lead miner
New Member
It is still hard to find .375 jacketed bullets. I was wondering if anyone had luck with reduced cast bullet
loads for the 375JDJ.
loads for the 375JDJ.
Has Anyone Tried Cast Bullets for the 375 jdj?
- Thread starter lead miner
- Start date
RBHarter
West Central AR
Why a reduced load ? Moulds come from RB to 275+ gr w/w/o GC . Choose a slower powder and let'er rip .
It does take good fit and some tinkering but short of the H&H start jacketed loads aren't too hard to hit and have good results.
I'm not aquatinted 375 JDJ but it's like a shortened 30-30 case at 45kpsi much like the other JDJs of smaller cal ?
It does take good fit and some tinkering but short of the H&H start jacketed loads aren't too hard to hit and have good results.
I'm not aquatinted 375 JDJ but it's like a shortened 30-30 case at 45kpsi much like the other JDJs of smaller cal ?
lead miner
New Member
The 375 JDJ is made from the 444 marlin case. My 309 JDJ is also made from the same case.
Since 375 jacketed bullets are harder to find and expensive I began looking into cast bullets.
I have been casting bullets since 1980 but I have limited my bullet selection to milder loads
for calibers such as 7tcu, 300 whisper, and 762x39,
I wanted to introduce my grandson to my contender and the whole range of calibers I
collected over the years. It would be a shame if all of it would end up in an estate sale. A full
house load in 375 JDJ would be kinda scary for a young shooter. I thought that I could kill several
birds with one stone using a cast bullet load.
Since 375 jacketed bullets are harder to find and expensive I began looking into cast bullets.
I have been casting bullets since 1980 but I have limited my bullet selection to milder loads
for calibers such as 7tcu, 300 whisper, and 762x39,
I wanted to introduce my grandson to my contender and the whole range of calibers I
collected over the years. It would be a shame if all of it would end up in an estate sale. A full
house load in 375 JDJ would be kinda scary for a young shooter. I thought that I could kill several
birds with one stone using a cast bullet load.
I have been shooting 38-50 Remington on three different rifles, mostly Black Powder, a good load with the Lyman 375674, 16grains of SR4759, or equivalent, I also use 300MP,
the rifles I have are all 1-12 twist,
the 38-50 Remington is made using a 30-40Krag case, 2.25 case length
the rifles I have are all 1-12 twist,
the 38-50 Remington is made using a 30-40Krag case, 2.25 case length
lead miner
New Member
Thanks for your advice on the matter. I was thinking of the old reliable 15 grains of red dot
but I would have to use kapok or something like it to keep the powder in place. I recall one
shooter who used toilet paper instead and got a bulged barrel.
but I would have to use kapok or something like it to keep the powder in place. I recall one
shooter who used toilet paper instead and got a bulged barrel.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
I cannot speak for all uses, but toilet paper gets consumed rather easily.
I recon if a large wad was used then possibly. If desired we use a 1/4 square from a regular TP section. That is what we have done for years if needed.
We have fired hundreds of cast rounds through our 375 H&H rifles. Up to 2300 FPS with water dropped cast and /or GC slugs. Our basic cast "for all velocities" weighs 270 grains. We seldom fire it at less than 1600 FPS.
We have numerous other weights of molds in the basic .378 diameter which get used in all sorts of caliber .38 rifles. Unique normally gets used in the low velocity / pressure realm.
I recon if a large wad was used then possibly. If desired we use a 1/4 square from a regular TP section. That is what we have done for years if needed.
We have fired hundreds of cast rounds through our 375 H&H rifles. Up to 2300 FPS with water dropped cast and /or GC slugs. Our basic cast "for all velocities" weighs 270 grains. We seldom fire it at less than 1600 FPS.
We have numerous other weights of molds in the basic .378 diameter which get used in all sorts of caliber .38 rifles. Unique normally gets used in the low velocity / pressure realm.
lead miner
New Member
Thank you for your advice Missionary. There is some load data for the 375JDJ but its for jacketed loads.
Since I powder coat bullets for my auto and revolver pistol bullets, I was thinking about powder coating
cast bullets for the 375 and just loading with Red Dot powder. I remember the rule of thumb for Red Dot
was a starting load of 13.0 grains for rifle cartridges of 30 cal. and over.
What molds do you prefer for the .378 bullets?
Since I powder coat bullets for my auto and revolver pistol bullets, I was thinking about powder coating
cast bullets for the 375 and just loading with Red Dot powder. I remember the rule of thumb for Red Dot
was a starting load of 13.0 grains for rifle cartridges of 30 cal. and over.
What molds do you prefer for the .378 bullets?
fiver
Well-Known Member
god no not 15grs of red-dot.
maybe 8-9 or even 10, but 15?,,,, NOOO.... jus me though.
my 375449 makes 379 Naked and sizes to the same easy enough with powder.
you can easily find a 220~gr. mold over to Accurate that should be a pretty good one too and can do double duty in the 375 win or 375 super-mag.
on top of 10grs of unique it'd mimic a 44 mag load pretty well.
maybe 8-9 or even 10, but 15?,,,, NOOO.... jus me though.
my 375449 makes 379 Naked and sizes to the same easy enough with powder.
you can easily find a 220~gr. mold over to Accurate that should be a pretty good one too and can do double duty in the 375 win or 375 super-mag.
on top of 10grs of unique it'd mimic a 44 mag load pretty well.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
I know virtually nothing about the .375 JDJ, but the bullet Lee makes is good and dirt simple in my .38-55, I don't even size them.
Red Dot isn't position sensitive, so no fillers needed, but 15 grains? I wouldn't do 15 grains of Red Dot in a .45-70, and you'll get higher pressures in something that size which has been necked down.
Red Dot isn't position sensitive, so no fillers needed, but 15 grains? I wouldn't do 15 grains of Red Dot in a .45-70, and you'll get higher pressures in something that size which has been necked down.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
That Lee bullet and other similar ones have worked well for me with nine grains of 700X. Virtually no recoil and as accurate as I can hold iron sights.
L Ross
Well-Known Member
You are misremembering the rule of thumb. That was not a starting load.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Cast Bullets... Shoot mostly the NOE .375 270 Grain GCFN. We powder coat (Shake & Bake) nearly all our rifle bullets.
Those that are going to get pushed 1600 we use range scrap. 1600 - 1800 we cast of WW & range scrap. If over 1800 just WW. Some need a GC and will let you know. If headed for over 2000 fps all get the GC. Higher FPS may need a WW water dropped.
You have to experiment with each barrel and sometimes powder. But Powder Coat really changes the guide lines.
If I ever get to pop an elk this is the slug I will use. I also will carry 3 rounds of a stopper type. NOE .375 340 gr FNGC. They remain plenty accurate out of our 375 rifles out to 50 yards. Load two of those and three 270 grains in the CZ. Or carry the single shots with a 270 in the barrel with a couple 340gr very handy.
Those that are going to get pushed 1600 we use range scrap. 1600 - 1800 we cast of WW & range scrap. If over 1800 just WW. Some need a GC and will let you know. If headed for over 2000 fps all get the GC. Higher FPS may need a WW water dropped.
You have to experiment with each barrel and sometimes powder. But Powder Coat really changes the guide lines.
If I ever get to pop an elk this is the slug I will use. I also will carry 3 rounds of a stopper type. NOE .375 340 gr FNGC. They remain plenty accurate out of our 375 rifles out to 50 yards. Load two of those and three 270 grains in the CZ. Or carry the single shots with a 270 in the barrel with a couple 340gr very handy.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
If you're looking for a light load for a kid, that Lee 250 grain, cast from whatever you have around with some antimony in it, tumble lube them, size if you have to, I guess, I don't, load and shoot. Nine grains of 700X in the .38-55 works great, but about that same amount of Red Dot, Green Dot, a tad more of Unique or Herco, etc., makes a find low recoil load for me. Why go to all that trouble to nail polish bullets for low speed stuff?
Seems to me there is a lot of over thinking going on.
Seems to me there is a lot of over thinking going on.
lead miner
New Member
Thanks again you guys. I think I will give the Lee 250 gr. mold a try. I really like the Lee 6 cavity molds.
My NEI molds are still my favorites. I am not a big fan of the Lee 2 cavity molds but for the price they are
hard to beat. I never thought that I would become a fan of the powder coating process but the benefits
cannot be ignored. I like the idea of having one cast bullet recipe that can be used for multiple applications.
Has anyone tried reloading the 375 JDJ with jacketed bullets? There must be a few members who have.
LMK what your favorite loads are.
My NEI molds are still my favorites. I am not a big fan of the Lee 2 cavity molds but for the price they are
hard to beat. I never thought that I would become a fan of the powder coating process but the benefits
cannot be ignored. I like the idea of having one cast bullet recipe that can be used for multiple applications.
Has anyone tried reloading the 375 JDJ with jacketed bullets? There must be a few members who have.
LMK what your favorite loads are.