Background info:
I have had a Marlin .375 Winchester lounging in the back of the safe for many, many years without being fired. The main reason is that it is virtually impossible to find any factory ammo or even just brass and bullets to reload with. Nobody makes brass and Speer is the only manufacturer of one bullet. The two online retailers I can find that sells Winchester factory ammo want @ $3 per round and then stupid prices to ship one or two boxes (@$75 for 20 rounds). I should have stocked up years ago when it was slightly more available... @1981. So, this is pretty much an obsolete caliber.
Question:
I recently discovered from my online research that 38-55 ammo, brass and bullets are readily available and are perfectly able to be shot in the Marlin .375. I now have brass, some .375 Speer bullets (200g), and a 250g Lee bullet mold in .379 diameter. I decided to try and cast for this rifle so I can have some cheaper fun. The bullets are coming out at .379 as advertised. Powder coating makes them come out to .380. There does not seem to be a .375 sizing die available. This sounds a bit on the large side to me. My bore does seem to measure a true .375/.376. I did make up a few rounds with @ BHN of 12-15 using Trailboss powder (lower pressure), both with and without powder coat. My test firings show no signs of over pressure. I want to move up to H4198 for closer to full power.
Am I on the right track with this? Anyone have any ideas, thoughts or comments on anything .375 and casting? Any input will be appreciated as there really is almost NO information out there about this.
I have had a Marlin .375 Winchester lounging in the back of the safe for many, many years without being fired. The main reason is that it is virtually impossible to find any factory ammo or even just brass and bullets to reload with. Nobody makes brass and Speer is the only manufacturer of one bullet. The two online retailers I can find that sells Winchester factory ammo want @ $3 per round and then stupid prices to ship one or two boxes (@$75 for 20 rounds). I should have stocked up years ago when it was slightly more available... @1981. So, this is pretty much an obsolete caliber.
Question:
I recently discovered from my online research that 38-55 ammo, brass and bullets are readily available and are perfectly able to be shot in the Marlin .375. I now have brass, some .375 Speer bullets (200g), and a 250g Lee bullet mold in .379 diameter. I decided to try and cast for this rifle so I can have some cheaper fun. The bullets are coming out at .379 as advertised. Powder coating makes them come out to .380. There does not seem to be a .375 sizing die available. This sounds a bit on the large side to me. My bore does seem to measure a true .375/.376. I did make up a few rounds with @ BHN of 12-15 using Trailboss powder (lower pressure), both with and without powder coat. My test firings show no signs of over pressure. I want to move up to H4198 for closer to full power.
Am I on the right track with this? Anyone have any ideas, thoughts or comments on anything .375 and casting? Any input will be appreciated as there really is almost NO information out there about this.