Pre-64 win 375 weatherby question

[WC86]

I was looking for an h&h pre64 action on which to build a Lott and came across a local supergrade originally in 375 h&h but rechambered to 375 wby.
I love the gun. The wood is perfectly weathered and the barreled action/jewelry nicely warn. Outside of the rechamber, it looks all original.
It has a crack (small, not through and through) just behind the magazine well. I’m planning to send it to a smith for a cross bolt there and glass bedding on the hope the stock gets another 70 years of service. I’d like to think I’m saving it.

although I wanted to build a Lott, I bought this one on the idea of keeping it as is.
I already shoot/have 375 h&h brass. For the purpose of figuring this gun out and tinkering around, would you fireform from h&h or buy new brass? I don’t know what effects the fireforming has on brass and whether it will reduce the life of the brass.

I’m also considering it in the context that, if after the crossbolt and glass the rifle isn’t all that accurate, I might consider an action truing and rebarrel and then I’d have no need for the 375 wby brass. I guess I’d need dies either way. But I have a lot of h&h brass.

Raven rock has Norma 375wby brass in stock. $130/50

im aware that if it ever goes to Africa I’ll need appropriately headstamped brass but again, it may not shoot, and if not, I’ll work to make it shoot

sorry for the rambling thread

 

[Mekaniks]

Get it pinned and bedded, who knows it may shoot better….
I would buy some factory brass and start there. If it works out, great.
If not, you are on to something else….

 

[Firebird]

I have bought a bunch of Norma brand unfired brass at sportsman’s warehouse and scheels. It was available on the shelf even during times of shortage. Shouldn’t be hard for you to find it new.
i fireform practice rounds but not hunting rounds and really I have enough brass now that I just use .375 wby brass all the time.
I think you found what I was looking for when I bought mine. I settled for a composite stock and shorter barrel than I wanted but mine shoots wonderful-it has been to africa once and was flawless. One day I will get it a beautiful wood stock. . .

 

[baxterb]

If I remember right, fireforming 375 HH brass will leave the neck a tad short, but perfectly useable. If it were me, I’d plink with firefoemed and use real brass for anything serious.

 

[rgsiii]

I would get factory brass so there would be less variables in figuring out a potential issue.

 

[colorado]

I had our Rem XCR II rechambered from 375 H*H to 375 Weatherby. It had QC issues brand new. Chamber was a bit rough that fixed it. It's accurate with both 375 H&H factory 300g A-Frames as well as Weatherby factory ammon and handloads in 375 Weatherby. Kicks a bit more with the 375 Weatherby ammo but then it only weighs 7 1/2 lbs with scope unloaded.

 

[WC86]

I ordered brass from raven rocks and I’ll find some dies.

after considering it im reaching out to griffin and Howe to get their take on the cross bolt and bedding job (or whatever they think is most appropriate). As one of the classic model 70 shops they’ve got a lot of institutional experience albeit maybe from last century.

We’ll see what they say

thanks folks