Anyone shoot a .376 Steyr???

[no guns here]

Just wonderin'.  I just picked one up and was looking for anyone's take on the cartridge...

Thanks,
ngh

[376Steyr]

Strangely enough, I do.  My Steyr Scout shoots 260 gr. Nosler Partitions and 270 gr. Hornady Spire Points very well indeed at 100 yards.  It is a little fussy with 235 gr. Speers.  Try Varget powder first for your hunting loads, data is still shown at the Hodgdon powder site.  I was hoping Ruger, the champion of under-appreciated calibers, would chamber the M77 for it, but I fear the 375 Ruger drove the final nail into the coffin.

[no guns here]

Thanks for the info...  I'll be shooting the Hornady 270 grain factory stuff for now.  They through in 5 boxes with the purchase.  Nice of them huh at $45 a box or up to 70 Euro a box here in Germany.  Got a GREAT deal on this setup but I still need some glass.  Mine isn't the scout just the standard Steyr.  Can't wait to see how it hammers the pigs!!!


ngh

[honkeetonkin]

 I know that this topic is nearly 2 months old but I was wondering how case life was faring for both of you ? Do either of you think 5 or 6 reloadings before case head separation is normal? Thanks in advance and I second the varget and 260 accubonds, they are accurate.

[376Steyr]

honkeetonkin,
You should be able to get more than 5 or six loadings out of a case before the head separates.  Hornady had problems with headspace on the factory ammo and the loading dies when the 376 was first introduced.  I was losing cases on the first reloading.  I contacted Hornady and they replaced my fired cases and ammo with fresh factory ammo, I've had no problems since.
 
If you are shooting factory ammo, check your once fired cases. A bright ring around the base on the first firing is NOT normal.  Contact Hornady with your lot numbers from the ammo boxes.  Since the 376 didn't take the world by storm, and doesn't fly off the shelves, you might have some of the early ammo.
 
Next check your sizer die to make sure it isn't setting the shoulder back too far.  If you have the die screwed down tight to the shellholder, there's a real good chance you're creating an excess headspace condition, just as you would with any other bottleneck case with a slightly short sizer die.

Lastly, check the headspace on your rifle.  This is ideally done with a no-go headspace gauge, but can be quickly checked by snipping out a few tiny shims from an aluminum beer can.  Put a factory round in the chamber (BE CAREFUL!) Stack the shims on the case head.  If the bolt will close with two or three shims stacked up, you have problems, either with the ammo or your chamber.  Try again with one of your handloads.  If the bolt closes on your handload, but not on the factory round, you only have a case sizing problem.

[no guns here]

Wow... another reply!!!  I was starting to think there were only two .376 Steyr's in existence...  I know it didn't sell well but hey, I got a great deal and just had to buy it.  Who hasn't done it at least once???  Finally got mine to the range the other day... guess I'm more of a wussy than I thought.  I put it away after about 14 rounds.  Did get two nice two inch groups out of it with the stock iron sights!  I was happy with that and then it quit being fun.  I've got a couple of boxes of the 225's coming.  They should be a little easier on the shoulder.  Won't NEED the 270's very often I don't think.  The shop I bought from finally found the dies.  I'll have to pick them up one of these days.  I don't think they are going anywhere very soon.  I picked up a couple kilo's of #9 shot.  I'm going to make a shot bag to put in the cavity in the buttstock to help add some weight.  I figure I can get a couple of pounds in there if I do it right.  Once I get a scope and mounts on there, that should add almost another pound.  Danged thing should be tolerable then...

ngh

[honkeetonkin]

 376 Steyr, finally got around to trying your shim method and the gun wouldn't close with factory or reloaded ammo. Let me point out that the gun is an encore pistol  and I dont know if that would throw a monkey wrench into your shim test or not. I also looked at my dies and the shell holder does indeed bottom out on the sizing die. I've already read about the bad first round brass and was just trying to cover all my bases, thanks for all your help its much appreciated   rick

[no guns here]

Okay... I managed to get almost exactly 1 kg  of shot in the butt of the gun.  Doesn't rattle or make noise.  I'll be heading to the range with it tomorrow.  Still don't have a scope on it...  saving is going slow.  I'll let y'all know if it's a pussy cat or not yet...

[Badnews Bob]

I have a M48 mauser converted to .376 I don't shoot it much but its pretty much a shoulder howitzer, plenty of power in that round, good rifle.

[lgm270]

I have a M48 mauser converted to .376 I don't shoot it much but its pretty much a shoulder howitzer, plenty of power in that round, good rifle.

Greetings. I am fascinated by your conversion of an M-48 mauser to .376 Steyr.  Could you please provide more details?   

[jro45]

I've never seen one. What country made it The .376 Steyr.

[376Steyr]

376 Steyr rifles are produced by the Steyr Mannlicher company of Austria.  The only model they are currently offering is in the "Scout" model, though they did briefly produce a few other variations.  A few American custom rifle builders offer the chambering.  The 376 Steyr is meant to almost duplicate the ballistics of the classic 375 H&H in a smaller package.  The main drawback of the cartridge is its unusual rim size, halfway between the 30-06 and standard H&H belted magnum size, which means additional work for a custom rifle to use it.  Brass and ammo is only produced by the Hornady company. I've yet to see a box of either on my local retailer's shelves.

[Badnews Bob]

Igm270,  Its pretty simple actually, I bought a M48 action and started looking for a cartridge to build it around. After alot of reading I found the .376 to be about the most powerful round that would fit in a intermediate action like the M48, a barrel from Midway a stock from mitchells mausers, then a trip to the gunsmiths to open the bolt face install a bent bolt handle chamber the barrel and a one piece scope base and there you have it, A 24" barreled .376 Steyr, It's a little heavy( thank goodness) and alot loud but I think it'll just about punch a whole thru armor plate. It would not have any problems stopping a charging elephant I'm sure. If I get my camera working again I'll post a picture.

[no guns here]

Mine's the Steyr-Mannlicher Pro Hunter.  It's awfully short and light but it can be shot.  As I put out earlier I added 2.2 lbs of #9 into the butt of the stock.  I haven't been able to get it to the range since then as I thought I would but I'll remedy that tomorrow.  Not sure of the total weight but it should have tamed it down quite a bit.  I'll try to get a range report out on it on Monday.

Waidmansheil!
ngh

[no guns here]

Waidmansheil!
     
     I made it out to the range this weekend with my Steyr in tow.   After working with the scouts and doing a little shooting with my new Tikka .308, I was able to get shoot the Steyr a little.  I only put three rounds downrange from the bench at fifty meters.  I had a nice about 1.5 inch group (if I remember right).    It was a little to the right of PoA but was still a decent group.  I didn't have a screwdriver with me that was small enough to adjust the sights so I didn't pursue it any further.  That thing still kicks a bunch even though it weighs nearly 10 pounds now.  As soon as I can get a scope on it I'll see how the extra pound or so affects it.  I really need to get some of the lighter loads for it and see what that does.  I don't need the 270's for anything here in Germany and the 225's should kick quite a bit less. 

ngh

[gitano]

I actually was quite smitten with the .376's case, and got three reamers to make four rifles (VZ-24s) based on that case: 1) The .376 Steyr, 2) A .358,  and 3&4) Two 8mms - one short-throated for 125-grain bullets, and one long-throated for 195-grain bullets. The first one I made was the short-throated 8mm.

I should point out up front that I am not one that subscribes to "max loads". In fact, I have recently settled on a new set of criteria for my hunting rifles:

1) Muzzle energy less than 3600 ft-lbs (preferably less than 3300 - .338 WM level or less),
2) 2000 ft-lbs of delivered energy to 300 yds, and
3) No more than 12 inches of vertical deflection out to 300 yds.

It's quite easy to achieve these goals with the .376 Steyr case and keep the chamber pressures below 50kPSI. In the larger calibers, the chamber pressure is at or below 40kPSI.

I can't comment on the accuracy I am able to achieve yet, as the first rifle I made was the short-throated 8mm, and I used a take-off VZ-24 bbl to practice with. I was in the process of replacing that bbl. when my lathe's lead screw froze up. In the mean time, I decided a .375x55 Swiss was a good .375 cartridge as well, and got a reamer for that cartridge too. (A .375 bullet on the 7.5x55 case). I mention this because the head/rim of the 7.5x55 Swiss case is the same as the head/rim of the Steyr case. Also I am trying to make something of the several K-31s I have. For those that don't care for the 0.500 head of the x55 case, the same .375x55 reamer can be used to chamber a rifle for the .375x.284 WinMag, as its dimensions are the same as the x55 case except for its "normal" 0.473" rebated rim. In other words, this reamer could be used to cut the chamber in a barrel for a rifle with a "normal" bolt-face of .473".

Anyway, my loads would probably be too anemic for those interested in squeezing the most velocity out of a .376 Steyr. But, I can shoot it "all day", and if 2000 ft-lbs at 300 yds won't "do it", well... actually, it will, so there's really no "if" about it.

Paul

[no guns here]

I agree... I never got into the MAGNUM game... and I don't intend to.  I hunt with a variety of guns but none are real pounders.  The .376 is about the worst.  I only bought it on a whim and now I'm keeping it in case I get to go to Africa or brown bear hunting.  Plus I got a REALLY good deal on it and I just couldn't pass it up.  I do shoot some .45-70's but they seem to kick a little differently AND most of my loads are the original level loads.  They tend to shoot all the way through most things anyway.  I hunt MOSTLY with a .30-'06 but that has changed to a .308 since my '06 is in the US and my .308 is here in Germany with me.  I'm a pretty big guy and I can shoot the bigger rounds when I need to (or want to) but I just don't like getting abused.  I don't walk a long way to my stand here in Germany so I don't care about weight.  I put a kilo of shot in the butt of my .308... maybe I'm a wuss or maybe I'm smart...


ngh

[gitano]

I still don't have any new info on the .376 Steyr, but I do have info for the 8x376 SLT (Steyr Long-throat) with Sierra's 220-grain GameKing. Since this thread isn't burning up with .376 Steyr-specific info, I'll risk being a bit off-topic with the 8x376 SLT.

I took it to Colorado in November to shoot elk and deer. Unfortunately, it was way too hot for the elk to come down out of the high country to where we were allowed to hunt. No elk at all. However, I did make a very long (for me anyway) shot on a doe mulie. The only shot offered was a head-shot at what turned out to be ~318 yds. Normally I wouldn't take a shot like that, but the circumstances were that it was the only shot offered, and more importantly, if I missed, it would be a clean miss. Obviously I didn't miss, or I wouldn't be relating this story. Anyway, the 220-grain bullet dropped just as the ballistics calculations indicated for 300 yds, and hit her just left of center of her 'forehead'. I was confident enough to take the shot based on similar precision observed on paper with this bullet and load.

The load data for what it's worth is below.

Paul

PS - The max chamber pressure of 56,565 PSI, is a self-imposed limit I use because I am building these rifles on milsurp Mauser actions. It is my opinon that 56,565 PSI is a "good" max value to use for those actions as that is what they were built to for the 8x57 cartridge. Of course the .376 Steyr on a Steyr action has a CIP max chamber pressure of 62,366 PSI. I feel that is an unwise upper limit for the milsurp Mauser action. In another wildcat I build on these same actions, (.338x57 Ackley Improved), 58,000 PSI causes enlarged (blown) primer pockets. These are actual measured pressures, not estimated ones.

Paul

[Badnews Bob]

I have been looking at wildcatting mine, But was looking at 7MM have you seen any info on that gitano? the 8mm look interesting too however.

[gitano]

have you seen any info on that

I have, but I don't recall where at the moment. Still, it's a 'trivial' job. Pacific Too and Gauge will make a piloted reamer for you - they probably already have a 7x376 Steyr - for $138 + S&H

I'm not trying to talk you out of this, but I will offer my thoughts on why I chose not to go as far 'down' as 7mm.

The big reason is that the 7mm Remington Mag is an excellent cartridge in its own right, and the 7x376 Steyr would simply create a cartridge with a similar case capacity but retain other negative "issues". Primary among those 'issues' is the head and rim diameter of the Steyr case. At ~0.500" it's neither "here nor there" with respect to "standard" bolt faces. "Standard" bolt faces are nominally 0.473" ('06 sized) or 0.535" ("magnum" sized). The onliest action (bolt face) that the Steyr case is going to fit is either a Steyr, or a modified ("opened up") 0.473" bolt.

Second, if one is gonna load up a non-belted 7mm "magnum", the .375 bullet selection for the original chambering is pretty good. Both the 260 and 300 grain Accubonds have great BCs and will do whatever the 7x376 Steyr would do and more.

Third, if one isn't going to go "magnum", the case capacity of the .376 Steyr case is more than what is needed. Furthermore, the 280 Remington and 7x57 are both great 7mm cartridges.

One might be tempted to argue that the 8mm-06 is to the 8x376 Steyr what the .280 Remington is to the 7x376 Steyr. I would point out that the extra capacity of the Steyr case allows the efficient use of the 195 and above (like the 220 Sierra) 8mm bullets without having to push chamber pressures above "reasonable" levels on a Mauser action. The same can't be said for the heavy-weight 7mm bullets.

I want to restate with emphasis that I'm not trying to talk 'you' or anyone else out of the 7x376 Steyr wildcat. I think wildcatting is great fun. I simply offer the above to illustrate why I stopped at .323" instead of .284" or even .308".

Paul

[Badnews Bob]

Good points to ponder, My bolt has already been opened up for the steyr but it turns out the .376 its a lot more than I ever wanted or need. It is a very fine rifle maybe I should just try and sell it to someone who would like a big game rifle. I have mausers in 6.5x55, 7x57, .280, .308, and 8MM. So the 8x.376 or .338x 376 would only improve the 220 to 250 range of bullets with the 250 to 300 already covered by the .376.

Know anybody who would like a custom built Mauser in .376 steyr.

Sad part is I'll never be able to get my money back from this rifle and I don't shoot it very often at all.

[gitano]

its a lot more than I ever wanted or need.

Before you give up on it, you really should consider handloads that result in recoil in the neighborhood of an '06 shooting a 180-grain bullet. That is of course assuming the '06 recoil is acceptable.

Such loads can be reasonably achieved for the .376 using the 260 Accubond. For instance: 51.5 grains of Accurate 2495 in a 24" barrel yields a muzzle velocity of 2350 f/s with the same muzzle energy, (and likely recoil too, all other things equal), as a .30-06 shooting a 180-grain bullet at 2800 f/s. Trajectory-wise, if sighted in at 200 yds for a 6" target, the Accubond would be only 11" low at 300 and still deliver 2000 ft-lbs of energy to that 300 yd range.

Most "experts" (ptooey) say 1000 ft-lbs is "appropriate" for deer and 1500 ft-lbs for moose and elk. Therefore, the .376 shooting the 250 Accubond would be "fine", (according to the "experts"), for all North American big game out to 300 yds.

Just a thought as an alternative to parting with the rifle. You must of course reload to achieve this. I might also add, the many deer hunters up here use the .375 H&H and love it.

Paul

[Badnews Bob]

Its not so much that I am recoil shy as it is a matter of why when I don't have to. I do reload so I may play with light loads in it just to shoot it more, I just don't want a safe queen. I also have a .38-55 and a .375 win which dose pretty much what the lite loads would.

Such a delimia Its a very nice rifle and I hate to see it lingering in the back of my safe.

BTW I don't buy into that expert ptooey myself, Most of my deer hunting I do envolves a .357 mag pistol or .357 max single shot rifle.

Thanks for your input gitano

[gitano]

Its not so much that I am recoil shy as it is a matter of why when I don't have to.

We could not agree more.

Paul

[archeratlrg]

To: Badnews Bob and Gitano,   I hope this post is picked up as I too am interested in the 376 Steyr.  I've also been considering both a 35 and the 8mm on this case.  Bob, you mention converting the M48 for this cartridge, is it short enough to fit the magazine box without having to fuss with lengthening it?  Gitano, did you just neck down the 376 case without any other alterations?  Very interested in what you both have to say.  I've  been kicking around the use of this case as well as a shortened 375 Ruger for use in the intermediate length Mauser. 
What kind of velocties are we looking at with the 8mm/376 Steyr