The .375 Winchester is based on a high pressure version of the .38-55 case, with thicker case walls and a stronger head. Although its case is .065" shorter than the old .38-55 case, .375 Winchester brass can be used for .38-55 reloads if necessary. The reverse is not true, however.

The single .375 Win. factory load from Winchester drives a 200 grain Power Point bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps with 2150 ft. lbs. of energy. The figures for 100 yards are 1841 fps and 1506 ft. lbs. At 200 yards, by which the .375 has pretty well reached its practical range limit, the velocity is 1526 fps and the energy is 1034 ft. lbs. Winchester's handy game selector lists the 200 grain .375 factory load as a deer and black bear cartridge.

Hornady figures, in the 6th edition of their reloading handbook, show that their 220 grain FP Interlock bullet can be driven to a MV of 1800 fps by 31.1 grains of RL-7, and to a MV of 2200 fps by a maximum charge of 38.0 grains of the same powder. Hornady used Winchester cases and WLR primers in developing these loads. The muzzle energy of a 220 grain bullet at a MV of 2200 fps is 2364 ft. lbs., and the trajectory looks like this: +2" at 100 yards, 0 at 150 yards, and -5" at 200 yards. According to my Rifle Recoil Table a 7.5 pound rifle shooting that load should come back at the shooter with 17.1 ft. lbs. of recoil energy.

Note: A complete article about the .375 Winchester can be found on the Rifle Cartridge Page.