What barrel profile or contour do you prefer for a 375 H&H or Weatherby?

Wby uses the standard no. 3 profile wich is esentualy a sporter barrel, unless you order otherwise. Most mfgs. taper their barrels acording to the caliber, inwhat they call a sporter taper. There are many different ideas about barrel taper vs. caliber. If you plan to hunt with it often the sporter should do nicley. If you want a light rigid sporter try a Shaw with thier spiral flutes. Te list goes on forever. Hope this helps you out. Charlie

quote:

Originally posted by McCray:
What barrel profile or contour do you prefer for a 375 H&H or Weatherby?

The Douglas No.3 sporter contour is 0.625" at the muzzle (24" barrel) and is light as I like to go, but this also requires a 1 pound stock and a finished rifle weight of 6.75 pounds bare, which is perfect for a .375 H&H. This rifle will weigh close to 8.5 pound with scope, sling and five rounds of ammo (Pre-64 M70). Perfection.

A more standard rifle would finish up at about 8 to 9 pounds bare with walnut and a No.4 sporter (or maybe No.5 to taste and balance). That is great for a .375 Wby that is 9.5 to 10.5 pounds field ready, scoped, loaded, and slung.

A fluted No. 6 is an interesting option.

Barrel makers vary some but at 24" finish length here is a rough take (using the .050" difference IIRC, for sporters, but makers vary):

No.3: 0.625"
N0.4: 0.675"
No.5: 0.725"
No.6: 0.775"
No.7: 0.825"
No.8: 0.875"

Barrels longer than 24" will be skinnier at the end.

On my 375 Ackley, I prefer a heavier barrel by McGowan. It is his heavy varmint barrel. I believe it is 0.950 at the crown.

I guess I don't see the need for a light 375. It is not a mountain gun. I prefer to have it come in around 9 lbs.

All my 375 have had a #4 or #5 and thats about right for a .375 H&H...

kinda depends on your tastes....

some folks like light guns to carry, and train to take a beating when they pull the trigger....

I like 9.5 or heavier big bores... so, for me, a #4 or better...

imho, the cz barrel is too light

jeffe

My 375 H&H has a 23" #5 contour. It weighs in at 9-1/4 lbs. with a fiberglass stock and 1.5 to 5x Leupold scope. It's not a sheep rifle, but you can carry it all day with no problem. Having said this - my wife used this rifle while we were in Tanzania & she had one of the trackers carry it for her until she was ready to shoot. Also, it balances real well and is real stable for shooting offhand.

Thanks for the comments. The only 375 H&H I have handy is a Remington Classic. It has the same profile as any of the other Remington magnums and is just a little lighter than what I want. Besides I need a Winchester in 375.

Looks like a PacNor #4 is about right.

Thanks again.

I have a straight taper 25 inch in my pre 64 model 70. Weighs almost 11 pounds ready to go but comes up very nice and shoots under a inch at 100. Has that classic african look to it with the heavy barrel.

quote:

imho, the cz barrel is too light

jeffe

Jeffo, I reckon with the cz's seeing as they use the sam blanks across the board that the .375 is a tad to heavy, the .416 is spot on and the .458 a tad to light. Swap the weight of the .458 and the .375 and you would have the perfect combo of weights for the cz's imho.