Bitten by the Big Bore Bug

I'm not getting paid it's so appaling. I was looking for lightish loads last night and have found a few useful ones. I already have a nice k-3 weaver without a home and was looking for a handloading project for the winter. As soon as I have the cash I think a .375 is coming home with me. What would the trajectory of a 235 grainer @ 2500 fps compared to a 270 grainer @ 2350? I realise they are pretty light but for practice and for deer I'd like to keep the old shoulder as new and fresh as possible.
 
At one time I'd of said get a Brno 602 in .375 H&H and never look back; then Ruger brought out their .375 Ruger Alaskan. If you are looking for a .375 for North American conditions this one is hard to beat. The rifle is a gem, accurate as a varmint rifle with oodles of power. Its much trimmer than the big Brno's, at the cost of magazine capacity, but if you can't do it with 3, then you probably can't do it with 6 either. The only downside I can think of is that this rifle is that it is somewhat limited when loaded with bullets heavier than 300 gr due to the short neck of the cartridge and short magazine and throat of the rifle. Its not that it won't work, but the velocity is not what you would get from the long .375 cartridges. If you can live without 350 gr Woodleighs or 350 and 380 gr Rhinos its not an issue.

The Nosler 260 gr Accubond is a flat shooting accurate all around bullet suitable for any North American hunting you care to do. A 270 or 300 gr TSX might be a better choice on the day you "want" to follow a wounded grizzly into the willows. MT Chambers makes a very nice 300 gr cast bullet. Seated ahead of 16 grs of Unique in the .375 Ruger or the .375 H&H, this is a pleasant load that can take small game with very little meat damage.

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I've been shooting Big Bores for a while the 375 H&H is a excellent caliber anyone can learn to shoot it. Good for gophers to elephants. My next choice would be a 404 Jeffery's a bit more recoil but not bad. The 416's 470NE 458 Win and 505 Gibbs are a bit much for most people that have fired mine.
 
Give Anthony a call at Tradeex -he has a good selection of 9.3x57's as well as 9,3x62-very fine rifles from $250-$350 .I like the 6.5x55 swedes,so when I wanted something bigger for bear and moose-the 9,3x57 on the same action was a natural.Norma makes factory ammunition for the 9,3x57-but its hard to come by so I started reloading-and thats added to my enjoyment.
 
I'd have no issues with using my .375 Ruger on deer out to 350 yards. It wil kill much further than that, but then you are getting into some serious hold over or turret twisting:)
 
I second the 375 H & H !

I have one and love it the recoil might be a little more than most people really want but if you hunt in grizzly country and want a little extra protection this is the one.

I have a 300 WM also and may my 375 being a little heavier (a 602) the recoil is over slightly more than my 300 WM plus th recoil velocity is a little slower when I firing 235 gr bullet on the 375 vs when firing 150 gr on the 300 WM.

If I have the money to purchase another big bore rifle it will be the Ruger express mag with 458 WIN and have it re-chamber to 458 Lott because any rifle chambered for 458 Lott can still safely use 458 Win but when you can get you hands on the 458 Lott its a lot hotter which I think is the ultimate dino stopper (definitely over gun in North America but I have an addition to big bore rifle) out to about 200 yards but anything beyond that distant the 375 is flatter.

Here's an exc. link to the famed 375 h & h enjoy:

http://webpages.charter.net/375magnum/index.htm
 
a 286 gr Privipartizan in a 9,3x57 even going around 2000 fps is going to hit with a thump-but the recoil isn;t excessive.The main criticism seems to be its a ''short range''under 200 yard gun-but my shots are generally less than half that,so I don't see it as a disadvantage
 
Spcamno said:
I second the 375 H & H !

I have one and love it the recoil might be a little more than most people really want but if you hunt in grizzly country and want a little extra protection this is the one.

I have a 300 WM also and may my 375 being a little heavier (a 602) the recoil is over slightly more than my 300 WM plus th recoil velocity is a little slower when I firing 235 gr bullet on the 375 vs when firing 150 gr on the 300 WM.

If I have the money to purchase another big bore rifle it will be the Ruger express mag with 458 WIN and have it re-chamber to 458 Lott because any rifle chambered for 458 Lott can still safely use 458 Win but when you can get you hands on the 458 Lott its a lot hotter which I think is the ultimate dino stopper (definitely over gun in North America but I have an addition to big bore rifle) out to about 200 yards but anything beyond that distant the 375 is flatter.

Here's an exc. link to the famed 375 h & h enjoy:

http://webpages.charter.net/375magnum/index.htm
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Why not buy the Ruger RSM in .458 Lott and be done with it?
 
ratherbefishin said:
a 286 gr Privipartizan in a 9,3x57 even going around 2000 fps is going to hit with a thump-but the recoil isn;t excessive.The main criticism seems to be its a ''short range''under 200 yard gun-but my shots are generally less than half that,so I don't see it as a disadvantage
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Just finished 'pounding' a few more out of my new toy, .348W, and for North America and some of the perimeters you've mentioned, how did I live without it. ;)A change will be required for some of the wide open spaces and longer ranges but other than those isolated conditions, this is destined to becoming a favorite.:)
 
If you want a big bore, get a big bore, the .375 is a med. bore, and at normal ranges the 45/70 loaded with heavy loads has more stomp then the .375 Mag....So my choice is the 45/70 if you want a lever gun, the .458 or .458 Lott if you want a bolt gun or Ruger #1...don't get me wrong, I like the .375 and the .348 Win, and both are probably better for long shots...but neither are big bores!
 
Dogleg said:
Why not buy the Ruger RSM in .458 Lott and be done with it?
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My bad wasn't aware that the RSM is now available in 458 Lott because back then (90s) when I got my Brno 602 the RSM only available in 3 calibers: 375 h&h, 416 Rigby and 458 WM and although I like the Rigby a lot but can't afford to shot due to the cost of the ammo:(
 
I am in the process of going over my accumulated shooting literature. I am seriously considering a 9.3x57 or 62 and the .375 H&H. I leaning to the 9.3's right now because of the lower cost of rifles. The jury is still out on the .45-70. Any reason why I shouldn't go with a 9.3?
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
I am in the process of going over my accumulated shooting literature. I am seriously considering a 9.3x57 or 62 and the .375 H&H. I leaning to the 9.3's right now because of the lower cost of rifles. The jury is still out on the .45-70. Any reason why I shouldn't go with a 9.3?
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Its not a 45/70 :D:D


I've thought of the 9.3x62's from Tradex for awhile also. You could do a nice little DIY gun with one.
 
Spcamno said:
My bad wasn't aware that the RSM is now available in 458 Lott because back then (90s) when I got my Brno 602 the RSM only available in 3 calibers: 375 h&h, 416 Rigby and 458 WM and although I like the Rigby a lot but can't afford to shot due to the cost of the ammo:(
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The Rigby just got a lot more affordable with Hornady ammo and brass, not .223 cheap but not $200 a box for Federal Premium expensive either. I think my hunting handloads are around $45 a box, but when you get close to your elephant the price won't matter in the slightest.
 
Dogleg said:
The Rigby just got a lot more affordable with Hornady ammo and brass, not .223 cheap but not $200 a box for Federal Premium expensive either. I think my hunting handloads are around $45 a box, but when you get close to your elephant the price won't matter in the slightest.
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I just bought 140 Cartrige cases (Hornady) and I don't even own a 416 Rigby...yet... But brass isn't going to get cheaper, so I bought it when I seen it. Now to find a Brno in 416..:)
 
Brass and factory loaded shells are more widely available in 9,3x62-but 9,3x57 is easily formed by running 8x57 through a die.I got into reloading because I bought a 9,3x57....then I bought another one[it had a norma peep sight]-and another one,somebody messed up the bolt on an otherwise very good condition rifle and I was able to fix it by welding on another bolt knob-I think these Swedes represent some of the best value in terms of workmanship available on the market today
 
Dogleg said:
The Rigby just got a lot more affordable with Hornady ammo and brass, not .223 cheap but not $200 a box for Federal Premium expensive either. I think my hunting handloads are around $45 a box, but when you get close to your elephant the price won't matter in the slightest.
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Thanks that good info!

May be you just gave me another excuse to get myself one in 416 Rigby for x'mas.

Unfortunately, I don't foreseeing anytime sooner for me to hunt any of the big 5 in Africa (at least not for a while until I save enough money) so until then even a cannon like the 585 Nyati or 577 T-rex seem to be useless (for me anyway)!:bangHead:
 
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