It's a 375H&H built by Prechtl in Germany and weighs 4.75 kilos, the barrel is 19.5 mm diameter at the end and 630 mm long (24.8 inches?), has an ERA (Rechnagel) trigger, is set up for Rechnagel scope mounts, has Prechtls "Golmatic" safety, and is apparently very very accurate. 4600 Euros with tax...

Should I go for it?



He also has one in 416 Rigby... I'm leaning towards thinking that the 375H&H is fine for me, as I've been happy using that calibur for several years on our moose and when I last hunted in africa. Ammo is cheaper both to reload and buy, and thus a 375 will get shot more than a 416 Rigby, as I see it. On the other hand, a 416 might be nice for the future with buff and elephant on the list... Decisions decisions...



Erik D.

Erik

Just to be sure, take both


Cheers

erikd (are you the same 'dunia' on nitroexpress?),

...very handsome rifle...

...imho and as a relative neophyte (as my other posts will rightly attest) i would go with the calibre that you feel most comfortable with (in terms of shot-placement and confidence) and would thus use most often...

...if you have shot the 416 rigby and could apply the above criteria to the calibre, then i would go for it...

...in any case, on a dg hunt your ph should be able to back you up if anything should go wrong, and an ele hunt is so expensive these days that the issue of sourcing a big bore may be the least of the concerns...

...just some thoughts...

Thomas,

Yes, "Dunia" on Johns forum is me! For some unknown, strange reason, my computer doesn't allow me on there, so I only post there when I'm on a borrowed computer...

As to the 416 Rigby, I've never shot one. Thus, the PM I sent you. I'm not recoil sensitive ( at least not so far!) when it comes to the 375H&H, and often shoot about 40 rounds in a session without getting tired if that says anything.

I agree on the PH backup part. My thoughs on a 416 for buff/ele has more to do with "wants" than necessity.

On the logical side however, feelings aside, 375H&H is more than enough for my "daily" needs here in Norway, where it will see 99% of its work.

Erik D.

www.dunia.no

4.75 kilos for a .375? Who is going to carry that tank around?

Will,



Yes, that is definatly a drawback... 10 1/5 pounds is a bit excessive...

He has one other that is 17mm diameter at the end, so obviously lighter, but I don't know its weight yet. This one doesn't have the scope mounts machined in yet and has a flag safety at the moment.

Although this one needs some things done, I'm considering it too, since it's lighter.



Erik D.

And here are the pics I have so far of the lighter one:

Erik D.

"...4600 Euros with tax... "

Don�t hesitate, Erik. It�s a good price for a classic gun. Go for it!

They are both things of beauty. Obviously are good copies of British style rifles, which the Germans do well.

I am definitely jealous.

And then there is "100 year commemoritive" Mauser in 375H&H that he has. Actually, as I've understood it, Prechtl makes all the mag. mausers that are sold under the Mauser trademark, including the commemoritive rifles that where made some years ago. This one would also need to be slightly altered as the one above with 3 pos. safety and scope mount:

I would get the 100 year commemorative mauser in an instant instead of the Prechtl. Note that the 100 year comm. is faithful to the pre-war mauser designs, while the Prechtl, at least in bolt handle design, is not.

.

Alf,

Do you know anything about the ERA trigger that Recknagel makes?

Erik D.

Personally I prefer the flag safety on a rifle with iron sights only.

.

Gentlemen

Here we have a 100 year commemorative mauser original German product please do not put all kind of strange aftermarked junk on it.
Respect the product the way it was made. It is made as a tribute to mauser m98 action.
what is next plastic stock !

Cheers,

Andr�

It is their money but I would second that.

Andr�,

Generally speaking I agree with you. But, if one puts on a 3 pos. safety, this does not permenantly change the rifle. The flag safety can be put back at any time. The second change I would do is to have a Rechnagel swing mount put into the square bridges which I admit is a permenant change. But this is basically what square bridges were inteded for in the first place, so I don't feel that is too much of a bad thing. It just makes it more practical for daily use, and thus it will be used more, as a rifle is intended.

You can rest assured that plastic stocks aren't my thing! Been there, done that, and have sold them all. I prefer wood!

Erik D.

EricD

I like everything about the first rifle except the weight! I traded a Brno 602 in .375 for a Sako in the same calibre to get a lighter rifle. The Brno was just too heavy for a calibre as small as a .375.

I *really* like the way the Recknagel trigger sits back in the triggerguard (like the Blackburn). I've had my trigger finger wacked by the guard a few times when shooting from odd positions, and anyway I just think it looks better!

jpb

I couldn't agree with you more about trigger placement. Having the trigger centered in the guard like the Mauser, CZ, etc. is a painful experience with big bores.

Erik D

I see where you are comming from and concur, The modificatons are minor.
I also like my trigger all the way in the back, and have it on my 500. it is the only right way on big bores, trust me!!!

Cheers,

Andr�

Found out today that the commemorative rifle weighs 4.3 kg / 9.46 pounds. Which is quite a differance compaired to the "Tank" (4.75 kg), as Will put it! My fingers are getting itchy to hold it...

Erik D.