.375 RUM Wisdom

[Hicks]

All of you who have experience...

I'm considering a LR build, and to be frank I never considered the .375 RUM, as the .338 Edge has been the focus. Looking at the bullets available now in .375 I'm thinking that the .375 RUM might be a better alternative. I have a 700 action and bolt face, so I'm not looking to change any of that stuff. I read a bit about the 350gr SMK, and the 370gr Rocky Mountain. I'm thinking a 30" bbl or longer. This would be a hunting, not competition, rifle. Could I achieve 2700fps or more with those bullets?

Hicks

 

[screech]

I have thought about doing one but just havent yet. hope others chime in.

 

[Booney]

Yes and there is no need to go any longer than a 28in tube.

 

[RH300UM]

Hicks, If you go through with your build please post your findings. This is something I have been thiking about also.

 

[Hicks]

Yes and there is no need to go any longer than a 28in tube.

Currious, why do you say no need for a longer bbl? I would think longer is better, for a couple of reasons.

Also, would you all guess the bbl life would be a bit better than the various .338's?

 

[338 bruce]

When I rebarrled my rifle I chose the 375 rum but asked my gunsmith about an improved 375. He suggested a 375 tejas and I couldnt be happier. I went with a 31" 1-10 twist and I get 3005 fps with the 350 smk. They advertise a 200 fps increase aver the standard 375 rum.

 

[Hicks]

When I rebarrled my rifle I chose the 375 rum but asked my gunsmith about an improved 375. He suggested a 375 tejas and I couldnt be happier. I went with a 31" 1-10 twist and I get 3005 fps with the 350 smk. They advertise a 200 fps increase aver the standard 375 rum.

Wow. That sounds impressive. That may be the way I go, though I'm not looking to push the envelope too much. How is the accuracy? What powder? Have you tried other bullets? Pics of your rifle?

 

[Booney]

There is more room with a bigger bore for that powder to be burnt up in a shorter amount of time. Most poeple will tell you there is not much gain past 30 in in an 338 edge there for the 375 barrel would be shorter. You might gain a few fps past 28 but I dont think you will gain much past 28in in that round. Just my thoughts.

 

[338 bruce]

do a search for tejas

 

[snake]

I wanted to rebarrel my .375 to a 27-28" tube install a brake and hope to get 2700fps with the 350smk. Im stuck on the EDGE right now and hope to get my 375 going.

I haven't found any useful data on a 375 ultra mag with 350gr smk. None,no tests or chrono's no powder data,nothing. kinda don't know where to start.

Retumbo,RL25?

It would be nice to see a repeater 375RUM and 350smks do 2750fps. The reason why a repeater is i'd like to seat the bullet short enough to fit in a magazine. Even if its a wyatts or seekins,i'd love to make a repeater.

 

[338 bruce]

rl 25 is a little too slow, I have rl 22 to try and have used rl 19 and 7828 with the 300 gn bullets.

 

[Forrest Ebert]

This is a caliber that one must shoot to appreciate! I have a tube for this caliber for my switch barel rifle and let me tell you it is flat shooting and very accurate ! Have not been able to work up some loads but shooting factory 300grn. Swift bullets it will put 4 in .5 or less . You do however know you are shooting a power house but recoil is very manageable if you are used to it?
Good luck in your build .

gun)

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Hicks, I think it is a good option because of all the new high bc 375 bullets coming out. My 378 wby now is a monster at long range. If we had these kind of bullets available 30 years ago me and probably many more would have shot the 378 and not wildcatted the 338-378. The barrel life is quite a bit better with the 375 plus you can shoot a slower twist which gives you a slight advantage in extreme range shooting.

When I did all the work on wildcatting the 300 RUM in the late 90's I did from 7mm through 358. The 338-300 was the best at long range on big game animals at the time. I didn't do the 375 because the bullets were not available at the time for the cartridge to make sense long range. With bullets available now and knowing what I know about the RUM case I would do it in two calibers and those are 338 and 375. As I went from 7mm-358 the best loads used faster powders as the caliber increased. So with the 375 look for it to shoot better with faster powders. I think the 375 is going to look better and better as bullets get better with better availability.

 

[Hicks]

Hicks, I think it is a good option because of all the new high bc 375 bullets coming out. My 378 wby now is a monster at long range. If we had these kind of bullets available 30 years ago me and probably many more would have shot the 378 and not wildcatted the 338-378. The barrel life is quite a bit better with the 375 plus you can shoot a slower twist which gives you a slight advantage in extreme range shooting.

When I did all the work on wildcatting the 300 RUM in the late 90's I did from 7mm through 358. The 338-300 was the best at long range on big game animals at the time. I didn't do the 375 because the bullets were not available at the time for the cartridge to make sense long range. With bullets available now and knowing what I know about the RUM case I would do it in two calibers and those are 338 and 375. As I went from 7mm-358 the best loads used faster powders as the caliber increased. So with the 375 look for it to shoot better with faster powders. I think the 375 is going to look better and better as bullets get better with better availability.

You seem to know your stuff. What would be the optimum bbl length and twist rate if I'm going to stick to 350gr bullets? I'm thinking about having Hart to the bbl and square up the action. Lead time is horrendous though.

Hicks