Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: yorketransport on December 25, 2018, 06:52:16 PM

Title: Bringing back the 375 BME
Post by: yorketransport on December 25, 2018, 06:52:16 PM: After a "gift exchange" with BiggerHammer I've decided to bring back my 375 BME. I sent Biggerhammer a 1-7" 257 barrel blank and he sent me a brand new set of CH4D dies for the 375 BME. I took the 375 apart and stole the action for a different project a couple years ago after deciding that I didn't like the reloading dies I had made for it back then. With a new set of dies in hand though, I figured it's time to bring this one back for a little while.

(https://i.imgur.com/ojsSRPF.jpg?1)

I decided to start all over with my load work so I loaded up 5 rounds with 300gr Sierra Game Kings using what would be a max charge of H4831 in a 375 RUM. I forgot just how much powder I have to cram into this case! To give some scale, I used 98gr of H4831. In a 24" barreled 375 RUM this would be a max load and probably be around 2750 fps. In my 30" barrel I'm only getting 2625 fps, I've got a long ways to go before I max out pressures! With some of the new powders that are out now I may be able to get even better performance than I was getting before.

My old load was A LOT of H1000 and a 350 SMK and I'll revisit that one later on. For now I think I'll see what I can do with the 300-330gr bullets and maybe play around a little more with some of the solids. Hammer Bullets has a 329gr Hammer Hunter that would be a beast in this gun!
Title: Re: Bringing back the 375 BME
Post by: jasnt on December 25, 2018, 07:21:40 PM: Or toss a 1:7 on that thing and go with the flatline
Title: Re: Bringing back the 375 BME
Post by: BULLBLASTER on December 25, 2018, 08:54:22 PM: 375s are so much fun!
Title: Re: Bringing back the 375 BME
Post by: yorketransport on December 26, 2018, 08:02:58 PM: Quote from: BULLBLASTER on December 25, 2018, 08:54:22 PM
375s are so much fun!

I thought that right up until I shot it. In it's current form the rifle only weighs 9.5# ready to go. This thing really needs to gain about 10# to be fun to shoot. :chuckle: Full power loads are a great way to test the warranty of any scope.

Quote from: jasnt on December 25, 2018, 07:21:40 PM
Or toss a 1:7 on that thing and go with the flatline

If I built this gun today that's exactly what I'd do. When I had this barrel made 6 years ago nobody was shooting big 375s at long range. The 350 SMK was an oddity and most people had never even heard of the 375 CT. Just finding the 1-10" twist was a challenge then. Now there are lots of good options for bullets and barrels.