.338 vrs .375 .. roaring since '58, hot and heavy in this 1985 piece and still going strong. What do you think, with the components available today?
The Great Debate

Nick again thank you.. Great reading and the debate goes on...

Mike

I think 50% of cartridge selection has some nostalgic, esoteric, or just "I gotta have it" characteristic.. I'd take a 375H&H regardless of any pros or cons, even though both are great rounds.

I have both and they are both great cartridges. The 338 I prefer for NA while I prefer the 375 for Africa.

Great debate? What debate? There is no debate. These two cartridges don't belong in the same discussion. The .338 is a varmint round. The .375 H&H is a big-game round. What is there to debate and who would possibly debate it?

.

Great read, Thanks Nickudu.I get much more use out of my 338s then I do my 375s. I like the 338 for anything (including cats where legal) and for dangerous, thick skined game much prefer the 416s. In fact, I like the 9.3X62 better than the 375H&H for anything other than dangerous game and again would have no quilt or concern using it on the big cats. I like the 375 H&H but to me it's neither fish nor fowl. Too light to get the big job done and too heavy for most other hunting. I'm not a big fan of compromising on a one gun for all occassions but will admit to taking only one rifle on three occasions to Africa and never more than one in the US or Canada. The 375 has never been my one gun choice. Don't misunderstand me here I'm not criticizing the 375 H&H but rather stating that in my experience I never needed one or I needed something considerably more powerful.

Nick,
Thanks for posting!

Regards,
Martin

I have two 338 rifles, and three 375 H&H rifles, and I probably shoot ten times as much with the 375 H&H as I do with the 338s!

In fact I have just about every caliber from .22 short, to 577 cal, and the rifles I shoot most are .22 lrs of several makes, 243 Win Mannlicher Shoenauer, 9.3X74R doubles (2),three Bolt rifles in 375 H&H, and 470NE double.

I love the 338, but it simply is a 375 H&H wanta-be, that is fine, but it is still a North American chambering, IMO!

The 375 H&H is the perfect flatlander-type African rifle for a one-gun safari with buffalo, lion, and plainsgame on the same menu. In a lot of ways (my opinion only), the 375 H&H is neither fish nor foul. It's too much for most plainsgame, and it's too light for buffalo. For NA use, most 375 H&H rifles are too blinking heavy to carry up the mountain, and they're too heavy to burden a horse with as well. So my 375 sits in the safe most of the time.........

I prefer the lighter, easier-to-carry, easier-to-shoot, 338 Win. Mag. to the 375 H&H. It's a far more viable and practical NA rifle, plus it's perfect for any and all African plainsgame, plus cats. I'd rather take a 338 Win. in tandem with a 416 Rem. Mag. to Africa for a safari that includes buffalo, lion, and possibly elephant than I would a 375 H&H by itself.

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