Which .375 to Choose?

[Dr Ray]

My 416 Remington is a Winchester safari model. I use Sako rifles up to and including 338 because u like the true control feed.
I built a 300 Winchester on a Remington action which is push feed.
But
When hunting something dangerous especially on foot, I like the control feed action.
An experienced hunter commented that in the thick scrub I hunt, I need to be very, very careful as, in his words (Bob), they (the dangerous animals) can be on you in no time.
Sako is not quite a true control feed.

 

[Major Khan]

Based on my personal experience ... I would personally refrain from getting the 1950s or 1960s era Holland & Holland bolt rifle , chambered in .375 Holland & Holland magnum. It will invariably be built on a salvaged pre World War 2 Mauser 98 standard length action , which has been opened up and re hardened . These 1950s era rifles built by Holland & Holland used a cheap light weight alloy magazine , in order to reduce manufacturing costs. These cheap light weight alloy magazines are not very durable . During my 10 year career as a professional shikaree from 1961 to 1970 , I had the the privilege to guide many international clients who came to India for shikar , armed with Holland & Holland bolt rifles . The modern Holland & Holland bolt rifles ( which are built on May Fair Magnum Mauser 98 actions ) are infinitely superior .


If you still do decide to purchase the Holland & Holland bolt rifle , please have a gun smith put a pin through the magazine floor plate release catch ( which will be located inside the trigger guard . ) , in order to avoid the magazine floor plate from popping open if your knuckle ever strikes the catch due to recoil . Also have the magazine follower spring replaced , and replace the magazine floor plate with a proper steel magazine floor plate .
I am of the same view , as @Newboomer . A Winchester Model 70 Safari Express , chambered in .375 Holland & Holland magnum would serve you much better.
I am assuming that you are a client hunter. If that is the case , then the Mauser M 03 push feed action bolt rifle will not cause you any sort of problems whatsoever. All the best.

 

[CBH Australia]

I forgot the Dr had mentioned the Winchester previously regarding heavy calibres.
If he does his part and the Aussie made Woodleigh hit their mark the debate is over. Shot placement and suitable projectile trumps CRF, finest grade timber or action type.
No offence to fine rifles they are like women I like them pretty.

 

[grand veneur]

Based on my personal experience ... I would personally refrain from getting the 1950s or 1960s era Holland & Holland bolt rifle , chambered in .375 Holland & Holland magnum. It will invariably be built on a salvaged pre World War 2 Mauser 98 standard length action , which has been opened up and re hardened . These 1950s era rifles built by Holland & Holland used a cheap light weight alloy magazine , in order to reduce manufacturing costs. These cheap light weight alloy magazines are not very durable . During my 10 year career as a professional shikaree from 1961 to 1970 , I had the the privilege to guide many international clients who came to India for shikar , armed with Holland & Holland bolt rifles . The modern Holland & Holland bolt rifles ( which are built on May Fair Magnum Mauser 98 actions ) are infinitely superior .


If you still do decide to purchase the Holland & Holland bolt rifle , please have a gun smith put a pin through the magazine floor plate release catch ( which will be located inside the trigger guard . ) , in order to avoid the magazine floor plate from popping open if your knuckle ever strikes the catch due to recoil . Also have the magazine follower spring replaced , and replace the magazine floor plate with a proper steel magazine floor plate .
I am of the same view , as @Newboomer . A Winchester Model 70 Safari Express , chambered in .375 Holland & Holland magnum would serve you much better.
I am assuming that you are a client hunter. If that is the case , then the Mauser M 03 push feed action bolt rifle will not cause you any sort of problems whatsoever. All the best.

It seems that in the period after World War II the company went to India where guns from the collections of the princes and maharajahs were bought back and was an important market for second-hand pieces of good quality. If that is true there are very big differences in the quality of post-war H&H rifles. I would therefore still buy a rifle from this period , even if it has a light metal magazine. If the rifle is in good condition it has held until now and will continue to serve. I also own an Lloyd rifle cal. 7mm Rem Mag built in a later time on an Gew.98 system and with an light metal magazine , so I ask myself whether it was popular at this time rather then to reduce the cost.

 

[Major Khan]

It seems that in the period after World War II the company went to India where guns from the collections of the princes and maharajahs were bought back and was an important market for second-hand pieces of good quality. If that is true there are very big differences in the quality of post-war H&H rifles. I would therefore still buy a rifle from this period , even if it has a light metal magazine. If the rifle is in good condition it has held until now and will continue to serve. I also own an Lloyd rifle cal. 7mm Rem Mag built in a later time on an Gew.98 system and with an light metal magazine , so I ask myself whether it was popular at this time rather then to reduce the cost.

Kurpfalzjager , as always you raise some very sensible points . But please let me elaborate a little on your statement .
The rifles and guns bought back from the Indian Maharajas , Rajputs and Zamindaars were ALL manufactured prior to 1939. These were ( naturally ) of good quality . Most would be sold to civilians at Manton & Co. in Kolkata or Rhodda . No new fire arms were imported in to India for civilian use after 1947 . In between 1939 and 1947 , the 2nd World War was taking place and no sporting arms were manufactured for the Indian nobility at the time . The Holland & Holland bolt rifles which were manufactured AFTER the war were all brought to India by our visiting client shikarees . These actually were relatively poor quality weapons compared to their pre World War 2 and modern counter parts . In fact , I will dare say that the step down in quality was quite noticeable .

You are 100 % correct that the light weight alloy magazines can easily handle 7 mm Remington magnum calibre cartridges . I have never seen 1 chambered in any calibre below .338 Winchester magnum which gave any problems. However , the Holland & Holland bolt rifles if the 1950s and 1960s , which were chambered in .338 Winchester magnum , .375 Holland & Holland magnum or .458 Winchester magnum experienced a few problems due to the light weight alloy magazines .
Also , the coil spring in these light weight alloy magazines were not sufficiently strong enough for hard use , and there was not sufficient overlap in the magazine floor plate release catch .
Holland & Holland caught on to this problem by the late 1960s .
Out of desperation , for a brief period of time , Holland & Holland commenced using the Mauser 66 push feed action to build their larger calibre bolt rifles on .

 

[grand veneur]

I understood that rifles that were built before the WWII , were disassembled at the company after the war to build new rifles with second hand pieces of good quality. Such a thing is conceivable since after the WWII no new Mauser Magnum systems were produced. M1917 Enfield systems were also used during this period.

 

[Major Khan]

I understood that rifles that were built before the WWII , were disassembled at the company after the war to build new rifles with second hand pieces of good quality. Such a thing is conceivable since after the WWII no new Mauser Magnum systems were produced. M1917 Enfield systems were also used during this period.

Why , yes ! That is very accurate . Unfortunately , after 1958 Holland & Holland ceased building their bolt rifles on Enfield Model 1917 actions .
I personally ADORE the Enfield Model 1917 action . It is truly a magnum length action .