The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Lightweight 375 H&H rifleGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Lightweight 375 H&H rifle, anybody hunting with it? No “Big Five” in my neck of woods, just wild boars (predominantly) and elks, so 30-06 and 8x57 (and others in that range) will do it. However, a good friend, who has several rifles in different calibers, including Savage in 338 Lapua, lately is carrying 375 H&H Brno ZKK, loaded with Barnes 250 TTSX BT. Any wild boar, properly hit, goes down instantly, with minimum meat damage. Contrary to that, some folks questioned 300 magnums; just tad more effective than 30-06 or 8x57, but meat damage is some time outrages. So, number of hunters in my area shun 300 magnums. As for 375 H&H Brno ZKK, well that rifle is hefty, about 5 kg (11 lbs) with scope, but my friend is strong guy, 2 meters (6’6”), for him noted rifle is like for me 8x57, with scope around 3,7 kg (8.2 lb). Since I am hunting in fairly mountainous area, I do not want anything heavier. So, despite stellar results with 375 H&H, I never even considered such hefty rifle. Then, I came across articles and posts about lightweight 375 H&H, 3,6 to 4 kg (8 to 8.8 lbs) total weight. Some hunters claim that recoil isn’t so bad. I will take this with grain of salt. I am aware that some folks will take without problem recoil from such light 375 H&H, but certainly, I am not one of them. I tried 338 WM with 225 grains bullet, I could shoot it, but I wish it’s “softer” on shoulder. The point is that when we are hunting wild boars, in number of cases it’s a driven hunt, so using all 4 to 6 rounds in rifle isn’t unheard-of. Regarding lightweight 375 H&H, from what I (little) know, it could be tamed with effective muzzle brake that doesn’t kill my hearing. As for brake, one I have in sight is Gentry’s “Quiet muzzle brake”, although, from what I found, isn’t quite as advertised, but not as bad for shooter as other muzzle brakes. Apparently, one of the worst is on BOSS system. Now, as for recoil pad, I found top opinion about Limbsaver AirTech. And, what about lightweight 375 H&H, with installed good muzzle brake and AirTech pad? How recoil from it compares with recoil from same weight plane rifle (no brake, no special recoil pad) in 30-06? Thanks | ||
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Hi onty; Almost all factory 375 H&H are too heavy. Specially the barrel. To me, a 375 H&H should be: 60 cm barrel lenght (23,7"), total weight with scope and cartridges no more than 9 lbs. And the weight balance "between the hands". Of course, with the best recoil pad, like the Pachmayr descelerator or the Limbsaver AirTech. | |||
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My friend in Oregon has Remington 700 SS with Hogue stock (rubber non slick surface, 1/2 pound lighter than original) with added open sights (rifle is originally without open sights). It is 7.8. What I remember it is easy to shoot. I believe it is 3+1, but I am not sure. Jiri | |||
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Onty, If the rifle fits you well it will make a huge difference in the FELT recoil. If you shoulder the rifle and it feels awkward it will pound you. I've had two 375 that were under 8 pounds with scope and I didn't find either one to be punishing. One was a Remington 700 with a Brown Precision stock and the other was a Dakota with a Clifton stock. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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I had one of the older Sakos with the 20" barrel and it didn't bother me to shoot it. Wasn't a tack driver for sure. But that was a long time ago and I was determined to get max velocity out of it which wasn't needed. Don't remember what it weighed. Now have a Dakota 97 with 22" barrel, 9 lbs 6oz with 1.5x6 scope. For me it's just right. Correct pitch, LOP and a good recoil pad go a long way to reduce felt recoil. I also like a grip that doesn't crowd my second finger against the trigger guard. | |||
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IMHO, a scoped .375 H&H Mag. should weigh 10 lbs. plus or minus. Just right for carrying and shooting all day long. Too light a rifle in any big bore (or heavy medium like a .375) is a recipe for flinching and missing. Physics always wins. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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My 375 H&H is custom built around a pre-64 action, 24” Shilen barrel, Brown Precision stock, topped with a Leupold VX5 in 2-10 with Firedot reticle. With no cartridges, it weighs 8.9 pounds and is surprisingly comfortable to shoot. My son has an all original Model 70 Safari Express that weighs close to 10 lbs. he tells me the felt recoil on his rifle is significantly more noticeable and he wants a Brown Precision stock for his 375 before his next buffalo hunt. | |||
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I have a 1913 made H&H 375 H&H belted mag that weighs 8lb 2 oz. It fits me nice and balances well. I like the weight. I think scoped my Echols stocked Mod 70 weighs a little more. Don’t think you should go too heavy. DRSS | |||
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Opinions vary. If you’re looking for a lighter rifle to carry a lot then the Brno 602/CZ550 magnum is IMO too heavy a rifle. The actions are very long and heavy and CZ stocks are oversized. Regular M70’s in 375 are quite weighty and the stocks are quite chunky too. A better option is the M70 Alaskan in 375. Slimmer barrel profile, alloy bottom metal and trimmer stock. I use a factory Mauser 2000 in 375 and it weighs under 9lb scoped. It has a light profile 26” barrel, doesn’t need a brake and is fitted with a hard plastic buttplate. Mostly I use 235 and 250gr pills and it’s very manageable. Heavier pills also work but obviously recoil more. I've used this rifle for over 40 years and one of these days I’ll get around to fitting a proper recoil pad. | |||
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My main 375 H&H is a left hand Winchester M70 rebarreled with a Douglas 24 inch #5 contour barrel and restocked with a custom left hand Brown Precision stock in figreglass / kevlar. Including the Leupold scope, Talley rings and bases the total unloaded weight is 3.93 kg ( 8.66 lbs ). This rifle is balanced just right and shoots wonderfully. Yes, the recoil is typical 375 H&H and there is a little muzzle jump but I can shoot 50 rounds off the bench at the range and feel perfectly fine afterwards. It likes my handloads with Barnes TSX 300 gn bullets. I have carried it in my hands and shouldered on long days every day in Zimbabwe and never tired of doing so. I never notice recoil when shooting game. I love carrying and shooting this rifle. It's a perfect hunting rifle. Hunting.... it's not everything, it's the only thing. | |||
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I have five .375s. To elaborate on what I meant by 10 lbs. plus or minus being the ideal weight, I would add: - An 8.5+ lb. .375 is totally manageable. 8.5 would be my minimum. - 9.5 to 10.5 lbs. is where I find the sweet spot, depending on the variables. - No one needs an 11 lb. .375. YMMV. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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you want light and .375? it's the 375 ruger for you opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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The ORIGINAL .375 H&H rifles weighed right around 8 1/2 pounds. And the recoil of a .375 is similar to a heavy 12 guage shotgun . In my opinion that weight is ideal for someone who carries a rifle all day Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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I have a Montana 1999 .375 (NO Brake) in a fiberglass aluminum um bedded stock (can’t remember the name…). With a Leupold VX6 1-6, it weighs 8# 8 oz. I am all of 5’ 8” and 170# and that rifle is both a joy to carry and a joy to shoot. I have absolutely no issues dropping 50 rounds off the bench. No issues whatsoever with that rifle. It’s ugly as sin but does magical sub MOA groups. I see no issues at all with a properly fitted stock getting under 8# with a .375. Regards, Robert ****************************** H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer! | |||
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I have a 375, Model 70, Alaskan, which has the standard weight barrel. Weighs about 8 pounds; no idea in kilograms; we don't use those. 375s don't kick. If you can't handle a 375, take up knitting. As for muzzle brakes, they do work, but your ears know it. | |||
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It's a challenge to come in at under 9.5 lbs. empty with any scoped, wood stocked medium bore center fire rifle, especially a .375. Plastic stocked rifles can do it easily. So can wood stocked rifles without scopes, but who doesn't use a scope on a .375? As an example, my .375 H&H Mag. Sako AV Mannlicher carbine with its 20 inch barrel and quite small 1.1-4x24mm Kahles scope in QD mounts weighs in at 9.4 lbs. empty. It's still very handy and I like it a lot - but it's not a light weight by any means. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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Thank you all for a lot of useful info. Anybody has installed muzzle brake on 375 H&H rifle, or tried one with it? How much recoil is reduced? Are we talking about 20, 35 or 50 % reduction? I would like to know especially for 270 and 250 grains bullets. | |||
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I have a removable Answer Products radial muzzle brake on a Blaser R93 .375 H&H barrel. I never use it, but years ago I used it at the range just for kicks (pardon the pun). It really works. Hard to gauge exactly how much, but I would say it reduces recoil to about a .270 Win. level. Loud as hell, though. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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I agree, all muzzle brakes I've used are loud as hell. Years later my ears are still ringing. You may be much better off just picking up a 9,3x62 -- it'll work as well on wild boar and Elk/Red Deer (as well as the Big 5) as a 375 without all the flash and bang and noise. As I've aged, I'll let the youngsters enjoy all that noise and bang and weight  -------- There are those who only reload so they can shoot, and then there are those who only shoot so they can reload. I belong to the first group. Dom --------- | |||
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Boy, you really picked loud one https://www.google.com/search?...radial+muzzle+brake+ . | |||
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The rifle I hunt with, a 375/404, built by myself, weighs under 9.5 pounds full of ammo and scope. I carry it all day on safari and have shot everything with it. From duikers to elephants! It does have more recoil that the H&H but doesn’t bother me or any of my friends who use it. | |||
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Recoil last but a fraction of a second Hearing loss is forever Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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If you aren't in Africa; I recommend a 9.3x62, or using 375 bullets; a 376 Steyr. Both go on standard actions, and have like 90% of a 375. And neither one kicks at all. Built many of each. | |||
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The old Sako L61R or AIII 375 mag seemed quite light, having the same long barrel profile as my 338 but a bigger hole inside. As dpcd suggests, the 9.3x62 is a good alternative, able to be had in lighter rifles. Burning less powder, it will give less recoil, too. The trick is to not get a flinch from range work, so I sandwich a woven gel pack between sheets of grainy, white packaging and wrap that around the butt 'plate', to absorb recoil at the bench. If you're after serious game, you won't feel any kick when hunting. | |||
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That's light! Here is my Mauser with 6x40 scope (a big mistake I made as a young hunter, too much power). I put it on a rifle just to see what would be total weight. As you could see, it's 3,7 kg, 8.15 lbs.  As for 9,3x62, I agree, it's viable option. On top of that, with 11,9 grams (183 grains) from RWS ( https://rws-ammunition.com/en/...3ed9baac1e3a6bf8d66d ), it shoots flatter than 30-06 with 10,7 grams (165 grains) ( https://rws-ammunition.com/en/...218c6c0b2fbcd8deb06b ) Regarding noted round 9,3x62, well, 183 grains bullet at 200 meters (218 yds), making 13,4% more energy than noted 30-06 round, even largest wild boar goes down. | |||
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Never thought of using the Military profile barrel rear contour on a 375; that definitely makes them light. I wasn't talking about the scope either, so yours is really light. | |||
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Mr. Onty: I will give you a different perspective than the others have, although I suspect they have more experience with .375s than me. However: I prefer heavier rifles of any caliber. They hold better for me when actually shooting at game. Thus, my standard caliber rifles, .270 etc. are around 9 lbs. with scope. My son is an Alaskan bear guide, so when we drew Kodiak Island tags for brown bear, I decided to take a .375. I prefer model 70s so found a pre-64 without the original stock so decided to work up loads and use it. It weighs right around 10 1/2 lbs with its original 25" barrel. I carry a 15# chainsaw a lot so 10 1/2 # doesn't seem that bad. For me, recoil seemed hard: not what I'd call painful, but not enjoyable. But here is the interesting thing: when we were out in the bush, I wasn't reading comments on forums of how heavy my rifle was and actually didn't even notice it. I was concentrating on hunting, not the weight of my rifle and in the morning when we'd take off from camp, I didn't lift it up and think, wow this thing is heavy. And when my shot opportunity came after 6 days, my heavy old M70 was really steady. Again, to those here who shoot their .375s a LOT and carry them up and down mountains, they would say I'm a glutton for punishment and I understand. But just thought I'd give you a another perspective from my experience. IF I were to go on another brown bear hunt, I'd take the same rifle. Good luck. | |||
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I will update my admonitions to say Recoil lasts but a fraction of a second But Gravity & Hearing loss goes on forever Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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Phil, I guess I'm just too used to carrying truly heavy rifles. My .416s, .450, .470s and .500 make any .375 seem like a lightweight.  Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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I certainly believe you, but as a former army grunt and then sheep hunter I firmly believe in the old axiom that ounces make pounds and pounds create pain. And now, with the vantage point of 76 years of age I will verify it’s pretty accurate Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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Not a CRF so probably disqualifies it, but my Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby weighs 7.5 lbs with Talley steel QR rings and a Leupold 2-7x Firedot scope. It's had the bolt handle welded on, NECG iron sights and a Sako extractor installed (original Remington extractor was faulty) The TriNyte finish is very corrosion resistant too. That's my son with the bear and the rifle, unfortunately I'm much older lol  Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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I wholeheartedly agree with you! | |||
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I shoot quite a lot of large rifles. I use two PAST pads on my shoulders shooting off the bench. But, shooting in the field I never notice the recoil. | |||
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Just weighed my Ruger 77 stainess H&H (not ruger) with 22" barrel and 3-9 zeiss in Ruger rings and its current synthetic stock and it came in at 8lb 6oz. My standard load is 300gns at about 2450 so it's pleasant to shoot. I also have a beautiful Ruger RSM in 375 that is a pleasure to shoot even prone, but at almost 12lb loaded it is waaaay too heavy! Bob DRSS "If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?" "PS. To add a bit of Pappasonian philosophy: this single barrel stuff is just a passing fad. Bolt actions and single shots will fade away as did disco, the hula hoop, and bell-bottomed pants. Doubles will rule the world!" | |||
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Interesting articles about muzzle breaks. The rifle is Ruger American Ranch bolt action, in .450 Bushmaster, and the test was with factory muzzle brake, without it, and with Gentry brake. Give Me a Gentry Brake ...Recoil was pretty manageable with the Ruger brake, which looks like it was borrowed from an Abrams tank. The Ruger brake worked fine to tame recoil but my God, the muzzle blast was fierce... ...Next I tried the Gentry “quiet brake”. Recoil was very tame and felt pretty similar to the effective factory brake. Muzzle blast seemed far less severe than the factory brake and seemed pretty close to the noise level of the gun with no brake. It was still loud but definitely less brutal than the factory brake... https://huntfishbackcountry.co...e-me-a-gentry-brake/ Well, this is for .450 Bushmaster. I am skeptical that the same comparison will be for 375 H&H. I would expect that noise level with Gentry brake wouldn't be just above from rifle without any muzzle break. | |||
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My original 1952 Model 70 in 375 H&H with a M8 4X Leupold scope weighs right at 9 pounds. It maintains zero quite well. After a 416 R with the same weight, the 375 is quite reasonable. What is light to carry, may become unsteady on point. Brakes are important only on 4WD vehicles. Ears are critical when hunting. Avatar | |||
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I tried to lighten up a model 70 stainless classic .375 (90’sera i think) After lugging it in alaska by chopping 4” off the barrel. It was already in a mcmillan magnum stock so i dont think it really did anything except make it real handy. The thick barrel profile would be amenable to some aggressive fluting though. I think stocks are where you can save the most weight but this one is pretty nice and properly bedded so it will most likely stay. I should actually weigh it at some point lol White Mountains Arizona | |||
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I have never been able to post pictures here, But I had a lightweight .375 built several years ago with a LAW 704 action, carbon fiber barrel and Medium fill Echols stock and with scope it is (from rusty memory) just under 8 pounds and I absolutely love it. | |||
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I had a gunsmith turn the factory barrel of my stainless M70 down to the old Win featherweight contour. That made it an entirely different rifle. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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Ahhhhh. I didn’t think of that. Good idea Getting decent velocity out the 20” but In hindsight that might of been the way to go White Mountains Arizona | |||
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