Have an interest in both a Sako rifle and the .375 H&H.

More specifically, I am looking at the 85 Hunter Laminated SS versus the 85 Kodiak. Both are laminated stocks with stainless steel action and barrel. The main difference, for me, is the barrel length at 24 versus 21 inches. How much velocity loss is there with the 21 inch barrel? Can anyone give me a real world example?

Thanks in advance for any info.

PS,
not interested in the B&M cartridges or .375 Ruger, but thank you anyways.

20 to 35 fps per inch depending on the rifle load ect.

Even if you and I hand the same rifle shooting same load we could very well see that much different between the rifles.

Only sure way is to fire your rifle and load over a croney.

My .375 is a Montana 1999 with a 20" bbl.

75 gr. of H4350 and a 300gr. Partition or TSX delivers 2425 fps.

81.5 gr. of H4350 gave me 2,550 with an SGK (*that load just plain felt nasty even though there were no overt pressure signs. It was a max load per Lee and my Speer manuals).

Personally, I'm going to stick with the 75 gr. load. It shot sub MOA and the recoil was almost laughable.

I love my Kodiak .375H&H. It works super well on plainsgame and on our water buffalo, as well as wild cattle. And it has excellent traditional lines. I believe in not pushing bullets too fast, and that gives me absolutely stunning results.

Thank you all for the assistance. Ben, how is the muzzle blast from your Kodiak? Any discernible difference from rifles with a longer barrel?

I've shot the 21" barrel version and it is a nice handy rifle with good balance. You'll loose 75 FPS with the shorter barrel but no buffalo or brown bear will know the difference. I did not discern any great muzzle blast from the shorter barrel.

Mark

Like Mark, I can't tell the difference between shooting my Kodiak or shooting friends' CZ550 or Zastava in .375H&H. Same noise. Same accuracy. Same deadly effect on buffalo.

I've had my M70 with a 21 barrel for almost 50 years. To be really honest, I do not remember the sound or the recoil of the gun when shooting at game.