Well it was the Minnesota fishing opener this weekend so I thought it would be a good opportunity to bring up my 375 and see how it shot. I have a weakness for prewar Winchester model 70s and I recently found a real beauty. A 1937 standard grade 375 Magnum. This rifle has the 24" medium-heavy straight taper barrel. Model 70 buffs will know that this is a fairly hard configuration to find because Winchester didn't sell a lot due to the weight, 9.5lbs. So they dropped the heavy barrel and switched to a 25" contoured barrel around 1941 or so. This one has definitely been hunted with but no extra holes and I couldn't even find one crack in the stock! It has character written all over it like it spent a lot of time in Africa. I mean in 1937 you didn't buy a 375 unless you were headed to Alasaka or Africa. So when I got it home and took it apart, I fully expected to see Ernest Hemingway's initals carved in the barrel channel or some other famous bawana, but to my dismay I only found 70 years of dirt, grime and gun oil. The bore cleaned up really nice, no pits and strong rifling. I picked up a box of Federal 300 grain soft points and then it was up to the cabin.

Sunday afternoon my buddy and I took the video camera and the rifle so I could fire my 1st shot. I have to admit I was a little nervous. I squeezed off the first round and the rifle was still in my hands, I wasn't bleeding, and I was feeling pretty good. I have heard the descriptions about the 375 recoil being more like a shove than a punch, but I thought of it as a hard shove. I mean I definitely knew I was unleashing some power when I pulled the trigger but it wasn't unbearable at all. The 2nd round didn't feel as good as the first though. I think I leaned into it too much and tried stopping the recoil rather than rolling with it. But by the 3rd round I was in the groove and loving it. 17 rounds later I can say I am definitely hooked. I even managed to crack a few bottles at 50 yards. The 24" heavy barrel was nicer than I thought too adding weight obviously but balance too. Even after walking around with it for a couple hours it wasn't too bad. Now I am thinking that a 300 grain solid might be just the ticket for those northern Minnesota deer living in the thick woods. I posted some pictures of the rifle and if I can figure out how to post video, the footage of my first 2 shots is pretty funny.

By the way, in 1937, this rifle cost $74.25. Here's what you got for your money: American walnut stock hand finished and hand checkered at 20 lpi, solid Winchester red recoil pad, 1" steel swivels, magnum length mauser-type action made from the best steel available, nicely sculpted cloverleaf receiver tang, steel bottom metal with hinged floorplate, magazine held 4 down and 1 in the chamber, smoothe action and feeds like butter, argueably one of the best trigger designs ever, Lyman 48 WJS rear sight which is probably one of the best peep sights made to this day, a 24" medium heavy barrel, hook-cut rifling, dovetail slotted for a rear sight, integral front sight ramp, rust-blued barrel and charcoal blued receiver for a beautiful and durable finish, rear receiver bridge was not drilled for mounts as scopes were not yet popular, both front and rear receiver bridge were stippled to reduce glare while sighting and all put together by the hands of skilled laborers. I can guess what these "standard" features would cost on a custom rifle today, but in '37 all you needed was $74.25.

Prewar70,

You have a VERY nice rifle! I have a 50s vintage M70 375 and love it. A properly fitted and set up 375 has very comfortable recoil and is nice to shoot. Congrats on a great rifle.

John

You do have a classic, looks great too. You are right about the Lyman 48 sights. I have one on a Rem. 30S and would not have anything else. The 375 H&H, is probably the most versitle MEDIUM bore ever. Go burn up lots more ammo and then find you a big brother for the 375. The more you shoot the bigger stuff the easier it gets.

Hog Killer

Medium bore is probably more correct I guess, but it's a big bore to me! It did make me think what a 416 or 458 Lott might feel like. There is something addictive about launching big bullets and I can't wait to do it again.

Beautiful rifle! You found a real gem there, enjoy it... I've found the .375 to be very enjoyable to shoot, the recoil is no big deal at all.

Like I said, practice up with you very fine 375, then buy or build you a 458 Lott. I have one and love it. It is also very flexible reloading, from mild 45-70 to 500gr@ 2300fps.

Hog Killer

Great rifle, I have owned a few of them in that caliber and loved them...As to the sight, they are collectable but I would not have one on a dangerous game rifle, as curious hands in Africa have a habit of fiddling around with such niceaties, in fact that also applies to friends and relitives!

If that old gun could talk, wonder what kind of hunting stories it could tell.

Gringo,

My thoughts exactly! There are dozens of tiny little dings in the edge of the wood in front of the bolt handle where the brass was ejected and hit the stock. So whoever owned definitely used it. I like to think of it on safari, taking down the big buffs, etc. I think this rifle saw Africa back in it's prime.

It looks like its been used and not coddeled like some of them are. Now you shouldnt be afraid of putting the first ding in it. Load some ammo, and go hunting with it. I have the same rear sight on mine, and havent had any problems with it since 1962. If you pratice reguarly it is a fast sight to put on target and will be a bit better at longer ranges than the standard express sight which was designed for fast short range shooting. Great find . Charlie