Whatever happened to the .375 Winchester?

Bill G Gonzales · March 24, 2001, 05:08 PM

I was doing some spring cleaning in my gun safe and I noticed a rifle that I hadn't shot in a long time. It's my Marlin model 375. It's a very handy, powerful carbine and I can't figure out why the gun/cartridge didn't succeed. Ballistically it can push a 220 gr. soft point at 2,260 fps. That'll do for anything in North America but the big bears. I think that with the craze for lever action guide guns Marlin should rekindle the .375 Win. in a stainless steel guide gun. What do you all think?

Kernel · March 24, 2001, 05:48 PM

You gotta a good point. I got hooked on the .375 Win when I got a Contender barrel in the caliber for handgun deer hunting, I've want a lever gun in .375 for a long time. It would make an awesome cartridge for the Guild Gun. Because of the 375's superior ballistic coefficient and higher SAMMI chamber pressure it would actually have much more energy at 100 yds than the .45-70 and far less bullet drop and recoil to boot.

But I don't see it happening. The .375 Winchester is all but dead. Killed by bad PR.... or more accurately lack of PR of any kind. When I talk about the .375 Win to other gun nuts they don't have a clue. Usually they think I'm talking about the .357 Mag or maybe the .375 H&H.

But in a sense Marlin does have a new .375 on the market - the .38-55 Cowboy. The .38-55 and .375 Win are essentially the same cartridge dimensionally (the .38-55 is a tad longer), although pressure ratings are significantly different. However, any gun chambered in .38-55 can chamber a .375 Win and the Marlin will obviously handle the pressure. -- Kernel

Nightcrawler · December 6, 2001, 10:47 PM

There's a Winchester 94 XTP Big Bore in .375 Win in Gander Mountain. I'd buy it, 'cause I like it, but there doesn't seem to be any ammo for it, though Winchester still lists it on its site.

I've heard that .375 Winchester and .38-55 are nearly interchangable. Will .38-55 (which is still in production) chamber in a Winchester 94 XTP Big Bore chambered for .375 Win?

Nightcrawler · December 7, 2001, 12:25 AM

FWIW, Cheaper than Dirt still has some 20-rd boxes of .375 Win, leading me to believe that Winchester is still making it. It does, however, cost even more than .45-70, at $21.00 per box.

RJ McCormack · December 7, 2001, 07:28 PM

Kernal-- Do you have any strain gauge info to support the safety concerns of .375 Win ammo in modern 38-55 chambers?

I'm a relatively new reloader and have been looking for credible data that would allow me to push a 250 gr lead (if possible) or jacketed round to 2000 fps in a 38-55.

I have the new Marlin Cowboy and have been hoping to see a resurgence in popularity of the 38-55. Something like the recent trend the 45-70 has with the Guide Gun.

The dearth of reloading components is frustrating. I see some progress with lead cast bullets but I have yet to find a flat-nose jacketed bullet of correct diameter. All the .375 Win components measure .375 dia. The Marlin barrel (and most originals, it seems) slugs out at .379. I can't shoot any lead less than .379 that doesn't tumble.

Thanks for any info. --Rob

C.R.Sam · December 7, 2001, 07:47 PM

" Do not use the .375 Winchester cartridge in ANY .38/55 rifles. The chambers of the .38/55 rifles will accept the .375 Winchester round but it is hazardous to fire it in them.

The .38/55 cartridge should not be fired in the .375 Winchester rifles because the case is longer and extends into the chamber throat, preventing the case mouth from expanding, which could result in the developement of dangerous pressures."

Lyman 46.

Sam

JB in SC · December 7, 2001, 09:18 PM

RJ,

Buffalo Bore's .38-55 is a 255 @ 1900 fps. Try Beartooths website www.beartoothbullets.com , there's probably someone there who will share some load info (they also have correct diameter bullets). Or try John Taffin's www.sixguns.com , he has a nice article on the Cowboy but no loading data that hot.

JB

dbonner · October 6, 2012, 07:03 PM

I have a marlin 375 win great gun drops deer in there tracks almost everytime. You can get 375 win 220 gr FN 1975 FPS ammo at www.winsconsincartridge.com they are only $ 28.00 for a box of 20.

FrankenMauser · October 7, 2012, 12:32 AM

Really?
An 11 year-old thread, a shameless plug, and a link that doesn't work. And you still had to come back to fix the post, so it sort of fit the topic.

PetahW · October 7, 2012, 10:18 AM

NOW you know why there's a rage in Zombie adverts............

.

JIMBOINVA · October 7, 2012, 10:20 AM

If I recall my Treasury LEO history correctly, that was issued to Agents during the prohibition era.

Sodbuster · October 7, 2012, 10:28 AM

Agree FrankenMauser. Although it warms my heart whenever I see C.R.Sam's name.

March 24, 2001, 05:08 PM	#1
Bill G Gonzales Member Join Date: June 21, 2000 Location: Loveland, CO, USA Posts: 22	I was doing some spring cleaning in my gun safe and I noticed a rifle that I hadn't shot in a long time. It's my Marlin model 375. It's a very handy, powerful carbine and I can't figure out why the gun/cartridge didn't succeed. Ballistically it can push a 220 gr. soft point at 2,260 fps. That'll do for anything in North America but the big bears. I think that with the craze for lever action guide guns Marlin should rekindle the .375 Win. in a stainless steel guide gun. What do you all think? __________________ gonzo

December 6, 2001, 10:47 PM	#3
Nightcrawler Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2000 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,945	There's a Winchester 94 XTP Big Bore in .375 Win in Gander Mountain. I'd buy it, 'cause I like it, but there doesn't seem to be any ammo for it, though Winchester still lists it on its site. I've heard that .375 Winchester and .38-55 are nearly interchangable. Will .38-55 (which is still in production) chamber in a Winchester 94 XTP Big Bore chambered for .375 Win? __________________ Nightcrawler- TFL Alumnus

December 7, 2001, 12:25 AM	#4
Nightcrawler Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2000 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,945	FWIW, Cheaper than Dirt still has some 20-rd boxes of .375 Win, leading me to believe that Winchester is still making it. It does, however, cost even more than .45-70, at $21.00 per box. __________________ Nightcrawler- TFL Alumnus

December 7, 2001, 09:18 PM	#7
JB in SC Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2000 Location: Upstate Posts: 375	RJ, Buffalo Bore's .38-55 is a 255 @ 1900 fps. Try Beartooths website www.beartoothbullets.com , there's probably someone there who will share some load info (they also have correct diameter bullets). Or try John Taffin's www.sixguns.com , he has a nice article on the Cowboy but no loading data that hot. JB __________________ "We have seen the enemy and he is us", Pogo

October 6, 2012, 07:03 PM	#8
dbonner Junior Member Join Date: October 6, 2012 Posts: 1	I have a marlin 375 win great gun drops deer in there tracks almost everytime. You can get 375 win 220 gr FN 1975 FPS ammo at www.winsconsincartridge.com they are only $ 28.00 for a box of 20. Last edited by dbonner; October 6, 2012 at 07:05 PM. Reason: cal change

March 24, 2001, 05:48 PM	#2
Kernel Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 1999 Location: Madison, WI.... "78 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality" Posts: 923	You gotta a good point. I got hooked on the .375 Win when I got a Contender barrel in the caliber for handgun deer hunting, I've want a lever gun in .375 for a long time. It would make an awesome cartridge for the Guild Gun. Because of the 375's superior ballistic coefficient and higher SAMMI chamber pressure it would actually have much more energy at 100 yds than the .45-70 and far less bullet drop and recoil to boot. But I don't see it happening. The .375 Winchester is all but dead. Killed by bad PR.... or more accurately lack of PR of any kind. When I talk about the .375 Win to other gun nuts they don't have a clue. Usually they think I'm talking about the .357 Mag or maybe the .375 H&H. But in a sense Marlin does have a new .375 on the market - the .38-55 Cowboy. The .38-55 and .375 Win are essentially the same cartridge dimensionally (the .38-55 is a tad longer), although pressure ratings are significantly different. However, any gun chambered in .38-55 can chamber a .375 Win and the Marlin will obviously handle the pressure. -- Kernel

December 7, 2001, 07:28 PM	#5
RJ McCormack Member Join Date: January 13, 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 29	Kernal-- Do you have any strain gauge info to support the safety concerns of .375 Win ammo in modern 38-55 chambers? I'm a relatively new reloader and have been looking for credible data that would allow me to push a 250 gr lead (if possible) or jacketed round to 2000 fps in a 38-55. I have the new Marlin Cowboy and have been hoping to see a resurgence in popularity of the 38-55. Something like the recent trend the 45-70 has with the Guide Gun. The dearth of reloading components is frustrating. I see some progress with lead cast bullets but I have yet to find a flat-nose jacketed bullet of correct diameter. All the .375 Win components measure .375 dia. The Marlin barrel (and most originals, it seems) slugs out at .379. I can't shoot any lead less than .379 that doesn't tumble. Thanks for any info. --Rob

December 7, 2001, 07:47 PM	#6
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	" Do not use the .375 Winchester cartridge in ANY .38/55 rifles. The chambers of the .38/55 rifles will accept the .375 Winchester round but it is hazardous to fire it in them. The .38/55 cartridge should not be fired in the .375 Winchester rifles because the case is longer and extends into the chamber throat, preventing the case mouth from expanding, which could result in the developement of dangerous pressures." Lyman 46. Sam

October 7, 2012, 12:32 AM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Really? An 11 year-old thread, a shameless plug, and a link that doesn't work. And you still had to come back to fix the post, so it sort of fit the topic. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 7, 2012, 10:18 AM	#10
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	NOW you know why there's a rage in Zombie adverts............ .

October 7, 2012, 10:20 AM	#11
JIMBOINVA Member Join Date: October 6, 2012 Location: Dulles, VA Posts: 31	If I recall my Treasury LEO history correctly, that was issued to Agents during the prohibition era. __________________ Old Fed LEO-now Chairborne Sherlock Holmes Former USNR Intel Geek for SEALS-East Coast "Do you want information from the Records Section or the Truth Section?"

October 7, 2012, 10:28 AM	#12
Sodbuster Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 1999 Location: Wyo-Tana Posts: 1,298	Agree FrankenMauser. Although it warms my heart whenever I see C.R.Sam's name. __________________ Remember, many times what we view as a curse in the present turns out to be a blessing in the future. Don't worry about it a lot. Things have a way of working out. Trust me on this one. - - Uncle Bill Martino