.375Win - Woodleigh PSP's

Demonical

Demonical

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I've got 220gr Hornadys, which I load in the .375Win. Decent bullet.

But I wanted something a bit 'tougher', for when I'm stumbling around in grizzly country, with the .375Win. It's such a nice handling and carrying rifle, I want to take it out more.

And I'd love to hammer a big black bear with it too.

Anyway, I ordered up some Woodleigh PSP (Protected Soft Point) 235gr. These are intended for the .375H&H, and muzzle velocities of 1900-2600fps.

I know I can load them to ~2000fps MV. But then there's the issue of the small meplat on them.

Well I built a crude jig... actually just a block of hard laminated plywood... drilled a 3/8" hole in it, to just the depth that would allow me to file down the nose.

It worked pretty well. These bullets are definitely safe to handle in the tube magazine of the little Winchester now.

Next I need to load up a few and test fire them into something, to test the expansion.

For bears, I'm looking at stalking to within 50 yards.


These are the bullets I filed, beside the untampered bullets. Behind them is a loaded 220gr Hornady.



Depending on how this goes, I may do up a bunch like this. If I do, I need to figure out a better way to do it... although this 'system' did work okay.
 
Hi mate, im a big fan of the 375winchester. Mine too a model 94.

I use hornadys an found them rather tough at my vrlocity of 1800fps, ive shot sambar deer and an angus bull, contemplated taking it up the North for Buffalo but didnt happen, took the Whelen.


I use hard cast hawksbury river bullets now, at still around 1800 fps which they can handle 2000fos with the coatings.

Woodleighs open well but hold tigether well, it would be worth testing inti the same medium with both of your loaded bullets!!!

Id be keen too ser.

WL
 
Hi mate, im a big fan of the 375winchester. Mine too a model 94.

I use hornadys an found them rather tough at my vrlocity of 1800fps, ive shot sambar deer and an angus bull, contemplated taking it up the North for Buffalo but didnt happen, took the Whelen.


I use hard cast hawksbury river bullets now, at still around 1800 fps which they can handle 2000fos with the coatings.

Woodleighs open well but hold tigether well, it would be worth testing inti the same medium with both of your loaded bullets!!!

Id be keen too ser.

WL
 
Hi mate, im a big fan of the 375winchester. Mine too a model 94.

I use hornadys an found them rather tough at my vrlocity of 1800fps, ive shot sambar deer and an angus bull, contemplated taking it up the North for Buffalo but didnt happen, took the Whelen.


I use hard cast hawksbury river bullets now, at still around 1800 fps which they can handle 2000fos with the coatings.

Woodleighs open well but hold tigether well, it would be worth testing inti the same medium with both of your loaded bullets!!!

Id be keen too ser.

WL
 
Hey mate, will post pics once I test them out!

I intend to test fire the Hornadys, the Woodleighs without modified meplat, and then the doctored Woodleighs.

What I really need to do this repeatably, is a lathe, something I can chuck the bullet in, so it runs true every time.

A case trimmer, modified, with a drill chuck replacing the cartridge holder. That would be the ticket.
 
I am going to suggest that, because of the location of the cannelure, you will be
unable to crimp those Woodleigh bullets and still run them through a M94 action,
since they will be too long.

Otherwise, the modified Woodleigh should work fine. Dave.
 
DML.........I doubt if you will notice any difference in performance or accuracy with the Woodleighs whether you do it as you are, or do it in a lathe. The concentricity of the bullet nose has almost nothing to do with hunting accuracy within the first 2-300 mtrs. I use 225 ABs in my 350 RM but I clip the plastic noses off with a pair of cable cutters, in order to seat the bullet out further. This rifle and load still produces less than 1.5" groups at 100 mtrs and the noses are far from concentric. Given the flat point of the Woodleighs, I wouldn't even bother, they appear to be at least primer diameter or larger and I don't think they are capable of a chain ignition.
The 235 gn Speer is another tough bullet and would work well in your 375 Win. they are also about 1/2 the price of the Woodleighs. A quick hit with the file on their nose does all that needs to be done, and I have used them in a 38-55 (didn't work out due to a 378 bore) but never was concerned about chain ignition. I regularly use RN bullets in lever guns and have never had a mishap.
 
c-fbmi, yeah I doubt very much that I could ever get chain ignition off the stock bullet, prior to shortening the nose.

And I like to tinker so what the heck.

I've been busy the last 2 days so haven't had time to load and test the bullets I filed down.
 
DML.......the flat on those Woodleighs looks to be as big or bigger than the factory flat nose on 30-30s and 32 spls so I'm thinking you're good to go without modification. If you can, try to find a compressed powder charge and then crimp and cannelure become irrelevant.
 
Chuck them in a 3/8 " inch mill Chuck for holding end mill bits.
Then Chuck it in the lathe. I think that might not marr the bullet surface as much as lathe Chuck alone.
 
Eagleye said:
I am going to suggest that, because of the location of the cannelure, you will be
unable to crimp those Woodleigh bullets and still run them through a M94 action,
since they will be too long.

Otherwise, the modified Woodleigh should work fine. Dave.
Click to expand...

Lee Factory Crimp Die will take care of that.
 
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