Any one casting for the 375 hawk?

[bdoyle]

I came across a 3rd gen 1895 in 375 hawk a while back and have decided that I will get it shooting. I have tried forming brass from 30-06 with checkered results. Might try some 35 whelen or cylinder brass. As for bullets I have the lyman 375449. The neck on the hawk is around .300 in length so most of the bullet will be exposed. I was also thinking about a NEI 375-280-GC #180A or the NEI 375-280-GC #181. It has a short .376 dia throat so a bore rider style warrents consideration. Any thoughts?

Brian

[ammohead]

Brian
Have you tried fireforming with say 10 gr of bullseye and a caseful of cream of wheat?

ammohead

[bdoyle]

That's what I would normally do but the hawk is based on the 9.63X62 with the slightly smaller 30-06 base. So the shoulder has to move out(or up) around .080(??). I gradually open the brass out to .411 and then size back to .375 creating a small shoulder the will headspace properly. But by then the neck is often lopsided and short. That's why I was thinking about the cylinder brass as it is straight and would just require necking down to size. Buffalo Arms has some at $38/50. I'm gonna try the cheap route first with 35 whelan brass. I've always used Winchester brass but maybe Rem brass(softer??) may help. Look at z-hat.com for info on the hawk brass/cartridges.

Thanks!

Brian

[bdoyle]

Changed my mind and ordered the cylinder brass from buffalo arms. This is really the ticket. They are a bit long so I have to trim to get close. Run thru the die, give a finish trim, and you are done. Bit more money up front but cheaper in the long run. They are headstamped RP 35 whelen. Still looking for the right bullet.

Brian

[NVcurmudgeon]

In my standard .35 Whelen, cases fired ten times with light CB loads had shortened headspace enough to misfire. You may not have this trouble as I'm guessing the Hawk, being a wildcat, has a sharper shoulder. The cure for me was to go from partial full-length sizing to a true neck sizing die. The current lot of reformed Remington .270 cases has been fired twelve times with no sign of shortening, according to the Wilson gauge.

[onceabull]

Brian: My 375 Hawk/Scoville was built on a pre-64 M70 action and came with a fine supply of Zeglin's headstamped brass so no comments from here re:forming your own,as you have already looked at Z-Hats site I'm sure.. I've acquired a new NEI #185(310 gr nominal, GC) for the purpose of loading the 375 H&H and this rifle,but haven't fired up yet..Should you have the urge/need to try this bullet I can bring the mould to NCBS'06.(Or mail it now,as I won't be doing anything castingwise til midJuly or later,(touring,fishing,time til then) --Onceabull

[bdoyle]

Onceabull, That #185 would be quite a thumper in the hawk. It would be interesting to try but I'm not sure what load data is available for something that heavy. Z-hat provides the glamor loads but I'm not interested in that kind of hurt.
Brian

[onceabull]

Brian: Working hypothesis went like this :"If 285-290 gr is the hot thing in 35 Whelen,then 310 gr is approaching equality in 375 cal. !!!" Mould is expected to be fine ticket in 375 H&H, if shoots in the Hawk/Scovill thats a bonus,as next heaviest thing in hand in Lymans 375449.. Onceabull

[beagle]

Go to NEI and get their big 320 grain RN. It's a bore rider and shoots good in my .375 H & H.

Weighs about 354 grains ready to launch./beagle

[bdoyle]

Beagle, What alloy are you casting this guy with? Bore rider dia?(if you have it handy!) That's a big bullet! The 1895 just might feed that.

Brian

[Bullshop]

I have a couple available that might work, an NEI 320gn semi RN and an LBT- LFN 350gn both gas check. Also the 280gn Lyman GC but it would be too whimpy for the power hog of all 06 wild cats, or would that be the 411? Well lets just call it power hog JR. Always wanted to try the 411 but havent had one fall from the sky yet. Am having lots of fun with a 405 on the B 78 Browning though. Prolly not much differance cept the 405 case prolly holds more powder and I do like straight cases. They seem to be a bit harder to get into trouble with for the damn the torpedoes full speed ahead type loader.
BIC/BS

[beagle]

I'm using WWs "sweetened" with a little #9 shot. They're pretty hard.

Don't have the nose diameter handy, thought I'd recorded it and think I gave away the ones I had cast up and haven't cast anymore as I have a bunch of .375 H & H already loaded. I'll look and if there are any of the biggies loaded, I'll measure the nose and post it.

They just barely engrave the nose in my Number 1 Ruger.

It's NEIs #187. Suppose to be a 320 grain RN. I got Walt to make me a "double" in meehanite right before he passed away. Has the other cavity in the #185. He complained about making them and said I'd have trouble with incomplete fill out if I used both cavities and I did but I can use it as a single cavity with either bullet and it does fine.

It's a darn lot of bullet. I sent Buckshot some for his .375/06. They shoot good but are probably a bit more bullet than you'd need here in the US. My favorite's the 375296HP./beagle


Beagle, What alloy are you casting this guy with? Bore rider dia?(if you have it handy!) That's a big bullet! The 1895 just might feed that.

Brian