Which is would be your choice? This is in regard to plains game and Alaskan bears only. It's unlikely I'll ever make a Buff hunt.

Both are CRF, both are stainless, both have quality stocks, the .338 (Ruger M77) is slightly lighter than the .375 (Win M70), recoil is honestly comparable between the two. The .375 has iron sights as well. The one that stays will probably be CeraKoted.

Really no huge preference on my part for one over the other. I do like the Ruger safety a bit more, but prefer the Winchester trigger.

Any great advantage you see of one over the other?

Please let me know your "I'd choose that one". Really just looking for others' thoughts on the two.

Thanks,
JCM

Often times we pick the rifle not for the game we're hunting but for the potential game we may run into while hunting them.

If I was to pick a pure plains game rifle the 338-06 seems like a winner.....but if I was hunting somewhere where I might have to defend myself from dangerous game I'd far rather have the .375

It isn't always what.....sometimes it's where.

I own and use both. What type of distance are you comforable shooting either from? I primarily use the .338 because it shoots better at long range (300 yrds+). If you are going to keep your shots inside 200 yards, and the gun groups well, I'd go with the 375 H&H as the energy and larger bullet on shots that I might not have executed perfectly are adventageous.

This question is a real dichotomy for me. I much prefer the M70 over the Ruger 77, however I do prefer the 338 Win Mag over the 375 h&h for the game you discribed. If you ever do hunt cape buffalo, then opt for a 416 or 458 caliber.

I worked in SE Alsaka for a number of years before moving my operation to RSA. During that time I had this question countless times from prospective hunters at sports shows and on the phone.

My simple comment from seeing both used plenty of times was this:

The 338 is "just right" for big bears
The 375HH is "just in case" something goes wrong

Over the years other guides used 338's and 375's and I saw far more switch from the 338 to the 375 then the other way.

JCM, Look at it this way would you want a mimimum caliber in your hands when it hits the proverbial fan... I own both rifles..there is one choice 375..Hands down...

Mike

Depends on which rifle handles and fits you the best. That aside, my preference for the rifle is Winchester over Ruger.

As to caliber choice, assuming you have all the other bases covered as to caliber requirements/needs for smaller game?, then the 375 H&H.

Load it with a well constructed 270 grain bullets, you would be good to go for most anything. With a 200 yard zero, you would be approximately 9" low at 300 yards, workable...

Heck, it is just hard to beat a 375 H&H, I like mine just fine for Whitetails (good practice) to back-up for Buff...

Good luck with your choice...

I have never hunted Africa, and will probably never get the chance, but just to throw my .02 in anyway. If I were forced to chose among all my guns, and only be able to keep one,hands down, it would be my 375. JMO

If you load the 220-230 gr bullets in the .375 then you get the benefit of the .338 with the upside of the .375 H&H. which if you really wanted to could be stoked with 350 and 380 grain bullets. They are both great cartridges, BUT-------------------.375 is king all over the world, even Alabama.

I wouldn't be in any hurry to get rid of a Winchester Model 70. They are going to going to continue to go up in value now that another American icon is deceased. Might as well have told hunters that Coke went out of business. It would have been less of a shock.

Tell you what, I'll give you $500 for the Model 70.

Only place the 338 wins out is in the weight to carry factor in my book. After packing a 10.5 pound 375, a 8.5 pound 338 has it's advantages. I have both I am still not certain I should not have just rebarreled the 375 with something of lighter contour. Both are Mod. 70 and both shoot as good as I am on that day. I have shot some special for me, game with the 375 and just could not bring myself to change. One other thing being the 375 can without to much trouble get 4 down with just a change out of factory parts, the 338 will just get 3 down without several hundred spent on new box and bottom iron plus alteration of action.

Many Thanks
HBH

I also own both caliber's. They are both excellent on game. Keep whichever rifle you like more and you wont go wrong.

I wouldn't hesitate to take either. But if I could choose, I wouldn't hesitate to take the 375. "Just in case."

Or do like I did... get a 338-06 and 35 Whelen and then step right up to the 375... No worries about overlap.

geeez....

.375 over the .338??

C'mon guys, at some point the bigger is better or "safer" concept has to stop.
If you are going to take out any element of danger to the hunt then what kind of hunt is that???

Stick to whitetails and duiker!

Dangerous game hunts are supposed to be DANGEROUS!!!

just my humble opine.

One big thing is that they aren't making the Winchester's anymore and Ruger's are a dime-a-dozen. Trust me, I just traded a Ruger in one a pair of binoculars. If you can get $500 for one, good luck. The stainless Model 70's are headed up to the $1500+ mark.

That said, if you aren't going ever, ever hunt anything bigger than a big bear, the .338 Win is the more versatile and flatter shooting of the two. I'd just have a hard time parting with the .375 H&H. I'd use the .338 for normal hunting and the plains game hunt (or trade down to a .300 Win Mag), then I'd uncase the .375 for the big bear hunt.

Life is better with multiple guns.

I have been using a 338 since 63 and just purchased a 375 last year for Buffalo.

Take the one you shoot best.

I am no expert on the matter of Alaskan Brown bear or African game and that is for sure. I have, however, been looking at numerous ballistics charts lately and have been comparing the .375 H&H with other relatively flat shooting cartridges such as the .300 Winchester magnum with 200 grain bullets and the .338 Winchester magnum with 250 grain bullets. If you use a 270 grain failsafe bullet or 270 grain Barnes TSX bullet you are right up there with the .300 and .338 Winchesters. When zeroed at 200 yards all three of these are in the -8 to -9 inches range at 300 yards. The 270 grain .375 bullets don't have the sectional density that the 200 grain .308 or the 250 grain .338 bullets do but I think the weight and frontal diameter make up for this. Somebody like JJ Hack could tell you better than I regarding this matter but it appears that if you took the .375 H&H you would have the best of both worlds. Not to mention that you'd be hunting with a Model 70.

Like a few of the other posters, I own both. My .338 is a lightweight for elk hunting in the Colorado mountains. I wear warm, heavy clothing that absorbs recoil, so that negates problems associated with light rifles. The .375 is heavier to absorb more recoil. It was designed to be used when wearing lighter clothing and walking was more horizontal than vertical.

prof242
I thought I was the only one to do that. My 338 has a 1" shorter length of pull to fit while bundled up. 375 for use in tee shirt (with deccelerator pad)

I own both chamberings and have killed both the Big Bear and the Buffalo. Here is the deal, the .375 if best for both, no buts, if's or ands about it. I took my 91/2 ft. Brown Bear with a .300 Winny using 200 grain Nosler Partition bullets, the next trip I had a .340 Wby and the next a .358 STA, if you ever get within 20 yards of one of the suckers eyeball to eyeball, you will feel the same way. I took my Buffalo with a .416 Remington. According to your post you will be hunting plains game, if it is in Buffalo country, pick the .375 and don't look back, if it is not in Buff country, the choice is yours. Good shooting.

Had a .338 built. Used it for a number of years. Retubed it to .375 H & H.

Regardless which of the two fine cartridges you choose,once you decide,get rid of both rifles and have W.F.Hein build you a gun that you can truelly rely on and can have full confidence in...so you can stay cool when the heat is on.

No more off the shelf trash for me,better one great unit than a handful of mediocre ones.

if you cant do it with the 338 your not going to be able to do it with the 375...its academic
daniel

Well, M98... I suspect you would also say that if it cannot be done with a 225 grain bullet from an 8mm Remington magnum or a 200 grain bullet 300 mag then you cannot do it with a 338?

With that being the case then It's assumed that if you cannot do it with a 7mm mag then a 300 mag won't help you..........which makes the 270 and 25/06 get the job done and if they cannot, will the 7mm mag really help you? I suspect we could just use a .243 instead of the 375HH as the recoil is so much easier. We also know that all that matters is accurate shot placement anyway!.............right?

There is good reason the 375HH is minumum, it's not like a bunch of drunken idiots got togehter and drew numbers from a hat.