375HH GCL285 Loads

[dsiteman]

Hello,
Any guidelines, sources, etc. for working up loads for 375HH w/ 285 grain lead, gas checked bullets?? Not looking for super high velocity here, just a good reasonably accurate load in the low 2000 fps range. Even slightly less would work. All help appreciated.

[AlaskaMike]

This is something I'm working on too, but the bullet I'm using is a little lighter at about 265 grains. I've tried the following loads with only ho-hum results:

charge/powder Velocity
25.0/IMR-4227 1338
28.0/IMR-4227 1435
30.0/IMR-4227 1668

According to my notes the lighter charges, especially 25 grains seemed pretty position sensitive. The 30 grain load seemed better, but still not real good, specifically in my notes was "very inaccurate at 100 yards".

Those loads were fired out of my Ruger M77, and used Remington brass with CCI primers. I might try some with magnum primers just to see if it helps with ignition consistency, but honestly I think 4227 may not be a real good powder to use. I need to cast up some more bullets and try some loads using 2400, some light ones with Unique, and maybe some around 2000 - 2200 fps with 4895. For what you're looking for I think I'd try something like 3031 or 4895.

Mike

[dsiteman]

Hello,
Thanks for the reply. Looking at the 3031 or 4895, but should one actually load the cast bullets using same data as jacketed bullets?? I do have gas checked, but wondering about tha aspect?? Thanks.

[BABore]

Try 36 to 42 grains of XMP 5744 with a CCI 250 primer. 36 to 38 grains are my goto loads. Super accurate.

[Larry Gibson]

dsiteman

I use Lyman 377449 in my M70 three six bits. They weight 265 -277 gr (depending on alloy) when lubed with Javelina and a Hornady GC is used. I mostly use ACWWs + 2% tin and they weight 273 gr. Over 36 gr of AA5744 the run 1850 fps with excellent accuracy.

When cast of WWs + 2% tin and WQ'd I load them over 50 gr of 4895 with a 3/4 gr dacron filler over the powder (as a filler, not tamped down into a wad). This gives 2190 fps and 2 moa accuracy at 100 yards. It is my practice load. This same load with ACWWS + 2% tin also makes a very nice deer, bear, elk hunting load though I clean the barrel after each 5 rounds to maintain accuracy That's ok when hunting. For just practice I've shot 50 of the WQ'd bullet load without cleaning and had no leading and accuracy remained constant.

Larry Gibson

[AlaskaMike]

Hello,
Thanks for the reply. Looking at the 3031 or 4895, but should one actually load the cast bullets using same data as jacketed bullets?? I do have gas checked, but wondering about tha aspect?? Thanks.

You'll generally get more velocity from cast bullets vs. jacketed, and less pressure, all other things being equal. I wouldn't take a cast bullet and load it on top of 82 grains of H4350, which is the charge I use for my 270 grain jacketed bullet loads. I think the velocity (around 2600 fps) would just be too high for this particular cast bullet I'm using. Given that you said you wanted to keep velocity in the low 2000's, the jacketed data just isn't very useful.

You might want to pick up the Lyman reloading manual--I have #48, and I'm not sure whether #49 is out yet. Another good one is the Lyman Cast Bullet Manual. It needs a good update, but it's still a great resource for what you want to do.

Mike