.375H&H 25” Barrel cut to 23” - chronograph results

[deewayne2003]

Generic largebore rule of thumb is you lose 30fps per inch from published loads. This formula works well when you see original kynoch data with 28" test barrels and you're shooting a 24" rifle. (e.g. 470NE @2150FPS usually likes to regulate at 2030FPS from a 24" barrel)

Agreed, but people seem to think the sky is fallen.

I cut 2” off my .257Wby and listened to boomers tell me I would lose 200-300fps…. Actually lost 50fps

 

[bwanamrm]

I guess I'm a one-off, I like a longer barrel in the field. Most of my customs sport 25-inch barrels. But I am 6'3" so those rifles balance better for me. Personal preference...

 

[Rafiki]

Just a few years ago, I chronographed a ZKK 602 BRNO that had never been fired. The old box of 300gr. Winchester Silver Tips, chronographed 2,474fps at the muzzle, from it's almost 25" bl.
My .375/06IMP duplicates that velocity without ANY pressure signs.

I really don't see the point you are trying to make.

 

[Daryl S]

Now I don't either. Must be the Pilsner.

 

[Wyosongdog]

put 18” on mine to run suppressed

 

[dlmac]

Agreed, but people seem to think the sky is fallen.

I cut 2” off my .257Wby and listened to boomers tell me I would lose 200-300fps…. Actually lost 50fps

Yep in my day as a boomer they were right, but with newer and faster powder the difference is less. With slower powder there would be a noticeable change. Not apples to apples. Just 2 cents from a BOOMER.

 

[Daryl S]

M70375! - the Arch Chamber is larger than the Ackley chamber. Ackley's was for a .469" base with a .454" shoulder, having a little more than a 10 thou taper. Instead of the .454" shoulder, mine has a .460" shoulder, with a .470" base, ie: .005" per side, instead of 7 1/2 thou. per side. Not much difference. but if you use a standard Ackley FL die as sold by CH4D, you will oversize/overwork the shoulders.
The loads are not overly compressed, perhaps barely touching the powder with the bullet when using extruded powders like H4895 with the 2709gr. TSX bullet, which is very long. The BLC2 load is not compressed. I neck size only, using .376 Styer dies by Hornady. I really like their dies, especially the expander button and kinda of collet-slider seating dies.

 

[hoytcanon]

I guess I'm a one-off, I like a longer barrel in the field. Most of my customs sport 25-inch barrels. But I am 6'3" so those rifles balance better for me. Personal preference...

I'm 6'4" and 250... I vastly prefer Carbines, most at 18-20"... I carry alot guiding and track more than my share of wounded bears, a Carbine carries and handles "night and day" better than a 25" rifle... for those times when speed and accuracy are essential. Big bore loads barely slow down over that 5" span. Barrel length is more critical with high velocity, small bore cartridges and slow powder.

 

[BJH65]

I'm 6'4" and 250... I vastly prefer Carbines, most at 18-20"... I carry alot guiding and track more than my share of wounded bears, a Carbine carries and handles "night and day" better than a 25" rifle... for those times when speed and accuracy are essential. Big bore loads barely slow down over that 5" span. Barrel length is more critical with high velocity, small bore cartridges and slow powder.

Thanks, I was just going to ask, I thought you might be significantly shorter, guess not! Personally I like a 22-23 inch barrel as the perfect barrel length in a hunting rifle although I did hunt with a Remington pump 760 18 1/2 in barrel 30-06 when I was younger and it was very handy. Also during my law enforcement years the issued shotgun was a Remington 870 12 ga with both 18 and 20 inch barrels, couldn’t really tell the difference. I’m 6-3,228 with a 76 inch reach btw.

 

[Daryl S]

For me, BJH65, the 18" bl. M870 shot high. The 20" was spot-on. We used 7 shot extensions on them. (corrections riot squad)

 

[rookhawk]

Another option for shorter overall length is to apply the initial purchase and subsequent gun-smithing investment to a Blaser R8. With it you can maintain the original 25" barrel length (actually 25.5" with the standard .375 barrel), but have a rifle with the overall length of a Mauser actioned rifle with a 22" barrel.

Another way to solve this with smallbores is to use single shot falling blocks. The actions are about 4-6" shorter, so a 23"-25" barrel carries and points like a small carbine.

 

[hoytcanon]

Another way to solve this with smallbores is to use single shot falling blocks. The actions are about 4-6" shorter, so a 23"-25" barrel carries and points like a small carbine.

Doesn't have to be a small bore... I have several large bore Ruger No.1's.

 

[Daryl S]

A 22" bl. on a #1A 7x57 points like a short barreled shotgun. V-fast.
IIRC, my buddy's .375 H&H #1 was a wonderful gun to shoot standing, easy to shoot well.
I expect one in .458 or whatever would be no different.
Back in the 70's Les Bauska was making up .600 Nitros on an oversized #1 Action he had cast in 4140. Anyone remember those?

 

[hoytcanon]

A 22" bl. on a #1A 7x57 points like a short barreled shotgun. V-fast.
IIRC, my buddy's .375 H&H #1 was a wonderful gun to shoot standing, easy to shoot well.
I expect one in .458 or whatever would be no different.
Back in the 70's Les Bauska was making up .600 Nitros on an oversized #1 Action he had cast in 4140. Anyone remember those?

I have that one and a few others... the No.1-RSI's handle and point even better than the No.1-A's...

 

[deewayne2003]

Another way to solve this with smallbores is to use single shot falling blocks. The actions are about 4-6" shorter, so a 23"-25" barrel carries and points like a small carbine.

I don’t like single shots, especially on big game.

While I appreciate the engineering and build quality of the Blaser R8, switching barrel on safari doesn’t interest me.

If I’m taking two calibers I want to reach for either option at will.

 

[hoytcanon]

I don’t like single shots, especially on big game.

Yeah... they don't work. Big game only drops to the second or third or fourth shot.

 

[fourfive8]

I guess I'm a one-off, I like a longer barrel in the field. Most of my customs sport 25-inch barrels. But I am 6'3" so those rifles balance better for me. Personal preference...

6-3, 200. Similar experience/preference here. There is less muzzle jump/cheek thump and recoil with longer barrel. More inertia with longer barrel so hold is steadier. And, muzzle blast is farther from your face. I put so many miles hunting in rough and thick country with heavy, long barreled arms, they don’t bother me. Couldn’t care less about 30 fps per inch loss or gain because of barrel length.

 

[Wyosongdog]

Not good pics but should be fun excuse the disaster maids on strike been out hunting lol

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Yeah... they don't work. Big game only drops to the second or third or fourth shot.

No one ever needs more than one shot, until.they do. Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

I've never needed to fire even a single shot in.my CCW weapons, but I wouldn't carry a single-shot for that.either.

 

[hoytcanon]

No one ever needs more than one shot, until.they do. Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

I've never needed to fire even a single shot in.my CCW weapons, but I wouldn't carry a single-shot for that.either.

You know that a single shot rifle can be reloaded, right? Not much slower than a bolt action can be cycled... I generally bring more than one cartridge with me when I hunt.