Good Mould for .375 H&H

[AlaskaMike]

I just found a great deal on an older Ruger M77 in .375 H&H, and I picked it up. I've been looking over the NEI catalog and see a couple I like (.375-280-GC, .375-320-GC), but I thought I'd ask for opinions here before I buy anything.

If you shoot cast in the .375 H&H, is there any particular mould you like more than others?

Thanks,
Mike

[onceabull]

[smilie=1: Mike: of those I've owned and/or tried in the 375 H&H and 375 Hawk/Scovill,I prefer NEI 184 (304 gr Nominal,more like 320 in my alloy) for anything tending toward full power. Lyman 375449 (moulds virtually around every corner) does fine job for practice,or anything up to Mule Deer( using @1800 fps,MV.) If you spring for one of the other NEI's, I'm game for trading boolits..Onceabull-- PS...Bullshop Dan has some kind of super heavy weight castBoolits (like 345 gr) Used mine up shooting the 375 W's, have to pony up for some to try in the "big brothers one of these fine days...Enjoy,Onceabull

[Larry Gibson]

I've found the Lyman 375499 to meet all my needs save on for my M70 .375 H&H. A good practice load is 36 gr AA5744 for 1850 fps. For a hunting load the same bullet over 50 gr of milsurp 4895 with a dacron filler runs right at 2200 fps. The one other load I use is a .375 RB, usually Hornady, lightly lubed with LLA over 4 gr of Bullseye for 890 fps - an excellent rabbit/grouse/ptarmigan load.

Larry Gibson

[Nardoo]

I tried the RCBS 250 gn GC that we use in my son's Marlin 375Win in my 375 H&H. 45 gns of H4895 gave 1800 fps and great accuracy.

Jim Alison at CBE has some molds for heavier boolits. Check out his website on:
http://www.castbulletengineering.bigpondhosting.com/default.htm

He makes beautiful molds.

Nardoo

[klausg]

Mike- Shoot Bullshop an email and order a few before you drop money into a mould that won't work. To answer your question, my H&H is partial to the previously mentioned NEI 184 and RCBS 250. Mine also doesn't like PB's, or more correctly does weird things with them, POI shifts about 18" left and 6" down??? Are you contemplating plugging a bear this spring w/cast? Take care.

-Klaus

[AlaskaMike]

Hey Klaus!

I'll probably check with Bullshop and see what he's got. While I am going on a black bear hunt towards the end of the month, I'll probably take the '06 instead. I just won't have enough time to play with the new rifle. I dunno, I'll have to think about it--it would be fun. :D

Mike

[rockrat]

I have the NEI 375-280-gc and used it in my Ruger #1 in 375 H&H with good results. About 1.5" at 100yds and 2100fps. Heavier boolit might be nice.

[3sixbits]

After reading that article in the Anchorage daily news about the retired school teacher and the bears, how could any one think of shooting one of these "pet bears"? Besides I don't know what the meat would taste like from bears fed "Old Roy" dog food? By the way Mike, I'm glad you asked this question about my favorite cartridge. 3sixbits!

[AlaskaMike]

There was something in the paper again about him this morning. I guess the state fish & game folks aren't happy with him for feeding them. Oh well.

Mike

[AlaskaMike]

What are you guys sizing your .375 bullets to? .376?

Mike

[felix]

The best size is the largest size that will slip into the fired case, but just barely. If the cases are new, or once fired, or very close to it, then add 0.001 to the boolit size. Try and find a load with the boolit at that derived size. If you cannot, then reduce the size by 0.001 and start load development all over again. Repeat until you have accuracy satisfaction. The boolit will never shoot if the boolit gets below the size of the barrel grooves, unless you take grain pains in adjusting to the required softness for the boolits to expand back up from the sizing diameter. ... felix

[AlaskaMike]

Great stuff--thanks very much Felix!

Mike

[trk]

The best size is the largest size that will slip into the fired case, but just barely. If the cases are new, or once fired, or very close to it, then add 0.001 to the boolit size. Try and find a load with the boolit at that derived size. If you cannot, then reduce the size by 0.001 and start load development all over again. Repeat until you have accuracy satisfaction. The boolit will never shoot if the boolit gets below the size of the barrel grooves, unless you take grain pains in adjusting to the required softness for the boolits to expand back up from the sizing diameter. ... felix

Good advice. I'm playing with both .375H&H and .375Win (Ruger #1 and #3 respectively). Using a Saeco 571 mould it throws a tapered bullet (groan - which would be good for an older 38 cal rifle) that starts at .376 at the top and goes to .383 or 4 at the bottom. I push through size to .378 now. (Started at .382, but the rifling shaved strips of lead leaving them in the throat - but no leading elsewhere). .382 was the largest I could get easily into a fired case. So I've been working down (to minimize working of brass) to smaller and smaller sizes. Ongoing project.