375 SOCOM

shooterrex · June 28, 2020

That load shoot very well.

dpete · August 2, 2020

I got out to the range yesterday with my son and the 375. Loaded up 6 magazines to get the new Nikon scope sighted in and to see how the production handloads compared to the test loads I had shot previously.

I put the first target up at 25 yards. I figured at that range even without knowing where in the world the first shot would go I could at least have it on paper. It turns out it was a good decision. First shot 2" up from the bottom of the target. Dial the scope up a sh*tload of clicks and fire #2. Up some more and right for #3. Then peg #4.

I put the next target up at 50 yards and touched off the first shot. High again! Dial back down and shoot 2 -5. Now I'm happy. This is going to be a woods gun for deer and these are the only bullets that are going to be going through it. A 50 yard shot would more than likely be pushing it for distance.

After feeling pretty good about the 50 yard group I had to put one out at 100 yards just for research purposes and $hits and giggles. Fired 11 shots (all a 30 round GI mag holds) and all of them high again and much more spread out.

My son took a turn at 100 yards and pretty much repeated what I did, maybe a little better.

Now for the question. Given the hunting distances I expect to encounter while using this rifle should I sight it in at 75 yards? The other option is to sight it for 100 yards and use the multiple circle BDC reticle of the scope for 50 yards. It just seems weird to have to hold higher for shorter range shots.

On a totally different note, this rifle has its own giggle factor but at the other end of the spectrum from my suppressed Blackout. That one with subs has practically no recoil and the quiet brings a smile. This thing brings more of a holy $hit!! kind of smile when you touch one off and you let everyone in a mile or more radius know you fired a round. For an observer the muzzle blast from the brake is most impressive! Then you see a 3/8"+ diameter hole in the target.

More perspective...Hornady's 9th edition puts a 208 grain A-Max out of a .308 at up to 2450fps out of a 22" barrel. This 375 Socom is pushing a 200 grain stubby flat point at 2435fps out of an 18" barrel.

Edited August 2, 2020 by dpete

Radioactive · August 2, 2020

Depends what you want to do. 3” high at 100 yds is within minute of deer. If most of your shots are likely to be less than 50 yds I’d leave it. If you think you will be shooting closer to 100 yds then adjust it. As you described normal shooting distance I wouldn’t touch it.

98Z5V · August 2, 2020

Yep, 7" vital zone. I'd run that one with the 50-yard zero you put on it. If he's a tick more then 50 yards, just hold lower an inch or 2 and let it fly, brother. :thumbup:

I'd be intensely interested in seeing what a 75-yard zero looks like, when shot at 50 and then 100 yards, though. Could be a sweet spot, for zero distance.

Edited August 2, 2020 by 98Z5V

dpete · August 3, 2020

3 hours ago, 98Z5V said:

I'd be intensely interested in seeing what a 75-yard zero looks like, when shot at 50 and then 100 yards, though. Could be a sweet spot, for zero distance.

Me too! Thats why I thought of it. I have a PVC frame I built as an archery target holder and have a 1X4 frame made to hold rifle targets for it. All I have to do is measure out 25 yards beyond the 50 yard target and done.

Radioactive · August 3, 2020

I suspect it will be halfway between the 50 and 100 zone. So 11/2 inches higher or there about. Your call it’s always good to bust off a few rounds. Some are just spendier (is that a word?) than others.

dpete · August 7, 2020

Back to the range today for sighting trials. Things were both surprising and pleasing at the same time. I brought along my target stand so I could set up a 75 yard target for reference, and it gave me anotherset of data points for future hunting shots.

I took a couple shots at 50 yards to make sure everything was good and then moved out to 100. Yep the holes were high. I then figured "what the hell" and sighted it in for the 100 yards. Grouping was much better than this past Saturday and once the scope was set the group was great.

I shot a 4 round group at 100, 75, and 50 yards.

3 nice and bad flier low.

3 even nicer and not as bad a flier that I know I jerked.

3 nice and a slight flier up and right.

25 yards took a little bit to find the sweet spot on the BDC reticle, but once I found it I could pound each round down the same hole.

The aiming point for 25 yards is in the little drawing on the target. 1/2 way between the first and 2nd circle in the reticle, it amounts to aiming 2" high at 25 yards.

What I'm surprised about and have the question about is how can sighting in at 100 yards result in 50 - 100 yard groups being exactly in the same spot on target? 3 maybe 4 clicks to the right and it will be dead nuts. I never even bothered to try a 75 yard zero to see what the result would be. I'm happy as it is!

I'm more and more impressed with this rifle each time I shoot it.

Edited August 7, 2020 by dpete