375 Super Mag Dan Wesson

[saleen322]

The 375 Super Mag Dan Wesson I had been waiting on came in this week. I have an old "Shooting Steel" book and I checked some loading data in it. The preferred and easier way to make cases is to cut 375 Win brass to 1.6" but you can make them from 30-30 brass with a little more work. As 375 brass is close to unobtainium, I made these from 30-30 Win. Besides, I have a Big Bore 94 and it seems sacrilegious to cut up good 375 cases. The 375 brass has a very strong web but the 30-30 has a MAP of 42K which is good for what I want in this application. The hot bullet back in the day was the Hornady 220 with a special crimp groove and the best cast bullet was a NEI 210 grain. I have some regular 220 Hornady and the only mold I have in that caliber is a RCBS 250 FNGC. With the alloy I have (mostly reclaimed bullet trap lead), lubed with the gas check, they weigh 266 grains. I will keep you posted on my progress here.

[69daytona]

I just bought the Lee 379-250gr PBRN mold for my new to me DW 375 SM.
got lucky after posting that I bought one on here and on the DW forum and had a member sell me 200 cases, 100 is original IHMSA 375 supermag brass the other 100 is cut down 375 win brass.
have the shooting steel books coming thanks to a member from here, another car and gun guy.
congradulations on your new DW.
keep in touch and when I start casting with this Lee mold I can send you some if your interested in trying them

[saleen322]

According to my book, it looks like IMR-4227 performed well in the past with the 375 Super Mag. The best performing powder was WW680 that is no longer sold. Accurate 5744 also did well and I have the newer version of it that I will try. The two bullets used are the RCBS cast gas check (left) that weighs 266 grains with lube and gas check and the Hornady 220 FP (right).

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Pistol/Dan%20Wesson/Dan%20Wesson%20375_zpsszr5xmfz.jpg

[saleen322]

First impression is that the 375 likes cast bullets. The temp was cold under 30 degrees so I did not want to push pressure thinking it may go higher in warmer weather. I started out at 18.0 of IMR-4227 with the RCBS cast bullet. It averaged 1220 FPS, gave good accuracy and if you pushed the ejector half way and released it, the empties would fall back into the cylinder. I used a starting load of 20 grains of 4227 with the Hornady. It shot okay but the velocity was the same as the cast bullet at 1220. I worked up to 22 grains and the velocity was then only up to 1266. I think the jacketed bullet could use a faster powder. The target below has 5 cast shots and 5 jacketed on it.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Pistol/Dan%20Wesson/375%20Tgt%201_zpscqcmlnwu.jpg

[saleen322]

I tried a couple of rounds with 5744. Velocity was low with the Hornady but the SD was about 7 FPS shot to shot. I also shot 5 more of the cast bullets into the same target. So far, so good.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Pistol/Dan%20Wesson/375%20Tgt%202_zpsl6cp6sib.jpg

[JSH]

AA 1680 is a close replacement for the old 680. Congrats on the 375. I chased them around for a while. I was advised to go with a .41 mag as a close second choice. I did and have not looked back. I still have my 14" 375 barrel for the TC. It has shot excellent from the get go.
The pressure spikes on the super mags that are referred to quite often I believe were loads that guys were using to take over the full footed rams.

[reed1911]

1680 is what I use. I have several of the DW's and a T/C and love them. I've always had such good results with 1680/680 that I do not use anything else. Shoots better than I Can.

[runfiverun]

I have a tich bit of 680 sitting on the shelf still, but switched to 1680 long ago.
4227 does better in the 445 super-mag with the heavier bullets than in the 375 version.
if/when I get around to trying cast in the 375 I'm thinking on some 265gr gas checked boolits on top of some 2400.

[saleen322]

AA 1680 is a close replacement for the old 680. Congrats on the 375. I chased them around for a while. I was advised to go with a .41 mag as a close second choice. I did and have not looked back. I still have my 14" 375 barrel for the TC. It has shot excellent from the get go.
The pressure spikes on the super mags that are referred to quite often I believe were loads that guys were using to take over the full footed rams.

Thank you for the reply. I have a 357 SM that I shot silhouette with back in the 80s. Got a chance to get this one and bought it. I tend to load on the conservative side and agree with you, some folks were trying to get maximum pop on every round.

[saleen322]

1680 is what I use. I have several of the DW's and a T/C and love them. I've always had such good results with 1680/680 that I do not use anything else. Shoots better than I Can.

Thanks for the tip on the 1680 guys! I will try that.

[saleen322]

I have a tich bit of 680 sitting on the shelf still, but switched to 1680 long ago.
4227 does better in the 445 super-mag with the heavier bullets than in the 375 version.
if/when I get around to trying cast in the 375 I'm thinking on some 265gr gas checked boolits on top of some 2400.

I am in the process of getting another Christmas present for me, another mold. I saw where NOE makes a 235 GC that I may try. The RCBS is coming out at 266 and shoots well and would like to also have something a little lighter.

[rwsem]

I had LBT make a .375 wfn gc mould that casts at 230 gr. using coww. I wanted something close to the HDY 220 grainer and this is what he came up with. Shoots pretty well.
156501

[44man]

Long ago I had a Virginia dragoon in .375. I used the Hornady bullet and I also think 4227. I gave my data to the guy I sold it to. Always sorry I did not keep the load stuff for all I shot.
My problem was WW brass, rims varied so much, many did not allow cylinder rotation so I filed the heads to fit.
I sent the cylinder back and the company recessed the rim area slightly for me.
I never moved to cast with it so can't help.
I can tell you it was a THUMPER, we would be out for fun, find a big tree branch, hit it 3 X and it would come down. No need for a chain saw! It splintered wood like a stick of dynamite.

[69daytona]

Like the RCBS shoots pretty good, just got the LEE copy of it but they are casting slightly oval and shave a lot off of one side when sized. Will have to check it out more when I have time.

[44man]

Like the RCBS shoots pretty good, just got the LEE copy of it but they are casting slightly oval and shave a lot off of one side when sized. Will have to check it out more when I have time.
No big deal, cast a little cooler for a rounder boolit.

[WALLNUTT]

Long ago Saeco cut a mold for the 375SM. A 240gr PB with a short truncated cone nose. I had a 3cav I used to cast bullets for a friend with a Seville in 375. The bullet shot quite well with 4227. I sold the mold years ago. If you could find a mold or a drawing to have one made I think you would be set.

[saleen322]

The NOE mold came in Sat. It is advertised as 235 grain, the bullets dropped at 234.4 average--excellent! Used Hornady gas checks and sized the bullets at 0.376 which is what the cylinder throats measure. I also found some 1680 powder local. I only had old WW 680 data so I loaded 5 to test @ 20 grains to stay well on the safe side to start. It was raining so I just shot at my 25 yard range. 5 shots went into 1 3/4" with 3 touching. I need to change the front sight as I could not get it clear. I am certain this bullet is going to perform. I will order a set of partridge sights when I shoot for groups at distance. I am not looking for any more molds now; I have real potential with this one.

[saleen322]

I upped the powder to 21.0 of 1680 and put a lot of sight black on the front sight. I still had a bit of a halo on the front sight but was better. The bullet did not disappoint. It put 5 shots in a group 3/4" center to center with 4 touching. I found the bullet for my 375.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Pistol/Dan%20Wesson/375-235%20GC%20Tgt-1_zpswmfngpsn.jpg

[reed1911]

Shooting the .375 is one of those that hits harder than it feels. I enjoy shooting it more so than my .357 or my .445. May be due to it being my first super, may be that I have several of them and I think I've had 9-10 pass through my hands over the years.