I'm a vertically-challenged guy who, due to recent health problems, has lost significant upper body weight and 50% vision in right (dominant) eye. My favorite possession in this world is my Win Mod 70 in .375 H&H built in 1956 and bought in Montana in 1967. Had the gun extensively "slicked up" by Frankonia Jagd gunsmiths in Wurzburg, Germany in 1984. Mods included cutting off barrel to remove front sight/ramp, oil-refinishing the stock and barreled action, a black recoil pad and African Buffalo forend tip. I don't know exactly what it weighs but probably a little more than when it left Winchester as I mounted a steel 30mm Kahles 1.1-4.5X scope on the gun. I don't want to change it any further. Love it the way it is.
My pet has been in storage almost 20 years. My shooting history with 500-600 factory loads and a 1000 or so reloads has been 1" - 2" groups at 100 yds. Yesterday I dug it out, cleaned the barrel & action, tightened all screws and went shooting. The damn thing almost killed me. In the past, 1" 100 yd groups were not uncommon. Yesterday I made a 4-shot 0.72" group at 50 yds with R-P factory 270 gr loads. But I have to control recoil some way if I want to shoot more. So I'm looking for some way to cut down on the fun at the bench without shipping my girl to a gunsmith. My shooting experience for the foreseeable future will probably be 50/100 yd range. I'm leary about putting a long gun in the postal/UPS system.
Does anyone have experience or comments with the strap-on shoulder recoil shield by PAST? Pros/Cons for 1/2" Vs 1" thick? Shield thickness Vs LOP change?
As always, your advise/counsel will be treasured.

Try replacing the recoil pad with a new pachmar decelerator pad,I think they make a big difference. I use the thick Past shoulder shield when doing bench work with the 40 cal and above rifles.This is what I'd do before parting with a favorite rifle.
Good luck.

Thank you for your input. I don't think I can get my rifle pad replaced here in the local area by anyone whose hands I trust. Again, I want to avoid shipping my gun at all costs.
Please sir you misunderstand, I will not part with my .375 under any circumstances. Your use of the 1" PAST shield is very interesting. Do you find the thickness of the 1" shield bothersome by increasing the length of trigger pull off the bench?

If you can stand the extra LOP,add a Limbsaver slip-on pad for`$25.Put one on my Ruger 416 Rigby;reduced recoil&i dont get a mouthful of fingers.Or work up some reduced loads to about 9.3X62 power-lot less brutal.

I have and use both the ~1/2" and 1" PAST recoil shields that you slip over your shooting shoulder. I usually use them when developing a load. They work by spreading the recoil over a bigger area and absorbing some of the recoil. The thicker Magnum version would prbably be the one you would want to consider.

You can remove the stock and send just it to the gunsmith of your choice for a new pad. Insure it for whatever you think a new one is worth. I did just this and Jim Kobe who posts here did the work for me (on a Featherweight, not a .375).

A 20-year old pad is probably not doing much good.

Off the bench, a PAST shield, a sandbag between your shoulder and the rifle butt, a Lead Sled, or some other approach should help a lot.

A 375 H&H is not a bench rifle. If seated, get the rifle high enough off the rest that you are upright. The PAST pad is good at spreading the recoil impulse, as is a Decelerator or Limbsaver recoil pad. I am advised there is a good gunsmith in Suffolk, Mark Stoffel. He may be able to replace your existing pad. If you reload, lighter bullets at slower velocity will help greatly.

I have used a PAST magnum shield and it works great. I actually bought it for a boat paddle 338 Ruger and it helped immensely off the bench. I have a new MOd 70 375 that I dont feel the need for but if it tamed that mule of a 338 it will for sure help yer 375.

Slip on Sims recoil pad plus the Magnum PAST shield should do the trick. If not, this is what I prefer, use a lead sled with a 25# bag of shot and no problem. I use this setup when developing loads or precise sighting in from the bench.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

All of the above is good advice and worth trying. Yet . . .

I know that you said you do not want to modify your rifle any further, but you may want to reconsider.

Given your physical condition, you may want to consider putting a removable muzzle brake on your rifle.

A good muzzle brake will reduce the felt recoil of your .375 to that of a .308.

Plus, a removable brake may be taken off the rifle any time you don't want to use it.

It can be replaced with a threaded cap that a good gunsmith can machine to the same diameter as the muzzle, which will make the cap nearly invisible.

I'm not sure why you are so reluctant to ship your rifle - if you must in order to get top quality work. People do it all the time. You can put it in a hard case and use registered US mail, insured to full value, if you are a worrier. That's the safest way.

I think that in 20 years perhaps the recoil pad hardened and now is useless. All the other data is useful, anyway.

These are great replies my friends. I will save and cogitate till I have a solution that appeals to me. Again, Thank You Very Much.

Don Boyd

Have you thought about reduced speed reloads. Say a bullet like the 250 grain Sierra and a load of 60 grains of H-4895 with a good magnum primer in your 375 H&H. This is a reduction of about 20% of Hodgdon's listed max data.
Hodgdon's web page's Youth and Reduced Target load data suggests that H-4895 can be reduced to 30% below max listing in any load where H-4895 is shown.
In the past year I have used this load to kill two white tail deer. Both fell where they stood. And my rifle prints one inch groups at 100 yards with this load.
It makes shooting a big bore fun!
Sincerely,

I also own shoot, and hunt with a Winchester Model 70 Pre 64 .375 H&H Magnum. I would not alter the gun any more. I agree with the reduced load theory (I have used the 220 gr flat point for the .375 Win.) with good results. I have found that the more you shoot a big bore rifle the better you handle it. Limit your shots at the begining, and increase the number as you build up more tolerance. This may help, and save you alittle money as well.

I never figured out what my momma told me about having your cake and eating it too until just recently! I think all these replies above will have you busy and get the job done.

You can mail off the stock w/o the rest of it to get a new pad.

Like KimR and others said, just download the cartridges. Lighter bullets and less powder = less recoil.

I have a Browning .308 semi-auto that I can shoot one-handed. Get a .308 and pretend it's a .375??

Good luck on your quest.

I have had fun shooting a 235 grain bullet at 1700fps. Is more than adequate for Texas deer,and has a mild recoil. I use SR4759 powder.
Bob Nisbet

OK Folks, I got the large 1/2" PAST pad from Midway, took it and a light German shooting vest to a local Auto Upholstery Shop. Had them position it right for my .375's recoil pad and cut and sew the PAST into the vest. Taking some factory loads and the old girl to the range tomorrow. I'll let everyone know how I like it. I still have the option of replacing the recoil pad on the M70 with a Decelerator Model.

Don Boyd

Good luck Dan,
I noticed in your original post that your right eye is also a problem. I have a similar situation in that although I am right handed and learned to shoot that way, my right eye only corrects to 20/40. For this reason I switched to shooting left handed about 30 years ago. It is suprisingly easy with a rifle especially off a bench. Shooting quail with a shotgun will take many rounds of trap but the switch can be made with a shotgun too.

Thanks BT, I'm not saying I'm too old to change but I'm 71 so I want to concentrate as much as I can on getting quality trigger time in. I have daily access to a 100 yd gun club/range and if I can turn out a 1.5" or better group I'll consider the eye problem below the "fix-it" level. If I can work out something so I can handle the recoil I think I'll be good to go. With my health issues, I probably won't get any more big game hunting in but can still enjoy putting a magazine full into a small group. Now that I'm retired and have all this free time I'm trying to resist buying a room full of new rifles. .221 FB, 25-06, .300 H&H, 416 Remington/Ruger, etc. So many guns, so little time. Thanks again.

Don Boyd

Finally got my .375 and the PAST Recoil Shield together at the 50 yd range. I think I'm ready to try the 100 yd distance at the next session. I also think I have to learn to shoot heavy bore rifles again. As I settled my girl into her sweet spot on the PAST I found that applying heavy stabilizing pressure rearward and being constantly aware of dragging any wood was becoming automatic. Even with my damaged eye, I shot 0.87" (4-shot), 0.96" (4-shot), 1.20" (4-shot) and 0.98" (3-shot) groups with Remington Factory 270PP at 50 yds. Checked carefully after the session and don't have any sign of a shoulder bruise. I'm very pleased. A special Thank You to all for your advice and encouragement.

Don Boyd
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Model 70 Forever