Gents,

I have been searching high and low; sent off a letter to J.D. Jones, all to no avail. I picked up that rifle in .375 Express. With it came 100 rounds of formed and loaded ammo. First off, to be clear, I WILL be pulling it all down and salvaging components. What I am curious about is the load data supplied with the cartridges.

The Express differs so very little from the JDJ round, I feel it is largely academic. What is noted on the box is "52.1gr Re-7". First off, I cannot find any JDJ data for Re-7 but, more curious, there are very few loads approaching that quantity of any powder.

About the only difference seen is that the JDJ loads are for Contender/Encores and the rifle in question is a modified P-14. I assume the capability of the bolt gun is greater and a higher pressure is allowable.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks as always,
Hoot

Edited to correct charge weight.

nm

Also, mangled the charge weight; it reads: "52.1gr Re-7".

What I get for trusting memory.

FWIW, Pet Loads, .375 express, 235 Speer, 38.0 - 40.0 RL-7, OAL 3.00, 2,122 - 2,240

Hoot,
If that load range doesn't work for you, you might try what I've used for the last 27 years in the .375 JDJ Contender:

1. 220 Hornady FN, with base of bullet seated even with base of the neck; 51.5 gr. H-4895, CCI BR-2

2. 270 Hornady Spire point, seated with base of bullet even with base of neck; 51.5- 52 gr. AA 2520; Fed210

Obviously, if you must seat the bullet deeper, reduce the charges.

Useful data points.

Hoot, send me your address and I will make a copy of what I got from J.D. for you. cox1669@bellsouth dot net. E-mail scan or I can mail you a copy.

I appreciate your experience. There's data out there and I've see quite a bit for 4895, BL-C2 and others. My curiosity was centered on the use of a faster powder and a bunch more of it. Typically, this combination heads toward higher pressures.

Like I mentioned, this rifle is a P-14 Enfield so I got to wondering if the bolt action platform would allow higher pressures (it should) and what folks with experience thought.

I have a .375 H&H for when the rhinoserii get into the radishes so this doesn't need to be hot-rodded. JDJ/Express level of performance will do quite nicely. I am leaning towards playing with some heavy lead slugs at middlin' velocities. I will gladly use your loads as a good place to start.

Thanks Roger!

Waters showed the highest velocity with that bullet being achieved with 47 grains of XMR-2495 @ 2,349 fps followed closely by 48 grains of W-748 @ 2,339 fps. The top load he showed for RL-7 is the aforementioned 40 grains @ 2,240 fps.

I have a rifle barrel for my Encore in .375 JDJ and all the data I have found is meant for pistol length Contender barrels. I'm wanting to try the 260 Partition and possibly the 270 Speer or Hornady. I will probably start with Waters starting loads for the .375 Express and work carefully from there.

I will disassemble the ones shipped with the rifle for the components and fertilize the garden with the contents. Then go back to Ken Waters article and go from there. I'd like to see if it'll make into a heavy cast bullet flinger. The Bullshop has .375's up to 365gr. Don't yet know the twist but we'll find out soon.

I don't intend to shoot cast in mine at all, but who knows. If I can find a good load with the 260-270 grain jacketed bullets that shoots well I may just leave it there. It would be kind of nice to have a one load rifle that I don't continually feel the need to experiment with. I have a really nice Nikon Monarch African 1-4 X20 R4G scope I was going to use on this gun but I am putting it on a 45-70 Encore barrel instead so it will be a bit before I can actually start messing with it.

Roger I would like that data also if you don't mind. I will send an email. Thank you.

Dean
Diamondean@hotmail.com