George
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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!
May I suggest a 9.3 x 62 instead?
[This message has been edited by 500grains (edited 03-14-2002).]
And yes, Jeff Cooper still likes his "Dragoon" in .376 -- he likes the name but it makes the Steyr folks cringe. I thought it was a poor match in the Steyr Scout model of the SBS 96 rifle because it limits that otherwise general purpose rifle to a special purpose. I expect to see him at the SCI show, and I will ask him his current opinion.
The .376 Steyr was created from the 9.3X64 case by shortening that case to 60 mm, and opening it to 9.5 mm (.375"). The 9.3X64 Brenneke case is hardly a bastard lash-up, it is equivalent to the .375 H&H in power.
I have swapped the bolts between my .308 Steyr Scout and my .376 ProHunter -- they are both the same length. So you get pretty much the power of the .375 H&H in an action that normally uses the .308.
In my opinion the .376 Steyr has suffered most from poor or insufficient marketing. With Steyr's change of North American importer, perhaps that will change. Also there is more information coming out on the use of the cartridge in the field in the German language gun press.
I have talked to Steyr about getting more field experiences in their advertising, maybe they will and again maybe they won't.
As for Remington and Winchester bringing out .375 versions of the WSM and SAUM, those prospects are definite maybes. If they do, you will see some marketing support though.
I used my .376 to take a 2,000 pound eland in Zim last fall with the 270-grain factory load from Hornady. I expect that Gererd's 270 grain FN will do well as a solid. My website has a photo of me, the .376 and the eland.
In my opinion the .376 Steyr is a modernized 9.3X62 that can make use of the many, many excellent .375" bullets on the market -- while at the same time be made up in a handy, short rifle. My is under 40", and weighs about 9 pounds ready to hunt.
I got my rifle by trying a loaner from the distributor that I received for an article for African Hunter, but I liked it so well that I bought it from them.
jim dodd
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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."
I forgot to add that the Hodgkin's online manual has data, as well as the new Hornady manual.
jim
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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."
PS I have a scout .308 and SSG on order, I have had two pro hunters in the past and they shot really well.
[This message has been edited by alekojjensen (edited 03-14-2002).]
This doesn't mean it isn't a good round for Africa and I subscribe to the theory as expressed by alekkojensen....if you like it, shoot it. All to often we get caught up in looking for the perfect round, the perfect scope, the perfect mounts and the perfect rifle...use a good bullet and good judgement in shot placement and you've covered 95% of the problem.
Do you know of any Cape buffalo taken with the .376 Steyr?
thanks...jim dodd
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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."
Steyr is not going away as a company, nor will it's support of it's new baby, the .376 Steyr. They have too much invested on all levels to just let it wither away. Bankrupt or not, someone will come up with the capital to keep them afloat.
The boys here in Georgia love those SBS rifles. Mickey at the Bargain Barn tells me that they are some of their best sellers, and everyone is happy about their accuracy too. The ability to use a plethora of .375 H&H bullets is not to be discounted either.
Gentlemen, you can't kill them deader than dead, and I can testify that Jim's eland was "graveyard dead"! It took a winch, eight guys, and a fair amount of cussing to load him up on the bakkie.
BTW, here is the link to the Hornady website:
Cheers,
Alan
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Internet Editor, African Hunter Magazine Online
eEditor@african-hunter.com
http://www.african-hunter.com/site/index.htm
~Risk has a tendency to pack up and leave town when certainty arrives
DOC