has anyone used a 375 winchester on BIG game?
- Thread starter wannabe
- Start date
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
I wouldt consider it on grizzly or polar bear.
Used it on moose and deer in the bush. It worked like a charm (220 grain Hornady FP's with Reloder 7), but the ranges were under 50 yards. I think if I was chasing "big bears" I'd take my .338. Simply a matter of "way more jam".
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Barnes manual lists the heaviest load, 255 Barnes original, at a max velocity of 1900 fps with 2000 ftlbs at the muzzle. At 100 yards, 1680 fps and 1598 ftlbs.
Hornady only list a 220 gr at 2300 fps and 2584 ftlbs at the muzzle and at 100 yards, 1936 fps with 1830 ftlbs.
Speer lists a 235 gr. semi sp at 2000 fps and 2086 ftlbs at the muzzle and at 100, 1765 fps and 1629 ftlbs.
Nosler doesnt provide for this chambering.
These are not big bear loads. They are under powderd and there is no premium bullets listed because they usually have to be a flat nose or at best a semi spitzer for a lever and this round is rare. Throw in the fact that too many moving parts on a lever hunting polars inside the arctic circle could result in a one course meal and maybe a lever for desert. :roll:
When I look at this case, I see a straight walled 30 30.
A 358 Win beats this round by a mile and you can bet any griz and polar bear guides would raise their eyebrows if you showed up with a BLR in 358. :mrgreen:
booner - get some better reloading data! Those loads are watered down for old turn of the century case hardened pre-WW1 mauser actions 
A modern Remington long action can safely and easily drive a 255gr Barnes at over 2600 fps ALL DAY LONG. Do the math on the muzzle energy there!
Those aneamic loads are lawyer speak for "please don't sue us if you're dumb enough to hot load in a rifle designed for black powder!!!"
A modern Remington long action can safely and easily drive a 255gr Barnes at over 2600 fps ALL DAY LONG. Do the math on the muzzle energy there!Those aneamic loads are lawyer speak for "please don't sue us if you're dumb enough to hot load in a rifle designed for black powder!!!"
I have a rifle in 375 win but unfortunately I can't report on shooting anything with it yet. But from crued testing at the range it hits pretty damn hard :wink:
boonerbuck has it right on. It is in fact a 30-30 case blown out to 375. You've got the same kind of velocity and trajectory as a 30-30 with about half again as much bullet mass. So obviously its no long range number. I wouldn't mess with griz or polar bears with it by choice that's for sure. But big blackies or moose out to 150 yards is not an unreasonable prospect the way I see it.
Paco Kelly wrote about packing a winchester rifle in this calibre in Africa and taking a bunch of different weird large ungulates that I can't remember the names of (not cape buff) and being quite impressed. IIRC he was using 300 grain Hornady round points which he flattened the tips of with a hammer to make them safe in a tube mag :lol:
boonerbuck has it right on. It is in fact a 30-30 case blown out to 375. You've got the same kind of velocity and trajectory as a 30-30 with about half again as much bullet mass. So obviously its no long range number. I wouldn't mess with griz or polar bears with it by choice that's for sure. But big blackies or moose out to 150 yards is not an unreasonable prospect the way I see it.
Paco Kelly wrote about packing a winchester rifle in this calibre in Africa and taking a bunch of different weird large ungulates that I can't remember the names of (not cape buff) and being quite impressed. IIRC he was using 300 grain Hornady round points which he flattened the tips of with a hammer to make them safe in a tube mag :lol:
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Its deer/black bear/short range moose round. Don't kid yourself fellas.
Where can I find this "better" load data Claven? And where do you get load data for a Remington modern long action? And where do you find factory ammo loaded for a Remington modern long action? And how many people actually are out hunting polar bears with their Remington modern long action chambered in 375 Winchester? :?
You are using an OUTSIDE exception as the rule.
I'd use a 375 Win for polar bear if I was deer hunting and it charged out of the bush at me, without a doubt. :roll:
Where can I find this "better" load data Claven? And where do you get load data for a Remington modern long action? And where do you find factory ammo loaded for a Remington modern long action? And how many people actually are out hunting polar bears with their Remington modern long action chambered in 375 Winchester? :?
You are using an OUTSIDE exception as the rule.
I'd use a 375 Win for polar bear if I was deer hunting and it charged out of the bush at me, without a doubt. :roll:
Claven2 said:booner - get some better reloading data! Those loads are watered down for old turn of the century case hardened pre-WW1 mauser actions
Those aneamic loads are lawyer speak for "please don't sue us if you're dumb enough to hot load in a rifle designed for black powder!!!"
I think you are confused as to which cartridge you are talking about. Physically IMPOSSIBLE to get those velocities from that case without blowing up your rifle (and yourself).
220gr Bullets at @ 2250 is a farily "stout" load for the 375 win (24" bbl), and 2600fps is simply not possible (safely) :shock: !!!!
I think you may have this one confused with the 375 H+H
?280_ACKLEY
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Exactly! I was pondering that when he mentioned pre WW1 Mausers. :wink:
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Why not? said:
I won't disagree but will add that it is considered on the lite side for the big bears.
Well call me Crazy but with a Good Stout load propelling a Hard Cast slug I'd use one on a Bear anyday
Numbers on paper don't mean crap when looking at Big Bore cartridges, look at the velocity and energy levels of the 45-70 on paper and I'm sure you'll agree there not much to write home about either, yet I'm sure anyone who has actually hunted with one will attest to the "Power" in that Big, Heavy chunk of lead :wink:
And Yes I've shot a few Bears(Blackies) with the 375's Slower, Older Brother the 38-55 and yep it killed them dead :twisted:
I'm not saying the 375 win is my No 1 choice for "Big" Bears but it most certainly would do the job, Considering many have been killed by much less
Numbers on paper don't mean crap when looking at Big Bore cartridges, look at the velocity and energy levels of the 45-70 on paper and I'm sure you'll agree there not much to write home about either, yet I'm sure anyone who has actually hunted with one will attest to the "Power" in that Big, Heavy chunk of lead :wink:
And Yes I've shot a few Bears(Blackies) with the 375's Slower, Older Brother the 38-55 and yep it killed them dead :twisted:
I'm not saying the 375 win is my No 1 choice for "Big" Bears but it most certainly would do the job, Considering many have been killed by much less
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Yes, we know it will kill big bears. Almost every round made is a killer, eventually. There's always someone who is going to point that out with any calibre.
45-70 is a hammer on any game. No one would disagree with that. Its in a completely different class.
I guess the topic starter wants to know if anyone has used it on the big bears. I'm waiting to hear someone who has but I don't have my hopes up. Not too many people go on their big grizz hunt with their old 375 Win these days. Better off taking a 30 06 if you have one. I used to draw the line at 7mm Rem mag when we headed north for grizz. It will be a 9.3x62 this spring, if I get my draw. :lol:
45-70 is a hammer on any game. No one would disagree with that. Its in a completely different class.
I guess the topic starter wants to know if anyone has used it on the big bears. I'm waiting to hear someone who has but I don't have my hopes up. Not too many people go on their big grizz hunt with their old 375 Win these days. Better off taking a 30 06 if you have one. I used to draw the line at 7mm Rem mag when we headed north for grizz. It will be a 9.3x62 this spring, if I get my draw. :lol:
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Are you going with the 44 mag instead? :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
not a 44 mag....i have a 'tried and true' 45-70 GG, 358 browning and a 350 rem mag......i was thinkin the 375 win would be good for the wife....but she will be sticking to the 358....unless i can find a winchester timber in 450 marlin.....
- Location
- South Cariboo, B.C.
Why not? said:
I'm going to order my barrel in 3 weeks. 8)
