375 Winchester in Big Bore

[someguy2800]

I really like big bores for their performance on game but I just wanted to add that the idea of big heavy bullets can shoot through brush is false. There have been many many studies on this that show all bullets deflect badly when hitting brush.

With that said if I were looking to buy a winchester big bore, I would get one in 444 marlin.

 

[Onty]

Wild boars became the issue in some regions in Croatia, especially on some bigger islands.

Zagreb (capital)

Rijeka (city on the coast) ,

On island Krk just this year 1600 wild boars were killed https://www-index-hr.translate.goog...tr_sl=hr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I really like big bores for their performance on game but I just wanted to add that the idea of big heavy bullets can shoot through brush is false. There have been many many studies on this that show all bullets deflect badly when hitting brush.

With that said if I were looking to buy a winchester big bore, I would get one in 444 marlin.

So true, amen. I hope everyone knows that. I just recently missed a wounded bear twice, at like 30 yards, shooting through heavy brush. With a .62" round ball over 110 grains of Swiss. I knew that at the time, but decided to try my luck.

 

[dieselchief]

375 or even 38 55 perform well on game up close. 75 feet is a long shot where i live, yes feet not yards. the 444 marlin and the 45 70 get edgy for recoil on me nowadays. dc

 

[Onty]

Sorry, double post.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I used to buy into the whole “bolt action is slow to operate” thing. I even preached it for awhile. Then I got a left handed bolt action rifle, as I am a lefty, and practiced a bit. I managed to shoot 3 deer out of the same group with that rifle. I shot 4 times in about as rapid succession I think was possible with a bolt action.

It wasn’t no Lee Harvey because the targets were moving slower and were only 50 yds away.

Anyway, I don’t think a bolt action is slow enough more than any other action type to really matter.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Wild boars became the issue in some regions in Croatia, especially on some bigger islands.
On island Krk just this year 1600 wild boars were killed https://www-index-hr.translate.goog...tr_sl=hr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

As long as we're sharing, here's a relatively recent wild boar story from Hong Kong:

 

[CraigC]

Anyway, I don’t think a bolt action is slow enough more than any other action type to really matter.

I do, just watch any CAS match. I once shot two does in a sitting with a .30-30 model 94. I shot the 2nd doe through the shoulders so fast, she was in mid-leap reacting to the shot at the first. The guys I was hunting with were about 200yds away. They thought someone else had sneaked onto the property with a semi-auto and did a double tap. A bolt action requires twice as many distinct movements and at the end of it, your finger is not already on the trigger. I honestly can't believe this is even a discussion.

 

[Crosshair]

I passed on a very nice 375 Winchester 94 for about $1k IIRC a few weeks ago at a pawn shop in central MN.

I partially passed on it because I considered it too nice to take shooting. Your opinion might be different. PM me and I'll tell you the shop.

 

[Varminterror]

CAS/SASS targets are absolutely massive, and the 38’s and 45’s we’re shooting don’t recoil remotely as much as hunting rifles.

 

[Chuck R.]

I do, just watch any CAS match. I once shot two does in a sitting with a .30-30 model 94. I shot the 2nd doe through the shoulders so fast, she was in mid-leap reacting to the shot at the first. The guys I was hunting with were about 200yds away. They thought someone else had sneaked onto the property with a semi-auto and did a double tap. A bolt action requires twice as many distinct movements and at the end of it, your finger is not already on the trigger. I honestly can't believe this is even a discussion.

I dunno, but that's 2 does from last year and a bolt gun.....could have taken a 3rd, but was out of tags. A week ago I shot a decent 7pt and easily could have popped the doe with him, as she trotted a few steps and stopped to look at him. I've tripled on them a couple times, they're not the brightest thing on the planet.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

"Is it enough difference, to make a difference"? Paul H.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I considered it too nice to take shooting.

DANG! I'd shoot it until the barrel melted down. Prices sure are soaring though. I have a friend with such a rifle (he hunts with it and shoots it) and that I lust after. I have a Pre-safety JM Marlin .45-70 that he lusts after. So we made a "death trade". If he dies first, I get his .375 Winchester. If I die first, he gets the Marlin. The wives have been informed, and sworn to carry it out. !!!

 

[gotboostvr]

I'll throw some other options into the mix to consider.

I really like 35rem in a lever gun. It's got some pretty good energy behind it and still not a really heavy kicker out of a 336.

I've seen alot more ammo, and it's cheaper to reload than the 375win.

I think a Savage Impulse in something like 358win with a 18" barrel and a 1-4x would be a dandy brush gun. Just something to consider.

 

[CraigC]

CAS/SASS targets are absolutely massive, and the 38’s and 45’s we’re shooting don’t recoil remotely as much as hunting rifles.

Makes no difference. Can a .22 boltgun be run anywhere near as fast? Not even close.

 

[Varminterror]

Makes no difference. Can a .22 boltgun be run anywhere near as fast? Not even close.

How fast I could dump my ‘73 on a 12” gong at 25 yards is a very different paradigm than I can send rounds after multiple hogs at 25 to 100 yards.

For example - I know when I throw bullets at coyotes in my pastures with cow/calf pairs, I do so with less regard to precision in POA than I do when trying to double on whitetails during our “doe only” season, and I can realize the difference in speed between my AR and by bolt guns on coyotes, while I can’t on deer. Conversely, shooting PRS matches with a bolt gun and an AR, there’s no difference in realized time on the clock between my bolt gun and my gassers.

So when I care about where I’m hitting, that care negates any differentiation between repeating action type.

(Conceding - match shooters likely shoot stick shifts much faster than the average shooter, so the gap between blasting speed with a stickshift, levergun, or gasser in my hands might not reflect the average guy with a rifle - who quite likely can’t keep pace with any one of them).

 

[GooseGestapo]

My favorite deer, brush, semi open , deer, hog gun is my 1970’s Marlin Mod336C .35Rem!
Close is my REM Model-7 7mm08.
Ain’t no way I can run the M7 as fast as that M336!

I was hog hunting with my younger brother circa 2003 on Clark’s Hill Lake WMA in E. Georgia.
We walked/stalked up on a group of feeding pigs. We had agreed my brother would shoot first.
The pigs scented him and broke like a covey of quail! Running from my left to right. I got off 5-shots before my brother could think to release his safety and raise his rifle! (Pre ‘64 Win Mod70 FW in .308). I got 4 pigs, with a fifth sqieeler running off but not found as I hit a 6” oak tree dead center before bullet hit the pig.

My brother described it to our older brother as me shooting a rise of quail with a pump shotgun. Als o described the hogs breaking like a heard of ATV’s blasting off in a drag race!
Quite a thrill!

The 200gr Remington CorLokts I was using were running 2,300fps with a compressed load of H4895. Worked extremely well. I now use a 218gr Cast FNGC @ 2,050fps. Getting ready to head back after the holidays to try them again. Rechecked sights this week. It wears a Leupold VariX 2-7x.

My brother was so impressed he bought a Marlin M1895 in .45-70 with a Burris 2-7. He’s since killed several pigs, two cow elk, and several mule deer. When hunting timber, he carries the Marlin!

Me, I’ve “only” got 13 lever actions... .218Bee to .45/70 (2)....
I’m fond of levers...
An AR15 in .35Legend might be interesting.

 

[Chuck R.]

When it comes to the action speed, a lot has to do with the TGT dispersion.

The greater the dispersion the more time allowed to work the action while transitioning between TGTs. We see it all the time in matches (3 Gun and CAS) the pump can keep up with the semi, as longs as the TGT spacing allows it to. Close set TGTs favor the semi.

 

[Riomouse911]

OP, the biggest issues you may face are 1) Finding a .375 Win 1894 that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and 2) Finding ammo or components so you can feed your .375 Win rifle.

These factors alone may be more to overcome than anything else. Here in the US I can’t recall the last time I saw a box of .375 Win factory ammo on a shelf, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rifle for sale in a shop, just on Gun Broker or other Internet sites.

As the owner of three 1894 .30-30’s, two 1895 Marlin .45/70’s and a Marlin 336 .35 Rem., I think you will be much better off finding and feeding a .30-30. The 170 gr bullets the guys mentioned work surprisingly well on those short-range boars, even the large ones over there.

If you still want a big bore, a Marlin 1895 .45/70 would be a much better choice for rifles and ammo and loads can be found with some serious horsepower suitable for just about anything you’ll ever encounter. (I really like the .35 Rem., but they’re also scarce on the shelves compared to .30-30 and .45/70.)

Just a thought if you’re heart-set on a lever gun .

Good luck with your search!

Stay safe.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The .375win certainly is capable of the task. I like the .375win ALMOST enough more than I dislike the Winchester 94 action to actually spend money for one. Maybe I’ll rebarrel my father-in-law’s 336 for it instead. It’ll be cheaper and I’ll like it more.[/QUOTE]

Cheaper and better than Rebarreling is sending it to JES REBORING
service. Runs about $250 shipped both ways. Most likely rifle will shoot better than it does now.
www.35caliber.com. His speciality is boring a .30/30 to .35/30.

 

[garandsrus]

I really like the 375 Win. Brass can be fire formed from 30-30 using a light charge of fast powder and a case of cornmeal with a piece of toilet paper in the case neck to hold everything together. Point the rifle up, pull the trigger, and a 375 Win case comes out. The case may be a little shorter than a 375, but not enough to matter.

The 375 Win brass is supposed to be thicker than 30-30 so you would need to work your loads up. I shoot a lot of midrange loads at steel so there aren’t any issues with blown out 30-30 cases. I also shoot almost all cast bullets. The Lyman 375449 mold is probably the most commonly used mold.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

375 Winchester is My single favorite rifle cartridge above all else. It will kill a many of things well at 2200 fps and dosnt need to be going Magnum speeds like my 375 Weatherby at 2700 to do it.

I own a Savage 99 in 375, a Ruger #3 in 375 and sold my Contender because I prefer my Xp and mod 29-2.

Jd Jones and a 14” Contender barrel Propelled a 260 grain Quality 375 projectile at approximately 2200 fps. He killed Elephant with that combination, plus other large dangerous animals.

With My 22” barrel rifles, I can certainly accomplish that speed with a 250gr Hardcast and 1680 powder using a drop tube. Or I can cast a 130gr with appropriate powder for low velocity and have a nice Small game load. Quick detachment Leupold 1.5-5 and Quick Line up Peep Hooded front sight lines it all up.

Or Jacketed Sierras 200, Hornady 220 and Barnes 255 grain will ethically harvest game respectably.

If More is needed I’ll grab 500fps more from my Custom 375 A.I shooting 375 Weatherby brass and a 270gr Controlled expansion Barnes Triple shock.

Both of my 375 Winchester rifles can shoot Spire pointed Bullets if needed. 200 yards is certainly not difficult and further if Optic/trajectory is figured.
Also the new breed of bullets out there are controlled expansion and even offer a 175gr that can reach about 2500Fps for flatter trajectory to 250yards.

So if it’s Rabbits and Small game to Large Mule deer /Elk size animals or Large Black Bear…. I’ll certainly take my 375 Winchester.

With Starline and other companies making brass and it being available (Called today!) plus no Problem obtaining 375 projectiles or casting some….. Oh and the 7 boxs of original 250gr factory ammo I have stocked up- I’m most likely good for a while on ammo for this excellent modern version of the Great 38-55, Larger Bullet 30-30 Cartridge that can do so much without all the Kicking and expense the bigger rounds do.

It’s just Rite !

 

[Bazoo]

I can run my Winchester 94 much faster than I can my savage 110 30-06. I don’t mean... I’m not good with the bolt gun. I am dang proficient with it, cycling without bringing it down from the shoulder. It just ain’t as fast to remove your hand from the grip and work a bolt 4” back and 4” forward and then regrip as it is to lever down and up and squeeze the trigger again.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Yes , These are excellent rifles … So are the Very nice 375 Big bore That Winchester offered. We have two of those in the family also. My Buddy has the Marlin. They certainly can be operated quicker than any bolt actions I own, Even the short action fast lock time ones.
Just the rite amount of balance…. My Savage shoots 3 shot 1”groups at 100 yards, no problem.

 

[someguy2800]

I've been trying to convince myself that there is a big enough hole in between my 358 yeti and 35 remington and my 444 marlin that I need a 375 winchester to fill it, but I'm not there yet. Maybe if I keep thinking on it.