The official never ending 'what's my next new gun' thread.

stovepipe

Very nice!

44marty

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

And the notches represent ... ??

I always did think those were beautiful rifles. You know, after I work some more OT ...

44marty

Hmmmm - Where did my text go?

The notches turn out to be for three elk and two bear taken in Alaska.

slimjim

44marty wrote:

The notches turn out to be for three elk and two bear taken in Alaska.

Hey, I was close! Well maybe not so close as I was on the wrong continent.

The question is will you keep the notching tradition going?

44marty

I'll keep the bagging game tradition going, but not the notching.

Anyone out there shoot the .375 H&H Mag ?? I know things are supposed to grow bigger in Texas, but just HOW BIG do turkeys get in Texas? The Nosler reloading manual in the intro for the .375 H&H has a sportwriter hunting turkeys in Texas with this cartridge ( I think it was Larry Weigund ? spelling ? ) .

Maybe I'll take this thing squirrel hunting.

Aloysius

Marty, I used the Dumoulin in .375 H&H on roe deer. I tried full power to see what would happen (and I don't do that anymore) and I develloped a very reduced load using a 200 Sierra and 30 grs PCL512, which is here a good powder for magnum HANDGUN loads (as in .357 RM and the .44 RM). This load will have about the same energy as a heavy .44 RM load and shoots real nice in that rifle. I think the velocity will be around 450 m/s, so the Sierra bullet doesn't expand but a bullet of such diameter gives enough energy to small game without expanding.
With that recoilless load I wouldn't hesitate to use the .375 H&H on turkeys, even on rabbits. It's a little overkill but then you're prepared when some mad elephant would escape the local zoo Smile

44marty

Thanks Aloysius, at least one of the reloading manuals I was looking through lists reduced .375 H&H loads for whitetail deer. I don't see the .375 replacing my .300 WBY as my deer rifle, but I'm sure it will be fun to shoot.

The writer I was referring to in the earlier post is Larry Weishuhn (not Weigand). His point was that, no matter where he travels in the world, he will most likely be able to find a box of .375 H&H ammo.

gelandangan

WOW!!!
Nice!!

I like those rugers.

Aloysius

There used to be a forum just for the .375 H&H, but some day it just vanished from the net. I remember that there were some articles about shooting the paper-patched balls with very good results in the .375 H&H. So if you realy want to think reduced, then look around for lead bullets (with or without gasscheck). One day I will make my own moulds for this caliber but till know I didn't have had the time nor the opportunity to explore the borders of this nice caliber. Lyman normally gives good guidings to start with lead bullets in reduced loads. Speer usually gives reduced loads for every caliber.
But you're in 'cowboy-country' and it's a pity they never used the .375 H&H in cowboy-shooting or you would have had a larger source for data on reduced loads.
But don't worry, when you learn to know the .375 H&H you will get respect and appreciation for this old caliber. One day you will fully understand why a lot of people when they are only alowed to have 1 gun, will end up with this caliber. A lot of energy when you need it and never kicking like a mule.

Pumpkinslinger

IMR/Hodgdon has a reduced load for the .375 H&H using Trail Boss powder. 235 grain bullet at 1144 ft/sec. Might be too slow for deer!

Aloysius

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

IMR/Hodgdon has a reduced load for the .375 H&H using Trail Boss powder. 235 grain bullet at 1144 ft/sec. Might be too slow for deer!

also when it's a hard lead bullet? Look at the performance of a muzzle loader. But I would also feel more comfortable with a nice piece of lead going at 1400-1500 fps.
And such reduced loads are not so good for hunting deer sized game, but it has something when you can shoot a turkey or a rabbit with a .375 H&H and still have meat in the pocket. I might call such a hunter a skilled professional who uses all potential of his rifle.
And for deer, even at large distance, give 250-270 grainer a nice velocity and see what happens. It's an honnest round: no harm when you miss and death on the spot when you hit it.
If you want to read about the potential of the .375 H&H, I would suggest to visit a forum in South-Africa where they shoot big animals at large distances.

44marty

I finally got a chance to fire a few rounds through the .375 the other day. I was very surprised at the lack of felt recoil. The offset pad seems to really do the job. Less recoil than my .300 WBY or even my neighbor's 30-06 Rem 700.
There aren't many different .375 bullets commercially available, but the ones that are easy to come by are the types that I would have chosen.

I bought the rifle as an investment, but am definitely leaning towards keeping it. The open sights on the Ruger #1 tropical are pretty easy to pick up. Even my aging eyes can see them. I think this will become my rainy-day rifle once I pick up reloading dies. It's a tough choice, though. I have really gotten used to shooting that K-31 with its open sights, and nothing will ever replace the .300 WBY as my primary rifle.

I LOVE this - Finally I have too many guns to choose from. WOO HOO _ Lets go shooting !!!

Vince

Marty wrote:

I LOVE this - Finally I have too many guns to choose from. WOO HOO _ Lets go shooting !!!

Marty...you has found Nirvana mate...ya lucky bugger. Laughing

Cheers, Vince

stovepipe

New shooter for the LadyStovepipe. She has issues with her little hands, can't fire the heavy's so....I did some sniffing around and came up with this and have heard some really nice things about it.

S&W 22A, 5.5" bbl, full-lentgh top rail with slots for optics, open breech on blow-back oughtta cut down on fouling issues some. Opperates exactly like a 1911. Good weight too. Great balance. We did some practing last night when it came home in as far as clearing drills etc. The safety is awful, super sticky and really hard to work, even for me. Migh shoot a box through and see if it loosens up some, if not, will call S&W and discuss.
The bbl/top rail is one piece, tips up and lifts off for super easy cleaning. Takedown button is on the front of the frame. One button and it all comes apart and is super simple to service! Cleaned and oiled it last night as per directions and we're gonna give it some trials tonight.
Got a matching S&W folder for it too at Big 5 for 9$, on sale, total score there too...

Neat, all metal gun for 200$- and if it aint for her, I'm gona be likin' it. Razz

slimjim

Looks great! I love my .22LR pistol. It gets shot as much as all others combined.