375 H&H Too much for N.American game?
CHRISTOPHER WESLEY ANDERSON
I'll be buying an all-around rifle sometime in the near future whose main
purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
African hunt...
I like the Winchester's Model 70 Classic Express in 375 H&H, but wonder if
it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
welcome.
Chris
SF
IL iffdoc
If you handload, try the Speer 235 gr bullet for deer/elk/bear. It
cuts down on the recoil (alot), expands well on game and has a fairly flat
trajectory on a par with the 150gr bullet out of a 30-06. The rifles
themselves tend to get a bit heavy, but not unbearably so. For close range
deer you might consider cast bullets at reduced velocities. I've used them
for target shooting/plinking but not on game. It should be comparable to the
38-55. Bill I.
Jack Belk
To the contrary...the 375 does a fine job with almost no meat loss compared to
the high velocity
rounds.. The drawback is recoil and the possibility you will not shoot this gun
as well as a more
comfortable caliber. You gotta hit em to do any good.. If you are new to
shooting stick with a
lighter caliber and learn to shoot and trust it. ...Nothing dies from the noise.
CHRISTOPHER WESLEY ANDERSON <cand...@sfsu.edu> wrote:
>I'll be buying an all-around rifle sometime in the near future whose main
>purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
>the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
>African hunt...
>I like the Winchester's Model 70 Classic Express in 375 H&H, but wonder if
>it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
>hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
>welcome.
>Chris
>SF
Michael Brady
In article <4uga2k$5...@news.csus.edu>, CHRISTOPHER WESLEY ANDERSON
<cand...@sfsu.edu> writes:
|> I like the Winchester's Model 70 Classic Express in 375 H&H, but wonder
|> if
|> it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
|> hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome.
If recoil doesn't affect your hitting and you can afford practice ammo, go
for it. I'd find someone who will let you shoot a dozen rounds through his
or her .375 before you spend your hard-earned cash on a rifle you find you
don't like to shoot. Might try a .338 Win Mag while you're at it. Have
fun.
--
Michael Brady
mich...@corp.sgi.com
Russell Terry
In <96081215144...@emout19.mail.aol.com> IL iffdoc
<Ilif...@aol.com> writes:
>
>>I'll be buying an all-around rifle sometime in the near future whose main
>>purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
>>the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
>>African hunt...
>
>>it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
>>welcome.
>
>cuts down on the recoil (alot), expands well on game and has a fairly flat
>trajectory on a par with the 150gr bullet out of a 30-06. The rifles
>themselves tend to get a bit heavy, but not unbearably so. For close range
>deer you might consider cast bullets at reduced velocities. I've used them
>for target shooting/plinking but not on game. It should be comparable to the
>38-55. Bill I.
In addition, if you hand load, Barnes makes an X bullet at 210 grains.
It is very accurate. You can also load down a 220 grain flat nose
Hornady to emulate a 375 Winchester. The Speer manual recommends 2600
FPS for the 235 grain for deer. They also write that it will cause
less meat damage than lighter faster calibers.
Russ T.
Joseph L Lunenschloss
CHRISTOPHER WESLEY ANDERSON <cand...@sfsu.edu> wrote:
>I'll be buying an all-around rifle sometime in the near future whose main
>purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
>the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
>African hunt...
>I like the Winchester's Model 70 Classic Express in 375 H&H, but wonder if
>it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
>hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
>welcome.
>Chris
>SF
Chris,
I have used a .375 H&H on a number of deer and hog hunts over the
years, and can say that it is not too much gun if you can shoot it
accurately. Often times it is less destrucive of meat than lighter,
faster calibers.
Having said that, I think there are a couple of drawbacks. Usually the
.375 is in a "heavy magnum" barrel configuration, this means it is not
likely a lightweight rifle for carrying. Also the barrel is usually
pretty long.
Mine is a Winchester M70, but it is the older "pre-64" model, I don't
know if the new guns are any lighter, but I doubt that they are
significantly lighter.
Something else to consider, when practicing informally, be sure of
your backstop. The .375 is quite a penetrating cartridge, particularly
if you are using solids. A few years ago, I had bought several boxes
of 300 grain Remington solids that had sat in a gunshop for at least a
decade or two. They were cheap since the proprietor had never marked
them up from the original price, (solids are usually very expensive).
I loaded up about 50 rds. using these bullets. We hung a target on a
lightning struck red oak tree that was over 18" in diameter. About the
third shot, we saw a splash about 150yds beyond the tree in a pond
behind it. As one particularly astute observer noted with genuine
surprise, "God, that thing's dangerous!"
I am more careful now, than in my younger, dumber days.
joe
Bob Frazier
CHRISTOPHER WESLEY ANDERSON wrote:
>
>
> it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
> hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
> welcome.
>
> Chris
> SF
I used the Sierra 250 SBT - it's for larger game. I'm switching to the
Speer 235 . (Whitetails)
(The sierra 250 does expand on 12" oak trees, in the background!)
Bob
Charlie Sorsby
For what it's worth, the Remington 700 Classic is chambered in the
.375 H&H this year.
--
Best,
Charlie "Older than dirt" Sorsby "I'm the NRA!"
c...@swcp.com c...@hamlet.lanl.gov Life Member since 1965
Robert Howe
IL iffdoc wrote:
>
> >I'll be buying an all-around rifle sometime in the near future whose main
> >purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
> >the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
> >African hunt...
>
> >I like the Winchester's Model 70 Classic Express in 375 H&H, but wonder if
> >hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
> >welcome.
>
> cuts down on the recoil (alot), expands well on game and has a fairly flat
> trajectory on a par with the 150gr bullet out of a 30-06. The rifles
> themselves tend to get a bit heavy, but not unbearably so. For close range
> deer you might consider cast bullets at reduced velocities. I've used them
> for target shooting/plinking but not on game. It should be comparable to the
> 38-55. Bill I.
I have a very nice Browning A-bolt 375 H&H. I also live in South Texas
where we have plenty of wild feral hogs (up to 350 + lbs). Some people
here use their .375, some the 338, some smaller calibers, one idiot used
a 22-250 and one crazy guy uses a butcher knife and dogs. All have and
do get hogs. Therefore, the "need" for the hunting isn't there. A
gun/caliber that you can shoot and shoot well is the best for you. Shot
placement kills the hogs. My son lives in Alaska and hunts moose with
the 30-06 and a 220 grain bullet.
The only reason for getting that much gun in the US is because you want
one. No justification is needed. I got mine because if I can ever get to
Africa for a hunt, I won't be running down to the store to buy one. The
.375 is the minimum caliber allowed in some areas for large dangerous
game. For North America there are several more reasonable calibers. BUT,
it is a "hoot" to have one in the safe and for me fun to shoot (Although
expensive because it does burn powder).
Neil Jones
> I'll be buying an all-around rifle sometime in the near future whose main
> purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
> the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
> African hunt...
Chris
I live in Africa and the only rifle I (currently!) have is a BRNO .375. I have
used it for everything from Springbok to Hartebeest, including our local pigs,
and one day a buff... (sigh).
I have a hunting buddy who has both a .375 and a .270 and mainly uses his
270. IMHO his .270 has slightly longer range, my .375 kills immediately the
first time.
My second rifle will probably be a .270
My 2c
Neil
George Stehle
Russell Terry wrote:
>
> In <96081215144...@emout19.mail.aol.com> IL iffdoc
> <Ilif...@aol.com> writes:
> >
> >>purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
> >>the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
> >>African hunt...
> >
> >>it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
> >>hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
> >>welcome.
> >
> > If you handload, try the Speer 235 gr bullet for deer/elk/bear. It
> >cuts down on the recoil (alot), expands well on game and has a fairly flat
> >trajectory on a par with the 150gr bullet out of a 30-06. The rifles
> >themselves tend to get a bit heavy, but not unbearably so. For close range
> >deer you might consider cast bullets at reduced velocities. I've used them
> >for target shooting/plinking but not on game. It should be comparable to the
> >38-55. Bill I.
>
> It is very accurate. You can also load down a 220 grain flat nose
> Hornady to emulate a 375 Winchester. The Speer manual recommends 2600
> FPS for the 235 grain for deer. They also write that it will cause
> less meat damage than lighter faster calibers.
>
> Russ T.
In my opinion, there is no such thing as a all around rifle. I
would suggest you buy a 270, 30-06 etc. now for deer etc., and
when you go to Alaska or Africa then buy a 375. Guns are cheap.
I was shooting my 375 (for Alaska in Sept) and a 300 Win. (for
elk and deer in CO and WY), today. The 300 recoil felt like
nothing when compared to the 375. I shoot a lot and the 375 is
a bit much recoil for most people to handle, unless you load it
down. But why, when you could buy another gun for $300-400.
gcs-Denver
mar...@ibm.net
In <4uqqnj$1p...@mule2.mindspring.com>, Joseph L Lunenschloss
>>purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
>>the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
>>African hunt...
>
>>I like the Winchester's Model 70 Classic Express in 375 H&H, but wonder if
>>it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
>>hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
>>welcome.
>
>years, and can say that it is not too much gun if you can shoot it
>accurately. Often times it is less destrucive of meat than lighter,
>faster calibers.
>
>Having said that, I think there are a couple of drawbacks. Usually the
>likely a lightweight rifle for carrying. Also the barrel is usually
>pretty long.
>
>Mine is a Winchester M70, but it is the older "pre-64" model, I don't
>know if the new guns are any lighter, but I doubt that they are
>significantly lighter.
>
>Something else to consider, when practicing informally, be sure of
>your backstop. The .375 is quite a penetrating cartridge, particularly
>if you are using solids. A few years ago, I had bought several boxes
>of 300 grain Remington solids that had sat in a gunshop for at least a
>decade or two. They were cheap since the proprietor had never marked
>them up from the original price, (solids are usually very expensive).
>I loaded up about 50 rds. using these bullets. We hung a target on a
>lightning struck red oak tree that was over 18" in diameter. About the
>third shot, we saw a splash about 150yds beyond the tree in a pond
>behind it. As one particularly astute observer noted with genuine
>surprise, "God, that thing's dangerous!"
>
>I am more careful now, than in my younger, dumber days.
My experience has taught me to look at the area for the Hunt. I think
the hunt predeterminds the caliber and balistics that are needed for
the game and the hunt inclusive. I have hunted small game and large
game. For the small game I used a .222 Remington. Beauty Gun.
For a Mule Deer in the bush, I have used a .303 British (found an
accurate one!)
For anything larger you must analyse a lot of factors.
Bullet weight, velocity and foot-pounds on impact dictates different
loads for the same rifle.
The best idea is to have an arsenal at your disposal. Don't worry, I
can't afford it either...
Mark.
BRN BEAR94
CHRIS, HERE'S YET ANOTHER OPINION ON THE .375 SUBJECT. WHILE THE .338 IS
ADEQUATE FOR ALL NORTH AMERICAN GAME -- ITS BALLISTICS ARE NOT TOO FAR OF
THE .375 -- THE TIEBREAKER COMES WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AFRICA. THE .375 IS
THE "MINIMUM" ALLOWED FOR DANGEROUS GAME IN MANY COUNTRIES AND IF AFRICA
IS IN YOUR DREAMS HAVING THE .375 MAY JUST TEMPT YOU TO MAKE THAT EXTRA
EFFORT.
AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THE RECOIL OF THE .338 IS A BIT SHARPER THAN THAT
OF THE .375, BOTH, HOWEVER, ARE MANAGEABLE AND I'M JUST A LITTLE GUY 5'
6", 160.
GOOD LUCK, GOOD HUNTING (AS IF ANY HUNTING CAN BE OTHER THAN GOOD).
REGARDS.
WEN
Bob Field
Russell Terry wrote:
>
> In <96081215144...@emout19.mail.aol.com> IL iffdoc
> <Ilif...@aol.com> writes:
> >
> >>purpose will be for deer and pigs. I'd like to hunt elk and bear within
> >>the next few years as well and as everyone else does, I dream of an
> >>African hunt...
> >
> >>I like the Winchester's Model 70 Classic Express in 375 H&H, but wonder if
> >>it is really too much? Opinions appreciated by those who have shot or
> >>hunted with a 375 H&H and others welcome. Heck, anyone's 2 bits is
> >>welcome.
> >
> >cuts down on the recoil (alot), expands well on game and has a fairly flat
> >trajectory on a par with the 150gr bullet out of a 30-06. The rifles
> >themselves tend to get a bit heavy, but not unbearably so. For close range
> >deer you might consider cast bullets at reduced velocities. I've used them
> >for target shooting/plinking but not on game. It should be comparable to the
> >38-55. Bill I.
>
> In addition, if you hand load, Barnes makes an X bullet at 210 grains.
> It is very accurate. You can also load down a 220 grain flat nose
> Hornady to emulate a 375 Winchester. The Speer manual recommends 2600
> FPS for the 235 grain for deer. They also write that it will cause
> less meat damage than lighter faster calibers.
>
> Russ T.
Why do you need something that big for deer? Shot placement is more
important than lots of energy for any game. If you want something big,
accurate, and with lots of energy, I'd take a look at the 340 Weatherby
Magnum.
Sam G Shannon
The 375 H&H is a good choice where the game is large or dangerous. My one
caution is that a 375 rifle is usually heavier than a 300 or 338 Winchester
Magnum. My Pre-64 Model 70 375 H&H weighs almost 10 pounds with scope,
sling, and 3 rounds of ammunition. This would not a problem if one has a
gun bearer or hunts from a vehicle....but I have wished for a lighter rifle
when I had to carry it 10 or 15 miles.
Sam
JOHN KELLER
In a previous article, brnb...@aol.com (BRN BEAR94) says:
>chris, here's yet another opinion on the .375 subject. while the .338 is
>adequate for all north american game -- its ballistics are not too far of
>the .375 -- the tiebreaker comes when you talk about africa. the .375 is
>the "minimum" allowed for dangerous game in many countries and if africa
>is in your dreams having the .375 may just tempt you to make that extra
>effort.
>as far as i am concerned the recoil of the .338 is a bit sharper than that
>of the .375, both, however, are manageable and i'm just a little guy 5'
>6", 160.
>
>good luck, good hunting (as if any hunting can be other than good).
About the .375H&H - It is the one rifle that can go anywhere in the
world and do anything.
As rifle calibers increase in size, they tend to lose accuracy. Not
the H&H. It has a very flat trajectory for such a large bullet, in
fact has won 1,000 yard matches. This was the first belted magnum,
made by Holland & Holland in 1912. It is the grandaddy of all the
magnums. There are very good reasons why it is still so popular
after 84 years.
Best of shooting to you,
John Keller
NRA Patron