Factory Alaska guide gun. Shoots well under an inch and kills like crazy. I have taken Black and Brown bears, Nilgai, a bunch of hogs and a couple of deer even. It kicks less than my 375 H&H cost a 1/3 of the money and sure enough handy with the 20" bbl.

I'm happy I didn't build a custom.

 

[Earnhardt]

Any more reloading info, or hunting stories, with the 375 WSM?
Thanks

 

[BBLV]

I'm just about done with mine FINALLY. Long Rifles just finished chambering and I'm taking it to my local cerakoter in a few days... just finishing up some mods to my MDT ACC chassis (cut a few inches off the front end). I ended up having a custom 375-300WSM reamer made at PTG. Basically just shortened up the throat to seat ~20 thou off the lands with the Cutting Edge 375 320gr MTH bullet while getting close to max COAL in my XM action MDT magazines.

It's finally coming together and I can't wait to shoot some pigs with it in a few weeks!! I'll post some pics with some loaded cartridges once she's back from cerakote.