If you were in the market for a new .375H&H, which would you choose & why?
Ruger MKII magnum;
CZ550 (Euro or American);
Win. M70;

I'm leaning toward the Ruger as it is pretty much ready to go as is. The M70 might need better irons but is 2nd. The CZ is the least expensive but for me needs the safety & possibly the trigger replaced. Your thoughts guys??

[ 10-22-2003, 02:42: Message edited by: fredj338 ]

The CZ550 does have a win70 style safety available as a drop in option. (at least I have been told that it is drop in).

just something to think about if it is a factor in your decisions. Also some of the guys here have said that the CZ should get a second crossbolt and be bedded. Still price wise you might be ahead of the game when all is said and done.

Red

Fre,

I had a Ruger RSM rechambered to .404 Jeffery and could not be happier with the firearm. It is by far the prettiest of the "affordable" safari guns that I have seen. In fact, I'll put it up against most Dakotas, as far as its classic lines and wood quality are concerned.

That said, the Winchester Model 70 Classic is hard to beat in terms of being a rock solid performer with acceptable lines at an affordable price. I personally don't care for the wood in their standard stock, but this is one of the reasons for their attractive price.

As for the CZ,unless you are willing to do the kind of major surgery that JudgeG did to his, you can keep it. For my money, they are butt ugly and feel like their actions are lubricated with beach sand. However they are affordable and functional, and I would not hesitate to use one if it was all I could afford.

Just my $.01 worth. For my $.02 worth, I would have to go into greater detail.

fredj338,

I too vote for the Ruger first, the Win. second and the CZ a distant third. CZ has one other problem in that their stock is a little thin at the back of the action at the grip. CZ has a reputation for stock splitting there. I have seen it happen that's why I own Ruger and Win.. Lawdog

I like the cz I have one in .375 I had it bedded in devcon and ensured the tang was releived and floated aft the forend barrel lug.

Shoots 300 gr Hornady's in an 1". I have cz mounts and 1-4x20 leupold on top. It has an integral rear sight base with flip up express style sights, double square bridge mauser magnum action and has six shot capacity 5 down and one up the spot.

There is no beach sand in this cz 550 .375 I have it is nice and slick and feeds like a dream. The hogs back stock suits me fine and it has a Pacymeyer pad on it as standard. In Australia a Ruger is about $3000AUS and the CZ was $1250 the win about $2100.

I like the Rugers but there out of my price range and apparently they do not have an action lug

I like them as do others but each to there own hey !! so it's cz's for me

I've looked through the CZ catalog and the 550 American in 9.3x62 had two cross-bolts. So why would CZ slight the .375 by having only one cross-bolt? And Steve Cash had an article in the august 2002 Handloader that showed his 550 american in 9.3x62 with two cross-bolts.

Leo-to,

I have both a cz .375 and 9.3x62 and your correct my 9.3 has dual cross bolts for & aft the mag box while my cz .375 has only one behind through the pistol grip. I also prefer the barrel lug on my 9.3 as opposed to the .375 as it is of a single lug protruding from underneath the barrel and does not have a sliding screw fixture as the magnums do, not that it has given me any dramas at all however.

My gunsmith had the go ahead to double bolt my CZ.
He figured the 375, thanks to his tight fit, didn't need it.

How many guys have had CZ's split 375 H&H stocks?

gs

Socs,

My .375 has not but I had it bedded after a few shots.

My .416 Rigby got a haorline crack in the bolt handle cut out while my mates .416 split as big as the grand canyon from in front of the mag box right up the forend

CZ replaced hist stock and he had it bedded in devocn and releived in the appropriate places and he has fired 250-300 shots since with no worries. I had a kevlar/fiberglass composite made for my .416.

My lott I had two extra crossbolts for a total of three crossbolts and bedded in devcon right to and including the funky cz barrel lug.

The thing that bothers me about all these factory .375 s is that they are all too heavy and bulky for a cartridge of the power of standard H&H loads.........the stainless M-70 may be better in this reguard but I have yet to lay my mitts on one of those.

The new M-70 express with the very straight combs feel horrible to me......too high a comb for even a scope and too high for the irons that stick up a mile off the barrel......too heavy.......muzzle heavy......a poor feeling package all around ; in my view........

SD there was a thread somewhere recently on how to make an awsome light .375,

but I tell you what I reckon a .416 Taylor on a Ruger MK11 would be a light weight good value alternative you could basically use 340 gr woodleigh's or 350 speer magtips and it would have good trajectory and hit with good thump. Recoil should be less than the rem mag or rigby. I love the rigby most of all but I am thinking handy.

500, Reimer's rifles are beautiful, but what kind of cash are we talking about? Thanks for the replys guys.

Fred,

This is one of those "if you have to ask..." moments. But RJ makes some really way cool stuff!

I expect to have a .375 H&H in the Silent Auction for the San Diego SCI Chapter in February. Can you wait until then?

jim

It would be damn hard for me to pay the $10,000 grand that gun is listed at.

I just bought a M70 in 375. I really like it. The Ruger is better suited for the bigger cartridges, in my opinion.

Sorry guys, if were looking to spend 10K, I would be looking @ double rifles! I'm thinking the Ruger, I don't mind the weight.

Jim, I'll see you @ SCI SD, I'm not in any hurry, just shopping around.

[ 10-23-2003, 04:17: Message edited by: fredj338 ]

The latest Ruger 77 Safari models are not as heavy as the originals and the front sight is a larger bead, two very good improvements..

I don't know where one could get more gun for the money...3 pos. safty; barrel band swivel and front sights; European Walnut; control feed and most of all, an intregal quarter rib, now that alone fetches $2000 minimum from a custom barrel maker.....

What it needs for me is a glass bed job, perhaps a trigger job, they all do; a new leaf rear sight from New England arms...and cross bolts to dress it up even more...but these things are optional and up to the individual...

Saw an RSM in 458 Lott at a show this weekend. It had by far the plainest wood I've seen on one yet. It was completely creamy yellowish with one line of black "figure" quartering DOWN from the heel to the bottom of the grip. It was really, really ugly.

I know the Ruger offers more "features" for the money, but I don't think I'd trade my M70 Safari Express for an RSM in 375.

Fred,

My suggestion would be to spend a few extra $$ and get a Pre-64 M70 in 375H&H (between $1500 & $2000 depending on condition). Much more classic than the newer rifles. They are also very well made and tend to be very accurate. Just plain cool to hunt with a Pre-64 M70 anyway.

Good luck. Hope all is well.

Tim