Tested some loades for the Win .375

[omgb]

Results from 7/15/06 Testing

San Fracisquito Canyon Range
8:10-1:30 PM
Temp Starting: 82F Ending: 109F
Wnds Lgt and Vrbl
Guns cleaned between strings.




Gun #2 Win BB94 .375 Win
Again, barrel cleaned between strings.

1) Load… 261 grn. RCBS FP GC .3785 LBT Blue, 30 grns. RL 7, Win cases, Win Lrg Rifle primer
1876,1903,1899,1893,1856,1870,1877,1877,1864
Group tightly centered 9:00 from 10 ring. All shots in 2”
Very accurate but groups began to vertically string as barrel heated. Very lgt leading.

2) Load… Same bullet XMP5744 24.5 grains
1712,1723,1714,1692,1723,1701,1734,1685,1701
Moderate Recoil, all shots under 2” 3 in X ring

3) Load… Same bullet, IMR 4198 24.5 grains
1821,1762,1878,1559/1813,1907,1560,1899,1579,1566
Very Heavy felt recoil, 4” group 2 flyers

4) Lyman PB 251 Grain, .379 24 grains 2400 LBT Blue
2032,2026,2030,2041
Excellent accuracy, 4 shot under 2” Mod recoil. Load came from Lyman #38 for 38-55

5) Lyman 251 PB, .3785 LBT Blue
18.0 grains XMP 5744
1270,1286,1267,1285,1269,1257,1255,1261,1257,1313
All shot 6:00 low in 9 ring, 2” group. One flyer 7:00 in 7 ring
This load had light recoil, kind of smoky, very easy to shoot. Mild leading. This cleaned with two patches.

The next three loads are all duplexed BP loads. I used a compression die to compress the powder .103” in the case. Over powder wads were cut from cardboard and were .016” thick

6) Lyman BP 251 gn. .379 White Lightning lube.
5.0 gns. RL7, 33 grns (by weight) GOEX 3F
1303,1293,1302,1336,1309 @ 50 yrds, this group went into 1.5”

7) Same Load @100 yrds
1298,1313,1302,1295,1297 all shots when into 2” but were low at 6:30 in the 9 ring

8) RCBS 261 GC .379 WL lube same powder charge as in #6 and #7
1257,1273,1252, error, 1244, 1264
This was the most accurate load at 100 yrds. All shots went into 1.5” at 6:00 on the 8 ring


So, from all of this two things stand out. First, I need to investigate 2400. This powder seems to really shoot well in my gun. I’d like to try it with the RCBS bullet and see what happens. There were no signs of high pressure but surely it must have been up there to get those velocities. This was a full 3 grains under the old Lyman specs for the old pre-Alliant 2400 powder.

Second, this gun loves BP. Those loads all shot well and did not lead excessively. The shot to shot variation was almost nil. Clean up was easy and they were not all that hard to make.

I suspect that some of the weird velocities registered were due to the guy with the Barrett 50 cal four benches down. Sometimes, his shock waves would register on my screens. Ditto the guy with the ported 44 mag to my left.

Any way, it was a good day for shooting. I hope some of these loads get a few more guys to experimenting with this caliber. I’d love to see some other recipes. I have some H4895 that looks promising too.

[txpete]

thanks for the data.I haven't made it out yet with my AA5744 loads yet so seeing your results I hope mine shoot as well.
thanks
pete

[omgb]

Oh, I will bet you'll do a lot better. I found my shooting glasses today and put them on. POW! I could see the friggen front sight! How much tighter those groups would have been if I could see.....my guess is at least 50% tighter.

[Nrut]

Great post Mr. Talley.....I just started using Hercules 2400 for the finish fire forming of 30-30 brass in a H&R Target 38-55.......won't chamber 38-55 cases with +.001 over groove sized bullets(neither will my MarlinCB).....but anyway Buckshot suggested in a post to another fellow in the group buy section to try 16 grs. of 2400......so I did and ended up with groups running under an inch at fifty meters with a scope.......I note in the Alliant reloaders guide that they list 23.5 grs. max. for the .375 win.....but with a 220 gr. jacketed bullet.....Your groupings with cast bullets for the .375 Win are the best I have seen on the net and I have been looking for 2 years or better as one of these days I hope to get around to shooting mine with cast.....109*F at the range?...I did'nt know it got that hot in Frisco...is the range out in the valley?........keep up the good work and have fun!

[omgb]

Frisco? I'm in San Fanscisquito Canyon. That's north of LA on the edge of the Mojave. It gets that hot or hotter out here.

TexPete seems to be getting even better groups that I am. He is a big fan of IMR 4198 but so far, it won't do it for me with cast bullets.

I have been hampered with bifocals that will not let me clearly see the front post. I've go that worked out now with some special shooting lenses. My guess is that group size is going to shrink.:Fire: I hope.....

[Nrut]

That explains it... my mind saw San Francisco instead of San Fracisquito....Can't say I know of San Facisquto .... I use to drive thru the southern and western part of the Mojave a bit to visit friends in Paso Robles when I lived in Yuma....can't say a miss the hot weather at all!.....I have to use bifocals also....How do these special shooting glasses work and would they be practical to wear for hunting also?....

[omgb]

I had the left lens set up as usual for distance and up close. I had the right lens ground trifocal, up close, 28" out and then distance. In use, it takes a while to get used to the different focus points betweent he left and right eye, but, in time, they work out very well. I think for hunting, I would not rely on them, too easy to step wrong in them.

Your 38-55 chamber problem is pretty common. if I may suggest a solution.... Try using a bullet cast .001 of .002 under bore. Then use a duplex load of 4.5 grains of RL7 and enough 2 or 3F GOEX BP to fill the case to the base of the bullet when properly seated. Cast that bullet out of a 1-20 tin/lead mix using no antimony at all. Prime and fill the case as described. Add an over powder wad of 38 cal. You can buy them or cut them from tablet backing and a punch. The deal is they myst fit the case closely. Lube the bullet with SPG or some other sutable BP lube and seat the bullet to the top of the powder and then a tad more. Crimp and viola! you have a very accurate 38-55 cartridge that duplicates the original loading. These are the most accurate of all of the loads I've tried in the .375 Win. BP will bump that bullet up to seal the bore and there will be no leading at all. The duplex load will keep the bore clean. When done, swab the bore using water and soap. Dry, hit with a good bore cleaner like Hoppes, oil lightly and you're done.

[TedH]

Your load number one is exactly what I have been using in my 94BB. Harvested a nice 9 point whitetail with it last fall.

I might have to try some of your BP loads, looks like fun.

[Jon K]

OMGB,

Very interesting, Have you tried to duplex w/4F? or what other smokeless have you tried, for duplex? Unique? 4227? 2400?

I want to try duplex load in my 38-55 w/Saeco 300gr.

Jon

[omgb]

I duplexed with 2400 and saw no improvement nor any deteriation. I have tried duplexing with 4F in the 45-90 and didn't see any real advantage compared to using RL7. To be honest, RL 7 works so well and causes me no pressure signs so I most likely will not bother trying other powders. Now if someone did duplex with another powder and got great results, well, I'm just sucker enough to have to go out and buy a can and give it a go. I can't resist a tease.:Fire:

[Four Fingers of Death]

I find when I at the range and near one of these guys, I just wait for them to have their shot, I sit in position and wait and as soon as they shoot, I then make my final sight picture and get the shot away before they are back in business.