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My MP mold drops .3775" with wheel weights. When I powder coat them twice, they are .383" and can not be pushed in fired cases by hand. Some careful flaring and they can be seated with a press, then I crimp the flare off so they chamber. I got bored with waiting for sizers and expanders (I...

Bumping an old thread. I have a nice 2350 fps / 275 grain practise load for 375 H&H. I use Vihtavuori N140 minimum jacketed starting load for now. I just got a mold from MP-molds and it's working great. 75 m accuracy is approaching 30 mm with unsorted bullets straight from the mold. No leading...

I have an Applegate mold,too. Robert designed this as the heaviest one to cycle in Marlins,mine drops 470 grains. I bought this some 20 years ago. I have not seen these around much. Great quality! Bullets in the pic are Hi Tek coated.

Yep heavier could be possible with modern powders. It's the powder space that limits bullet weight here. But this is 470 grains,can't change it,so be it. I only shoot heavier from 500 S&W, a 600 grn from a 2,5 snub is interesting. I know what Garrett has.

Mine has .375 meplat. No GC. This was the heaviest "reasonable weight" bullet available to cycle in Marlins at the time. I remember how I googled Robert, found his email and politely asked about possibility to buy a mold. Considering my location. I then sent him US dollars in an envelope...

I have been casting and shooting a 470 grain Robert Applegate WFN bullet for 25 years in 45-70 Marlins. Such a lovely slug. But I have not hunted with them, here in Finland all cast bullets are considered solids = no big game hunting. No matter what BHN,go figure. An expanding bullet is...

Hornady 350 RN is a tougher bullet than the similar 350 FN. RN is made for 458 velocities and won't open up well from a 45-70. Unless very close. I have used both for moose since the 90's, my Marlin load is (too) hot @ 2150 fps, still the FN does not open much past 100 meters. A calf @ 125 it...

German #4 @ 1 X mag. Berm is 75 meters

Then there is the 7x65R version. I have this combination gun with a 20 gauge / 7x65R . Merkel made the 7 mm barrel free floating, it shoots groups like a good bolt rifle. I find myself stalking deer with this one quite often. Slug up close for unicorns, 7 mm point blank up to 200 m. I like...

I hear you about #4 reticle. My "new-for-me" 80's Sako 375 H&H is wearing a steel tube B.Nickel 1-4x24 with a #4 reticle. That scope is from the 80's as well, I have had it on many rifles since 94 or so when it came to me. One does not shoot tiny 300 m groups with a #4 but at 1x, I can break...

Oh yes! I just got one last week, not a Mannlicher stock though. But an AV in 375 H&H. Feels funny to be "breaking in" an 80's rifle but these sometimes come nearly unfired. Mine came with some copper and pitting accordingly but I bought it anyway. Smooth like butter action, perfect 2 lbs...

German and austrian riflescopes have served me well for 50+ years. I have had others too. Here in Finland we hunt in low light,cold and snow. Taking the same scopes to Africa is stretching it a bit.

Can you check the bores with a borescope? That would help me to decide. I do not buy a gun without seeing the bore.

It is a B.Nickel 1-4 x 24, an 80's scope. I have had it for 30 years. It has been serviced and nitrogen filled twice, not because it broke, the opposite: to prevent it from breaking. German #4 reticle, 26 mm tube. Clear view like Zeiss etc. No "black ring", all you see is the reticle. I break...

It is easy to like this one! Functions flawlessly, buttersmooth bolt, brass ejects beautifully to the right , also when rapid firing a "Dinosaur Drill". Barrel looks new, I'm actually breaking in a 40 years old rifle barrel, to cut down copper fouling. Price was good, no collector value...

Suppressors are not registered here. If you have a gun permit, you can buy a suppressor. They have actually been recommended for decades with no stigma whatsoever. Of course certain powers have tried to ban them,too.

No problem at all,Sir! I did not take it that way. Besides,I don't need to be liked. :) To add: after we get the buying permit and buy the gun,we have one month to try and get an appointment for gun inspection. A police officer then checks that the papers and gun match. New guns have been...

There's no such thing as a gun for self defence here. Hardly any other self defence is acceptable either,you lose in court almost every time. When (if) I get my 375 I'm temped to try 235 TSX for deer and moose. I'm trying to get my head into monos and they like velocity, 235 weight sounds light...

Quite a few yes. A malfunctioning gun can do that,even after repair it's not the same any more. One Beretta O/U comes to mind,selector/safety ruined a trap day once. A CZ 9,3x62 randomly clicked. Guns gone. On a couple of occasions it has not been the gun's fault but mine. Like a missed moose...

You never know. It varies by town,too. You leave a buying permit application and try to explain why you need the gun according to the law. What animals to hunt etc. Authorities can deny it without telling why. We don't have any constitutional rights to own guns. I have had all kinds of guns for...

It started to change in the 80's. Now it's okay to have more - once you have an acceptable reason for each.

Yes but... 6,5x55 was popular because it was a military caliber in countries like Sweden and Norway -and there was nothing else easily and cheaply available. And in Finland,for example,you could legally own only one rifle and one shotgun. The rifle took everything from varmints to birds to...

I was reading/running our moving moose target last week and noticed some very small holes. Yup, a 6,5 Creedmoor has landed in our moose club,too. It's been marketed better than any other caliber ever. I see people buying it for our moose hunt where shots are typically under 50 yds, what are...

Roe deer is the largest legal game animal for 22-250 here in Finland. I have used 300 WM for roe.

Years ago I went cheap with a Yukon NVRS. It still works but is nowhere near modern equipment. Oh,I just saw your suppressor note. My dedicated night rifle is suppressed, without it the flash WILL blind you for an hour. Even with subsonic loads, the NV will amplify the flash quite a bit. Maybe...

I have compared quite a lot of scopes in low light, we can hunt until sunset here. I have Zeiss,Swaro,Kaps,Leupold, old and new... and one Meopro 1-6 that I bought for a combination gun, I thought mainly for range shooting. But Meopta honestly surprised me when I took it against the others in...

There actually was a study that connected eating ice cream to drowning accidents here in Finland. Both happen more in summer.

I wish more manufactures made 1" tube scopes. Thick 34 mm tubes only offer a wider adjustment range,they do NOT "let more light through". Marketing talks. Big bulky scopes everywhere. I'm trying to decide what to put on "almost my" Sako 375. Just waiting for paperwork. I may well end up with...

I'm pondering whitetail opening right now. I'll take my 7x65R first, it is a Merkel combi gun with a 20 gauge barrel,too. Tungsten for it. The floating 7 mm shoots as accurately as a good bolt gun. What to load? I found a forgotten box of 170 Vulkan, never loaded them. I also have 140 TTSX ...

Good. I do like my Merkel 140 now that the DD thing got properly modified, instead of just changing parts to new. It is a strong crossbolt build and can be trusted now, without worrying if DD will re-appear and if so,when. I have posted this video many times,this is a good idea and made me...

I like decockers,too. Merkel SLII is my only one with a decocker, I carry it in the woods and brush quite a bit. Might even carry "african". Other rifles,never.

FWIW I like decockers.You are safely ready and prepared at all times . But I also shoot a Merkel 140. Guess I like them all lol. :)

I have never handled an S2. How does the decocker feel compared to a "normal" safety,do you need much more force? Does it "click" when cocking? I'm asking because I have a Merkel SLII combi gun, 7x65R / 20 gauge. I like the decocker a lot. Peace of mind when walking in the woods, with chambers...

Did anyone look at the video? Mine was rebuilt before I bought it from my 60+ years old friend who has a room full of trophies from decades of shooting competitions. He is still winning. He can shoot, it started to shoot doubles on him. The original system was not designed for hundreds of...

I like the gun a lot. Surprisingly regulates with 400 grainers 2150 fps @ 50 m,too. I practise shooting clay pigeons on berm with coated cast bullets. Weight,balance and strength, everything is nice -aside from that flimsy original DD prevention system. DD did not happen every time and it was...

My Merkel 140 470 NE started doubling after 500 rounds. It is a design flaw and will happen one day,just a weak construction. Not a broken sear. A very good gunsmith changed and re-built the whole double discharge prevention system on my rifle, now the left barrel can only fire when you...

I've been looking! But the dealer here in Finland is out of stock, also 375 is gone. Not a single Raptor in those cals. I guess someone else likes them,too.

Absolutely. Or a 300 WM / 165 TTSX.

I have shot a Tikka T3 tactical 300 WM for 20 years,it is getting a new barrel now. Eroded badly. Quite a bit of 300-500 m shooting. It shoots fine nearly everything EXCEPT 180 grains. Both 110 Sierra HP and 200 Woodleigh shoot 1" / 300 meters, I have a nice big Zeiss with target turrets on...

Monometal bullets are completely different from lead core bullets, that's why comparing them is difficult. Monos tend to retain nearly all of the weight and -hopefully- won't explode when hit from close range. As mentioned,manufacturers like Barnes suggest more velocity (a lighter bullet)...

Another quite reasonable baboon option is to limit shots to 250 yds and use a 225 TSX zeroed 2" high @ 100. I did not check with tables but I'm guessing 250 would be about the point blank range. No turrets needed, BC nor wind do not matter much at all. Target turrets are great but they can be...

I wonder if the 270 grain 375 Barnes LRX opens up out there? I have 150 pcs Hornady 270 Interlocks for short range practise. I have a 375 rifle coming. I may cast for it,too, if the barrel is good enough for coated cast. The barrel needs to be broken in first, funny, an almost unfired 80's...

So now 9,3x62 is more powerful than 375 H&H while 375 H&H is wounding game because it is too powerful? Look,if you get power, you get recoil. This praise of 9,3x62 beating 375 H&H with less recoil is starting to look funny. And I had a 9,3x62 550. Killed a few moose with it only ,but the...

Here is a good comparision, Norma factory ammo: - 9,3x62 230 grain, 805 m/s - 375 H&H 300 grain 780 m/s - 35 Whelen 250 grain 740 m/s Please excuse my metric. I might open Quick Load tonight to see what it says about these, just out of curiosity. I guess they are...

Then there is the deceiving spine "bang-flop". I once dropped a big running bull moose, 45-70, I figured I had hit high because of the instant drop. A 70 yds shot. There were two eager dogs around the moose when I got there and my finishing shot took a bit longer because of the dogs... All of a...

Good,day to you,Sir. In addition to these 24 pages,I consulted Vihtavuori. With a 300 A-Frame, there is still a safe 900 Joules (663 ftlbs) , 75 m/s (246 fps) difference in favor of 375 H&H and I want that edge. I practise 300 meters regularly with my medium bore / small bore hunting guns...

Yeah, a bit out of topic but I preferred the compact, fast handling Marlin to a (nice) CZ 550. Still do,especially the SBL with the straight stock is a very pleasant shooter. Close range double lung, bullets stop to the opposite hide perfectly mushroomed. 100+ meters they don't expand that good...

I read the whole thread and reserved an 80's Sako AV Deluxe 375 H&H. I was also thinking of a nice Sauer 202 9,3x62 but this thread made me convinced that I prefer 6000 Joules instead of 5000. I had a CZ in 9,3 some 25 years ago, got a couple of moose but I switched to 45-70 Marlins back then...

I've been casting bullets actively for 30 years now. I like casting for big bores and shotgun slugs, now that we have powder coating and Hi Tek options the whole process is so clean and nice. No need to handle bare lead much. My 470 Merkel double shoots 400 grain cast most of the time, it...