375 Win - Ruger #3

[Gemsbok405]

Have been loading the Ruger #3 in 375 Win with the RCBS 37-250 mould.

Casting approx Lyman #2 with bullet weight at approx 262.4gr with Rooster HVR and Hornardy gas check. Sized at 0.376

Power load is Somchem S335 ( similar IMR 3031), an extruded item, and loaded with 30.0gr at full load - not compressed. Meters very well from Lyman #57 measure.

Medium crimp with LEE FCD at approx 0.396 at case mouth.

Would estimate velocity in 1700-1800 range, and recoil is firm with nasty bite from plastic butt plate after about 10 rounds off bench.

Accuracy is very good, with well under 1" at 50m...Fitted with vintage Redfield 4x.

First shot (from clean barrel) is high, with accuracy best after about 5 shots. Barrel does not heat up much, and no vertical stringing...despite claims that need to remove barrel band!

[olafhardt]

Sounds like a sweet rig. I understand the theory behind the barrel band being the culprit for stringing but apparently your rifle doesn't. I loosen them up on levers. How many levers and 10 22's shoot great? But I got to tell you if you want to shoot 1.75 cm groups at 200 meters you may have to do a lot of work on that gun or just lie a little bit. If you just want a nice sensible rifle with a good load that knocks critters flat with out much destruction sounds like you got it.

[Muskyhunter1]

I own 2 x 38-55 and one 375 Win and find they do much better with oversized slugs .0002 - .003 thou over groove dia. You just work your load up. Your accuracy will tighten big time Just my thoughts. Good luck

[Gemsbok405]

The 375 Win has .375" nominal barrel with bore/groove at .365 / .375. Most lever guns are about .379 for reasons of safety if load a 375Win into a .38-55...

[Gemsbok405]

I do think there are a lot of variables with the barrel band. As bullet goes down barrel, there is a pressure wave, and the harmonic whip... and both combine to impact on accuracy.

In the #3, the 44 Mag, with it's SAAMI chamber, is at best "minute of deer" at 50 metres. The .45-70 shoots CB mid range and target loads very well 'out of the box', the .223 is very variable as to accuracy...

My thoughts with the 375 Win, is that at full power factory loads, 250gr @ 2050 fps, pressure is in range 50000 psi, and impact on barrel band due to above factors may or may not have much impact. At CB loads at 30000 psi max, the barrel barely gets warm, the CB is driven very easily down bore and pressure and pulse by barrel band is right down.

The powder as used is medium burn, and with 100% fill capacity, will be more accurate compared to part fill of faster burning powders...

If consider that the .45-70 shoots CB's very well, and that a low pressure load in 375 Win duplicates this style, then the 375 Win with its thicker barrel walls may be the 'sleeper' in the #3 model range...

On lever guns, there is more chance of flex at the barrel / action join due to much less 'meat' on the lever gun. At 375 Win full power level, this has even cracked receivers on rifles such as Savage 99...

[olafhardt]

I once read that lead adsorbs vibrations and converts them into heat. This is used in earth quake protection devices of lead and rubber. Since lead is lead I would expect boolits to reduce barrel vibrations and softer bullets to reduce them more than harder ones. In an industrial noise control class we were told that lead cladding was the most effective noise control technique but wasn't generally practical. I wrapped the barrel of a 10-22 in roofing lead and then with elastic. It caused an in group size. I have thought about lead bedding a gun but haven't done it