Last year preparing for my first trip to Africa, I asked many questions with regard to what to take, how to pack ect. and many of you were kind enough to help out having been there and done that. What I did not expect to happen was a snap shot with my 375 H&H at a buffalo that caused a Sternoclavicular joint dislocation, meaning my color bone popped out into my throat....Holy Crap!!!! Makes a great story but really screwed up the trip.
Well I think I'm healed up enough to shoot again and have even tried out the 300 WSM without much pain, but I am going back in September and will be packing the 375 Model 70. Which is going to give me the least amount of recoil, a new pad, mercury recoil reducer, muzzle brake or mag-na-porting. Your answers will greatly help in making my desision.

I personally like the Decellerator and mercury reducer which I have used with great success, but if I were in your place I would add MagNaPort. I have had several heavies MagNaPorted and I personally like the results and people shooting around me do NOT complain. You will get tremendous differences of opinion on this with many telling you there is no bad recoil from a 375 and you should just endure it. I personally dislike ANY recoil period. The most effective recoil reduction is achieved via a brake and I beleive that to be fact not fiction. If I had a shoulder problem (mine is the left shoulder and I'm right handed so lucky) I would use every available resource.

What about a PAST shoulder harness over your shirt; a little cumbersome, but really effective.

Based on the one Magnaported rifle I own, I'd say that it helps muzzle jump more than recoil unlike some of the more efficient brakes around.

The PHs I've hunted with dislike brakes immensely but seem to have been begrudgingly OK with Magnaports.

One of the reasons one should practice mounting and shooting a rifle quickly is so that you learn where to put it into your shoulder. Will also tell you if the rifle fits or not.

I do that will all the rifles I take very far away to hunt. Was glad I did as my Buf shot in Tanzania last August with the .416 Rigby was also a snap shot ... and it kicks a lot more smartly than a .375 H&H. Improperly mounted it could have hurt a lot.

Your best bet is a combo of a real effective muzzelbrake( probably a screw on Vias type), a F990 pad (cover it in leather) and a PAST PAD. Recoil should feel like a .243 with that combo.-Rob

I think Rob is giving you good advice. The Vais brake is one of the best for noise. It is nowhere near as noisy as most others. If you are really nervous add a recoil reducer in the butt plate.
I have no experience with it myself but I watched a 90 pound lady who was comfortable shooting a 375 with the Answer (SP?) recoil reduction system. Perhaps someone can give you info about it. I also saw a young lady guiding for bear using the system on a 416 Rem so it works.

Try this for a cheap and easy way to add some weight to your rifle. Get one of the elastic ammo carriers that fits on the butt stock. 9 - 10 rounds of 375 will add another pound to help tame the recoil.

Keith

My first question would be what are you hunting?

September is right around the corner, and if you are just going for plains game, you might want to leave the 375 at home.

If you are going for big game like cape buffalo, then you cannot avoid taking the 375.

Second question would be, what does your doctor say? Us older guys don't heal like we did in our bulletproof years, and what you went through sounds like something one would not want to repeat (now THAT had to have hurt).

All of the options listed will help, but there are drawbacks to a few of those.

A mercury recoil reducer is something that some people swear works like a charm, and others say they cannot tell much of a difference. My own view is that it helps reduce the recoil velocity, but maybe does little for total recoil (turns a whack into a shove). The recoil reducer will add roughly a pound to the stock of the rifle and will throw the balance off.

The muzzle brakes generally work, but this is an item where some work extremely well while others aren't worth much. And they add a lot of noise, which is why PH's don't care for them much. Magna porting works (I have a magna ported Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 that cuts out a lot of recoil), but it also increases the noise level.

Another thing to consider - anything you do to the muzzle may throw off the rifle's accuracy or at least change the way it handles loads. I say "may" - the only way you are going to find out is to get in some decent range time.

I new recoil pad is something easily done and there are many good ones out there. The kick ease pads appear to work well.

Here's another vote for a pad worn on the body. The Past pads are very good (I use them for load development with my 470), and I just saw one reviewed in the "New Products" section of AR http://www.allsportsarmour.com/SHOOTING_ARMOUR_SHIRT_p/asa200.htm

I have heard of the ANSWER system before, but don't have a clue as to how it works.

As this point, you have about 60 days to get the work done and get some range time in. I don't know if you can get a gunsmith to put on a muzzle brake and/or install a recoil reducer in time to give you a chance to get much range time in. Which you will need to get a feel for the change in balance and longer barrel length.

Your other option would be to take one of the esteemed members of AR along to shoot for you.

Well, I'm sure it's what you might not want to hear.. But muzzle brakes are just too dang loud and bothersome!...I would hate to leave me 375 H&H home with DG around.. But might I suggest you drop all the muzzle break/weight adding idea's and consider a proper fitting 9.3X62... All practical use, it's within a hair of the trusty 375 H&H with the recoil about like a stout 30-06.. Put a good mercury reducer in the butt, recoil is very tolerable..

loud,

I suffered a Shoulder Dislocation in my right shoulder and am a Left-Handed shooter.

After 9 months took one shot (from the port side with a .12 gauge Trap shotgun) and couldn't believe the pain - it took another 4 months for a total of 13 months for me to be able to shoot again, so I understand the discomfort of such an injury.

I have two .375 H&H's one is a pretty light Blaser R93 and it's Maga-Ported (already ported when I purchased the barrel) and a heavy Winchester Model 70. I've taken both to Africa (not on the same trip of course) and the results with both were equally positive although I'd have to say the muzzle jump reduction is the most noticable factor with the Magn-Porting IMO.

I agree with pretty much everything that has been said above and if it was me I'd:

1. Evaluate whether or not I REALLY need the .375H&H for game to be hunted? If not, use your .300 WSM (although a trip to Africa without a .375H&H is somehow unfullfilling to me).

2. If so, I'd add every gimmick and all the weight I could to the rilfe in an attempt to reduce the felt recoil.

3. Let the PH know about all of this up front so that perhaps every available effort can be made to ensure a successful hunt all around.

I'ver evry consideration and respect for African PH's; their expereince, abilities and yes, even their personal likes and dislikes but never forget - you're the Client. I'd much prefer a hunter who can dispatch game with one well placed shot regardless of what kind of gimmicks his rifle had.

I’m assuming you’re shooting 300gr @ 2500fps? So in conjunction with the advice given above why don’t you consider a slightly reduced load? Kevin Robertson seems to like the 375 loaded down to 2400 fps with good quality 300gr bullets.

I’ve had to be recoil sensitive before also. I was on blood thinners for a while and the only rifle I had at the time was a light weight 338 win mag. You can bruise easily on thinners so I added a brake, some weight (via cartridge holder on the stock) and backed my loads off a bit….worked well

Best of luck…….

You might want to look at my post a couple of days ago. The system I reported on was far superior to the PAST pad, and could be worn in the field if necessary.

Look in Product Reviews.