Marlin Model 375

Saw one of these tonight, never seen one but have heard rumors about them. It was a bit rough externally, 80% @ best and it had a similar vintage Tasco 3X9 mounted on see-thru mounts. Bet that was a beast to shoot! I was inspired by Ranch Dog's Rossi 38-55 thread and snatched it up for a closer look. Only problem was the price; $699. Worth $300 but I would have gone $400 for a gun that needed several hours of cosmetic work. Anyone know how these old things shoot? They only made 16K+ of them from 1980-83 according to Blue Book. I'm still having visions of this rifle with a new oil finish topped by a Redfield 2-7 glass.

Good morning
Have one... Main effort is to remember to use a fat enough boolit. The RD molds generally take care of this issue. Lyman & Ideal molds will probably drop too small diameter. .380 is a good diameter to think about but you may need more depending on the throat diameter of your rifle.
Strength.. Your shoulder will tell you when you have reached your limit. I am of the personal opinion that there are few grazing critters on our side of the world north or south that can take a properly placed 255 grainer at 1650 fps and walk to far away. With the Marlin rifle you can get well beyond that. 1850 fps really makes the 255-270 grainers into serious heavy thumpers up close. Remember this is 600 + fps faster than what the old BP load was doing and hunters were thrilled 120 years ago with the 38-55 launching the 255 grainers.
38 caliber rifles are real high on my favorite list. From round ball right thrugh 300 grainers they will do alot of good to keep you occupied. But for starters a 235-255 grainer is real versitile and good enough for 98 % of all the shooting & hunting most of us will ever see. Bunnies & huge carniverous stalkers would be those other 2%.
Mike in Peru

The Marlin 375 was introduced as a competition to the BB 94. Couple of things you might check is whether it is microgrooved and the bore is likely smaller on the 375BB. Too bad both died out as the 375 was a good factory cartridge. Know a Canadian that uses the 375 Winchester BB on moose and likes it.
In some ways the 375 is a better cartridge for those that want more than the 38-55 delivers as it is a seperate cartridge and may deter some from putting a hot loaded shell in an old rifle. I am kind of like Mike in that I do not use my 38-55 loaded much over 1600 fps.

DP

I had a pair of the Marlin 375's a couple years ago .

All of the Marlin 375's had Micro Groove and the majority of them were prodiced in 1980 with a few more dribbling out until 1983 .

Of the two I had one was strictly for jacketed bullets and the other was for cast only .

Ranch Dog made molds for two .379" molds . The first was only in test molds a 379-210GC that did very nicely in my rifle when pushed with XMP5744 . Incidently I ran all my bullets for this rifle thru a .379" sizing die in my Lyman 4500. With that RD 379-210GC I killed a medium sized 7 pointer one day and the bullet did an admirable job .
About the time I killed the 7 pointer he had gotten test molds for a RD 379-235GC , that one shot nicely in my rifle as well with XMP5744 . But before I ever field tested that bullet I sold the rifle .

It's my understanding RD is about to start work on a 380-250GC bullet as well for his Rio Grand 38-55 . I'm of the opinion that would be a winner in the Marlin 375's as well . But then I am just basing that on my past efforts with his molds .

I have a .375 Big Bore, I think the Marlin will make a better hunting rifle because of sighting options. I don't need another hunting rifle but this one got my attention. I like the cartridge but haven't loaded for it in years. Maybe I'll run across a nicer one someday.

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Originally Posted by TXGunNut

I have a .375 Big Bore, I think the Marlin will make a better hunting rifle because of sighting options. I don't need another hunting rifle but this one got my attention. I like the cartridge but haven't loaded for it in years. Maybe I'll run across a nicer one someday.

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I have, including muzzleloaders, maybe 9 deer rifles. Still don't know if that is enough to take the one deer a year we are now allowed. :D

DP

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Originally Posted by northmn

I have, including muzzleloaders, maybe 9 deer rifles. Still don't know if that is enough to take the one deer a year we are now allowed. :D

DP

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Dude I have over two dozen 444 deer rifles to say nothing of the other leveractions , bolt actions and Ruger #1's !

But then we can kill 2 per day the entire season .

I looked at a Win94BB a couple weeks ago, but just couldn't talk myself into pulling the trigger on it. I have a fundamental problem paying $600 for a used gun just because it was somewhat rare. I have an 1894 guide gun in 450 marlin and that will have to do it for me as long as these big bores stay so expensive.

Not taking anything against it though. I just like to kick/torture myself for selling my .30-30 Winchester 94 to a buddy.

Big Bore is a nice gun, maybe too nice. For some reason it just never goes hunting with me other than a couple of trips, long ago. At this point it's a 98% gun and one rough country or rough condition hunt would make it a 95% gun, maybe less. A week or so on a floor rack of a LGS would do the same. Difference is about $200. Marlin 375 is a bit rough but a good cleaning, cold blue and a stock refinishing would make it a very good rifle. Add a good compact scope in good rings and it's ready to go hunting.

Went back to try to make a resonable offer on the gun yesterday, figured I could convince them it was priced wrong. It was gone. I guess P T Barnum was right.

Guess I got a good deal on mine?, got it for $290 OTD just about a year ago.

That's about what I was going to offer for this one but it was pretty rough cosmetically. I'd say you got a good deal, how's it shoot?

There was a marlin 336 on gunbroker a while back. 30-30 rebored to 38-55 .376 bore.

Test fired 7 times $450, 95-100%