is this overkill?

[derk3687]

So my grandfather has passed his rifle onto me to continue hunting with. Its a marlin .375 WIN. just curious if this is something I should use for deer and black bear or should I get a different rifle to hunt with. The rifle is very accurate out to 100 (as far as I have seen) ive only ran about 20-25 rounds through it since 20 rounds are around 45 bucks And I can hardly find them anywhere. I tried searching for info on here but nothing really came up. Does any one have good info on this rifle?

[Mike450r]

Perfect deer caliber within it's range.  Go out and hunt with it for sure

[predatorpro]

id use it for bears in a heartbeat! deer...probly a little overkill...lol but it will kill a deer in nothing flat  im sure!

[Mike450r]

It's not a .375 magnum, it is a slow moving bigger bore bullet that will thump a deer and actually result in less bloodshot meat than a .243    All those lever gun rounds from the .25 to the .45 caliber are great deer rounds and I would never consider them overkill.

One of my favorites is my .444

[RadSav]

At 2200fps it's definitely not going to ruin a lot of meat or get you long range performance.  But it sure would feel good to shoot something with Grandpa's old gun, wouldn't it!  I shot a small buck and a bear with Grandma's 1899 250-3000 and it was very memorable knowing what it was I took them with.  Not over kill at all in my book.

[boneaddict]

Double A-men to that

[Bill W]

Save your empties and you can reload them.   I have a .375 Win and reload for it.

The .375 Win is basically a "straight case" .30/30 that was necked up to .375.   I shoot mine with a 284 grain lead bullet.  If one plinks with it, it sure adds a new definition of plinking as it really throws rocks around.

[derk3687]

At 2200fps it's definitely not going to ruin a lot of meat or get you long range performance.  But it sure would feel good to shoot something with Grandpa's old gun, wouldn't it!  I shot a small buck and a bear with Grandma's 1899 250-3000 and it was very memorable knowing what it was I took them with.  Not over kill at all in my book.

Yes would make me very happy to be able to take my first kill with his rifle. I just wish ammo was more plentiful. Still i think 20 rounds for $45 is worth the memory.

[lostbackpacker]

heck no its not overkill.  its just a more versatile rifle, that's all

[RadSav]

Yes would make me very happy to be able to take my first kill with his rifle. I just wish ammo was more plentiful. Still i think 20 rounds for $45 is worth the memory.

Absolutely!  Plus, after doing a quick search $45 sounds like a pretty good deal   Assuming the gun is sighted in already I would assume it should last you more than a few seasons.

[OnHoPr]

That would be a fine weapon for the species you mentioned out to a couple of hundred yards with no overkill and very effective around the 100 yard mark. You could set yourself up with dies, 250 gr big meplat mould, brass, primers, powder, and the few nick nacks necessary to load the cartridge for 3 or 4 boxes of shells. It would also be more effective and possibly more accurate. You also get to shoot it a bit more for $3 or $4 a box. It would take a little research and learning though.

[Bshiftbc]

I like to use my Grandpas old .300 savage for deer. You know why?

Because I LOVE to send pics to my Grandma for animals I killed with "Grandpas gun".

She revels in it, and it makes it so!

[furiouzgeorge]

Got a picture? If it's the rifle I think it is, you can practice with .38 rounds. My dad has a lever action Marlin .357 that also fired .38. Check it out before you try it!

[hillbilli]

George- ihe said it was a .375Win, not .357 magnum.. big difference.

[RadSav]

Got a picture? If it's the rifle I think it is, you can practice with .38 rounds. My dad has a lever action Marlin .357 that also fired .38. Check it out before you try it!

Sounds like it's the 375 WIN (smokeless version of 38-55).  I made that mistake when I first read it too.  I'm more dyslexic than I care to admit sometimes.