Scored a 375 H&H with a McMillan stock AIII today.

[wookie316]

Made a trade with a fellow for my 1 & only 700 for a 375 H&H that looks to be in fantastic shape. I do not have the rifle in my hands yet, but with any luck should by the end of next week. I had one & like a fool I parted with it, oh well if this one is as good as it looks in the photos, it is much better

Better photos to follow, but here is one he sent me.

 

[sakolou]

Jason. you traded a Remington for a Sako? You should be thrown in jail for theft or taking advantage of the mentally ill. Congrats!!!

Lou

 

[wookie316]

Yup. The deal of the year for me. As you can tell it has a McMillan stock also. This one appears to be in better shape than the one I traded earlier this year also. I am getting Redding dies brass & bullets too.
Need to know what everyone's pet load for the 375 is also. Not overly experienced with the 375.
On the plus side my 700 was a 22-250, so I can search for a new 22-250 in a Sako also.

 

[wookie316]

Got the rifle today. Very nice. Got lots of loading componets & dies with it also. In the process of giving the bore a good scrubbing right now. The trigger needs to be set & it could use a better bedding job, but overall it's very nice. Bluing is good, bolt cycles very smooth & bore seems to be bright. I'll get some rounds loaded & get to the range soon with it. Overall I think it was good to send my 700 down the road for this one.

 

[model70hunter]

Wookie, I use the following, but back off a few grains for your initial loads and check for pressure signs, flattened primers or sticky extraction.

They work fine in my pre 64 model 70 SG without any signs of pressure.

Doe cropping, long range or smaller game use.

Hornady 225 GR SP

72.8 GR IMR 4064

2800 FPS claimed by reloading book.

Hornady 300 GR Solid.

77 GR H4350.

2545 claimed by reloading book.

WW cases and WW MAG primers are used in both loads.

I do wish I had a chronograph. I shoot both from a bench, not bad. I do like the 225 GR load.

The 225 seems to recoil much less than an 180 GR in an overbore 300 mag.

I found 5 full boxes of older WW factory loads in 270 gr in an old gun shop that had them marked down to very, very cheap. I have not yet loaded any 270 GR bullets.

 

[model70hunter]

P.S. Wookie, nice trade too! Boy that fella will be ticked when he sobers up.......

 

[wookie316]

Thanks for the loading info. I got 270 XXX, 300 Partitions & 270 Hornadys with the trade.

 

[ethan2669]

Awesome trade ! Let me know how the McMillan stock feels at the range.

 

[model70hunter]

Wookie316, in the June 09 issue of Guns & Ammo there is an article and loads for some of the 375 bullets you have. In my first note I typed 225 grain when I really meant 235 grain.

In one of my old favorite gunshops a Sako 375 came in on trade very reasonable. I did not buy it because it had a factory barrel that was right at 18 or 18.5 inches. The shop owner swore it had been cut off. I called Sako USA and found out some larger wholesaler had 100 made with a short bbl for Alaska sales. A fellow who hung out at the gun shop bought it for his son who was trying to make a go of it in Alaska. Afterwards I wished I would have bought it.

 

[wookie316]

Thanks for the heads up on the G&A article, I'll have to check that out. Also it is looking like I found a nice 22-250 75 Laminate to replace the 700 I sent down the road.

 

[hayseed51]

Wookie -

In browsing through my loading log I was struck by what a forgiving caliber the 375 is to load for. With little fiddling and the right speed powder it shoots most any 270 to 300 gr bullet to nearly the same point.

It's also a really versatile. Full power loads, reduced loads, cast bullets - even squib loads. While I doubt it will replace your impressive Gaillard, with the 300gr Sierras, it's a pretty amazing long range performer. That bullet added a whole new dimension to this chambering.

4350 speed powder is about perfect. I happen to have a lot of IMR, but any will work well. I also had excellent results with WW-760 and H-205, but I think the H-205 has been discontinued. Seem to provide a real nice wide sweet spot and are close to 100% density. It looks like R-17 & 19, as well as N-150 & 550 should be just about right also.

While I have used 4320, 4895, 4064, and even 3031 with the 235s, I consider them all a little too fast and 'peaky'. With 4831 and slower powder, you just can't get enough in the case, even compressed. OK for reduced loads though, I guess.

FWIW, I have always used W-120 primers for everything up to and including 4350. 4831, I do use magnum primers on.

The original thick jacketed Barnes bullets are the only ones that I couldn't get to shoot close to 1" @100 or better. Nosler 270 & 300 partitions, Hornady 270 sp & 300 rn, Rem 270 sp, were all good. Just from an accuracy standpoint, the Sierras and also the original WW 300 gr Silvertips shoot crazy well in my rifle.

You seem to be a pretty accomplished handloader. I'll be suprised if you don't find several good loads quickly.

Best luck, Dick

 

[wookie316]

Yup, I have lots of powders to try, I'm sure I will have no problems getting it to shoot. The last 375 Sako I had shot factory winchester 270 ammo great, so I never worried about loading for that one.

 

[wookie316]

Had no bites on the stock trade add I had, so I re bedded the barrel channel to make it more eye appealing. I just have to repaint over the glass line & get a scope on it, then I'll head to the range and take some pictures.

 

[extractor]

Hi I have just joined and was going to post a thread to introduce myself. It was going to be on this topic so good to read this one.

I have just done an initial sight in on a second hand sako in this cal myself and tried 300g woodleigh spire points which were ok. Also tried 235 g Barnes triple shock "TSX" which went really well. I will attempt to insert an image showing a 1" group at 100yds.....here goes....

 

[extractor]

mmm not sure that worked. You'll have to believe me!

 

[wookie316]

As promised here are the better photos of the 375 H&H
Enjoy.





Well worth the 700 I traded IMO