I just wanted to take a few moments and say thank you to all the fine folks that maintain this site and the wisdom shared by the members here. You made a recent decision much easier for me so I thought I would share my appreciation with you.

I happened upon an opportunity to get into the Winchester '94 Big Bore club. Specifically, a Winchester 94 XTR, 20", .375, Serial # BB0306XX. From the information provided it has only had 20 rounds fired through it. This was a package deal that included 340 rounds of 200 grain Winchester loads and 340ish new emptys for reloads.

I'm looking forward to getting this to the range first to shoot some reactive targets like full pop cans. Then this fall I plan to deer and hog hunt with this every chance I get.

This rifle will likely serve as the impetus for me to begin handloading.

In my research, this site was probably to most helpful in providing great information on the firearm, the cartridge, and the reloading prospects. I look forward to exploring what this Swamp Hammer can do.

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Palmetto .375

Proud owner of dyslexic Winchester 94 brothers:
.357 Trails End
.375 XTR Big Bore

Congrats! I happen to own two .375 Wins (both Marlins) and love the cartridge. My first was bought because I wanted more HP on big georgia hogs. My second was bought because I liked the first so d*** much! I wish you the best of luck with that fine new rifle. One question tho.... Have you started looking for a .356 BB yet??

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A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank check made payable to "The United States of
America" for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country who no longer understand it.

Tnhunter, no I'm not looking for a .356 at this time. I've been eyeballing a Pre-WWII German 5.56x35r (.22 Hornet) bolt gun. I'm left eye dominate and right handed so this short-action bolt gun allows me to run the bolt without moving my left hand from the pistol grip portion of the stock.

If I can get it at the right price it will fill out my armory quite nicely.

.22LR / .22Mag / [.22 Hornet] / .223 & 5.56 / .243 / .38 & .357 / .375 / .44 and 7mm Mag

I've been slowly acquiring these when the right opportunity presents itself. I've been blessed to find many at exceptional deals. I enjoy sharing my hobby with friends that have never shot before, or only shot small caliber weapons.

My hunting buddy has a Ruger No. 1 in .45-70 that we have fun shooting. He flipped a Coyote with it very successfully. So when I read that some described the .375 as a Junior .45-70 I thought it sounded like a fun rifle to work with.

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Palmetto .375

Proud owner of dyslexic Winchester 94 brothers:
.357 Trails End
.375 XTR Big Bore

This picture will give you an idea of what that "baby" looks like side-by-side with a couple others. From left: .375, .444, 45-70 & .450 Marlin. That's my 1st Marlin in .375.

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A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank check made payable to "The United States of
America" for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country who no longer understand it.

That's a good looking gun Tn and a good looking seat or table it's on, very nice !

Fred you are correct on both statements. I was admiring that take as well.

TnHunter, thanks fur the comparative analysis on the cartridges. Displayed that way the 375 looks even more impressive. I'm trying to decide what the first target should be. I have an abundance of golf balls that are fun to shoot. Can only imagine what a 200gr FN will do.

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Palmetto .375

Proud owner of dyslexic Winchester 94 brothers:
.357 Trails End
.375 XTR Big Bore

Gentlemen,

Good Morning Sir, and congrats. Those rifles are a find these days, there is no doubt about that. One doesn't see them so often anymore, and when you do if you hesitate, you've lost.

I'm a bit of a second cousin to your situation as well, I do own and shoot, and toil.....greatly.....with the 375 Win cartridge, although mine is a Savage 99. The first step was to get a good working load together with the 220 grain hornady, and then I would have a bright idea to try something else, and end up settling back on the Hornady. I'm not sure if the rifle is particular, or the combination of rifle and cartridge- but Ive come to this notion to getting one good load for mine is quite good enough.

My 94BB is in 307, and I've just started fooling with it- but it seems as if its consistancy woes are less clinical. I've done good work with the factory load, which is accurate but the velocities are inconsistant well over 100 fps variances, which I don't understand that much at all. A couple of relaoded offerings are just the opposite, low velocity variances but less accurate. Makes a man go "Huh". The good news is that it is accurate enough, and less aggravating than the savage ever thought about being.

At any rate, congrats- enjoy that rifle as I know you will.

Best to you fellows.

Steve

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Experience is a hard teacher, because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.

Thank you Sir. It is my favorite spot for gun pics too! Here's some more I took just this morning of a new M77 Hawkeye in '06 destined to be a gift for a very special young man.

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__________________
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank check made payable to "The United States of
America" for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country who no longer understand it.

I have 2 Big Bore 94 XTR's in .375. Both are 1st year guns. Also have a newer Big Bore 94AE in .444. They all shoot very well.
Tomcatt

I bought a well used Marlin .375 at a gun show and discovered that it produced keyholes on the target at less than 50 yrs with both factory loads and reloads. I didn't have the time or inclination then to see if I could work out the problem so it got traded off. Time went by and I found a Model 94 in .307 in great shape but like an idiot I traded it off for something I thought I wanted more. Not too long ago the local gun store had a 94 in .356 on the shelf. When I went back to put it on layaway it was of course gone. So my quest for those three calibers starts all over again.

I traded off a M94BB in .307 years ago for a BLR in .358. Still glad I did. I am not so glad, however, that I turned down another BB/.307 for $200. several yrs ago. Just had a brain fart, I reckon. As far as the .356s and .375s I love them in the Marlin version. I think they are the best looking Marlins ever made. Does two pair beat 3 of a kind.....

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A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank check made payable to "The United States of
America" for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country who no longer understand it.

Well I finally got a chance to shoot my Big Bore...I was quite disappointed. I couldn't hit anything. So i moved to 20 yards and still couldn't hit anything...couldn't even get a group to work from. Had my buddy try it out to see if it was me. His sit hit 5inches low and 6 inches right.

Then he noticed that the ramp under the rear sight is missing. Kind of hard to get a consistent group when the treat sight keeps moving with each shot.

So now I will order a ramp, get it installed, get it back out to check to seed if it will group. I loved the light weight, simple to shoulder, smooth trigger. Just want to be able to hit what I'm aiming at. Should make a great woods and swamp gun.

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Palmetto .375

Proud owner of dyslexic Winchester 94 brothers:
.357 Trails End
.375 XTR Big Bore