If anything?

So I am now the proud owner of a .375 H&H. Previously my "big gun" was a Remington 673 in .350 Rem Mag. The .350 is and was a very capable rifle. It shoots 1" or better with several loads including 200gr. Hornady IL's and 250gr. Speer HC's and Grand Slams.

I have no qualms with the .350Rmag. The 250gr. GSlams with RL15 push out at an honest 2500fps. Topped with a 6x42 Leupold FXIII and it's darn near the perfect pig gun.

But the .375 eclipses this by a wide margin. And at this point, I'm not really sure where I'd use the .350 when I have a .375 in the safe.

I've leaned towards the idea of selling the RM. On the other hand, it is the first "big" gun I've ever bought. There is a certain attatchment to it...and for a bog-stock Remmie it's really very accurate.

In a fit of excitement, I suppose I could rebarrel to 6.5 Rem Mag and fill the void (sorta) between my .257 and the .350...but does that really make any sense...not really.

Sell...or keep? I go back and forth...

If you sell it the first time you are creeping through the thick stuff with that long rifle in your hand you will wish you hadn't...

Have you actually fired the .375 yet?

You will find it is not that much different than shooting your .350 with 250 grain bullets. I found my .358 BLR with 250 grain bullets is sort of a junior 375 to shoot.

Don't try too hard to make sense of it all.

quote:

Originally posted by bucko:
If you sell it the first time you are creeping through the thick stuff with that long rifle in your hand you will wish you hadn't...

Well, the 673/.350RM is a 22" bbl...

The MRC .375 H&H is a 20" bbl...

I'm pretty sure I'd be ok sizewise on the .375. (I intentionally wanted a shorter barrel for handiness...)

SR - I haven't had a chance to fire the .375 H&H yet, but I did fire a .375 Ruger and didn't find it all that punishing at all.

If you like the 350, and as good as it shoots, you can always keep it for a spare.

Does not hurt to have two good medium bores.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

quote:

Originally posted by bucko:
If you sell it the first time you are creeping through the thick stuff with that long rifle in your hand you will wish you hadn't...

Well, the 673/.350RM is a 22" bbl...

The MRC .375 H&H is a 20" bbl...

I'm pretty sure I'd be ok sizewise on the .375. (I intentionally wanted a shorter barrel for handiness...)

SR - I haven't had a chance to fire the .375 H&H yet, but I did fire a .375 Ruger and didn't find it all that punishing at all.

Just curious, but with those barrel lengths what have you really gained?
Personally I would sell the 375 and keep the 350.

quote:

Just curious, but with those barrel lengths what have you really gained?

Africa.

ok, now it makes sense...

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

quote:

Just curious, but with those barrel lengths what have you really gained?

Africa.

damn right....and even if you never go, it keeps the dream in sight!

Here's a thought for the .350 Rem Mag......and I already know I'll get a lot of thumbs down for this!

Rebarrel it to .300 RCM as a plains game rifle. It will also double as a elk and moose rifle. All it needs is a barrel. (I think) and maybe even rebarrel it to .300 WSM instead.

Damn it I have to admit that is not a bad idea.
No sense having two rifles that are ballistically the same,, or close enough that it won't matter.
You can have your short handy 375, and another short handy rifle for the lighter stuff, but which is still enough horse for about whatever comes along actually.
I like it..

Keep the 350, so you can still shoot cheap .357 bullets.

Unless you are one of those smart people who don't horde redundant items. In that case, trade it on a 30-06.

Dang - you guys are full of GREAT ideas!

As to keeping it - I might do that. Even if I rebarrel, it wouldn't be a big deal to swap back if I didn't like the rebarrel.

As to those who said "shoot pistol bullets" - LOL! The rifle shoots 1" with 125gr. Hornady XTP's over 56gr. of 4895. The best part is when I let some youngster shoot it. HUGE BOOM (to a kid!) and no recoil.

Actually, I think I'd hate to rebarrel - it's really such a good overall shooter that I'd hate to screw it up...

See, this isn't as easy as I thought!

Or re-barrel to a .458x2" for a " pig roller"

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
Or re-barrel to a .458x2" for a " pig roller"

keep the 350 and load 180 grain hornady single shot pistol bullets. it will destroy you deer tracking skills.

rnovi

The more good things you say about the 350 the more I think you need to kee it the way it is.

I had a 350RM once and I liked it.

However I did replace it with a short bbled 375 H&H and I have a "Safari" style 375 H&H as well making me only have to have one calibre of ammo.

Try the .375 for a while and then decide.

Never trade off or otherwise bugger up a really good, and coveted, rifle. You would regret it.

Why not just keep it?
I have a short stubby light 9.3x62 and a regular size .375 but to me they are two completely different rifles and serve two different niches. The .375 seems like too much rifle to carry on an Elk hunt but the 9.3 seems just right for slipping thru the timber after Bulls.
Maybe its just me but I'd have them both with no issues of duplicity.

Good, no...VERY good advice here.

ok, I'll keep it a bit, play with the .375, and just see where it goes.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge guys!