Hello fellow enthusiasts,

I am in the market for a .375 H&H for an eventual safari, and am interested in some feedback on a few rifles. I am planning on ponying up around $3,000, and recently read a review on the Ed Brown semi-custom "Express." The link for the rifle is below.

http://www.edbrown.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/00579.1.546759557140178267

Anyone here have any personal experience with these rifles? From the limited information I've heard, they're a great product.

On a side note, I was also very interested in the Blaser R93 in .375 H&H, but I'm hesitant about the straight pull back bolt action. It seems like there isn't a whole lot of positive extraction potential.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Thanks all for your help!

-John

John,

boy, that's 55 gallon drum of worms you spilled out here. This is just my humble opinion, and free to boot, which gives you a pretty good idea of what it is worth.

Investment wise, that will buy an awfully nice old model (pre-64) Winchester 375H&H. Can't be beat on any forum, lots of hand fitting in the old ones. Will introduce you in any non-artic hunting camp as a man of taste. Maximum style points and usually very accurate.

Dollar for dollar, one of the new CRF (don't know how gun savvy you are, CRF means controlled round feeding, like old model 70's and 98 Mauser, and Enfields and more) Winchesters, particularly a stainless synthetic will serve you well in any climate from -100 to +140 degrees. Esthetically lacking, but brutally functional and dependable.

Many of us here are very partial to the CZ 550 Magnum series in big bores. They are not as nicely finished as rifles costing two to three times as much, but they work well AND have a set trigger which may or may not appeal to you. Wood to metal fit is good, finish on both is good, and they are still under $1000. They offer two stock designs, the classic american straight comb, and the european "hogback" comb. The CZ in 375 holds a total of SIX! rounds. Very comforting when looking at something that will kill you back, and may try to eat you first is within spitting distance.

There are CRF (mauser 98 design) Whitworths out there in 375, and a very nice one can still be had for under a grand.

AHR can take a CZ action and build you a real hammer for under your self-imposed 3K budget.

You can also buy an Enfield P14 or P17, which morphed into the Remington Model 30, an action or complete rifle for less than $500 and have someone build a true top to bottom custom DGR (dangerous game rifle) from $2000 up depending on your taste in fine walnut and cosmetics. The classic "trinkets" like a dropped or extended box magazine for an extra round, 3-4 leaf express or island rear sights and fancy front ones, barrel machined with the express sight base (looks like the quarter rib on a Ruger #1) and recoil and barrel band stud, can all add significantly to the cost.

Ruger RSM. The Ruger has fans, rather rabid ones. People love them or hate them. They are a modified CRF design, and offered in 375. They are also a real brick and have all the panache of a dump truck as far as I am personally concerned. I have been told that my taste is all in my mouth, probably some truth in that. The Rugers are over engineered sizewise.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know, and not the final word on any of the choices I outlined. Partisans and detractors of all of the above (except the AHR, which is to CZ as Shelby Mustangs are to regular ones)will begin to chime shortly.

The major factor, in my humble opinion, is is this rifle closer to an heirloom or a new toaster in your heart?
I own Harleys, they mean much more to folks than hondas do...emotional attchment?

Take this as just one mans opinion.

regards,

Rich
DRSS

From my experience can't say anything about the Ed Brown rifle.

I've two .375's a Winchester Model 70 and a Blaser R93 in standard contour barrel w/sights (not Safari; they're much heftier) on an Off Road (synthetic) stock.

I bought the barrel second hand (if you can call two shots second hand) from a friend who claimed it whumped him unmercifully - one shot from a spanking new barrel, directly thereafter send for Magna-Porting and the second shot was as it returned from Isny with four slits in the muzzle area. He didn't appreciatze the whump from the second shot either - so I got it at half price and paid him on the spot. I'm in urgent need of many more friends like him.

Taken it to Africa three times and use it here in Europe as well. Shot all kinds of reloads & factory ammo through it and cannot say enough good about it. Compliments the .30/06 Sprg. barrel I take with me as a back-up and is as accurate as the other 4 Blaser barrels I also own.

I've never had any issues with going from a straight-pull to a turn-bolt, it's never hickupped on me at all nor has the Nut behind the Crank; either feeding, firing, extracting or ejecting and is superbly accurate. A huge plus for the Blaser system is the interchangability from Right-Hand to Left-Hand if that would be a consideration. We're a mixed bag in our family with two righties & two lefties; so modular rifles with flexibility are at a premium.

I'm pleased I bought it and it has great potential for the hunt scenarios & travel I do. Having said that - my first .375H&h was the Winchester Model 70 and it remains my "claasic" one gun for Africa (and other locations, too) - if I was initially gonna buy one .375H&H I guess it would have to have all the "classic" Bells & Whistles.

Hello John and welcome to AR.

A number of years ago I shot the IPSC National Championships in the same flight with Ed Brown. At that time Ed was ranked as one of the very top combat shooters in the world. I have not had the priviledge of handling his rifles but have experience with his 1911's when he was building custom pistols. Based on the quality of Ed's work that I am familiar with I would believe his rifles to be of excellent craftsmanship.

I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but hope it is of some help.

I have owned two, a 300 Win Mag and a 7MM Mag. Both shot and performed flawlessly. Sub MOA groups were the norm with just about any load. I sold them because they were the Savannah model which I found a little heavy. Yes there are less expensive options but often you will find yourself with quite a bit of tuning to work out the bugs. To some this process is fun but to others a chore. I don't believe you will have that problem with the Ed Brown guns. If you take a look at the web site of Hendershot's Sporting Goods, you can get a pretty good look at Ed Brown rifles. I believe they have four in stock now including a 375.

quote:

John

This just my preference but for $3000US I would want a 375 H&H in either some type of Mauser based action or M70.

Put it this way, I am keen on Wby and the stuff I have has the custom shop barreled actions and cost quite a bit more than $3000US. However, you not give me one in 375 H&H.

For me, the Ed Brown rifle belongs with the 375 Ultra and doubly so because in essence it is a Rem 700 action.

As Rich has already mentioned your budget is in the Pre 64 375 area.

Mike

Wow! I am very pleasantly surprised with all the extremely well-informed feedback that everyone has given me so far! Thank you very much.

I am very confident in my knowledge of sporting arms, with the exception of the larger bore offerings. I really welcome the ideas of different actions to keep an eye out for, and from what everyone has stated thus far, I perhaps will have a totally custom offering built.

Thank you all again for your advice, as well as the warm welcome, and by all means, keep your opinions coming!

-John

Try this!

R93 Safari - about $3000

Weatherby MK V Custom (yes you can get a full tilt custom shop job with all the action work for $3000)

Any one of the 4.3 billion flavors of M98 based CRF type rifles (not the new Mauser M03) spending your $3000

Get a box of hot 300 grain handloads (what I'd be using)

Head to the range and fire three rounds at a moving target as fast as you can and then........decide which rifle you like best.

All of these rifles are more accurate than you can shoot them with open sights at any distance.

"Who is John Galt?"

Sorry, couldn't help myself. I really have nothing to offer related to your question other than to request that you post "gun porn" pictures of your new rifle when you do choose.

quote:

"Who is John Galt?"

DeasrtRam beat me to it.