Hi All! I am new to the big-bore forum but not new to AR. (Well, relatively speaking I guess) But, anyway... I have an opportunity to hunt spring brown bear on Admiralty Island, Alaska with a family member who has a cabin grand-fathered on the island.

I am thinking of a new 375 RUM with a 24" bbl. I regulary and accurately shoot a 338 RUM and have been shooting for over 25 years.(I am always respectful of the larger amounts of recoil produced by larger cartridges but quite comfortable shooting my 7 1/2 lb. 338RUM)

I am thinking either a factory 700 in 375 RUM or buying any of the RUMS and having it rebarreled to 375 and going with a 2-7 Leupold. I handload quite a bit and am thinking of using 300gr TSX?

Any thoughts or considerations I should look at before stepping in with both feet? Thanks!

IV-- New to big-bores......

Stick with the 338 RUM and load er up with 275 grn Swift A-Frames.
338 Diameter, 275 grain weight, Length 1.435" Sectional Density .344 and a Ballistic Coefficient of .469.
IV, the 338 RUM was "born" for these bullets!!

And if you're comfortable with the 338, "Don't fix what ain't broke!"

I think there is a RH Win 70 CRF in 300 Ultra in the classifeds on this site that would make a good candidate for a rebarrel. If it was a lefty it would be gone by now. I have shot the 375 Ultra for a bit now and would say that it is a step up from the 338 recoil wise but not by too much. The 300 gr. TSX's offer some great accuracy and should lay the smack down on anything you hunt for. I say go for it.

If you have the opportunity to go hunting for bear in alaska, then you have a fantastic excuse to go buy a new rifle. it seems like you want a 375 RUM, it'll do the job, what more do you need?

I'd go the rebarrel route , simply because IMO the factory Remmy 375 ultra barrels are some too light for that caliber..........I'd also mount a set of good quality opens for that sort of hunt and use the Leup. QR mounts , but many would disagree with the need for the irons........

I would go with the 375 H&H it will get the job done and then some. With the extra recoil of the 375 RUM and harder to find ammo (you can find 375 H&H in most gun stores). If you like the extra recoil with the 375 RUM why not get some extra punch with comparable recoil with a 416 Rem mag. or a 416 Rigby with 400 grain bullets? If you already have a 338 RUM (which will get the job done on a brownie) the 416 seems like a logical gap in calibers and makes a sweet two gun battery. If you have to have the 375 RUM enjoy and never look back.

Heard the story of the guide who used a 458 for a stopper till a bear got through it. Went to a 458 Lott. Any of the rounds discussed (I think) would sure do the job, including the 338 RUM with 275 grains. But if you want to step up, as dirklawyer suggested, go to the 416. A buddy in Alaska shoots it and says it is the berries, and when you touch it off, you sure know something happened.

First thought would be to use your 338 rum.

If your used to the 338 rum then the 375 rum won't be a major change. They both kick like mad.

I think the 300 TSX would be a good bullet too.

I have been thinking of rebarreling a 300 rum to 375 rum also.

But I know that my 300 rum will handle anything I am going to hunt.

Including brown bears.

But I do like new rifles!

Our host, Saeed, has killed over 100 buffalo with a ctg very similar to the 375 RUM and 300 grain Barnes X.

Why would you shoot anything else?

Andy

while some might say the HH is "better" the rum is a good round

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by Andy:
Our host, Saeed, has killed over 100 buffalo with a ctg very similar to the 375 RUM and 300 grain Barnes X.

Why would you shoot anything else?

Andy

But the .375 UAE of Saeed is not rebated as the .375 RUM is.

The .375 Wby is the best choice, then the .375 Simba but I too have sinned with the .375 RUM in:

1) A .375 RUM Remington 700 LSS 26" barrel (fantastic accuracy with 300-grain Swift factory loads at a wee bit over 2800 fps), and

2) A CZ 550 Magnum with 23" barrel in a custom walnut stock, chambered in .375 RUM but throated like a .375 Wby of 2001, a 5-shooter (4 down and 1 up). That one does about 2775 fps with the same ammo and blows big holes through Kentucky deer.

Come to think of it, the .375 Wby did the same to those Kodiak Sitka bucks, nearly cut them in half, but was very comforting to sleep with when tenting in bear country.

Everyone above has given good advice, but follow your heart and have some fun.

I swapped my .340 Wby MkV Fibermark for a .375 Wby after the first trip to Kodiak for deer.

The .375 Wby (always specify the 2001 throat) is still the most versatile and practical cartridge for big game in the universe as we know it. And it has no rebated rim.

The last time I accompanied a buddy on his brown bear hunt, I carried a 500 A-Square (.510 JAB) just for kicks. He had a .416 Rigby.

Have fun, whatever you do.
And if you are using a .375 RUM, it might as well be in a Remington 700.

I doubt a .375 or even a .338 RUM can be beat on bears. Its more than enough gun assuming you can shoot it. If you can keep six shots on a paper plate at 100 yrds standing, and off a solid rest like a tree then your good to go.
Get a scope with plenty of eye relief and make sure its reliable.-Rob

Thanks for the responses so far.

I should elaborate a little.

First, I agree, my 338RUM would do the trick, however, it is set up for long range elk hunting. It has a silhouette style thumbhole stock, 26" barrel, 3-9x50 leupold etc.

Whatever chambering I go with, I want a 22-24" heavier contour barrel, a more traditional stock and a lighter scope i.e. a 2-7 Leupold. Most shots on the island (according to my B-in-Law who has hunted them there extensively) are less than 200 yards.

A .416 seems intiguing. Are reamers fairly common for that wildcat? (i.e. .416 RUM?) Is it simple to step up from .375 to .416?

IV

How about a 378 Weatherby mag? She should be good.

Unless you have an itch that needss scratching I would use the 338RUM that you are already familiar with. Loaded with 250-275 grain Barnes TSX, Swift A-Frames, or North Forks, the 338 will perform admirably. Supposedly, the 375 Ruger release is right around the corner. This might be a fine option on future hunts should you not opt for the larger bore immediatily. Seems like you have a great rifle already, but there is always more room for another tool in the shed. Good Luck and Great Hunting.

By the way just had a thought cross my mind concerning the 416 idea. I did see a .416 Rigby chambered HS Precision rifle for sale on GunsAmerica.com yesterday. I found it by putting HS precision their search engine. Looked like a nice piece to me. I am planning on a HS rifle when the 375 Ruger is realeased. Spring 2007 can't come fast enough. For the closer range shots you describe, I agree that a 416-423 caliber bullet going does sound appealing.

Nothing wrong with the 416 , but IMO, a fast 375 is probably just as effective on large bear, more versitile , and flatter shooting if you do need to take a long shot .

Saeed has certainly proven a fast 375 with tough bullets kills the big bovines about as well as anything .

Since you like the M-700 , you might find one in H&H and you could get it punched to a Weatherby chamber........nearly as fast as the RUM , but gives you the option of using easily obtained H&H ammo if you get separated from your supply .

Not that there is anything wrong with the RUM in my view , despite RIP always carping on the rebated rim.........

'Course , some of these old fuds on here will try to tell you an H&H will kill better because it is slower........grin

Well, from a versatility standpoint, getting a rifle chambered for the 375 WBY is the way to go JIC you lose ammo cause you can shoot H&H rounds. They are all within a few hundred FPS of each other, you are gonna be hunting @ less than 200yd, so you do not need 3100FPS with a 300 gr bullet. Those two have belts, The RUM does not.

Or hit the other side of the spectrum, get any RUM (or mag based on the H&H case) you can get yer hands on, get it rebarreled for a 458 or 470 AR and be done with it. You reload, so having stuff to shoot should not be a problem as long as you dont get the stuff lost on the way.

My first biggie was(is) a 375 RUM, love it. But, something in 458 or 470 is calling my name!

So, what's your decision?

Its a calibre that interest me a lot to and I reckon you will be fine with it..................ad a little liquid nails and lead shot in the butt if need be !!

quote:

Originally posted by .366torque:
So, what's your decision?

Well, no one pointed out any major "beware of this" so I am going to go find a used 7mm RUM (they tend to be sold cheaper-- seems like no one wants them or likes them anymore) in a 700 BDL and have it rebarreld with a heavy contour 24"-- if anything it will be fun to get my feet wet with.....

IV

So far Im really likeing my 375 rum its a 3 grove Pac-nor barrel and a model 70 action the barrel is 25'' long and its shooting 300 gr TSX @2850 with H4350. I cant wait to get some more rnge time with this thing it is fun to shoot and I may take it out for a doe this year.

Give Pac-nor a try.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
while some might say the HH is "better" the rum is a good round

jeffe

That would be me As I Love the .375H&H !!!

IV, did you get my PM re an engraved Remmie 700 in 7mm RUM for $525 in Boise? That would put you a barrel away from your goal.

Rich

The 700 sps in 300 rum would be a good one to rebarrel also.

How fast can you push a 350-400 grain bullet in a 375 Weatherby, or RUM?

GS