Browning A-Bolt Hunter II .375 H&H - Questions

[Browning Hunter]

Hi guys,

Just a few questions regarding the Browning A-Bolt Hunter II in .375 H&H Mag

Has anyone had any problems with this specific brand/calibre combo. If so, what were they and how did you remedy them? I have recently bought one in Pretoria, South Africa and have scoured the internet to search for any problems that other owners have had with these rifles. I found that the triggers (as far as I can ascertain) are the only iffy things that these rifle possibly have, bar that they are tough accurate rifles.

I have ammo questions too but I will post those on a different thread.

I plan to use it as my all round rifle and want to be prepared for all potential problems that could arise.

Your thoughts?

 

[K-man]

Have one myself. 2 trips to Africa and one coming up in Alaska. Have used it on everything from duiker to lion, and soon moose and grizzly. Barnes x on thickskinned game, Nosler partition on the rest. Trigger is stiff but consistent. Put a Leupold 2 x 7 scope and you can see further than you can shoot. Great rifle and good luck with yours.

 

[Browning Hunter]

Thanks K-Man. I had a look at the specs on the Browning North America website and wondered about their recoil. The weapon seems light...

I have topped it with Warne bases, Warne QD rings and a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 scope.

 

[BRICKBURN]

My buddy used his Browning (300 WinMag) to great effect in Africa. No issues.

 

[K-man]

Light, yes. A bit. But you carry it all day and only fire it once or twice. Hahaha. Recoil is not as bad with the 260 or 270 grn. bullets. You can also add a nice pad on the end. I also have a vx3 leupold, but as I was using this gun for d.g, I opted for less power and faster sight picture. I am sure your setup will work as well.

 

[bassasdaindia]

I have many rifles , I have said it before and I will repeat it again :

my A Bolts are by far my most accurate rifles

 

[matt85]

you mention its light, how much does it weigh?

in my opinion the 3.5-10x40 is more scope then one needs for a 375 (unless yer big on target shooting). the 2-7x33 is what i had on mine and i loved it. i have a 1-6x24 on my 416 RM and its perfect for out to 200 yards.

-matt

 

[CTDolan]

Had an A-Bolt in 375 H&H, back in the day (in the late 1980's, when the A-Bolt was new). I bought the rifle on a whim, and it was dead accurate with everything I put through the action (crazy accurate). What I didn't like was the 26 inch barrel. As I said, though, I bought it on a whim.

 

[Blaserman]

In 94 I used one for my Brown Bear
Hunt in Alaska never had a problem with it. I also sold my Guide one dirt cheap as his top.

 

[Browning Hunter]

matt85,
The website says it weighs 11 lbs which is about 4.98kg. Now I went and had a look at it a few weeks ago and it seemed lighter than that. Granted, I was so excited I couldn't take much in regarding weight and barrel length. The Browning website doesn't say how long the barrel is but I am assuming between 24 and 26 inches. Overall length is 46 3/4 inches. Once it is loaded up and has the scope on it, I am sure it will be plenty heavy enough to help take the recoil. The scope I chose because at some point I would like to do a Namibia/ Northern Cape hunt for Springbuck and Gemsbok. Maybe if I get the chance to do a buff hunt one day I will replace it with something better suited to closer work...

CTDolan,
I am very happy to hear that it was accurate with whatever you fed it. Ammo here is sometimes scarce, especially the premium stuff.
And I just received AMAZING news! My license has reached the police station so can be collected!!! Only 1 more month to our hunt and until I can pick up my rifle. I am in Brazil at the moment so it's still sitting at the dealer.

 

[matt85]

i hope its lighter then that, 11 pounds is way too heavy for a 375!

my 375 H&H was around 9 pounds and i felt that was on the heavy side. i think the ideal weight for a 375 is around 8 pounds or around 9 pounds scoped.

-matt

 

[brushmore]

I just checked Brownings website and it list the weight of the x-bolt in 375 H&H as 7 pounds. Some day I plan buying a 375 H&H and x-bolt is on my short list. But I am a little leery of it given the weight so I too would be interested in opinions from people who own one.

 

[matt85]

7 pounds is fine if your going to add a scope. the scope would at 1-1.5 pounds which puts the gun in a very nice weight range.

-matt

 

[JWB300]

Brushmore - my 375 Ruger is a shade over 9lb scoped. I would gladly drop 1lb off it.

 

[matt85]

i have fired a 8 pound 375 loaded to 2600 fps with a 300gr bullet. the recoil was there but nothing to worry about.

-matt

 

[shuter]

i have fired a 8 pound 375 loaded to 2600 fps with a 300gr bullet. the recoil was there but nothing to worry about.

-matt

You guys are manlier than me! My Model 70 Safari Express .375 with Leupold 1.5-5x in Warne rings weighs right at 11 lbs. slung and ready for the field. Doesn't seem too heavy...especially from the bench! Sure I'd rather carry less, but I've dragged a 10 lb. .338 Win Mag up and down a lot of hills elk hunting to no ill effect. an 8.5-9 lb. .375 seems awfully light to me, but to each his own.

 

[Browning Hunter]

I worked with the CZ 550 Magnum Standard and Delux models in .375 H&H and .458 Win Mag for many years when I was a Field Guide taking walking safaris. Walks were generally 3-4 hours at a time unless we were tracking lion or some other big and hairy. That could take longer then. The .375 comes in at 4.2kg or 9.25lbs and the .458 is the same. They are only heavy when you do your first 3 or 4 walks but you become accustomed to the weight very quickly. These were both un-scoped and un-slinged and carry 5 rounds in the magazine. The recoil was very manageable so 11 lbs + scope + a full magazine = easy to handle in my mind. I guess its just a case of getting used to the extra weight. Once I have picked it up from the dealer, I will post some pics and weigh the components and let you guys know.

 

[Alchemist]

I own a Browining Abolt 2 375 H&H rifle. I am happy with the rifle and the acccuracy. I shoot 270 gr Peregrine as well as 300 gr Swift Aframes and the groupings are 1" on both. Recoil is not an issue - Limbsaver recoil pad - the stock is light andvthe barrel is 26 " , so I carry the rifle barrel down. If I could change something it would be the stock. The rifle is however extremely good value for money.
I have a Leupold VX3 3-9 scope fitted as the rifle is not used for dangerous game.

 

[sandman0921]

Browning Hunter,

I have a Browning A-bolt II Medallion in 300 WSM. For various reasons it has slowly worked it's way to the back of the safe, and I don't use it as much anymore, but not because it wasn't a great rifle. Always very accurate......Anyway, I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but Timney makes a spring kit that lightens the trigger pull to 2 or 3 lbs depending on the spring you use. I myself have not utilized this kit, and I would be curious if anyone on this forum has, but from comments I've read, it does make a significant difference. I agree that the trigger adjustment and feel, or lack thereof, is the only real knock this rifle has against it. I think for the money, it's a good value.

Here's a video of someone installing the spring......looks like a very easy fix that you might consider. I'm not sure if you have a source in S.A. for the Timney springs, but it may be worth a shot if you find the trigger pull a little heavy..

 

[Browning Hunter]

sandman0921,

Thanks a stack for the video! Seems like a very easy fix for a heavy trigger. I believe we do have Timney's readily available in SA, my buddy put one on his .308 Remington. I personally do prefer a light trigger (my 8mm Mauser has a hair trigger!) so once I have put a few rounds through the Browning and tested it on it's first hunt I might just look into it.

I have a few extras I want to add with time:

• a grip cap with an engraving of the first animal I take with the rifle
• new open sights (the stock ones are not quite what I like - The CZ leaf sights are amazing) with a white bead on the front made from warthog tusk (if I can get it done) and
• a custom stock with an ebony forend and white slide made from giraffe bone (when I shoot my first giraffe)
• buffalo hide sling made from the first buffalo I hunt (and probably the only buffalo I ever hunt due to the price of them!)
• Pachmayr or similar recoil pad

I believe that rifles are not only functional but are also works of art. I want my rifle to be like a story book, each piece having a history and being a representation of my hunting memories.

These additions and changes are expensive and will only come with time but I look forward to the customising.