375-08 in a handi rifle

[jason f]

Anybody have this cartridge or messed with one. Getting a handi rebored and chambered in it. Are you shooting GC bullets or plain base? What weight?

[NVScouter]

Why the 375-08 over a 375 Whelen? I'd think that extra powder capacity would help when shooting boolits over 250g. Most 375s are going to want 264-330g boolits.

That being said Im guessing you will get 375WIN performance. What barrel length did you go with?

[Piedmont]

I think that is a very wise choice. After I got the .358 I was looking at a loaded round and thinking this would be sweet as a .375 and there would still be plenty of shoulder.

[rockrat]

The wider shoulder of the 308 would preclude chambering for 35 whelen, unless you wanted brass with a double shoulder. A 35 whelen AI might work. Let us know how your 375-08 works, sounds like it would be between the 35 rem and 35 whelen.

[NVScouter]

The wider shoulder of the 308 would preclude chambering for 35 whelen, unless you wanted brass with a double shoulder. A 35 whelen AI might work. Let us know how your 375-08 works, sounds like it would be between the 35 rem and 35 whelen.

Why? The body length of a 30-06 is 1.650 and the 308 is 1.25 leaving .4 more depth. The shoulder width of the 30-06 is.454 and .308 .4426. Shoulder legths are 30-06 .151 and 308 .1606 by looking at chamber specs.

I dont see a wider shoulder on the .308 and even if it was its still in taper so with the longer 30-06 case the 375Whelen would fit just fine.

Am I missing something?

[nanuk]

Why? The body length of a 30-06 is 1.650 and the 308 is 1.25 leaving .4 more depth. The shoulder width of the 30-06 is.454 and .308 .4426. Shoulder legths are 30-06 .151 and 308 .1606 by looking at chamber specs.

I dont see a wider shoulder on the .308 and even if it was its still in taper so with the longer 30-06 case the 375Whelen would fit just fine.

Am I missing something?

you have your shoulder numbers backwards

I have a 30-06 that was rechambered from a 308 (off kilter... made a heckuva mess) and the 308 shoulder IS too large and does NOT clean up during a rechamber

[NVScouter]

you have your shoulder numbers backwards

I have a 30-06 that was rechambered from a 308 (off kilter... made a heckuva mess) and the 308 shoulder IS too large and does NOT clean up during a rechamber

Why yes I do! So 35 Whelen is out and .375 Whelen as well with a .443 shoulder. The 375WAI at .453 would be fine as should the 375 Hawk's .451 shoulder.

Cant wait to see this thing shoot.

[jason f]

Why the 375-08 over a 375 Whelen? I'd think that extra powder capacity would help when shooting boolits over 250g. Most 375s are going to want 264-330g boolits.

That being said Im guessing you will get 375WIN performance. What barrel length did you go with?

I got a good deal on a set of ch4d die set and a 24" 243 barrel. Been wanting something 375 caliber for a while. Got a bunch of 308 brass and picked up some 307 winchester brass also in case I wanted to add a rim cut to it.

[NVScouter]

Did this ever come to reality?

[bikerbeans]

Did this ever come to reality?

The rifle was built and Jason has shot it. I will let him chime in on the accuracy.

BB

[cainttype]

I've toyed with the idea of chambering this wildcat in a bolt rifle for quite some time, sort of a rimless 375 JDJ on steroids. Loads of fun, I've convinced myself... I'm sure it's only a matter of time, but would be more than interested in Jason's results while I continue procrastinating.

[bigted]

oh man ... somebody spill the beans here!!! the 375 cal is just the best and i think the 375-08 will have enough snoos to do anything on the north american continent. i am still interested in a 375 whelen but this 308 punched out sounds just neat.

375 winchester ... i think this punched out 308 will cover up a 375 winchester in grand shape.

[JFE]

Anybody have this cartridge or messed with one. Getting a handi rebored and chambered in it. Are you shooting GC bullets or plain base? What weight?

I have a 375/356 on a 94BB and its a neat conversion. I use heavier cast bullets in the 280-300 gr range and most of my pills wear a GC. Being a single shot you have a lot more flexibility with your loaded length and, depending on your throating and twist rate, you could be using some real heavyweight bullets.

In terms of its capacity to bore size its similar to a 35 Rem, so it's quite an efficient case. I think you will like it.

[TXGunNut]

oh man ... somebody spill the beans here!!! the 375 cal is just the best and i think the 375-08 will have enough snoos to do anything on the north american continent. i am still interested in a 375 whelen but this 308 punched out sounds just neat.

375 winchester ... i think this punched out 308 will cover up a 375 winchester in grand shape.


I agree, with the brass situation it sounds like a much better alternative to the 375 Win. I doubt it has a big advantage over the .358 but it certainly sounds like fun. Anybody sent the OP a PM?

[fryboy]

the one advantage would be the thump from a heavier projectile but that also has inherent disadvantageous , there are of course lighter projectiles , which roughly translated means i too am curious lolz

[Bullshop]

I have had several rifles chambered in 358 Win but because I first had a 35 Whelen I was never able to be satisfied with the performance of the 358. I know it is an excellent cartridge that performs beyond what its size would indicate but still not up to the Whelen.
Now I have had several rifles chambered in 375 Whelen and still have two so I suspect that even though a 375/08 will likely be a respectable performer I have been spoiled by the 375 Whelen so just like the 358 I could never warm up to a 375/08.
I am pleasantly ruined by the gov. case of 1906.

[jason f]

only bullets that i have used in it so far are the hornady 220 fp. gun definately shoots better than i do, brass is easy to make with just one pass through the sizing die is all it takes. i am using upper end 358 win. data with no signs of pressure problems. this was a 243 barrel i sent to jes reboring. i also sent a 30-30 barrel to him and had it rebored to 375 winchester. since this one is on list for ohio.

[Good Cheer]

I'd have to make the cases out of -06 brass for a longer neck and fill them with black.:rolleyes:

[swheeler]

only bullets that i have used in it so far are the hornady 220 fp. gun definately shoots better than i do, brass is easy to make with just one pass through the sizing die is all it takes. i am using upper end 358 win. data with no signs of pressure problems. this was a 243 barrel i sent to jes reboring. i also sent a 30-30 barrel to him and had it rebored to 375 winchester. since this one is on list for ohio.

Jason have you got to chronograph the loads?

[nekshot]

this sounds interesting as I don't have anything in 375 but am really feeling deprived!

[jason f]

Jason have you got to chronograph the loads?

not yet. i got a new chronograph and gonna try it out soon.

[bigted]

take a look at the 38-56 case of yesteryear. it has good promise of a bit mo punch plus a good solid headspace on the base 45-70 parent case.

[swheeler]

not yet. i got a new chronograph and gonna try it out soon.

Good, let us know what velocity you are getting. Seems like a good idea with 7.62/308 brass to be found everywhere.

[Bullshop]

Ted that's a 38/56

[bigted]

LOL ... the rest of me is dislexic too ... thanks for the correction ... ill go fix it now.

[olafhardt]

A full load 500S&W operates with higher pressure on a larger head than a 375 H&H so I guess you could chamber a Handi to 357 H&H or even 458 Winchester.

[Old Coot]

Jason; The 308 case has already been necked up to 9.3mm It is called the 9.3 Barns / Sisk. fLook it up in old issues of the Rifle or Handloader. John Barnsnes and Charlie Sisk did it A couple of years ago. Looking it up might help you with reloading data. At least you could use theirs to extrapolate to your cartridge. Brodie

[JimP.]

i've had a Ruger Mod 77 MKII 375 Whelen AI. for my use didnt see any difference over my 35 Whelen. Dead is dead, the deer and hogs couldnt tell the difference. But you know how it is, the wantme's got a hold of me...LOL...JimP.

[lmcollins]

The 9.3 Barnes Sisk was built on the 350 Remington Mag case. Not on the 308 case. Please take note!

I always thought that a 375/350 Rem Mag would be a great rifle. I would build it on a standard M98 8mm action. Just open up the bolt face and extractor. For reamers use a 350mag with a 375 pilot, and then use a neck and throat reamer to cut the throat. You could even use a YUGO M98, if you could find a good stock for it.

CH4D list a die set for it. Case capacity would be about the same as a 375/06 (375 Whelen). Load data should be about the same.

[cowboybart]

Wouldn't a 375 Barns/Sisk basically be a 376 Styer w/o the belt?? I would assume the Handi Rifle could handle the pressure of the 376 Styer and it would solve the "custom" die aspect.

[BAGTIC]

Should get better velocities than 375 Winchester due to greater case capacity. A 375-444 might be a better choice as rimmed cases are more available and shoulder would become less critical.