Any tips for loading 375 H&H for a single shot???

[Southern Raider]

I have a new (to me) Ruger #1 on the way chambered in 375 H&H. Obviously to keep the price of ammo reasonable, I'll be reloading. I'm reasonably experienced in reloading 308 and smaller cartridges for self-loading firearms, but am looking to pick up a few tips for this round and rifle combination.

Do I even want a crimp (remember, it's a single shot)?

Any complexities with a belted magnum that actually headspaces on the belt?

Are cast bullets and option? How hard can I drive them?

 

[rcmodel]

Do Not headspace on the belt!

The first time you fire a factory belted mag round, it will almost always stretch excessively.

This is because the factory head-spaces on the belt.

Adjust your sizing die to only size the once-fired case until the Ruger will just close on it. Now, you are head-spacing off the shoulder, not the belt, and stretching will almost stop.

If you continue to FL size and headspace off the belt, your cases will be toast after just a very few firings.

This may be problematic with the .375 H&H, because it doesn't really have a should big enough to head-space off of. However, you may find you can do it with your single-shot.
It's at least worth an attempt at it anyway!

No need at all to crimp for a SS rifle.

There are a ton of good cast bullet loads for the .375 H&H in the Lyman reloading manual.

It is a treasure trove of information, and you should get it if you intend to load cast bullets in anything.

rcmodel

 

[plinky]

What RC said plus:

I traded mine off a couple years ago. With factory ammo it was a turd. 4" at 100 yd. By seating the bullet out near the lands, groups instantly shrunk to a bit over an inch. Then I loosened the fore end screw to where there was very little pressure on the barrel and it would consistantly shoot around 1/2" (3 shots. I'm no masochist) There are different ways to deal with the fore end.

Ruger No. 1 barrels have varied over the years. Hopefully this gives you something to go on though.

Best load: Hornady 270 spire point, IMR 4064, 68.0 gr, Fed mag primer

Sierra 300s also shot well

Good luck

 

[Grumulkin]

A 375 H&H Mag. makes a great varmint gun as demonstrated by the deceased Jackal.

1. My favorite 375 H&H Mag load uses RL-15 powder and Federal GM215M primers with either 270 or 300 grain bullets.

2. The 375 H&H Mag. headspaces on the belt and not on the shoulder; it doesn't have enough of a neck to headspace on. For this reason cases will stretch and if not monitored you will get head separations after a few loadings. I run a wire with the tip bent to 90 degrees down the inside of my cases. When I feel any type of groove forming in the wall of the case near the head, the case gets discarded.

3. You don't need to crimp for a single shot.

 

[Shoney]

The Ruger #1 has a reputation for being too tightly wound from the drunken monkeys who broke into the Ruger factory and went ape with their air ratchets. Many a #1 has been put back on the market because they failed to get good accuracy. To accurize it, you may find this article interesting:

http://groups.msn.com/VarmintHuntin...essage=19295&LastModified=4675571600288923594

When developing your loads at the bench, make sure your back is perpendicular to the rifle. If you have loose fillings, you’ll soon know it if you don’t.

I prefer the Hornady 270 gr with IMR4350 dropped from a tube that is over 4’ long (made from an old ski pole) because it compacts the load so you can get all the powder in on those loads listed as compressed. You should be able to get groups under an inch. I have never noticed the recoil when shooting at game!


The 375 H&H is a wonderful cartridge, does OK on elk. It is the minimum cartridge for use when facing the charges of enraged western free ranging bull prairie poodles. If you have experienced this phenomenon, you know these charging brutes emit roars, which cause seasoned guides to break and run. If they are close enough, their bad breath has been known to knock hunters over. The bull prairie poodle is well known for its ability to absorb lots of punishment, therefore, practice keeping three cartridges in the finger spaces of your off hand. With practice, you can load and fire that Ruger #1 with the speed of a bolt action.

 

[ForneyRider]

225gr Hornady, 235gr Speer, 270gr(Several), and 300gr Partition bullets.

We reload with IMR 3031, IMR 4064, or Varget.

I bought some Norma brass for the 225gr to make some nice loads for my dad for deer season. But we have lots of loads with Winchester, Remington brass.

We reload these components for Winchester Model 70.

When I was in reloading shop looking at Varget, another customer recommended 63gr of Varget with 260gr Nosler in his Ruger #1. He said he gets one hole groups.

I ran 65gr of Varget with the 225gr Hornady's and got 2500fps. Pretty soft load.

SR4759 is used for lead bullets in some calibers.