Optimum weight for a .375 H&H

[colorado]

I think the old adage was that a 375HH magazine rifle should be around 8lbs and therefore a 9lb gun with an optic.

I have a classic British mauser with a dangerous game scope at that weight and it handles and carries beautifully. The fit is excellent and therefore that plus the weight makes it an extremely mild recoiling rifle. Much more enjoyable to shoot than most 300WM rifles I've come across. The balance and muzzle lift is managed well because it has the very traditional 25" barrel.

I think that you'd have to keep that barrel length in mind from a hunter's perspective because it makes it comfortable, ballistically optimal and the longer barrel reduces recoil jump. When you hear about 7lb or 7.5lb 375s that are usually cropped guns. If you're a PH for a living you don't want to snag on stuff so you chop the barrel down to 21". You don't care about long range ballistics because you're a PH. You care that it weighs less because you carry it 150 days a year.

In conclusion: Save the light 375s with short barrels to the PHs that want them for a different application (saving lives by stopping charges) than we do as client hunters.

Agree with everything you advise. Our Rem XCR II in 375 H&H has a 24" barrel and weighs under 7.5 lbs with scope, but it's very unusual in that it really doesn't seem to kick that much at all. It was bought specifically for Alaska given the weather. A 375 H&H for Africa really should be on a Mauser type action and be blued and walnut.

 

[Shawn.54]

I have a .375 Ruger with a synthetic stock it weighs in at 6.9# and is not painful to shoot it does get your attention I'm in the process of adding weight slowly and getting it balanced.

 

[Newboomer]

My Win 70 375 weighs about 11 lbs. with scope, 3 270 g sp in the mag and 9 in the butt cuff. Sounds heavy and butt heavy but it balances quite well for me. I carry it with the sling under my right arm and over my left shoulder like I did Uncle Sam's M60. Most comfortable way I've found and easy to get into action.

 

[matt85]

if your going to carry an 11+ pound gun, it might as well be something bigger then a 375. my 505 Gibbs fires a 600gr bullet at 2050fps and at 11 pounds 4 ounces its very easy to shoot. heck for a little bit I was using a 570gr bullet at 2300fps and it was still manageable at that weight.

-matt

 

[abenson229]

Generally agree with everyone else...about 9lbs field ready seems about right for a .375 H&H, but stock shape and fit have a lot to do with felt recoil too.

 

[Paparock94]

The stock design and the fit to you goes a long way in perceived recoil. The only .375 H&H I have ever owned was fitted to me by my gunsmith. It had a fiberglass stock that had a very straight back design and the length of pull was fitted to me as I am rather tall at 6' 5". My gunsmith recommended a Gentry muzzle Brake for the range. The combination was such a mild recoiler I preferred it to my much heavier .30-06. Getting someone who really knows how to set up such a rifle is worth every penny. Mine was done by Dale Story out of Casper, Wyoming. He personally hunts with a .375 H&H or at least he did when I knew him years ago.

 

[Ray B]

Another aspect is to consider light-for-caliber bullets. Some of the tougher 235-250 gr bullets perform quite well with the momentum factor less than the 300 gr bullets, resulting in recoil noticeably less.