H&R in 375win?

[nekshot]

While we are riled up over these H&R's , have they or has anyone turned one into a 375 win? I don't need another gun but I kinda feel like my life is not complete until I have a 375, and I sure would like to believe that 220 can be safely pushed to 2500 fps. That would be an awsesome deer gun out to 300 yards, better than my 444.

[DeanWinchester]

Wouldn't be an issue to have one rebored to .375

[hornady308]

The Target Classic in 38-55 is the little brother of the Buffalo Classic in 45-70. I use the same loads that go in my Marlin 375. The limiting factor may well be the steel butt plate on the Classic, but I guess a standard H&R would have a recoil pad.

[NVScouter]

The Target Classic in 38-55 is the little brother of the Buffalo Classic in 45-70. I use the same loads that go in my Marlin 375. The limiting factor may well be the steel butt plate on the Classic, but I guess a standard H&R would have a recoil pad.

Good luck getting a barrel. You may find a whole one and load the 38-55 to .375 pressures but they are discontinued. I'd love a barrel for my BC.

[bgmkithaca]

You are pretty optimistic about getting 2500 FPS out of a 220 bullet. With a 26" barrel you might get to around 2300 FPS tops. The .375 Win. case just don't have enough powder capacity for that kind of velocity.

[rockrat]

I rechambered a 38-55 to 38-72 in one of the NEF guns. Took a 270gr Jword to 2400fps with excellent accuracy. Actually had it up to over 2500 fps, but the transfer bar flew out of the gun, so backed it off so the recoil wouldn't be so bad and the transfer bar would stay in the gun.

[Rich S.]

Just read this morning that the 35 whelen barrel is a good source to go to 375 Winchester.

[Artful]

You are pretty optimistic about getting 2500 FPS out of a 220 bullet. With a 26" barrel you might get to around 2300 FPS tops. The .375 Win. case just don't have enough powder capacity for that kind of velocity.

Hornady lists 220grn max loading as 2236 fps with cast you might gain a little.

[Tatume]

Just read this morning that the 35 whelen barrel is a good source to go to 375 Winchester.

The 35 Whelen chamber is too big to be rechambered to a 30/30 derivative.

[Good Cheer]

You are pretty optimistic about getting 2500 FPS out of a 220 bullet. With a 26" barrel you might get to around 2300 FPS tops. The .375 Win. case just don't have enough powder capacity for that kind of velocity.

That's what I ran up against with the .375 Winchester in a No.3.
Ended up opting for a .375x45-70 and a heavier mold.

[nekshot]

You are pretty optimistic about getting 2500 FPS out of a 220 bullet. With a 26" barrel you might get to around 2300 FPS tops. The .375 Win. case just don't have enough powder capacity for that kind of velocity.

I simply was looking at the cup or psi the manuals were topping out at and all of them were well under 52000 cup, so I guess they had a reason. I still would like to do this and I would use a 26 inch barrel. I am going to put this project on my real short list like next thing after this current project so its ready for this fall, Hey maybe I have a relative in ohio I never knew of and need to visit him this fall!

[nekshot]

Good Cheer, whats a 375/45-70? Earlier I was looking at the possibility of taking the 450 marlin and squeeze it down to 375. I would loveto run this thru a mauser, could neck down a 458 also. I have nooo interest in a 375h&h so that is out.

[Nobade]

Good Cheer, whats a 375/45-70? Earlier I was looking at the possibility of taking the 450 marlin and squeeze it down to 375. I would loveto run this thru a mauser, could neck down a 458 also. I have nooo interest in a 375h&h so that is out.

What you are thinking about is a necked up 350 Remington magnum, essentially. I would have to ask though, why not the 375 H&H? Brass is available and much cheaper, dies are cheaper, chamber reamers are off the shelf, and you have a single shot so no cares about case length. Load it to duplicate a 375 Win if you want or a 38-55 or whatever you feel like. Seems like a much simpler way to go.

-Nobade

[rockrat]

Or the 375 JDJ. Dies available and made from 444 marlin brass. That way you will have a rim for extraction.

375/45-70? Think 38-56, dies should also be available from Buffalo arms. Probably be easier to form from 40-65 brass.

Or, the 38-72. I make mine from 405 win brass necked down and trimmed to 2.6". Dies also available.

[Nobade]

Oh yeah! I totally forgot about the 38-56. Dies for that aren't too bad. Wasn't there also a 38 cal. on the 45x2.4 inch case as well? 38-82 possibly?

And yes, 375 JDJ would be a good one. It might hit the OP's original ballistics out of a rifle barrel.

-Nobade

[EDG]

Original H&R .38-55 barrels have a .375 land diameter and a .380 groove diameter.
The might shoot well but where are you going to get a .380 a jacketed bullet??

[omgb]

I have a very early Win 94 Big Bore in .375. I can use 38-55 rounds in it with no problem. My gun slugged at .380 with a long throat. I use 250 grain bullets dropped from an LBT mould sized .382. Recoil is very uncomfortable at .375 velocities. I much prefer loading to 38-55 specs. The .375 is interesting but honestly, the .358 Win is a better all around cartridge. So to is the .356 Win. Just my opinion. YMMV :grin:

[3leggedturtle]

While we are riled up over these H&R's , have they or has anyone turned one into a 375 win? I don't need another gun but I kinda feel like my life is not complete until I have a 375, and I sure would like to believe that 220 can be safely pushed to 2500 fps. That would be an awsesome deer gun out to 300 yards, better than my 444.

Just send any one you want to JES Reboring and have at it.I have a 20" 223 version of a Handi=rifle. That might be sent his way if my Marlin 375 gets sold!!

[bikerbeans]

Good friend of mine sent a 22" Handi barrel (IIRC, it started life as a 223Rem) to JES and had it rebored and rechambered to 375 Win. He missed our spring shoot so I haven't had a chance to shoot it but I know he is very happy with the work by JES as this is his 3rd or 4th rebore.

Biggest problem with the 375 Win is finding brass at a price you want to pay. I am assuming anybody reading this post is going to cast their own boolits, if you want to shoot jacketed you can find bullets but you are more than likely going to be gouged on the price.

BB

[NVScouter]

Well thanks to this thread I was offered and bought the BC 38-55 28" barrel. I'm using a 375H&H die to deprime and neck size, then a LEE universal flare, and my 357Herret seat die to seat and put a tiny taper crimp on. I shot 20 rounds like this using my Accurate 38-270H mold 270g RNFP over 7g of Trailboss for 950fps MV. As quiet as a .22LR and more fun then should be allowed! The 28" barrel feels 100% better then the 32" BC 45-70 barrel and really made the combo pop!

My steel clanger at 125y is only 3/8" 6X6 plate on a steel A frame. It doesnt get jacketed rounds over the 22Hornet but absorbs low end cast 22LR and 17HMR well. The 38-55 was shooting 1 foot low and 3 feet left. 6 rounds later that 270g at a mild 850fps nailed it and threw the plate end over A frame and knocked the whole thing over. A 168g cast at 1300fps swings it pretty well but never knocked the A frame over.

I just need to get dies and wack some of these praire dogs out of my back acrage!

[nekshot]

I really need to get a 375 something! Straight wall cartridge would be legal in ohio I think.

[Good Cheer]

Good Cheer, whats a 375/45-70? Earlier I was looking at the possibility of taking the 450 marlin and squeeze it down to 375. I would loveto run this thru a mauser, could neck down a 458 also. I have nooo interest in a 375h&h so that is out.

Yo nekshot.
The design I settled on is a 45-70 case, 9/16" neck length (to contain the lube grooves on the 375296 design) and 45 degree shoulder. It's been over thirty years but Pasadena Gun Center (Pasadena, TX) probably still has the reamer. Huntington in Oroville made the dies. I've been tempted a few times to have a lever gun put together with it.
Looks like we're moving to Indiana. They got a funny law that limits the brass length on deer hunting cartridges. I'll just trim the neck a little and carry on.

[jonp]

Just send any one you want to JES Reboring and have at it.I have a 20" 223 version of a Handi=rifle. That might be sent his way if my Marlin 375 gets sold!!

How much did the reboring run if you don't mind my asking?

[jason f]

i sent an h&r 30-30 barrel to jes and had it rebored to 375 winchester. total cost was 225.

[Good Cheer]

Oh my. Wonder if he would do a .41 Mag. Wouldn't be as long ranged as a .375 though.

[TXGunNut]

I just need to get dies and wack some of these praire dogs out of my back acrage!-NVScouter

I really like the RCBS Cowboy dies for this cartridge. You must have some mighty tough prairie dogs, lol.

[bigted]

i had a browning 1885 rebarreled with a heavy octagon #4 contour 30 inch long and chambered for the 38-55. went out with my dad up in alaska for some informal shooting at my 8 inch steel gong that is 1 1/8th inch thick. after getting the thoroughbred on target i was flat out astounded by what the 300 grain Lyman's did to the gong. didnt bend it but man it sure made her ring pretty and the thing took a swing like it were hit with my 45-70 shooting 350's at bear speed. pretty impressive what authority the 38-55 strikes stuff with.

my marlin '93' 38-55 is a real dandy as well and slings accurats 275 grain boolit along with some real authority as well. i would bet that with some of my 1600 fps loads with 3031 that a close elk would wanna be very sneaky as a good solid hit with one of these steamers should make him very sick and desire to lay down post haste.

dont ever sell the 375 to 380 diameter short as it has been around and proved itself for many years. the lowly 38-55 has punch way above what is suggested on a 30-30 case base ... or maybe the 30-30 is on the 38-55 base cartridge. it be a good one.

[NVScouter]

They are mean...puts the rabbit from The Holy Grail to shame! I once had to defend myself from three of them with only a boot knife and piece of barbed wire!

I was looking at the RCBS coyboy dies but didnt find them in stock. Ended up buying the LEE powder through dies since Track of the Wold sells a custom .379 expader and LEE's FAQ has a thread on neck sizing to .379/.380. The Winchester brass I have and some 30-30 cases will begin my experiment phase. If its too much work I'kk get the .400 reamer and be done with it.
I just need to get dies and wack some of these praire dogs out of my back acrage!-NVScouter

I really like the RCBS Cowboy dies for this cartridge. You must have some mighty tough prairie dogs, lol.