375 H&H or 458 Lott

[WoodencrossIII]

Greetings Gentlemen

I have a question for anyone who can answer. I currently have a CZ550 Safari Magnum it’s chambered in 45 Lott. I am wondering if I’d be bettering myself by getting a Ruger number 1 in 375 H&H? My style of hunting is probably more suited for a more distant shooting rifle than a 458, but I had an itch and got the gun I’ve fired it a few times, but I’m wondering if I’d gain myself anything by trading? The ruger is priced fairly and I know the CZ rifles have gone up. I’ve posted it on here probably at too high of a price tag. Just curious if the 375 gains me much over the Lott?

Thanks I want all input you got considering I hunt whitetails currently but have hunted and killed elk, I probably would grab my 300 win mag or something like it but the 375 having more range than the Lott is more where I’m thinking.

 

[dogcat1]

.375 HH all the way. I have had both. Sold the Lott and bought a custom .375HH. I have to meet anyone the Lott better than a .375 HH.

 

[375Fox]

I took a 450 Rigby (very similar to the Lott) and a 375 H&H on my Zimbabwe hunt this year. I used the 450 to take my elephant then put it back in the gun case the next 12 days. Unless you want a specific close range dangerous game rifle the 375 is much more versatile. I’ve taken shots on PG past 300 yards with my 375 and buffalo at 25 yards. It does well for both. On that specific trip, I took an eland at 250 that I likely would never have gotten close enough with the 450 Rigby in my hands.

 

[WoodencrossIII]

That’s my thoughts I got the 458 because of the neat big cartridge appeal but after having it I felt like I should have gotten something more like a 375 or a 416 or 404 something more flatter shooting.

 

[BigGame]

Depends on what you're hunting.

 

[Ridge Runner]

@WoodencrossIII,

Yes, a 375 will give you a bit more range with a better bullet trajectory.

Perhaps you could give a bit more defining or clarity of your question, as to the main purpose/intention of animal(s) you are wanting either of these 2 calibers.

Are you planning on an African hunt?

Are you looking for a caliber using heavier bullets for elk, moose, and brown bears?

Are you just wanting a 375 rather than a 458 for hunting whitetail deer?

What is the max distance are wanting to shoot?

Both will work for African PG & DG. For primarily PG and whitetail deer only, I would forgo the 375, and go with a 338, 300, 30-06, 308 or any of the onslaught of other calibers that have been discussed on the forum.

 

[BJH65]

Seems like you’d be happier with the 375 H&H. Unless you want a rifle primarily for buffalo, hippo on land and elephant, the 375 H&H would be a much more versatile cartridge for you and the Ruger No.1 is one handsome platform for the 375 H&H.

 

[M70375!]

Seems like you’d be happier with the 375 H&H. Unless you want a rifle primarily for buffalo, hippo on land and elephant, the 375 H&H would be a much more versatile cartridge for you and the Ruger No.1 is one handsome platform for the 375 H&H.

I would suggest a 416 Rem, great for large and small critters in Africa and everywhere else, I used mine for elephant , moose and coyote. Shot moose at 275 yards with 400 grain Barnes TSX, one shot drop dead in tracks shot, with very little meat damage due to the velocity level of that load and if you are ever thinking you are going to blow something up to much you can. always use a solid. I have many rifles but my Kimber Caprivi 416 Rem is my favorite and I use it for everything from coyote to elephant and rocks for target shooting when I take my morning walk.

 

[WoodencrossIII]

I appreciate all the feedback back thanks

 

[WoodencrossIII]

In regards to the what I’d be hunting with it I would really be going after whitetail and maybe elk down the road, I know that they both would work but truly I bought the rifle with an itch for something different and cool I really should try to find it a better home sometime and utilize the funds for more suitable rifles for my hunting style,

 

[Safari Dave]

The .375 H&H is probably the most versatile cartridge in the world.

It will do the job on any African game with the right bullets.



A .458 Lott is a great DG rifle, but kicks like a mule and drops like a rock at distance.


However, I would not go to a single shot .375 H&H.


I would go with a CRF .375 H&H bolt action. CZ or Winchester.



Sometimes you need to keep shooting ASAP, as many times as possible. My CZ .375 H&H is an African six-shooter!

 

[Tra3]

If you save $10 a day, by the time we all get done giving you advice, you will have enough extra $$ to have both rifles and keep both rifles.

+1 on the .375, it is more versatile. And cheaper to shoot.

 

[Flipper Dude]

I’ve got a Lott and a 375. Different tools for different jobs. If you could only have one, it’s definitely the 375.

What’s the fun in that?

 

[CoElkHunter]

If you save $10 a day, by the time we all get done giving you advice, you will have enough extra $$ to have both rifles and keep both rifles.

+1 on the .375, it is more versatile. And cheaper to shoot.

+1. Every time you log into AH, put $10 into a jar. Soon, you'll have enough saved for both rifles and an African PG hunt. LOL

 

[Daniel Cary]

There's more 375's available out there (flooded) than Lott's .. if that has any bearing?

 

[LimbNoMo]

Please send me pictures of your .458 Lott. I would love to have another and will do my best to help you find a great .375 H&H.

 

[HTK Safaris]

You never know when you might need that Lott in Africa for some big game. I understand that the Lott might be a overkill at the moment but if it is possible in any way try and keep both. If not. The .375 will be perfect for a lot of situations, in the states hunting deer or in Africa hunting plains game and Dangerous Game. The variation in bullet weight helps with longer shooting distances. Maybe a lighter bullet for mountain hunts and a heavier bullet for Africa later on. Either way you have a lot of options with the .375. The .375 doesn't have a ton of recoil which makes it easier to be more accurate and easier to sight it in or set it up on the range.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Except for body shots on bull elephant (for which I strongly discourage a bore size below .450), I strongly believe that the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is the "Swiss Army Knife" of rifle calibers.

For your style of hunting, an added advantage is that the trajectory will be flatter out to longer ranges than that of the .458 Lott. I personally prefer to employ 300Gr bullets for everything by zeroing in my rifle for it's maximum point blank range.

 

[WAB]

For your application the .300 WM you already have is a better fit than either the .375 or the Lott.

I have shot buffalo with my .375 H&H and .458 Lott. For getting a buffalo’s attention there’s nothing quite like a 500 gr bullet at 2,300 fps. If you’re not after buffalo, elephant or the like, it is definitely overkill. There is nothing in NA that would justify a Lott over a .375. I have absolutely hammered brown bear with my 375. They are relatively easy to kill as compared to a buff.

I love the No 1, I have two. It is not a well designed stock for recoil management. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before you buy a No 1 in .375.

 

[Mark R]

I think a 375h&h makes much more practical sense, even more so in a quality bolt action.