Which .375 to Choose?

[Imperial Glory]

Hello All,

I am new to AH and my greetings to all the members.

I am looking forward to buy a .375 Rifle and have two offers before me.

Firstly I have been offered a Holland and Holland make 1950s Rifle in very good condition with the Mauser 98 type action and flag safety.

Secondly, I am also offered an Mauser M03 rifle made around 2012 which is also in very good condition.

With Budget/Pricing not a consideration,Which one should I ideally choose or rather would you choose?

The purpose is specifically for “Big Game” and my major concern is reliability,Quality and availability of spares and service should something go wrong.

I love the Holland and Hollands make,Heritage and M98 type action...But my only fear is that it is a close to 60 years old rifle..

Am just unable to decide..Pls advice.

Thanks and Regards.
NK.

 

[Sika98k]

It’s easy ! Buy the H&H, they don’t turn up very often. MO3’s are relatively two a penny.

 

[Ridge Runner]

H&H! Don't worry about repairs and service as there are enough spare parts accessories, and quality gunsmiths to fix about any problem that should arise. Plus it's a classic caliber and rifle.

 

[BnC 04]

H&H all day long and twice on Sunday.

 

[AZDAVE]

H&H every day of the year!

 

[BeeMaa]

First allow me to welcome you to AH.

As above...H&H.
Classic caliber and gunmaker.

 

[Waterbuck2008]

H&H in its classic chambering. Every day and twice on Sunday.

 

[wesheltonj]

Get the H&H. You can always send in H&H for repairs or restoration.

 

[Standard Velocity]

In gun terms 60 years isn’t that old. Modern manufacturing allows for cheaper, more accurate guns but not qualitatively better ones. I value the craftsmanship of my old guns more than the precision of the new ones.

H&H, all things being equal.

 

[Newboomer]

Winchester Model 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. The King of Rifles for anything and everything that walks, crawls or flies on the planet.

 

[WAB]

H&H

 

[CBH Australia]

I think its been answered

 

[Dr Ray]

In gun terms 60 years isn’t that old. Modern manufacturing allows for cheaper, more accurate guns but not qualitatively better ones. I value the craftsmanship of my old guns more than the precision of the new ones.

H&H, all things being equal.

Exactly

 

[Dewald]

Especially since the M03 is a pushfeed I wouldn’t consider it, had it been given to me for free.

If the Holland is 60y old it was built in the 60’s. Not the finest era in the British trade, but nonetheless it should be a reliable and functional rifle.

 

[Standard Velocity]

Especially since the M03 is a pushfeed I wouldn’t consider it, had it been given to me for free.

If the Holland is 60y old it was built in the 60’s. Not the finest era in the British trade, but nonetheless it should be a reliable and functional rifle.

The 03’s push feed design is less unappealing to me than it’s action/bolt length. 243 Win to 375 H&H. That’s a lot of extra gun for the short action cartridges.

The Mauser is much better looking than a Blaser but the Blaser is a much better switch-barrel design. The only benefit to the switch barrel design, IMO, is traveling to hunt all sizes of game and living in a country with strict gun permitting laws. Living in the U.S. I have the luxury of having a gun or three for each specific task.

The 03 looks to be a very pretty Jack of all trades which is likely the master of none.

 

[grand veneur]

The H&H rifle , of course !

What a question on a forum of real traditional African hunters !

 

[Imperial Glory]

Many Thanks to all of you.I will go for the H&H with certainty now!

 

[Dr Ray]

Especially since the M03 is a pushfeed I wouldn’t consider it, had it been given to me for free.

If the Holland is 60y old it was built in the 60’s. Not the finest era in the British trade, but nonetheless it should be a reliable and functional rifle.

Push feed is okay provided you are very conscious to slam the bolt back when under pressure to ensure no short stroking.

 

[bruce moulds]

the h&h unquestionably, subject to replacing the stock.
back in those days, and particularly in Europe, stock designs were little more advanced than a Kentucky rifle.
todays stocks are much straighter, allowing better pointing and handling recoil better.
a good synthetic stock will be more reliable as well.
this would have the advantage of keeping the original stock in better condition for resale.
bruce.

 

[CBH Australia]

Push feed is okay provided you are very conscious to slam the bolt back when under pressure to ensure no short stroking.

I understand your passion for Sako but I don’t think you can advocate Push Feed on this site.
I know you hunt scrub bull and Buffalo with a .416 Sako but you do so at your own risk.
It’s been flogged to death here but CRF is the only way, one exception might be an R8 according to the Blaser nuts.
I sit in the middle and went a CZ 550 being CRF, now to find some Buffalo.