Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,804
- 6,122
I got this load from gun writer John Barsness, who used it to gain familiarity with a certain .375 H&H Number One before taking said rifle to Africa for Cape Buff and a variety of plains game. Barsness used it on those dangerous prairie dogs here in the West. I've had his load data for some time, but only tested them at the range today. Sorry, no chronograph with me today, but Barsness recorded a bit over 1900 fps with this load:
220 gr Hornady FNSP (designed for the .38-55 & .375 Win cartridges)
standard large rifle primer
35 gr IMR 4227
My son and I shot this load at the range today. He'd never shot my .375 before, but after seeing me shoot these mild loads, laughing at the lack of recoil, he gave it a try, and was chuckling too:
Note the sooty case, a sign of a very low pressure load:
Though I don't mind the recoil of standard .375 loads at all, I've got to tell you, these were an absolute hoot to fire! Very modest recoil and a dull report. Quite fun. Young John said "Dad, it feels like shooting a .22!" Well, I wouldn't go that far, but it is nothing like shooting a full power 300 gr load through the rifle. Lots of fun. I think they'd make a fine modest range deer load as well, as the ballistics are very similar to a .38-55 or a .375 Win. We didn't do any serious accuracy testing, just fired some for fun, and to see how they worked out. Informally, I'd estimate that they're plenty accurate for modest range shooting.
Regards, Guy
220 gr Hornady FNSP (designed for the .38-55 & .375 Win cartridges)
standard large rifle primer
35 gr IMR 4227
My son and I shot this load at the range today. He'd never shot my .375 before, but after seeing me shoot these mild loads, laughing at the lack of recoil, he gave it a try, and was chuckling too:
Note the sooty case, a sign of a very low pressure load:
Though I don't mind the recoil of standard .375 loads at all, I've got to tell you, these were an absolute hoot to fire! Very modest recoil and a dull report. Quite fun. Young John said "Dad, it feels like shooting a .22!" Well, I wouldn't go that far, but it is nothing like shooting a full power 300 gr load through the rifle. Lots of fun. I think they'd make a fine modest range deer load as well, as the ballistics are very similar to a .38-55 or a .375 Win. We didn't do any serious accuracy testing, just fired some for fun, and to see how they worked out. Informally, I'd estimate that they're plenty accurate for modest range shooting.
Regards, Guy
By the way, I like RigbyMauser's enthusiasm.
