.375 H&H

[Erik7181]

I bought a Winchester 1895 carbine a while back and said Japan.
I did see a few on gunbroker. Im not ready to buy one at the moment, im still in the research but when I do it will definitely be A Winchester. Still the only brand I really have faith in. I bought the Ruger as a knock around gun for when I hunt Alaska and down here in Florida its pretty humid. I usually wax my blued guns to prevent rust.

 

[dchum]

I bought a Winchester 1895 carbine a while back and said Japan.
I did see a few on gunbroker. Im not ready to buy one at the moment, im still in the research but when I do it will definitely be A Winchester. Still the only brand I really have faith in. I bought the Ruger as a knock around gun for when I hunt Alaska and down here in Florida its pretty humid. I usually wax my blued guns to prevent rust.

All the Winchester lever guns are made in Japan. They are of the highest quality and imo are better than the previous 30 years production. Fit and finish.

Model 70s are now Portugal and I don’t see many complaints. They shoot too.

But the previous New heaven made model 70s are damn fine as well. Hard to go wrong

 

[Doug3006]

I don’t know anyone who owns one, but I have heard the recoil is about the same as a 12gauge with 3” shells.
I would be looking for a Winchester or something with a wood stock.
Is stock cracking an issue with these?

I’ve owned a Winchester M70 in 375 H&H for over20 years. Three safaris and hundreds of practice rounds. Not a crack to be found. Also never heard of a stock crack that wasn’t caused by driving over the gun with a Landcruiser! Not saying it has never happened but not anywhere near being a common occurrence.

 

[sgt_zim]

It's not so bad with a properly fitting rifle. Add an India rubber or Limb Saver recoil pad for added comfort.

Very much this.

I'm very tall, very lanky. My 404J came with the OEM stock at 13.5" LOP (I lengthened it to 14.75") and a (for me) very low riser. The first few times I shot it after I got it, the recoil was quite unpleasant, even shooting off sticks.

I won't say it's a kitten now, but I find it only marginally more insulting than my 45-70.

 

[Puddle]

Do you handload? If so, then you are in the catbird seat. You can download them at least 150 fps using proper powder selection and load up cost-effective rounds using relatively inexpensive SP bullets.

Take it to the range and learn how to shoot a .375-anything from a bench without eating the recoil.
Then get you and the rifle squared away. After that get away from the bench and keep shooting from sticks and off-hand until you become comfortable at the starting MV you've chosen.

Once that MV becomes your new normal, then up the MV by 50 fps and start the cycle over again. Rinse and repeat.

You'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that a .375 H&H/Ruger/Whatever is no big deal. Just take it in steps.

 

[sgt_zim]

If you want a nice 375, Gordy & Sons in Houston has a nice Purdey double they're trying to sell

 

[B0MBOY]

Just use good technique and the recoil eventually won’t bother you.

If it’s too much get a limbsaver

 

[RichD]

I just got through with my Safari with my .375 Ruger. Zero issues and all my plains game dropped or ran less than 50 yards. The PH was impressed with it and said it would be no problem for a buff. My next trip will be that.

Which make/ model 375 Ruger did you buy? I'm considering one with a light budget. Thanks.

 

[wesheltonj]

If you want a nice 375, Gordy & Sons in Houston has a nice Purdey double they're trying to sell

View attachment 621807

When you have to wear white gloves to enter the gun room, I’ll pass. Although I do wear gloves when handling my Parker Bros shotgun, so I am not completely adverse.

 

[Inline6]

My experience was different than most of the other people that have posted in this thread.

The first 4-5 outing with my 375H&H gave me headaches. It was more recoil than I was accustomed to. Not crazy bad, you know when it went off. After I had a couple hundred rounds down range. It was easy enough for me to shoot that I stepped up to a 416REM. No headache when I shot it. Had built a tolerance up at that point from shooting the 375H&H. After a couple hundred rounds of 416REM. I stepped up to a 458Lott. Again no headache, the Lott does get your attention.

What I have personally found with bigger bore rifles. Shoot them often, doesn't need to be a lot. A couple rounds a month. Just something that allows you to feel and be in turn with the recoil management aspect of shoot med to large bore rifles.

 

[Erik7181]

I do not handload, and I know ammo is not cheap .
$325,000 is out of my price range thats a beautiful double. So I had to restock my Winchester 30-06 last year because it started cracking behind the recoil lug. I probably could of put a little epoxy in the recoil lug channel but I just restocked it.

Again though I received the rifle when I was young. I think I would definitely put a limb saver on it. My hope overall is to take it on a Brown bear hunt. I like my rifle to have some heft to it to help with the recoil some what.

I shoot off sticks most of the time. But when im hiking to my spot I sling it across my back or to my pack.

 

[Luvthunt]

Like you I started off with a Win m70 in 30-06 and then bought a 1949 Win m70 in 375 HH. Long time ago. The 375 was instrumental in my being able to move up to the 416 Rigby and a 458 Lott. The 375 recoil now is something I don’t even consider.
The point is it is what you get use to or recoil is a lot of physiological as much as it is physiological .

 

[sgt_zim]

I do not handload, and I know ammo is not cheap .
$325,000 is out of my price range thats a beautiful double. So I had to restock my Winchester 30-06 last year because it started cracking behind the recoil lug. I probably could of put a little epoxy in the recoil lug channel but I just restocked it.

Again though I received the rifle when I was young. I think I would definitely put a limb saver on it. My hope overall is to take it on a Brown bear hunt. I like my rifle to have some heft to it to help with the recoil some what.

I shoot off sticks most of the time. But when im hiking to my spot I sling it across my back or to my pack.

My post was quite the joke. I don't imagine there are more than 2 or 3 guys here who could afford that.

 

[Pablo]

@RichD Mine is the African model. I have Ruger .270 that is my go to gun for everything here at home. Very similar feel, other than the weight and recoil. It was fun to shoot and the recoil doesn’t bother me.

 

[Fixfire]

I swear my pre64 M70 .270 featherweight kicks more than my new production M70 in 375HH. The .270 has iron sights so not the added benefit from the weight of a scope.

 

[62flint]

I was concerned with the recoil of a 375hh myself.
I purchased a pre64 m70.
Recoil was pleasantly surprising. Yes you know you shot a big gun. But it’s not painful. I shot a rem700 in 30-06 that hurt a lot worse. The 375 is more of a push than a chop. I compare mine to my savage 220 slug gun.
I did purchase a past recoil shield to use from the bench doing load development. But I shot 20-30 rounds a day doing that.
Up to 10 shots off a bench I am good. After that I start to get sore.

 

[Green Chile]

Plenty has been said. I could give you the math on it but I think you get the point from others. Where do you live? Maybe someone near you from here can offer a demo. If you're near DFW, I would happily offer a test run.

 

[Erik7181]

On the model 70s what barrel lenth do you recommend. The Alaskan has 25”. The Safari has a 24”. I guess one inch wouldn’t make that much of a difference.

 

[Green Chile]

A little shorter is a LOT handier in the bush...and 24" isn't short. The 375 doesn't need a long barrel but pick which one you like the best.

 

[Erik7181]

To be honest id prefer the Safari. I prefer the look of it. Im 5’9 165lbs, I honestly dont mind a little weight in my rifles. Its just been my experience the longer the barrel the more it snags of stuff.