Hi all. I'm in a little perdicamint. I own an Interarms Mark X in .25-06 that I love but I think I've decided to sell it for something else. The other rifles are both Mark X's. One has a Mannlicher stock and is in .308. The other has a synthetic stock and is in .375 H&H. I am looking at these because I love the Mark X's features and I want a new toy chambered for a moderate velocity cartridge. I have had .308's in the past but never shot anything with them. Actually the main reason I'm looking at the .308 would be for that cool full length stock. Does the .375 have significant enough recoil to bug you after a few shots off the bench or not? I would like to be able to use this for elk, moose, and bear. Thanks.

I have a Mark X Mannlicher stocked rifle, in .270 win, shoot's Federal Premmium 130's into .7" at 100 yds. Killed lot's of deer with it, the 20" barrel is rather loud in a .270.

Seamus,
Thats a big gap between a 308 and a 375...If you can take the pounding of a 375 then it is the more powerfull and one of my all time favorites.....the 308, on the other hand is mild of recoil and will kill the animals you mention with power to spare, I really like the .308 caliber....you still have to hit them right with either caliber.

I'll cry chicken here and say a .375 H&H is painful on the bench with full power loads. But that is a heck of a gap choosing between a .308 & a .375.

Even with a properly fitting stock, reasonable weight 9lbs & plus a .375 is pretty painful after say about 10 shots on the bench. I've done it so I know. I shoot my .375 a lot and usually that is at the range. I now use a recoil reducing jig & its a pussycat to shoot.

In the field a .375 is beautiful to shoot & you won't notice the recoil. That is why I use the jig on the bench so there are no bad thoughts just as you are about to pull the trigger in hunting. You can also use reduced loads which can be quite accurate (approximates the .375 Winchester) but it does involve some mucking around.

The .375 is a great calibre & you just must have one. I've got 3!! Get both, you'll be happiest.

Not sure if the 25/06 and the next rifle will be your only one? If it is and you select the .375 keep in mind that the rifles are heavy and it's not just a few shots off the bench where the recoil will bother you. Just one shot will really get your attention and if your not holding on tight, good luck.

Once one gets more than a couple of rifles then a .375 H&H is a must. It's the queen of them all and the stuff that dreams are made of. Meanwhile get the .308!

Seamus,

In 45 years of messing with rifles, I have never lost money on a rifle. If you love the .25-06, keep it. If you need another, beg, steal or borrow,

I am still mourning rifles I sold 25 years ago, a couple of left hand Rem. 788s in particular.

And the .308 will kill anything that needs killing in the lower 48. And it will do it cheaply and without tearing your shoulder off

I would go with the .375! I got a 6,5 Swede and a .375 and feel that this is a good combination for the upper register of what I hunt. I'll agree with the above posters that shooting from the bench is not an altogether pleasureable experience with the .375 but I didn't buy it to use for BR! From hunting positions (I usually shoot off-hand) it's no problem at all.

On the other hand the .308 is enough gun so it's all up to your own preferences.

With dirt cheap practice ammo and pleasant recoil, the .308 encourages one to shoot it a lot. This leads to skill, which is more important than caliber when hunting.

I regret every firearm I have sold, and will never do it again.

Twenty rounds from the bench is a bit too much from my .375 Ackley, but I shoot 300+ rounds from the .308 in a three day class without difficulty.

.375 H&H for sure !! his is just a cool caliber and that is why I must own a rifle in it myself. It can be loaded down with the speer 235 gr loads, and if y9u load them to say 2700 fps recoil will be reduced quite a bit and you will have a load that will do what your .308 might have done. I think the .375 H&H and probably the .338 win mag are two very versatile calibres for loading down or up.

Seamus-Don't even wonder .308 hands down I packed a pre-64 9 lb 375 for some years shot a lot of cast bullets,but I just got a pre 64 mod. 70 fwt .308 now this is living for this old man light and mild and like the man says works for anything in the 48. Rawhider

Having never owned either one, the 375 H&H hold all the appeal to me. I love the thought of what that round could do on big game.

I've tried to talk myself into a 308 several times but I just can't do it. I always end up with an '06.

Buy them both and hunt the world.

I love the .375 H&H, but would not wish to shoot more than, say, ten or so from a benchrest on any given day. They won't kill you, but there's not much fun in it!!