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.375 Win. Ballistics — Velocity, Energy & Drop

Common uses: Hunting, Big Game

Specifications

Typerifle (centerfire)
Typical load200gr Winchester Super-X Power-Point
Muzzle velocity2200 fps
Muzzle energy2150 ft-lb
Published G1 ballistic coefficient0.214
Case length51.8 mm
Overall length64.8 mm

.375 Win. Trajectory Table

Range (yd)Velocity (fps)Energy (ft-lb)Drop (in)
022002149-1.5
100183614960
20015161021-9
3001257701-33.2
4001079517-79.6
500971419-155.8

.375 Win. Extended Ballistics (to 1,000 yd)

At 1,000 yards, .375 Win. (200gr at 2200 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 116.8 MOA / 34.0 MIL, retaining 694 fps (subsonic).

Range (yd)Velocity (fps)StateDrop (in)Elev (MOA)Elev (MIL)
3001257Transonic-33.210.63.08
4001079Subsonic-79.619.05.53
500971Subsonic-155.829.88.66
600896Subsonic-268.742.812.44
700835Subsonic-425.358.016.88
800783Subsonic-631.575.421.93
900736Subsonic-895.095.027.62
1000694Subsonic-1223.0116.833.97

Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.

Hunting Energy Reference

A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.

Data & Sources

Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.

Overview

The .375 Winchester is best known as a short-range, hard-hitting woods cartridge for lever-action rifles, well suited to deer, black bear, wild hog, and other medium and large game in thick cover. It drives heavy .375-inch bullets at moderate velocity, delivering strong penetration and knockdown power at close ranges while generating stout recoil for its size. Its flat-nose bullets and rainbow trajectory limit it to inside roughly 150 to 200 yards, making it a specialist's brush cartridge rather than an open-country or long-range choice. Ammunition and rifle availability have thinned considerably since its heyday, so it is now more of a handloader's and enthusiast's round than a mainstream option. Within its intended envelope, however, it is regarded as an effective and dependable big-game performer.

History

The .375 Winchester was introduced by Winchester in 1978, debuting in the Winchester Model 94 "Big Bore" XTR lever-action carbine. It is a modernized, higher-pressure version of the .38-55 Winchester, a black-powder cartridge dating to the 1880s; the case was shortened and strengthened to operate at pressures well above both the .38-55 and the .30-30 Winchester. Designed as a heavier big-game load for the Model 94 platform, it was also later chambered by Savage in the Model 99. Big Bore Model 94 production in this chambering ran into the mid-1980s.

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