I have been looking to buy a 375 h and h and have yet to pull the trigger. I have looked at a couple Whitworths, Kimber, CZ along with following a few model 70's of newer years. I asked around locally where I live and was given a guys name who has three 375's he is willing to part with. However he will sell one of the three my choice.
He has two pre 64s one from 53 and one from 58 in 97% or better condition. He is asking $3500 for each rifle.
He has a like brand new Whitworth asking $1200. Seems high compared to what I have seen on some of the auction sites.
I plan to use the rifle bear hunting in Alaska. I have not considered a pre 64 rifle until these were offered to me.
My question is along the lines of is this pricing their actual value? good deal? or too high?
I love the old Winchesters and can actually put my hands on these guns unlike a gun auction. I have yet to go and see them. I don't trust myself.
Would I be better off buying a more recent model 70 and putting the extra money away for my trip?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Netman

I'd buy a new one. They are made at least as well and I would not have to feel bad about ruining a nice one.

Try Guns International or my friend has a pre 64 Win 70 375 H&H for $2,500.00 It is missing the rear sight is about all that is wrong with it. I recently bought a 1953 for $1,400.00 with an incorrect rear sight. Those rear sights are nothing special but must be made of gold; usually $200 if you can find one.

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
I'd buy a new one. They are made at least as well and I would not have to feel bad about ruining a nice one.

+1

That's too much for a pre-64. I paid 1200 a couple of years ago, pristine except for the Griffin & Howe scope mount which I guess ruins it for the collectors.

Welcome to the forum netman.

I have an old M70 375 and I would not take it to AK hunting there in the rain.

There are other ordinary rifles around. The makes you mentioned are ok.

Make sure the action you get is Control Round Feed.

Ruger Alaskan 375 Ruger?

If a Ruger Alaskan 375 is not the standard old Holland and Holland 375 I would not get a rifle chambered for some new cartridge.

Get one chambered for the Holland and Holland 375 Magnum!

Some people get really hung up on P64 collector value mystique. I bought mine for my first safari but if I had that choice today, I would buy a new one. By the time I got mine and had it restocked (the P64 stock has way too much drop at the heel for me), I could have bought a new one and had enough left over for good optics.

I bought the one I have long ago, used, as they were/are cool. Got it just in case I went to Alaska.

I am a pre 64 Winchester fan. It is a simple rugged design. I appreciate the fine craftsmanship of the preWars, but the 1949 thru 1957 (actually early 1958) are more suitable to scoping.

I draw the line with the large round sear cut in the receiver from 1958 on, then the stocks get worse and worse then the checkering gets small, etc.

I am a Federally Licensed Collector, but am a user. An extra hole, recoil pad, or a reblue makes a solid hunter more affordable.

My Model 70 375H&H is a Stainless Classic with a David Miller Laminated stock. Been to Africa many times and shoots Nosler Partitions into little teeny holes. I think I have a Swarovski 1x4.5 in old Warne rings on it, but it might as easily wear a Leupold Vari X III 1.5-5. It's probably my favorite of all the rifles I have.

For that money Id buy a new one and let the collectors fight over the pre 64s. Your Alaskan hunt is not going to go better because of a classic rifle. Put the money toward your hunt, or a plane ticket to Africa.

quote:

Originally posted by Savage_99:
If a Ruger Alaskan 375 is not the standard old Holland and Holland 375 I would not get a rifle chambered for some new cartridge.

The cartridge is 8yrs. old now and is still going strong. Other firearm manufactures other then Ruger is in production, cases and ammo are available. So why not a 375 Ruger?

Personally, I love the OM 70. That said, I would not take one to Alaska.
The new CRF M70's are very nice, and hunt scars would not harm the value much.

My 375 is an improved version custom on an FN commercial M98 action. Africa yes, Lower 48 yes, but not Alaska.

ISS

Double thanks for the responses. I was not to sure about taking a pre 64 knocking around for bears and such.
In regards to winchester model 70 is there a certain model to stay away from In regards to a control feed?
I live a short distance from Whitakers and have handled CZ'S including the 375 American. Seems lighter than the safari models.
I'm liking the model 70 or a ruger in 375 H&H the best. I also like the Whitworths too.
I'm sticking with the 375 H&H caliber over some of the others. I currently reload for about 10 different calibers. When you have a 300 yd range in your backyard it's quite handy for working up loads.
I'm ready to spring for a 375 H&H it's down to finding one and buying it.

I would also look for an older Browning Safari on an FN action. You should be able to find one for about $1500. I would have it properly glass bedded and go hunting with it.

If you are a collector, buy the W70 375 H&H "classic" and pay the price for basically a useless wall hanger no one wants to shoot for fear of loosing some esoteric value...If you want a hunter, buy the Ruger 375 Ruger or better yet the 416 Ruger for the heavier bullets...more smack for the whack(street for money/zap).

I'm not a collector so I don't see ANY value in the W70 except for it's shooting ability and controlled round feed, and there are many as good or better CRF's out there at a much better price for shooters.

Last time I looked CDNN had a few Ruger 375"s for less than $700 with the short barrel...haven't checked for a while so you might give it a try...

Luck

I have had many Model 70's both old and new in all calibers. I even like the push feeds and feel they really got a poor press for no real reason other than a company tried to make a cost effective product. I have a 1939 built Model 70 right now and it's a superb shooter. It's a custom 30-06. Has the weird original safety. The bottom metal is Blackburn so actually all that is original is the receiver and the bolt. I find nothing about it in any way superior to my Classic. It really isn't even smoother. It's my belief that owners of pre 64's are living in a fantasy world produced by the writers . I actually won't pay one penny more for a pre 64 than for a current model. The only thing I am sad to see is the absence of what I considered to be the finest trigger mechanism on a rifle today. As I have said before just one old mans opinion yours is perfectly all right to be different.

I found a stainless classic a while back for $1100. Just put it in a McMillan. Ready to hunt Alaska in Sept. Really nice setup, shoots great

The only mod besides trigger job was to chuck the MIM extractor and get a Williams machined one

The loss of the finest, rugged, M70 trigger is a shame. It has also caused pre64 Win 70's to skyrocket in price. When the Newhaven made Classics came out they put a huge damper on the pre64 prices as they had many of the desired features, were well made, and looked good.

The biggest advantage that a pre64 Win 70 has over all of the post 64 Win 70's and most every other gun made, save for a M98 mauser with a forged bolt handle is the one piece bolt. It ain't gonna break. The bores on the pre 1954 M70's are cut rifled and lapped. They shoot, period.

I have 5 pre 64 Win 70's, none are safe queens, all but one have non original recoil pads, and I don't have to justify them as being just like anything else. They have wear and tear and get more every outing. They are what they are, a great hunting rifle, rugged, and simple.

A wise man once told me, "a 50 year old gun is supposed to have scratches and dents." I will add that life is too short to hunt with ugly guns. You spend a lot of time alone in the woods with that thing. I want to see blue steel and walnut!

quote:

Originally posted by 700xcr:

quote:

Originally posted by Savage_99:
If a Ruger Alaskan 375 is not the standard old Holland and Holland 375 I would not get a rifle chambered for some new cartridge.

The cartridge is 8yrs. old now and is still going strong. Other firearm manufactures other then Ruger is in production, cases and ammo are available. So why not a 375 Ruger?

I never looked to see what a 375 Ruger is until now!

The introduction in Nosler 7 covers it and it will do what the old 375 does in a standard length action and is a decent looking rimless cartridge.

I'm with Nonagonagin. For a hunting 375 control-feed the 375Ruger is way to go.
And if you want more thump, then by all means get the 416Ruger. Hard to argue with those choices. My wife opted for the short-barrel 375, but the African 23" is pretty nice, too.

Why bring my wife into this? Because it can help some people choose a calibre for itself without macho mystique. Many on AR (not yourself), treat rifles over a 300WM or 338WM in awe and it is important to view every rifle as a tool. My son and I still argue about whether a 375Ruger is good for a 68-yr lady, but it's her rifle. She thinks it's cute, enough said.

If you want a M70, then the 375 H&H is the choice.

I have shot a Mauser custom in 375 for the most part. I have owned and shot a number of pre 64s and they great rifles IMO..

I do believe the Ruger is the least expensive route to go and the Ruger African is about the finest factory rifle for Africa I have ever seen and they sure do shoot good..A 375 Ruger will never be a bad choice, its here to stay an I'll put money on that.

Im a big 375 H&H fan, but a new buyer would be wise to buy a African Ruger and spend the rest of that money on ammo and practice his shooting.

quote:

I do believe the Ruger is the least expensive route to go and the Ruger African is about the finest factory rifle for Africa I have ever seen and they sure do shoot good. A 375 Ruger will never be a bad choice, its here to stay an I'll put money on that.

+1