Just got back from the range where I chrono'd three different barrel-length .375 H&H's: A Brno 602 w/25" barrel; a Ruger Magnum (Model 77) w/ 23 inch barrel and a Winchester Model 70 with a shortened 20.5" (magnaported) barrel.
Three different bullets were tested, 300 grain Hornady Interlock (RN); 300 grain Hornady Interbond (RN) and 270 grain Hornady Spire Point
The powder used with the 300 grain bullets was IMR 4064 ("near (i.e. within 1 grain of) max")
The powder used with the 270 grain bullet was H414 (also a "near max" load)
Here's how the results worked out (velocities are the average using a four-shot string (occasionally 3 or 5 shots were taken)):
300 grain Hornady Interlock: Brno(25")= 2,418fps; Ruger(23")= 2,380fps; Win(20.5")=2,252fps
300 grain Hornady Interbond: Brno(25")= 2,439fps; Ruger(23")=2,397fps; Win(20.5")=2,301fps
270 grain Hornady SP: Brno(25")=2,662fps; Ruger(23")=2,630 fps; Win(20.5")=2,493fps
Having a chance to shoot the rifles one after the other, I would have to say that the recoil from the shortened Winchester was noticably less than the other two.
In addition, the 300 grain loads seemed to consistently produce less recoil than the 270 grain bullet.
Accuracy (at 100 and 200 yards) was very good with all three rifles. There wasn't a load that didn't seem to shoot well.
There you go. Not the final word on barrel length and velocity, but it gives you an idea of what's going on.
Three different bullets were tested, 300 grain Hornady Interlock (RN); 300 grain Hornady Interbond (RN) and 270 grain Hornady Spire Point
The powder used with the 300 grain bullets was IMR 4064 ("near (i.e. within 1 grain of) max")
The powder used with the 270 grain bullet was H414 (also a "near max" load)
Here's how the results worked out (velocities are the average using a four-shot string (occasionally 3 or 5 shots were taken)):
300 grain Hornady Interlock: Brno(25")= 2,418fps; Ruger(23")= 2,380fps; Win(20.5")=2,252fps
300 grain Hornady Interbond: Brno(25")= 2,439fps; Ruger(23")=2,397fps; Win(20.5")=2,301fps
270 grain Hornady SP: Brno(25")=2,662fps; Ruger(23")=2,630 fps; Win(20.5")=2,493fps
Having a chance to shoot the rifles one after the other, I would have to say that the recoil from the shortened Winchester was noticably less than the other two.
In addition, the 300 grain loads seemed to consistently produce less recoil than the 270 grain bullet.
Accuracy (at 100 and 200 yards) was very good with all three rifles. There wasn't a load that didn't seem to shoot well.
There you go. Not the final word on barrel length and velocity, but it gives you an idea of what's going on.
