Need advise on 375H&H Cast Hunting Load

[1Shirt]

May have the oppurnity to go to Africa this year. As I am approaching 70, probably a last chance thing. Planning on taking a #1 Ruger in 375H&H, and something in the 06/308 catagory. Strictly plains game, as I can no way afford any of the expensive big 5. Would like to take at least one animal with cast in the 375, and am thinking of the Lyman 375449GC which my rifle shoots as well or better than I can most of the time. Am looking for a tried and tested load that will run about 1800-2000fps. Almost all of the new manuals for cast list the fast powders, and I am more interested in some of the slower powders that will produce desired vol. levels w/accuracy. Thanks in advance to those with experiance with this boolit, ctg. and vol. range, and preferably on game.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[beagle]

There's a great article on using cast bullets on African game in the Supplement #1 to the NRA Cast bullet Guide. Gives several do's and don't's. One of which is to not use a bulletthat's too hard. Maybe one of teh guys that has one can make a scan. I had one but it's been loaned and not returned.

I like the .375 H & H #1 Ruger. Good cartridge.

I've sent several pounds of cast .375 bullets to a acquaintence in Namibia. One accounted for two eland (a twofer shot at a water home) .

Ceck your PM/beagle

[Larry Gibson]

1Shirt

I use lyman 377449GC bullet in my M70 375 H&H. While I've not hunted Africa I have killed a couple elk with this bullet out of the 375 H&H. I'll suggest 2 loads using this bullet. I use both W-W and R-P cases with WLR primers.

First is 36 gr of AA5744. This runs at 1850 fps out of my M70. The last test I ran with this load was 10 shots at 100 yards over the Oehler M35P. Average velocity was 1852 fps, ES was 32 fps and SD was 9 fps. The 10 shot group was right at 2" which isn't bad for a 2.5X scope.

Second load and the one I most often use (used on the elk) was the 377449GC cast of magnum lead shot and water quenched from the mould. I use 49 gr of IMR4895 with a 1 gr tuft of dacron as a filler over the powder. Velocity is 2175 fps and 5 shots go into 1.5" with regularity. I thoroughly intend to use this load on plains game when I go to Africa.

There are two fine articles in the NRA Cast Bullets Supplement No. 1 by C.E. Harris (Cast bullets In Africa) and George Martin (In the Field) that are about 375 H&H cast bullet loads developed and used in Africa. Was those articles that got me loading cast for the 375 H&H and they are worth reading. Good luck hunting and let me know if I can help further with the load development.

Larry Gibson

[Bullshop]

350gn LBT-LFN case full to base of neck of H-4831 = 2000 to 2100 FPS
This shoots good in every gun I have tried it in. It will be adiquite for anything the world has ever seen since the begining. Possibly a bit on the light side for T-Rex and larger but with well placed shots will get the job done!
BIC/BS

[Phil]

In my old Brno ZKK602 a good cast load was the Lyman 377449 and 35 grains of SR4759. This was fired in Winchester brass and lit with a Remington 9 1/2 primer. Data is:

Corrected MV: 1970 fps
ES: 25 fps
SD: 10 fps
Avg. accuracy 1.5 moa

Good luck, hope you make it to Africa.

Cheers,

Phil

[1Shirt]

Well now, have some food for thought, and things to try. Many thanks to all who responded! 1Shirt!:coffee:

[rockrat]

I have used the NEI 375-280 in my Ruger #1 over a casefull of H50BMG, with about 1/16" compression of the powder and a mag primer. Get about 2100 fps and 1.25" groups at 100yds with it.
In the '06 and 308, a caseful of 4831 does it, slighty compressed also. Velocity also about 2100 fps with the same size group. All of this over a Hoch 220gr boolit sized .310.

[1Shirt]

Rockrat, More food for thought! Thanks, 1Shirt!:coffee:

[madcaster]

1Shirt,
So,do you have any of these moulds?
Jeff.

[Paul B]

I shoot the RCBS #37-250-FN mold in my Ruger #1. The bullet weigh 275 gr. in my alloy. I have two of these molds, one casting a 376" bullet and the other a .379" bullet. The latter shoots the best in my Ruger #1. I seat the bulelt so that it just slightly engages the rifling. Like Larry Gibson, I use 49.0 gr. of IMR-4895 with a one grain tuft of dacron. I never clocked the load over the chronograph, but had estimated velocity to be about 2000 to 2100 FPS. Accuracy in my rifle ran from 1.25" to 1.50" depending on my wibbles compensating for my wobbles. The RCBS bullet is a copy of the Lyman #377449GC based on looking at a picture of the bullet so either should work just fine.
Paul B.

[1Shirt]

Madcaster, I have 375449GC, Lyman, that drops a 280+/- a bit depending on alloy, and it shoots well with everything I have tried. Now however thanks to Beagle, who sent me a wealth of info, and the data from the other guys will have a whole bunch of things to try. Should be a great spring of shooting and data collection! Now to find an alloy that will make it through about 3 or 4 2x4's and retain a high percentage of weight.

This web is just plain one great source of info. Have been casting for over 40 years, and still it seems I know very little subject. Learn something new every time I open this forum. Always something new to learn, digest, and maybe even try.

1Shirt!:coffee: :coffee: