Recipes For Leftovers

02/11/2024 – The following is the article that was scheduled for this past week. I could not get it done. I still can’t get it done, but I believe there is enough useful handload information to not just toss it.

The theme was putting odds and ends components to use, rather than have them waste away on a shelf. Then the theme became putting rifles that, by intent, would see infrequent use, to greater use. Then there was a momentary diatribe regarding component manufacturers forcing product obsolescence.

Then it became an article about me trying to decide if it is time to sell the house and property, put the proceeds into trust for my kids and grand kids, and move into a small cabin on one of Maine’s more remote fishing lakes with my gear, power tools and guns.

I finally solved the mental log jam by buying a motorcycle and planning a long trip. Yes, the mind works in mysterious ways. Some more so than others. So let’s get this one put away so I can get onto other things.

The Larch

If you are a longer term handloader, you probably have an inventory of left over bullet and powder inventory. Often, an accumulation that results from selling associated firearms, marketing engineered obsolescence or disappointing, substandard performance on initial use.

Not that I am frugal, but I almost always find use for the left overs. After all, they don’t have a “Best if used by” or expiration date. A couple of boxes of 0.243″ Speer bullets from ’67 or ’68 would still work, great, even if they are bit… green.

Metal cans of smokeless powder, sealed up tight and in temperature/humidity controlled storage, stand tall, alongside those plastic powder containers with first generation graphics.

Besides, it’s fun. Sort of like poking through leftovers in the refrigerator and finding that bacon and spinach actually do go well with melted sharp cheddar, on a white flour tortilla.

Putting a 375 Ruger to work, or creating purpose

A Ruger M77 African in 375 Ruger is a wonderful walnut and blued steel classic rifle. Compared to a 375 H&H, the M77 is two and one half pounds lighter than a typical express rifle. The African has a much shorter bolt throw and the 375 Ruger generates 100 fps to 150 fps greater muzzle velocity. It is an easy to carry, dispatcher of big and dangerous game.

Firearms last a long time and, sometimes, even special ones fall out of use. In my little piece of reality, future hunts for brown bear, or hunts in Africa, would be incredibly expensive and rare in occurrence… let’s call that no chance at all.

At my age, there is little thrill in trail blazing miles into the woods, for the sole purpose of killing a large animal I won’t eat. These days, I like to be in casual hiking distance from the truck so I can, at my discretion, get back, run the heater, crack open the thermos… and maybe take a little snooze in advance of the afternoon’s activities.

Subsequently, if I am not going to pop a cape buffalo or Alaskan moose, and I want to shoot the 375 Ruger because I am attached to the rifle, I need ammunition I can shoot on a long range day.

Exploration into inventory…

The eleven bullets pictured are all 0.375″ caliber, and purchased within the past five years. They range in weight from 200 grains to 350 grains, a couple are for the 375 Winchester or modern bore size 38-55 Winchester. The rest are for magnum 375 cartridges. Status? As they appear left to right above, and top to bottom on the table:

What’s my point? You’re always asking that question. Okay. Eight of eleven bullets, for one reason or another, are out of production. Most have no replacement in form, construction or weight. Others have been replaced with “New!” bullets that are 2x and 3x the price of the original with attributes that don’t mean jack to me… or anyone else.

So I split my remnant inventory into two categories. The first is the sacred, irreplaceable, no longer in production bullets, with associated developed load data. Even if I don’t use them, I may load them for a friend. Yes, I actually do have friends. The second category of remnant bullet is comprised of “I can’t remember why I bought them, or why I stopped using them” bullets, that probably go with a rifle I sold thirty years ago.

This one is for me. That one is for you.

When planning a range excursion with a magnum rifle, I assemble two levels of handloads. The first are soft loads I can shoot all day at the range. While diminished from full tilt loads, they could also be used by anyone with the inclination for hunting deer, black bear and hogs.

The second level are “Good grief” loads, which I save for anyone at the range who pesters me into letting them shoot my rifle. It is not that I am mean, I just want them to get the full magnum experience. What can I say, I am a giving kind of guy. None of these appear on the load data table that follows.

The four selected at the moment

All were checked with the subject rifle and a COL gauge. Each bullet cleared rifling leade in assembled cartridge form, and cannelures lined up with case mouths.

I would Maine deer hunt with anything on the table, however, even at moderate velocity the 375 Ruger puts up some substantial kinetic energy. They would be perfectly fine for heavy bodied, thin skinned game, if shooting distance weren’t stretched.

I was surprised by the accuracy… precision of most of these loads. I got to use up bullets and powder that would have sat on the shelf, I got to play with the 375 Ruger African, and I got to spend a few days outdoors. Maybe nothing more than fun, but that in itself is enough of a reason for the project.