Are these cartridges, especially the .375 Win., making a bit of a comeback in the popularity department?

I could be wrong, but I sense a renewed/increased interest in both the Big Bore 94 rifles and their chamberings, as of late.

What think ye???

RSY

I hope there is.....I've always liked the .307 and .356 Wins. When I bought mine in the early 1990s, my dealer couldn't give them away; now they're bringing $600 - $700 in excellent+ condition.

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com

I think you're on the right track. The .307/.356/.375 are making a bit of a comeback among those who know their Leverguns. I'm sure that all the talk on the different Levergun BB's about these calibers has stirred some interest in them. I also think that the popularity of CAS may be helping to "re-introduce" some shooters to the "old" Lever Action rifle as a viable hunting weapon; especially in the East where almost nobody needs a super short ultra wiz-banger with a 14-24x range finding scope. :confused:

Time will tell if we see any new offerings chambered for these three calibers but my money says don't bet your life on it. If you have more or one Winchester or Marlin in these calibers I'd suggest hanging on to it.

Was it Ken Waters who called the 307 and 356 Win. rounds among the top lever action deer rounds ever? I have the 356 and I constantly wonder why they dropped the caliber. The rifle is slim and compact yet suprisingly powerful. It is well made and very accurate. I'm keeping mine!

The big bore levers did not have the promotions that the big wiss bang new to the shooter mags did over the last thirty years.
Now the word is getting out after the cartridges almost went dead. For open plains 300 to 500 yard shots , stay with the bolts boys , but in the bush, have a quck look at the 35's through 375's along with the444 and 45/70 bores.
I load the mighty 35 REM. for the 336/35 Marlin and bought the 358 W browning. Own a 45/70 Guide.
These are all great rounds in a lever .
The word is getting out
Now if they would just lower the price of ammo for the 356/358/375 more folks would be intrested in the rifles
And maybe a come back.
Browning reintroducded the model 81 BLR in 358W. :D

I have a 307 and a 356 Big Bore. They are both fine guns. The only complaint was a hard trigger. But an hours work and both triggers pull about 4 pounds. Both guns are accurate, light and carry easy. But, I really like the 307 best. It does not have as much recoil. I really don't understand why a 356 Marlin sells for $1,000 and a 356 Winchester sells for $500. If you get a chance to purchase either gun, you will not be disappointed.

I have a 307 and a 356 Big Bore. They are both fine guns. The only complaint was a hard trigger. But an hours work and both triggers pull about 4 pounds. Both guns are accurate, light and carry easy. But, I really like the 307 best. It does not have as much recoil. I really don't understand why a 356 Marlin sells for $1,000 and a 356 Winchester sells for $500. If you get a chance to purchase either gun, you will not be disappointed.

There seems to be more Winchesters to be had than the Marlin ER. I have never seen a Marlin in use or for sale.
Try and get a browning BLR in 358W and the older steel reciever model are not far behind of the price of a brand new one.
If any one wants a BB in 307 I know of one here in Central Ontario. for sale.

There seems to be more Winchesters to be had than the Marlin ER. I have never seen a Marlin in use or for sale.
Try and get a browning BLR in 358W and the older steel reciever model are not far behind of the price of a brand new one.
If any one wants a BB in 307 I know of one here in Central Ontario. for sale.


Harry,

I sent you an email about the 307. Anyone know of shipping law concerning getting a rifle inot the US?


John

Here's a couple of shots of my Big Bores.

(left) Name that cartridge (Taffin shot)...


(right) From top to bottom, 307, 356, 375 and 444...

The 3 shooters are all wearing Williams FP peeps. The 307 hasn't been shot yet (sorry Slim...haven't had time/money to tool up). I'm partial to the 356 myself but plan to use the 444 for elk this fall. Would love to have one of the Marlin ERs but for the money I'll stick with my Winnie. Talk about a slim, packable, powerhouse...that 444 is it!

Nice guns!
You know, it hurts my heart to say this but the .356 Winchesters got the best wood....
I dont know why but the .356's always seem to have prettier wood. My .375 have pretty plain wood, the .307 a little nicer, the .444 is okay. My fathers and my .356 rifles both have very nice wood.

I agree about the wood. I'd have to say that the overall fit and finish of the 356 is better than all the rest, perhaps with close-to-call competition from the 444. I also think that of the obsolesent Winchester chambering, the 356 is the best. I know this runs against the grain of some folks here but it's only an opinion. I've clocked the Speer 220 FLAT-SP at over 2330 fps out of my BB. That's not too far behind big brother 358, probably with a longer barrel. At woods ranges I doubt there's much on this continent that could stand up to a competent rifleman using a 356 and proper loads. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to own a 358 too...just don't...yet.

To me, there is no difference between the 356 and 375. Except, the 356 is a little faster (very little handloaded) and the 375 has a little bigger diameter, is easier to find and cost a little less. But performance wise on game, both are DRT (dead right there) no real difference.

Don't get me wrong, I've experimented more with the 375 Win than any rifle I own (mostly in the Marlin). It is one of my all time favorite cartridges. With 250 gr bullets they're so close in performance that it doesn't matter. With the lighter bullets (ie 220 and below) I think the 356 wins. Does 130-150 fps matter? Maybe not. Or maybe it does at these velocities. One thing I do know is that the 375 is much easier to load for...not much case trimming required, you can use 375, 38-55 and FF'ed 30-30 cases. Recoil is about the same. I would say that my BB 356 is more accurate than my Marlin 375. And the microgroove rifling has proven to be a bear with cast bullets, even after firelapping. Don't have enough time on the BB 375 to know how it can be tuned up yet.

I have tried a whole range of loads in the 375 Win and know that it can be loaded light to heavy. Not sure how the 356 stacks up in this regard. My earlier statement was with regard to high end hunting loads.

I can't argue that a dead animal isn't dead. Either one will handle most anything in NA. But in my opinion, the 356 has a broader application than the 375, mostly due to the flatter trajectory with those lighter bullets. Would it matter at the ranges most shots are (or should be) taken at? Probably not.

Just my opinion...

Awesome little collection there Bartmasterson. You are a lucky man indeed. Thanks for the posts and looking forward to Slim Iorg's Tech Note on the 356 in the near future. I truly love my 356 Win.(Winchester). I too am shocked at the quality of the gun....how close the tolerances are in the action and how smooth it is. The nice little groups it makes is an added bonus. I want to get a good 250 Gr. Cast Load up....one that doesn't extend down past the case neck. So far, I've had little time to do this, but will get back to the forum in the near future with some results. God Bless to all and thanks for the posts. Chris

Ahhh my favorite topic! I have a Mod 94BB AE in .356 that I purchased new in the early 90's. It wears a very inexpensive Tasco 1.5x - 5x scope and is held in place by Weaver see thru rings. Now The rings are kinda nice for Hog hunting, cause ya never know when one of those creatures are gonna take things personal and I actually had to use them in just such a manner on one occasion. I ended up hitting the critter right in the lower jaw at about 30 feet as he evidently took offense at me and I was not even interested in him. The 200 gr flat point did its job and messed up the hogs day for sure, going through the lower jaw and into the chest, through the ribs and lodging in its heart. Heck it ruined the tusks in the process, but the hog did a nosedive head first into the ground and never moved again. That is authority my friends. Could other rounds have done the same thing? I'm sure. Could other rifles? Maybe. But a win 94 with .356 or .375 is just such a perfect tool and it looks purty too! I have shot nearly everything from groundhogs to elk. However I truly want to be able to say I have taken everything I hunted with it. I have yet to go after Moose, antelope, black bear and mountain goats. Although I am only 45, I doubt I will get the chance to go after mountain goats, but I am trying to get lucky in Maine's moose lottery, am planing a trip out west in 2006 (antelope) and hope to get to Pennsylvania sometime during the next two years to try my luck at black bear. When I get those three I'll consider myself a might bit fortunate. Although well over 1000 rounds have gone through the 94, she is nearly as pretty as the day I unwrapped her. The sound she makes as I work the lever reassures me completely. The feel of her wood in my hands is like the handshake of an old and dear friend. I treat her well and she responds by never, ever failing to do what I ask of her. I know her feel and she knows my touch. When I raise her to my shoulder she fits like an old pair of jockeys and for that moment we are one in purpose. I know its an inanimate object, but we're a team. Do I sound proud? **** straight I am proud. I'll not feel the least bit handicapped where ever I take her. Sure she can't shoot like a clothsline, nor would she fare well going against a pachoderm. But she'll spit 5 pieces of lead out of her in less then 3 seconds and she hits whatever I am looking at. I don't think I''ll be looking for a replacement anytime soon.

So let me get this straight Aceman.....you LIKE your 356??? Haha. Just kidding. I know how you feel.... I bought mine new in early 1992(should be some of the first with the crossbolt), and as was noted in an earlier post....at that time you couldn't give them away. I was shocked that a new box of ammo even then was well over 20 dollars. I was impressed with the thump of the factory rounds and had all the fun I could afford. After I was married I put it away for a good bit, getting tooled up over time to reload for it. The total ignoring of the cartridge by the media and the price of ammo made me just mad enough to want to reload for it(my first rifle reloading project). I am having fun shooting cast....200 Gr. RCBS FNGC and Beartooth's 210 Gr. LFNGC. I agree with you totally. Nothing quite feels like this rifle and cartridge. It makes you feel a little different having one, and being a half a bubble off center, if fits my personality also. Great rifle. Look for Slim Iorg's Tech note on making 356 Brass from 444 Marlin cases using Redding Trim dies here in the near future. We are lucky to have him here on the forum with all the experience he and his dad have with reloading for this cartridge and the 307. Sounds like you have a good bit of field experience with this cartridge and I appreciate your imput.

Aceman

Don't be too certain that your .356 Win wouldn't work on elephants! Back when the 32 Win Spec was introduced in the 94, a gent took one to africa and used full metal jacket 170gr bullets to do in elephants! I bet a hard cast flat nose 250gr would kill just about anything you pointed it at!

I wish I could remember the title of the book that story was in. I think it was an anthology of hunting stories. Can anyone help me out?

I just got back from shooting the 307 at the rifle range. It shoots good groups and no ejection problems. It does not seem to care what powder, bullets or brass combination is used in the reloads. I wish Winchester would bring it back, at least on a limited run bases. I have always been a Marlin man, but this 307 is a good rifle.

What I have "heard" is that more Elephants have been downed by 7.62 Ball Ammo than any other cartridge(the near twin of the 307 Win.). I believe Ross Seyfried related this in one of his articles. Whether this is from poachers or military weapons used for culling them I have no idea. Just what I've heard. Now, like you guys I won't be hitting Africa with mine anytime soon. Though only an occasional hunter, I like the idea of the versatility in the 356....using .360 round balls for Small critters, 200 Gr. Fodder standard work and the 250's for just about anything in the lower 48.

For years, I wanted a Winchester or Marlin 375. Well, a few months ago, I finally got a Marlin 375. It is very clean and came with a Weaver 1X3 scope. I really like this rig, and it shoots! I can't wait to get after whitetail deer this winter. Now, if I could just find a 356.............. :D

When I was looking around for BB and had the cash I could not find any. Then through a dry spell with no cash on hand I ran into a 375 and later a 356 in winchesters.
Then late spring I found a 358 BLR .At a real good price
I think the 356/375/358 are close together that you could group them together ,but one might have a edge over the other . With the price of Ammo , they are all good rounds for the reloader.
Now that I have the 358 W , I wonder why I need the 45/70. I wonder if you had the 356 if you would still want the 375?
Sometimes you get too many rifles and so little time.

Would I still want the 375............

Good question. I guess it would depend on how the 356 shot. I believe either cartridge is quite capable of "making meat." I agree, one can have more guns than time to shoot them. :D

I don't want to sound like I'm waffling on opinion here, but if I could only have one of these (356 or 375), and I have the tools to handload, I'd opt for the 375 hands down. The availability of servicable brass (375, 38-55 and 30-30), decent low cost hardcast bullets, and Re7 make this a good one rifle choice. There are other powders that work well but Re7 is the workhorse in this cartridge. It also works well in some other cartridges (30-30 and 45-70, to name two) so is good have around.

When I think of all my leverguns, the Winchester BBs (particularly 356 and 375) usually jump to mind first for whatever purpose I have planned. I can't say enough good about them. If you can find one you won't be sorry.

Oh, and by the way, if Marshall is watching, there are a bunch of guys waiting here for that 375 Tech article you mentioned a couple of years ago. :)

Reloder 7 and Hornady 220s have worked so well in my Marlin 375, I haven't even tried anything else. I'll probably get around to it, but I already have a winner! Has anyone made 375 cases from 30-30 cases?

Reloder 7 and Hornady 220s have worked so well in my Marlin 375, I haven't even tried anything else. I'll probably get around to it, but I already have a winner! Has anyone made 375 cases from 30-30 cases?

I've made them several times. Not hard at all. About 4.5-5gr Bullseye in a 30 WCF case, covered with corn meal, and kaypok tamped into place with an arrow shaft, fired in the 375 chamber and instant 375 cases. There are other techniques but this is the one I've tried.

"Reloder 7 and Hornady 220s have worked so well in my Marlin 375, I haven't even tried anything else."
Try some Accurate Arms 1680 with the Hornady, or the 200 Sierra. In my Marlin, the 1680 produces slightly better accuracy at 150-200 fps higher velocity.

Guys,

Thanks for the tips on forming 375 cases fron 30-30 cases and AA1680 powder. I'll try both. It's all fun. :D

I've heard that AA1680 out performs Re7 in the 375 Win but have never even seen a canister of it. Have looked for it numerous times but it was either nowhere to be found or the price was out of bounds. I've used a couple of other AA powders with good success so plan to try it sometime. Just need a reliable source. Marshall has reported it to be the top powder for velocity with his 250 gr bullet. Hopefully I'll get to try it sometime... In the meantime, Re7 works real good too.