There are some very passionate discussion on numerous threads about the 375 Ruger versus the 375 H&H. Both have merit and there may not be a single answer so lets break it down.

For the sake of discussion, the rules are:

1. You do not own a .375
2. You can only afford one and your choices are limited to a 375 H&H or 375 Ruger

I know there are other three-eights bore that are arguably as good or better but for this poll we are going to limit the discussion to these two

Question:
1. For hunting Africa

Choices:
375 H&H
375 Ruger

Question:
2. For hunting North America

Choices:
375 H&H
375 Ruger

Question:
3. For hunting around the world

Choices:
375 H&H
375 Ruger

 

Sorry, can't vote due to the rules, but having a 375 H&H and having shot my buddy's 375R, they seem equal to me.

The pigs can't seem to tell the difference either.

My mistake, meant to say "pretend" you don't own one if you do

Can't go back an edit or I'll lose the current results

Feel Free to go back & vote

The H&H is both romantic and sexy, with a rich history. If I were to buy a .375 to hunt Africa or anywhere else, it would be the H&H version, and it would be on a nicely figured piece of walnut with deep glossy bluing, wearing functional open sights and a barrel band sling swivel.

The Ruger is the epitome of functionality, efficiency, practicality. Strong, reliable no-frills action. A tool designed to do the best it can at the job it is tasked to do. It would be my choice in North America where "romantic" and "sexy" make way for "it just plain works well".

My choice was for the 375 H & H Magnum, and the reason is that a cartridge is ample evidence that, over a century has shown that it is the "cartridge" for excellence. The greatest recognition that he has made to this venerable cartridge was considered the minimum size that is allowed to hunt dangerous species.

Best regards,

Oscar.

I pickd the .H&H.
Not beacuse of any preformance advantage, but beacuse of the history, in volved, and beacuse, as far as I know only the ruger hawkeye is available in the .375 Ruger.
Nothing wrong with the hawkeye, but even rugers rifles chamberd for the H&H are much cooler.
...tj3006

For me, this comes down to ammo availability outside the USA. H&H wins.

For the USA though a .375 Alaskan is awfully hard to beat.

I picked the H&H for all 3 categories even though I own both. Sure, they are ballistically equal but the H&H just has the class the Ruger can't measure up to. A model 70 CRF in 375 H&H...it just does not get any better.

I chose the .375 Ruger for all categories – not hung up on nostalgia. If I’m looking for nostalgia I’d opt for the 9,3x62mm Mauser and the .404 Jeffery cartridges; both predate the .375 H&H and kill DG just as well or better – especially with modern bullets.

i think it would be very difficult to acquire ammunition for a 375 Ruger anywhere you went, not just overseas but also in the U.S. Not so with 375 HH

I vote for the .375H&H for many reasons. Nostalgia being only one component. The availability to find ammo when yours is lost. OK OK I just like the .375H&H.
Bill

I own multiple rifles in both calibers. Both are very accurate. Ruger needs to start making a real rifle for this caliber, not a 7 Lbs gimmick which cracks often. CZ will start making the 375 Ruger this year so its a step in the right direction.

I broke my response up by going with the H&H for Africa and then again for the rest of the world, mainly for the ease of obtaining replacement ammo if needed. The Ruger would fill the bill anywhere just need to feed it so I voted for it for use at home. Rodney.

I'll just ride with the old one, always have, see no reason to change. It's worked for nigh on to 100 years and you can get better bullets today thabn in the past.

AfricanHunter, not just better bullets but better powders. My go to rifle is a model 70 .375H&H so what does that tell you. The Ruger would possibly interest me more if I were younger and did not already have the faithfull H&H. Rodney.

I have owned more than one 375H&H, and find the rugger no real world improvement. I asked about the rugger ammunition in SA and Zim, nobody in either country had ever heard about it. There is 375 Holland ammunition all over Africa and the rest of the world. Don't waste time trying to reinvent the wheel...

Rich
Buffalo Killer

I always say that if something works better not touch it.

Oscar.

I would vote for the H&H, however I think it will to great extent, depend on which rifles will be chambering the .375 Ruger. I for one want nothing to do with the Ruger rifles themselves. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but they just do not wiggle my ears at all. Now chamber it in an older Sako Safari grade, and I might think about it. But then again. . . nah; the H&H just feels better to me.

The H&H wins offshore of course, but I voted for the Ruger for domestic use as a case can be made that the Hawkeye Alaskan is a better choice for a working rifle in Alaska and the northern Territories. I'm unlikely to buy either as I already have my bases more than covered with a 9.3x62 and .376 Steyr.

I would pick based on the rifle that the cartridge is available in. Price would be one criteria, as well as how the rifle worked for me and how much it would cost to make it the way I wanted it. Then ammo availability, etc. Since I already have the H&H, I'm biased.

Assuming I had unlimited funds available, I'd buy the .375 H&H every time. But that simply isn't the only consideration.

I'd love to buy a Kimber Caprivi in .375 H&H . . . but I can't realistically see myself paying that much extra for the rifle when the .375 Ruger.

That brings us down to nuts & bolts - the CZ550 Safari Magnum vs the Ruger 77 Hawkeye African model. The Ruger is light and handy . . . the CZ is big and bulky. That matters to me. So I'd buy the 375 Ruger (ok, I'd by the 416 Ruger, but that wasn't the question).

Troy

About what I expected so far

do you know why ruger made the 375 ruger so light?

so the girls could carry their own rifles, as marketing research determined that .375 was the paramount lady's caliber, and all arguements over the pros and cons should be limited to those in pettiskirts

If I were just getting started not having anything say over .30 caliber then I would give the .375 Ruger serious consideration. But I have to say I'm very happy with my 3/8"H&H model 70. How does the hawkeye compare to the model 70 crf of later production? Rodney.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
do you know why ruger made the 375 ruger so light?

so the girls could carry their own rifles, as marketing research determined that .375 was the paramount lady's caliber, and all arguements over the pros and cons should be limited to those in pettiskirts

OUCH!!

Well, I just bought a 375 yesterday and I went with ... drum roll please... the H&H.

Firstly, I'm not sold on the Ruger since it's just a baby in it's lifetime. H&H has been around for longer than I have.

Secondly, H&H is the 30-06 of Africa. I like knowing I could find ammo for it in a remote store in Africa.

So, by default, I'm getting the H&H, it's good for Africa and the world and since I'm only allowed one gun...

To me buying a rifle cartridge combo has more to do with history and the classic cartridges. If I had to chose a 30 caliber magnum it would have to be the 300 H&H, even though we have catridges that will give higher velocities, e.g., 300 Win, 300 Wby, 300 WSM, ect. However, none of those have the character or charm of the old H&H. For the same reason I prefer to hunt with the 7x64, 6.5x55, 9.3x62, 375 H&H, etc. I just can't get my head wrapped around the newer rounds. They just don't float my boat or give me the pride of ownership that I desire. Lou

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
do you know why ruger made the 375 ruger so light?

so the girls could carry their own rifles, as marketing research determined that .375 was the paramount lady's caliber, and all arguments over the pros and cons should be limited to those in pettiskirts

WIN!

.375H&H is a hand rifle caliber anyway, it's like a JDJ but faster.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
SNIP...If I had to chose a 30 caliber magnum it would have to be the 300 H&H, even though we have cartridges that will give higher velocities, e.g., 300 Win, 300 Wby, 300 WSM, ect. However, none of those have the character or charm of the old H&H. For the same reason I prefer to hunt with the 7x64, 6.5x55, 9.3x62, 375 H&H, etc. I just can't get my head wrapped around the newer rounds. They just don't float my boat or give me the pride of ownership that I desire. Lou

Got .300 H&H, .308 Norma, .300 UltraMag, .300 WinMag and I end up using the Norma or the H&H every time when it's not paper I'm shooting at. The Mauser and Dakota actions have equivalent optics and potential, so that doesn't factor. I KNOW where the hold is for a H&H or Norma and my brain can only hold so much information I can count on to be a reflex. If it works, don't try to fix it.

I don't own either and my vote was simply for the history behind the H&H. I'm sure the Ruger will have it's place as a well designed cartridge however. The H&H has proven itself for almost 100 years. I see no reason to argue with that success.

Ken....

If I was 25 and just contemplating my first DG hunt in ten years, I might go with the Ruger in a Dakota or Dakota actioned rifle. But, since I'm in my 60's, have two safaris behind me and another in the works, the H&H simply makes good sense.

In thirty years, Ruger ammo may be available world wide, but it isn't now.

The H&H is a proven performer. Accurate, manageable recoil and available on a wide variety of platforms. Simply, it works, and reinventing the wheel is something I'm not partial to. That's why I still own two 7mm Remmys instead of one of the short magnums. Like someone else said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I own two of each - so guess it's a tie.
BUT - if forced to go in after a wounded animal I'd take the Ruger.

Being a lefty, there is not much choice out there in left hand bolt action .375 rifles, especially if one wants a controlled feed action. I looked long and hard at the .375 Ruger; I own a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .300 WM that shoots .75 MOA, and this is right out of the box, with no improvements/modifications whatsoever.

After much thought, however, I'm having a custom left handed .375 H&H made for me on a Montana Rifleman action by a NC gunsmith. This will be a classic rifle: walnut stock, medium weight 24" barrel with barrel band swivel, express sights, and a 1.5-5X Leupold VX-III scope in quick detachable Warne rings. Cost will be $3,200; about the same as a CZ-USA Safari grade, which is unavailable with a left hand action.

I just couldn't resist the lore and legend of the .375 H&H, which has been around since 1912, and is considered the standard by which all big and dangerous game calibers are judged.

I learned years ago that when one's life is on the line practicality always trumps nostalgia.

Phil,

Does the 375 Ruger have the same POA for differnt weight bullets like the H&H?

Happy New Year

I like the 375 H&H it has all the power thats needed. I went to Africa but took my 300 RUM shooting 200 Partition bullets.Thats all that was needed for 4 different game.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
For me, this comes down to ammo availability outside the USA. H&H wins.

For the USA though a .375 Alaskan is awfully hard to beat.

I own both and like them very much.You cannot buy Ruger ammo at this time in Dillingham. Eventually I am sure this will change.

The H&H will do anything that needs doing on this planet.

The H&H has world wide ammo availability second only to the 30-06. Or maybe third behind the 7.62x39.

The .375 Ruger is the answer to a non-existant question.

This is a worthless poll.
One should just go out and buy a 9.3x64 Brenneke.
You know you want to..

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
This is a worthless poll.
One should just go out and buy a 9.3x64 Breneke.
You know you want to..

I think Ganyana might back you up on that one.