Wildcats on a .375 Ruger case?
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I have not built any wildcats off this cartridge but have seriously thought of building a 338 and 7mm often. I even have two boxes of 375 Ruger brass.
I think if you type in 7mm/375 Ruger or 338/375 Ruger you will find that others have made these every since Ruger/Hornady announced the 375. Rick Bin on 24 hr campfire made the 338 version which he called the 375 Campfire.
If you look at the data on the Dakota line of cartridges it will give you an idea of the performance of the necked down 375 Ruger. The advantage IMO lies with the 375 Ruger as the parent case. Besides a "normal" sized case head the Ruger case is far less expensive than Dakota brass.
Many of us were disappointed to find Hornady and Ruger did neck down the 375 case AFTER they shortened from 2.5" to 2" to make the 338 RCM and 30 RCM. I have a heavy and light 338 RCM and they perform magnificently. I would have preferred to have seen the full length case necked down instead. Every once and a while I hear rumours that Hornady is working on a few necked down full length 375 Ruger cases but so far have seen nothing.
Any of us can build one of these wildcats all it takes is some cash. Custom reamer and custom dies will be pricey. after that it would be easy. The cases will fit in most standard length actions with no modifications.
I think if you type in 7mm/375 Ruger or 338/375 Ruger you will find that others have made these every since Ruger/Hornady announced the 375. Rick Bin on 24 hr campfire made the 338 version which he called the 375 Campfire.
If you look at the data on the Dakota line of cartridges it will give you an idea of the performance of the necked down 375 Ruger. The advantage IMO lies with the 375 Ruger as the parent case. Besides a "normal" sized case head the Ruger case is far less expensive than Dakota brass.
Many of us were disappointed to find Hornady and Ruger did neck down the 375 case AFTER they shortened from 2.5" to 2" to make the 338 RCM and 30 RCM. I have a heavy and light 338 RCM and they perform magnificently. I would have preferred to have seen the full length case necked down instead. Every once and a while I hear rumours that Hornady is working on a few necked down full length 375 Ruger cases but so far have seen nothing.
Any of us can build one of these wildcats all it takes is some cash. Custom reamer and custom dies will be pricey. after that it would be easy. The cases will fit in most standard length actions with no modifications.
brentc
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Gunwerks calls the 7mm version of this wildcat the 7mm LRM. Here is another thread about the 7mm. Quite few guys have done a .338 as well.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/7mm-375-ruger-build-73796/
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/7mm-375-ruger-build-73796/
Last edited:
woods
Well-Known Member
4D makes a reamer that a smith can rent for a 30/375 Ruger
4-D Products Rentals
you gain about 6 or 7 grains over the 300 win mag but in an unbelted case. I have been planning one and have necked down a 375 Ruger case just to make sure I can get it going to get a fire formed case to send off to have a die made. I talked with Hornady and one of their techs shoot one so he clued me in on the process. It is too much of a step down to go from 375 to 308 in one step. So this is the process I worked out:
1. Size the neck as small as possible with a 375 Ruger Full Length die with the expander removed
2. Use a 338RCM Full length die (a neck die won't work because the forcing cone will crumple the neck). A Full length die has a more gradual forcing cone evidently
3. Use a 300 RCM Neck Sizer to size the neck down to 308
Here is a comparison between the 300 win mag, 30/375 Ruger and 375 Ruger cases
My plan is to send off a 300 win mag rifle and have the chamber reamed out. The smith may have to set it back a couple of threads but should not have to refinish the gun so it should be economical. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.
My goal is to shoot a 200 gr 308 bullet at an honest 3000 fps without a belt and without a muzzle brake. And just because it will be different and fun.
4-D Products Rentals
you gain about 6 or 7 grains over the 300 win mag but in an unbelted case. I have been planning one and have necked down a 375 Ruger case just to make sure I can get it going to get a fire formed case to send off to have a die made. I talked with Hornady and one of their techs shoot one so he clued me in on the process. It is too much of a step down to go from 375 to 308 in one step. So this is the process I worked out:
1. Size the neck as small as possible with a 375 Ruger Full Length die with the expander removed
2. Use a 338RCM Full length die (a neck die won't work because the forcing cone will crumple the neck). A Full length die has a more gradual forcing cone evidently
3. Use a 300 RCM Neck Sizer to size the neck down to 308
Here is a comparison between the 300 win mag, 30/375 Ruger and 375 Ruger cases
My plan is to send off a 300 win mag rifle and have the chamber reamed out. The smith may have to set it back a couple of threads but should not have to refinish the gun so it should be economical. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.
My goal is to shoot a 200 gr 308 bullet at an honest 3000 fps without a belt and without a muzzle brake. And just because it will be different and fun.
moombaskier
Well-Known Member
So far my 7mm-375 Ruger AKA 7LRM is achieving 3160fps ave. with 73.6grs. of H1000, 215m, and a 180VLD with a coal of 3.456". The last 3 shot group measured about .4" at 200yds. I'm still fireforming the brass I got from Gunwerks and will probably end up at around 74grs and 3175 same accuracy based on the trend with this rifle.
Very impressive results.
Do you neck turn your brass?
Going from .375 down to 7mm.....Does it thicken up the brass in the neck?
moombaskier
Well-Known Member
Yes i do, but just enough to clean off the high side so to speak and with a .313 bushing it gives me .002 neck tension. I got the brass from Gunwerks. I believe they hydro form it and Mike there recomended turning them. I can't say enough good things about those guys at Gunwerks on their chambering and finish work on the barrel and action I sent them. I'm working on posting pics of the targets and rifle tomorrow.
Hornady and Dave Tooley have experimented with the 30/375 as a switch barrel for the SOCOM sniper rifle build that Accuracy International submitted.
Dave says they are running the Hornady 225s at 2750 out of a 26" barrel and great accuracy.
Hornady had some 30/375 dies (I bought the last set out of the first run) and they call it the Hornady HSM (Hornady Super Match)
Dave is building a 30/375 LR pistol for me now with 18" barrel to go into a hybrid McCree stock (rifle forend and middle) to fit the Tooley Orion action it is being built on.
BH
Dave says they are running the Hornady 225s at 2750 out of a 26" barrel and great accuracy.
Hornady had some 30/375 dies (I bought the last set out of the first run) and they call it the Hornady HSM (Hornady Super Match)
Dave is building a 30/375 LR pistol for me now with 18" barrel to go into a hybrid McCree stock (rifle forend and middle) to fit the Tooley Orion action it is being built on.
BH
moombaskier
Well-Known Member
OK guy's here are some pics. All groups shot at 200yds. 1rst group shot through rifle was 73.0grs and .578". Then the group opened up to an inch or so at 73.3 and also shifted POI. I would call that a "scatter group" where the bullets are exiting the barrel when the shock wave is at the tip of the barrel too. I always find the best group about 1-1/2% higher powder charge. The 73.6 shows the group coming back together at .351" and should finish at about 73.9grs. That should give me a load that shoots within MOA with 73.6, 73.9,74.2grs. and around 3175fps.
Rifle specs:
Stiller TAC 300 Rep./ 20MOA rail
Broughton 5C, 5.75, 9twist, fluted and finished at 28" + brake
Jewell Trigger
GreyBull Precision stock bedded with DEVCON
PTG Orb. style bottom metal
Chambered in 7LRM 7mm-375 Ruger and Cerakoted by GunWerks
Seekins Precision 30mm rings
Rifle specs:
Stiller TAC 300 Rep./ 20MOA rail
Broughton 5C, 5.75, 9twist, fluted and finished at 28" + brake
Jewell Trigger
GreyBull Precision stock bedded with DEVCON
PTG Orb. style bottom metal
Chambered in 7LRM 7mm-375 Ruger and Cerakoted by GunWerks
Seekins Precision 30mm rings
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diriel
Well-Known Member
That is the standard Long Action correct? Not the Magnum length. Also, what is your COAL if you don't mind me asking sir? I have a Savage 111, and it is time for a re-barrel. I think about max COAL for me is 3.349 if I am remembering correctly. Having a beltless mag sounds good to me, just not sure how deep I would need to seat the 180s ect..
Nice looking rifle!
Thanks,
Gary
Nice looking rifle!
Thanks,
Gary
moombaskier
Well-Known Member
That is the long action mag. bolt face. My COAL at .010" off the lands is 3.456". I believe that the Gunwerks ammo is loaded at 3.440 COAL. The case is 2.500" long.
