Initially I want to say that I am not extremely knowledgeable about Africa and its hunting. But I am about to invest in my first big game rifle in preparation for an African hunt--a 375 H&H magnum.

My primary question is, should I rely on open sights or try to put a scope on this gun? I expect most shots to be within 150 yds, but I cannot be sure of that range as longer shots might be necessary. I'm guessing a high-relief scope is the only option. If a scope is a good idea, any suggestions on power and brand?

Thanks in advance guys for the advice. I know there is a wealth of big game hunting knowledge among you.

My 375 HH (Sako 75 Hunter), accurized by MAG, has a Swaro 1,5-6x42 optic fixed mount.
With this optic I'm quite sure to have in my hands a very 'multi purpose rifle' with adequate rounds, expecially considering the bullets, I'm able to hunt plains game and dangerous between 40 and 200 yards.

For buff and elephant I've a (optic sighted Swaro 1,25-4x24) custom made MAG .500 Jeffery --> I'm not capable to shoot with iron sight... so with zoom optics I belive to hunt well with accurate firs shot placement: this is the real key, for me, for hunt any game.

Have a great hunt experience, if you need some suggestion about .375 HH loads and bullet I'm able to give you some suggestion, ask me if you need it.
Ciao

quote:

Reply

^^Thank you for the advice...I will certainly let you know if I need any help with loads.

I have never shot anything above a 7mm Rem Mag before, so I know the 375 H&H will be a new experience. This is one reason I'm very glad I have 6 months to shoot and get good with the caliber before the hunt. I realize the recoil will be quite a bit more brisk, but I'm not worried as I am 6' 3" and 235 lbs. Again thank you for the advice.

I have a 1-4 leupold on my cz .375 but would be just as happy with a 2-7 leupold.

I think a scope maximises your chances for sure.

Whatever scope you opt for, use a set of Tally quick detach rings. I have them on my CZ 416 Rigby. This gives you maximum flexibility. You can literally remove the scope in seconds to have use of the iron sights.

Plus you can remove the scope for traveling.

I went on my first and only trip to Africa last year..so take it for what its worth...there are others here with much more experience. Your choice of equipment should be dictated by where and what you are going to hunt. So what are you going to hunt and where???

My choice is to scope all my rifles. On my 375 H&H I have a Leupold 1.5-5x20mm Duplex...it works well on that gun.

A standard weight 375 is moderate recoil and should not be a problem for you as long as you have enough eye relief on the scope so that you can shoot from all field position.

Shoot you gun all that you can before you go and learn to shoot off sticks...and from field positions. Use a good bullet and the 375 H&H is a great weapon...Good luck you will have more fun that you can imagine...and if you are after Cape Buffalo even more so...

Fusino,

I put a Khales 2-7 on my BRNO 375 H&H along with Warne quick-release mounts. Have been very happy with the set-up. In fact, I am putting the same scope and rings on my CZ 416 Rigby. And your are right about the potential for longer shots. It all depends on what you are hunting and where. The shortest of my shots in RSA last year was 75 yards and the longest ust under 400 with the average around 200. Good luck and have fun.

Scope it. If you like, use a good set of quick-detach mounts (I have been very happy with the Talley, Leupold QR, and Kimber/Brownell set-ups).

What game will you be hunting, and where?

George

Yep, scope it using QD rings and carry a spare scope that is already sighted in (my spare is fixed 4x Leupold). I've not yet been but I've got the gun - my target date is 2008.

Another piece of advice - the bigger bullets seem to have less felt recoil. More push less whack? If your shots are going to be inside 200 (please excuse the extra zero ) yards, get the 300 grain loads and use them exclusively. I'm 5'6" 175#, so you ought to be able to handle the big gun with ease, just be certain of that eye relief and Leupold has got everyone beat. If you've got the $$, their 1.75x6 seems to be the perfect scope for a .375.

Be assurred that all shots WILL BE within 2000 yards!!!!

Yep, put a scope on it. The "classic" scopes for Africa are the straight tube, low power scopes. But, there's no reason you couldn't use something else. I would try to keep the physical size of the scope on the small side for handiness and balance.

Good examples of scopes to use, IMHO, from the Leupold line:


VX-II 1-4x20mm


VX-II 2-7x33mm


VX-III 1.5-5x20mm


VX-III 1.75-6x32mm


VX-III 2.5-8x36mm

Just my two cents worth....
-Bob F.

Wow thanks guys...great advice. I will be after Cape Buffalo, but incidentally do not know where yet. My brother is planning this entire hunt as I'm a somewhat busy man and he is not. So my life is in his hands =P

And, yes, I'm hoping all shots are within 2000 yds. =)

Nothing wrong with iron sights up to 150 yards on buffalo and most buffalo are shot at under 75 yards...

A low power scope like a 3X fixed Leupold, a 1.5x5 or a 1x4 is pretty nice if you have Talley QD mounts so you can have quick access to irons....

Another advantage of a scope is that it allows you to see twigs and branches better so you are better able to pick a "shooting lane" through the bush. Leaving the scope set at about 3X seemed to work best for me, then turning it down to the lowest power when following up or in the really thick stuff.

Fusino,

I use Zeiss scopes and Talley rings on 3 .375 H&H's - Zeiss 1.5-6x42 Davari VM/V 30mm - No problems, very happy with this set up.

Success,

Roland

fusino,

Good advice from everyone here on your potential scope selection. I use a Kahles 1.5-6x42 in EAW mounts - also detachable.


.375's normally have a little bit more heft, although the 7.5 & 8 pounders are getting some press lately but all-in-all the recoil from a .375, while noticable - is nothing that a little practice and familiarity won't fix.

Have fun shooting and a great time in Africa.

Cheers,

Gerry

I have Schmidt & Bender 1.25-4 power on my 375. I'm planning a plains game hunt for next year. I was considering another scope with higher power after listening to all the talk about 200-300 yard shots. What do you think leave it alone or get another scope with a higher power?

Perhaps it implied in your question, but do buy a rifle which has iron sights and practice with the iron sights as well. The members of this forum are as opinionated as any on earth but I think you will get consensus on the need for iron sights that you know how to use when you hunt in Africa. If you are buying a new rifle and don't want to invest at the high end, look at the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express and CZ 550 Magnum rifles. Both have iron sights and controlled round feeding. All of the scope choices previously mentioned will allow you make a considered decision.

Hello,
The advise on learning to use and practice with the iron sights is indeed a very good one and perhaps you may well have considered same.

Suggest you take a pie plate, approx. 9", spray paint it black and place at both 50 and 100 yards and practice until you can place five shots in same off hand, no sticks, rest, etc. I know that sounds like a lot of work and it is, but the practice may well serve you very well in the future. Trick to shooting off hand is accepting your wobble, can not be prevented, and "breaking the shot..." as the blade, post, front sight is wobbling into the target, not away from it. (most shooters wobble in a horizontal figure 8 pattern) Another suggestion is to dry fire four times for every live shot. Saves a lot of ammo and yet accomplishes familiarity of the weapon with the shooter and teaches sight picture and techniques.
Trigger control very, very important. Eye, brain, muscle response (trigger pull)coordination critical. After 4-5 trips to the range you will see an improvement in your ability to keep five shots in the plate at both distances. Now and only now should you do the same with the scope and actually it will be more difficult for you will see your "wobble" a lot more than with the naked eye. If you do equip your rifle with a variable, select the power you plan on hunting with and practice with that power setting. Frankly, would suggest a fixed power scope, but to each his own. Most will advise that you always seek the most stable possible way to shoot, and you should, but if and when the time comes that you must shoot standing erect, no rest, you will be well prepared.
Favor Center!!
dsiteman

Cranky old nostalgiest here, but as to your question, absolutely yes! Admittedly, the .375 is the largest caliber I'd bother to scope but on that one a 1.5x5 is superb. Actually, you have a choice if you have QD mounts. Either carry a spare scope or have a set of QD irons. Personally, after 29 years of M16s, I favor iron sights and didn't even bring a scoped rifle on my last safari. Others prefer the alternative. But, even though all your shots are very likely to be within 150 yards, the .375 is so useful that you will find yourself using it on other game at longer ranges. So, scope it! Just keep the power down at the bottom for most of the trip, unless by chance you need to nail a small antelope out there a ways. Field of vision and all that, don'tcherknow.

I like irons too, but Sarge and I are curmudgeons and learned to shoot with iron sights..These baby boomers were sucking on scopes at birth...

However anyone should be able to kill a buffalo about as far as you can see one with irons, the kill zone is 3 feet, and he who misses has not done his/her homework!

All just in fun, this post really has no significance, much like many others I have read...

BTW, for anyone that's worried about getting bopped in the forehead by their scope-- get a ScopeEye pad. Midway carries 'em (part number 407394). It's just a rubber ring that goes over the eyepiece to cushion the blow. I've got them on my guns because I let other people shoot them-- I've not been "bitten" yet myself. But it's cheap insurance-- they're only four bucks each. Works fine with the Leupold 2.5x20 and 1.5-5x20 size scope eyepieces.

Pertinax

Another vote for the fixed power scope! I have a fixed 2.5x leupold on my .416 and have no trouble from 10 to 250 yards. Variable power scopes will almost invariably be on a power inappropriate to the distance to a target (if only in your mind) and there is nothing that will annoy a PH more than fiddling with your scope while a Rowland Ward head trots into the bush.

JMHO,

JohnTheGreek

Everyone should shoot irons if only for the fun of it. My 9 year old step son was mortified when I told him he had to shoot his pellet gun with irons until he was proficient with them.. B

fusino
I would take a hard look at the Blaser R 93 Safari in 375 H&H. Then after you get back from Africa you can get another bbl and still hunt with it at home.

450 No.2.
You are an absolute extremeist from a good English double to a piece of crap like a Blaser, the most modern junk known to man!

You have shamed the good men who live for two barrels, you have come out of the closet, shame, shame, shame, I am sticken with grief over your post!

Ray,

I have more bad news for you. I think 450 No 2 owns Wbys and I seem to remember him organising a half dozen or so Wby DGRs for some PH group in Africa.

Mike

Mike,
I have owned several Wbys in the past from 257 to 416. I have shot 378's and 460's. I have never had a malfunction of any kind with a Wby.
So when I became involved with 2 Govt. entities [here in the US] which is responsible for dangerous animal escapes I recommended WBY's for MY people because of my experience with them and the experience I had with the rifles of the other agency [Win Mod 70's].
So far 4 458 WIN Mag's and 10 375 H&H Weatherby Dangerous Game Rifles have performed with out problems. We have shot these rifles a fair amount.
The 458 issued to me has already saved my life.
If the Blaser R 93 would have been available in 458 I would have recommended them. I have never had a single problem with the Blaser R 93. These are the only 2 factory bolt rifles that I have never had problems with. This includes several "
custom rifles I have had and those I have shot belonging to friends. Besides, custom rifles were not an option for this project. Nor were double rifles, or we would all have Chapuis Double Rifles.

If, because of lost luggage, etc. I had to take a taxi to a gunstore, buy a rifle, scope, scope mount, and ammo, then taxi back to the airport, get on a plane, arrive in camp, put the scope on the rifle, sight in, and go hunt, I KNOW a Blaser would work and be accurate enough to hunt with. I cannot say that about any other bolt rifle on the market today.
Baised on what other posters say about various rifles on AR.... well I rest my case.