So, if a guy has an itch to buy a new rifle between a 300 WM and 404 Jeffery, what caliber should he be looking at?

I've been thinking a 375H&H, might fit the bill, but open to suggestions.

Thanks,

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:
So, if a guy has an itch to buy a new rifle between a 300 WM and 404 Jeffery, what caliber should he be looking at?

I've been thinking a 375H&H, might fit the bill, but open to suggestions.

Thanks,

If it was me I'd be looking at a .338 WM for the versatility, and the almost endless list of bullets available. It also fits in a standard action. I've had at least one for twenty-five years, pretty hard to beat.

If you have a 300 and a 404...there is no NEED for something in between.

But if you WANT something...then go with your first choice....375 H&H

Nice problem/decision to have..

Well, the two choices already on the table are the two I would look at. For NA the .338 is hard to beat. If you every plan to take it to Africa as a backup to your 404, then the .375 get the nod.

Whatcha plannin' ta shoot wit it?

As mentioned, the .338 Winchester and .375 H&H are at the top of the list of obvious answers. If you're primarily thinking in terms of the larger ruminants like antelope or elk/moose and anticipate the possibility of longer ranges, then the .338 has the advantage. If you're thinking primarily of "thick skinned" game and shorter ranges, then the .375 has the advantage.

The utility of the two cartridges overlap significantly -- the better choice depends on which end of the game and range scales you anticipate using it most.

There are, of course, numerous "Johnny-come-lately" cartridges in these two bullet diameters, but I've seen little evidence of any of them doing anything particularly better than these two old standbys. For example, their Remington Ultramag counterparts mostly give you more kick, muzzle blast, and expense with only marginal velocity gains (as if you need more velocity than either cartridge already yields.)

I vote .375 H&H.

It will do anything a .338 WM can do almost as good and some better. Is a great rifle for Africa. No matter what I go to hunt in Africa...it seems my .375 H&H M-70 Win always goes in the case...sometimes as an extra...but it seems to always get pressed into service.

Albeit...I also like my .338 WM...but if could only have one...the 3-7-5 hands down.

375, 9.3X62 or 9.3X64...at least those are the ones I came up with when I was thinking about the same issue for myself.

I have a nice 338 WM that I've used a couple of times in Africa. For whatever reason, I've never warmed up to that cartridge. It seems even more "in-between" than the 375.

For myself, I've just about settled on a 270 Win, 300 H&H, a 9.3 of some type, and a 404 Jeffery as my go-to battery.

I must admit that though I have well over 100 rifles (just 'cause I really like rifles), for foreign big or dangerous game hunting (from dikdik up) I am a strong believer in "one rifle - one load".

In my case that would be my .404 Musgrave bolt action because I no longer have any of my BIG doubles. (I have a 9.3x74 DR, but don't consider it nearly as effective.)

If I wanted to take a second rifle to Africa on a hunt, it would be another .404, shooting the same load, and with the same make of scope, sighted the same way, just in case my primary rifle broke or was "mislaid".

I don't have to remember zip about different trajectories that way, nor do I have to worry about taking enough ammo for two different rifles. Offhand (bad pun) I can't think of anything in Africa that a .404 won't kill, nor can I think of anything it will kill "too dead".

I don't mind the recoil and it is very accurate out to at least a couple of hundred yards, which is waaay more than double the distance I want to shoot anything at. Hunting is my game, NOT having to kill everything on my permits. Last but not least, the less you have to think about ANYTHING other than STOPPING the dangerous animal DRT, the better your own "life insurance".

If I HAD to take a second rifle in a DIFFERENT chambering, it woulda either a .375 H&H or a 9.3x64 bolt gun for the same reasons.

Hope you have a fun trip if you are going, and that the PITA bureaucracy doesn't make the travelling part too aggravating.

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:
So, if a guy has an itch to buy a new rifle between a 300 WM and 404 Jeffery, what caliber should he be looking at?

I've been thinking a 375H&H, might fit the bill, but open to suggestions.

Thanks,

If it was me I'd be looking at a .338 WM for the versatility, and the almost endless list of bullets available. It also fits in a standard action. I've had at least one for twenty-five years, pretty hard to beat.

I'd also be tempted to go with a .375 Ruger and go with just that and a .300 WM and forget about the .404.

I went with a .358 STA, 270 grain North Fork at 2900 fps, 250 grain NF at 3000 fps, 225 grain anything at 3100 fps. Bullets from 185 grains up to 310 grains, considerably faster than .375 H&H on the heavier stuff. Check the Nosler loading manuals for loads that can be beat a good bit. Good shooting.

If you do Africa, then the 375 is legal for dangerous game, so it can serve as a back-up. If you use other rifles for Africa, I'd probably do a 340 Weatherby.

I've always had an "itch" for a 358 Norma. I guess just because its differnt.
338 Win Mag is the practical choice with the 375's (Ruger, H&H, Weatherby) behind that.

Go with what you want. Its your money and your "itch".

A few weeks ago I got the opertunity to shoot a 338 Lapua Tachtical rifle. For fun in the sun at long range target use with modest recoil it is hard to beat. A bit loud with it's great muzzle brake but awesome in performance. Were I some what younger I sure would be tempted. If you have everything you need to take game , it may be time to change your focus. roger

I like the .338 but in your case you might like the .375-Weatherby a lot more.

I already have a 9.3X62 and so I want a 404 Jeffery or a Double rifle in 450-400 or 450NE.

You can't go wrong with a 375H&H.

The .338 Norma Mag in a hunting rifle configuration would be nice.....its a nice accurate round and easy to load for !!

Not as powerful as the .338 lap but only a smidgen off and you have nice Norma Brass available for it, Forster and Neil Jones make dies.

Looks like a .243 on steroids.

I see this rifle mainly as an Africa rifle, possibly a moose. I'm in the process now of getting the 404 together. The next trip over will likely be for a buff/leopard combo hunt. The 300 WM has served me well on my previous trips for PG. However, with leopard on the menu for the next hunt, for sure, I might take the 300 WM instead of the newest addition.

Who knows? Then again, it's just an itch as someone stated, and there is a big gap between a .30 and .423 caliber bullet. So, maybe this is just a gap filler!

9,3x62 or 64, 375 ruger or hh .. but, ,seriously, the 404 does all that

I seen someone mentioned the 358 Norma, a round that has always picked my interest, but also how about the 358 STA, built off the 8mm Rem Mag?

9.3x62 or .375

Graybird
You can always shoot my .375 H&H and my 9.3x62 or my .338 WM next time we're out at the farm.
See what you like.
In my opinion if you have a 404 the 375 has no purpose unless you just want one (in that case you must have it).
A logical step up from your 300 is in the .338, .358 or .366 range but who am I to speak of logic.

With what you already have you are pretty well covered. Get a 375 if you want a backup for Africa. Get a 338 if you want something a bit more compact. Not a huge difference between a 300 and a 338 IMHO. Or just get whatever strikes your fancy.

quote:

I've been thinking a 375H&H, might fit the bill, but open to suggestions.

Why open to suggestions?

You've already figured it out.

.375 H&H - pure & simple.

Send me a PM in a coupla years after you've hammered some beasts with it .... I use mine when I feel like it from small to L-A-R-G-E, it works.

Graybird,

Gerry is correct. You've answered you own question. The 375 is legal and adequate for everything in Africa and with 260 ACB and 270 TSX it shoot s as flat as the 338 for that moose or elk hunt. If you want to bump the preformance a litte go for the 375 WBY.

Mark

One more vote for the 375 H&H.

If you plan on going to the Dark Continent, I too would reach for that .375-H&H and then have it rechambered to the .375-Weatherby just to have extra smackdown should you need some more. It does fly around 160fps faster!

9.3x62


Alan

You don;t really need another boomer, the 404j does that, the 300wm shoots flat enough for he fart away stuff, so soemthing liek a 338-06, 35whelen or the 9.3x62 would fit nicely.

If you want something that fits between and compliments the two you have; ie between a .40 cal DGR and a flat shooting plains rifle... then the 35Whelan or 9.3x62 is a neat fit. Should you want an African backup rifle that question has already been answered.

I have the same dilemmas myself - what fits between a .404 and 300Wby in my safe? I already have a 35/284 but if I was doing it again the Whelan either AI'd or natural looks good to me.

Im building a 318 Westley Richards, but that's another post...

How abut a .338 Ruger Compact Magnum?

Yeah, if you don't want heavy recoil, then what about the .318 WR, .333 Jefferies, or the .35 Whelen?

9.3x62, 9.3x64, 9.3x74, 375 H&H, 375 Ruger

Pick your flavor.

Well if not the extended range of the .338 Lapua how bout a classic 8x57 mountain rifle? roger

I can't really disagree with any of the suggestions put forth so far. I pretty much like 'em all. Have to say that I love my .338 WM with a 225 gr. NorthFork BUT, I've had a slight itch for a .358 Norma for years. I think that if more rifles were available in that chambering, I'd replace my .338 with a .358. Of course the bullet of choice would be a Northfork. Although I understand that case forming is rather easy, I think I'd prefer using cases with the proper headstamp. All in all, I think I'd lean towards the Norma.
Bear in Fairbanks

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I appreciate it. It gives me a bit of food for thought.

Split the difference and get a 358 Norma Magnum!

I have used the 375 from Africa to Alaska and many places in between. One of the best ever developed in my opinion.

Tom

as much as I love the 338wm, if africa were in the picture I'd go 375 H+H too.

I love the .338 (owned a M700 BDL). Yes even down here in NZ a .338 can have its place. I have also shot the .375 H&H and one thing I noticed was the recoil was a bit more noticeable in the .338, the .375 was more of a big heavy shove.