.375 H&H Do Critics Exist?

[HWL]

... and I have just had a custom 9.3X64 "built".....

Does it perform like a .375 H&H in the field...?

HWL

 

[Tom Leoni]

Hi, HWL--I think the 9.3x64 will do what the .375 H&H will do. If you can launch a near-300-gr projectile at around 2,500 f/s, you are in the "perfect all-around rifle" zone.

There may even be a reason to prefer the 9.3 for its greater sectional density--although some will regard this as a tad academic. For instance, for a 300-gr bullet, the sectional density of the 9.3 is .320, while that for the .375 is .305.

Gregor Woods, one of (IMHO) the world's most experienced, numerate and underrated gun writers, places the 9.3x64 along the .375 as an ideal all-around rifle for Africa. To him, the only reason to prefer the .375 is its greater availability over the counter, as well as the issue of legality for dangerous game in certain districts. Bottom line: you chose well.

 

[Von S.]

I have nothing to really say that is critical about any rifle or round.

Why would I or anyone?

If someone doesn't like something I have yet to see anyone holding a gun to their head making them use it.....not lately anyway.

Buy what you can afford, shoot with what you can hit with and let those who gargle with B's and spout that they and only they know what's right and smile at them as you walk away.

 

[geoff rath]

Hi, HWL--I think the 9.3x64 will do what the .375 H&H will do. If you can launch a near-300-gr projectile at around 2,500 f/s, you are in the "perfect all-around rifle" zone.

There may even be a reason to prefer the 9.3 for its greater sectional density--although some will regard this as a tad academic. For instance, for a 300-gr bullet, the sectional density of the 9.3 is .320, while that for the .375 is .305.

Gregor Woods, one of (IMHO) the world's most experienced, numerate and underrated gun writers, places the 9.3x64 along the .375 as an ideal all-around rifle for Africa. To him, the only reason to prefer the .375 is its greater availability over the counter, as well as the issue of legality for dangerous game in certain districts. Bottom line: you chose well.

AS above, for the 9.3X64. Pure personal preference. I don't see the point of the belt, apart from overcoming the case design of the H&H cartridges...

 

[Head Trauma]

I replaced my last 375 H&H with a Ruger 375 Guide Gun and could not be happier. The reason was not the cartridges but
the rifles they are chambered in. The Ruger 375 Guide Gun is lighter, more compact, less bulky than any 375 H&H I have owned. The excellent factory iron sights, the stainless steel construction and excellent muzzle brake on the Ruger are advantages to me over other types of rifles. My 375 Ruger Guide Gun is stupid accurate, easy to load for, higher muzzle velocities than any of my previous 375 H&H's, no cartridge case belt, the muzzle brake is not obnoxious due to the radial design and is easily removed; this rifle is a utilitarian tool that does the job just fine for me.

The above is not to denigrate the 375 H&H at all; it's just that at 67 years old I no longer
want to drag heavy, bulky rifles thru the jess chasing ele and ending the day wiped out.

Just something to consider, YMMV.

 

[Desert Dog]

The easy Answer:

PROS: It is an all-purpose caliber.........Can fill the role of rifles for anything from Impala to Buffalo. A true one-rifle battery that can shoot a wide variety of bullets weights at a decent trajectory, without the recoil of a true big bore.

CONS: It is an all-purpose caliber............Doesn't fit the role of a plains game rifle as well as a low-recoil, flat shooting 30 caliber; and doesn't fit the roll of a DG rifle as well as the 40 caliber big bores. Since you are taking 2 rifles to Africa, why not take a 30-06 for plains game and your 416 for buff and have the best of both worlds?

 

[Von S.]

I really like that they are making all sorts of new wonderful rounds these days.

I will stick with my 378 with a can on it that feels like a 308 when you let a 300 grain sizzling dog off the chain to pole ax it's prey 600 yards away with relative ease.

 

[Dr Ray]

Is the perfect all round caliber - if you could only purchase one rifle, a 375H&H would have to be the one.

Agreed plus one of the 416s plus a 270/308/3006!

 

[Dr Ray]

The 375 H&H is a magnificent cartridge. Critics will always find something wrong like with the 243.
Too heavy for light work and too light for heavy work.
It’s a matter of personal choice!

 

[BenKK]

Love the .375H&H, but it isn’t a stopper like the .500J is, so I upgraded to keep us safer in the monsoon season long grass.

 

[Bas]

I really like that they are making all sorts of new wonderful rounds these days.

I will stick with my 378 with a can on it that feels like a 308 when you let a 300 grain sizzling dog off the chain to pole ax it's prey 600 yards away with relative ease.

Sounds great, which can ?
Thanks, Bob

 

[rookhawk]

Since I began researching African hunting, I have seen .375 H&H doted on more than any other caliber. In my philosophy, nothing is perfect. So where are the critics? What are the realistic limitation of .375? When is it overpowered? When is it underpowered? Alternative calibers?

It's too big for some things and too little for other things. But it is the most versatile solution to do everything. Are you going to hunt one grysbok in your lifetime? Then the .375HH will suffice even though a .22WMR or .22 hornet is better. Are you going to hunt one elephant in your life? A brain shot with a .375hh solid will suffice, even though a .416, .450, or .470 is better. Are you going to go to Africa a couple times in a lifetime but you live in America? The .375HH is the only dangerous game rifle for Africa that has actual utility for many North American scenarios too (elk, moose, brown bear) so you get some reuse out of your Africa rifle back home.

There isn't one thing the .375HH is the best at, but its functional for about everything. I'd rather own one $8000 375HH than ten $800 specialty guns. It's a gun that is versatile enough to justify spending a lot more money on it than a specialty gun, and that in and of itself usually leads to pride of ownership, more proficiency, and ownership of the best gun you can afford instead of another clunker in the closet.

 

[Von S.]

Hi Bob.

A Crux Archangel , about 16 inches long.

 

[Bas]

It's too big for some things and too little for other things. But it is the most versatile solution to do everything. Are you going to hunt one grysbok in your lifetime? Then the .375HH will suffice even though a .22WMR or .22 hornet is better. Are you going to hunt one elephant in your life? A brain shot with a .375hh solid will suffice, even though a .416, .450, or .470 is better. Are you going to go to Africa a couple times in a lifetime but you live in America? The .375HH is the only dangerous game rifle for Africa that has actual utility for many North American scenarios too (elk, moose, brown bear) so you get some reuse out of your Africa rifle back home.

There isn't one thing the .375HH is the best at, but its functional for about everything. I'd rather own one $8000 375HH than ten $800 specialty guns. It's a gun that is versatile enough to justify spending a lot more money on it than a specialty gun, and that in and of itself usually leads to pride of ownership, more proficiency, and ownership of the best gun you can afford instead of another clunker in the closet.

The more you write the more I like you.
I bought a ss Browning X Bolt in .375 H&H in 2015. Fired one shot, one dead brownie. I have loaded the CEB 175 gr. and the 185 Lehigh bullets I hope to use this fall on 150# whitetails. Both loads are over 3,300 fps. I MIGHT load the 260 gr. CEB in .460 Weatherby to over 3,400 fps for the same reason. Curious if either gun can dump ALL it's energy in a animal I can hunt within 5 miles of where I live, and there's a remote chance of seeing a black bear.
We do what we do for entertaining ourselves, nobody is forcing us.....
If my wallet and physical health were up to it, I'd like to get a Heym, Mauser Magnum, Rigby or Dakota. Highly unlikely. Westley Richards makes my favorite but I can't envision the reality of ordering a $40,000+ rifle coming to fruition.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon, Bob

 

[2L8]

Nothing wrong with the .375 H&H. Makes great plinking ammo for my .375 Wby. Got to have something for the Chipmunks!

 

[Lbarr265]

The 375 is the honda civic of the cartridge world. It will do everything 99% of people need. This doesn't make it perfect for anything really, just good enough at everything. I would say for any 1 specific shot/purpose we could come up with a better round, but then you carry 100 guns on a safari to get 10 animals.

 

[Red Leg]

Hi Bob.

A Crux Archangel , about 16 inches long.

Jeez - do you roll that around on a gun carriage? What is total barrel length - like 38 inches!?! You hunt with something the length of an old Marlin goose gun?!?

 

[Red Leg]

The 375 is the honda civic of the cartridge world. It will do everything 99% of people need. This doesn't make it perfect for anything really, just good enough at everything. I would say for any 1 specific shot/purpose we could come up with a better round, but then you carry 100 guns on a safari to get 10 animals.

Oh just the opposite. More the genes of a Bugatti Saloon like the Galibier https://www.topspeed.com/cars/bugatti-galibier/ke3516.html Elegant, nothing that isn't essential, perfect for the game intended, and can be had in the most elegant trims that money can buy. Simply perfection.

 

[Von S.]

Jeez - do you roll that around on a gun carriage? What is total barrel length - like 38 inches!?! You hunt with something the length of an old Marlin goose gun?!?

38?......And then some Red.

It's not really a very sensible hunting iron, but if someone can go prone with a clear runway there isn't much that even a mediocre shot can't easily drop at 5.

I'm still not gonna say that it's my choice for taking out animals who wanna have their way with me.

I still want another 200 grains and at least a 45 diameter or better.

 

[Newboomer]

I have to agree with both sides of this discussion. I truly love my 70 375HH and have used it on everything from springbok to buffalo. There are great bullets for about anything you are hunting. I use Barnes 235 TSX for pg and Barnes 350 TSX for my buf. I don't think I'd use it for ele unless my PH was right behind me with his choice of cannon. My Win 70 is a little on the hefty side, 11 lbs wet but the recoil is not noticeable in the field. For bench work I use a Past shield. If I could have only one rifle it would be the 375HH.

On the subject of cartridge length, I made up some dummy rounds by sizing a fired case, loading a spent primer and seating a round. Great for mounting and reloading drills off sticks. I use a spent primer to prevent firing pin damage.