Hello folks,

I would like some opinions on building a dangerous game rifle. One thing that I've decided on is the caliber...375 H&H.

The first thing that I need to know is what action should I start with? I would like for it to be CRF. Should I go with a M70 Win Classic design, Mauser, CZ, Ruger, others?

One question about the M70 classic. I can trade with a local fellow for a Model 70 classic in 7MM Rem Mag. Would the action and magazine in this rifle be long enough for the .375 H&H? What about the Ruger, Mauser, CZ, and actions? Do rifles chambered for standard length magnum cartridges (ie .300 Win, 7MM Rem, .338 Win, etc.) have a bolt and magazine long enought to handle the .375 H&H?

I know that I want a McMillan fiberglass stock or a custom made laminate so that is pretty much settled.

One other thing...the barrel. What length barrel and what contour is perfect for this cartridge? I would like to keep the weight up in order to reduce recoil. Any other suggestions for reducing felt recoil without adding a break?

Thanks guys...X

My .375 weighs about 9.25 lbs with scope. That's plenty to absorb recoil, especially with a synthetic stock. I prefer a 24" barrel since I also like a barrel mounted front swivel to keep the muzzle down below the level of my hat when carried slung over the shoulder. It's hard to beat a M70 Classic African if yours comes competently assembled from the factory. Since it already has a barrel band all you would need to do is restock, if you insist on such, remove the factory rear sight and install a good scope mount to hold your Leupold 1.5x5. If you decide to keep the factory stock, get rid of their bedding goo and put in a neat, tight job of steelglass. With that, a .375 doesn't really need double thru-bolts but since the rifle comes that way, smile and continue to march. Weigh it. If it's under 9 lbs., a little extra lead in the buttstock or a mercury buffer plus a good recoil pad will do the job. At that point put the rest of your money into practice ammunition and start saving for Africa.

For the money you can't beat a CZ, but also look at the Sako75.

There are also a lot of semi-custom and custom .375H&H rifles out there, and they come up for sale with regularity. You can prospect on Guns America, or in Gun List and Shotgun News.

jim dodd

Check out a CZ 550 Safari Magnum. McMillan's AHR stock was designed for it. It is cheaper than a M-70's and has integral scope bases, and I think it has a 5-shot magazine. I grew up on Mausers and M-70's, but I got a 550 American in 9.3x62 a while back and sentiment went right out the window. Now I'm scraping up the coin for another 9.3x62 (got to have a spare), plus a 30-06 and a 7x57. Food for thought, anyway...

Okie John

Also check out lonewolfriflestock.com they have one called the stalker made for the CZ and they have others that can fit. Ordered mine the other day.

Look at this, http://www.winchester-guns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=535&type_id=012&cat=001C I own one of these in 375H&H. I had Kevin Knight at http://www.muzzlebrake.com/ install his muzzle brake and a trigger job. This critter is topped with a Leupold 3.5x10 and it is accurate to the 300 meter steel pig!!! He has done other rifles for me and his work is SUPER!!!
Best Wishes,
Jeff

I have a cz 550 .375 H&H and I love it. Holds 5 in the mag and one in the chamber.

I do not beleive what winchester states on there website about weight. They say the stainless M70 .375 weigh's 7 1/2 pounds. My bet is that the cz and the stainless would be not much different.

If you want to have a custom .375 I would get a cz 550 place a McMillan Stock and three position safety on it and have it all checked while it's at the smiths for feeding etc. and then you will have your African rifle.

Before I go to Africa some day I will have my smith check mine over.

I like the looks of the cz action, others like the M70 but thats what makes the world go around.

Coondawg, what is the price range and wait time for that lone wolf stock? Thanks. Greg

FWIW,
This is the .375 H&H that John Ricks is building for me. Just waiting for it to return from ROBAR, sight regulation, and then off to Americase for a custom takedown case...

Winchester M-70 SS Classic Express Action
Pac-Nor SS Super Match Barrel #5 countour @24"
Williams SS One Piece Trigger Guard
Custom hex socket head guard screws
PME Spring Steel Extractor
McMillan Winchester Super Grade Stock w/rear stud
NECG Banded Masterpiece front & island rear sights
Talley Barrel Band Sling Stud
Talley QD lever Rings & Bases
(2) Leupold Vari-X III 1.76x32E, Matte, Duplex
ROBAR Roguard on exterior & NP3 on internals

The action was trued, lugs lapped, and barrel threaded and chambered to match standards. Chamber is setup for complete reliability and feeding was perfected. The reciever was also milled to properly mate the Talley bases to the reciever and in bore centerline. Mounting holes were opened to 8-40s. Barreled action is bedded in Stainless Steel Bed on custom stainless steel pillars.

The iron sights, as soon as it returns from ROBAR, are to be regulated for a 270 grain Swift A-Frame load... Will practice with the Hornies...

Regards, Matt.

[ 07-22-2003, 05:25: Message edited by: Matt in Virginia ]

Everyone knows how I am going to post this..

get the CZ ~600 on gunbroker...
get your mac stock
see if you like the safety,

go hunting...

or, to restate..
get the cz for 600, the mac for what, 400? and be right at the 920 bucks (with tax) it costs to get a winchester.

jeffe

375, depending on what you want with. It will take up to a #7 barrel, up to any caliber, drop box right or left hand and extreme bedding $550. You also have color choices to. Sorry I forgot about 30 days.

[ 07-22-2003, 11:00: Message edited by: CoonDawg ]

That 7mm Model 70 will take an H&H with some minor gunsmithing. Get it at a good price, put a straight-taper barrel on it, 24" with about .750" at the muzzle, whatever iron sights you want, if you want, then maybe I'll be jealous.

Well I have completed the first step. I have obtained a SS Winchester Model 70 classic in 300 Remington Ultra Mag. As I understand it the 300 RUM action and magazine is long enough to handle the .375 H&H.

Many thanks to John Ricks who wrote me a very infomative email in answering my question "how to build a DGR".

Now for the next step.....

X

x-caliber, "Please" post updates on your Model 70 375RUM project..

ThankYou!!!!!!!

300 Wby:

Thanks for your interest in my project. I'm actually building a .375 H&H instead of the .375 RUM.

John Lewis of Carolina precision rifles will be building the rifle for me. What I have come up with is this:

* McMillan "Hunter" stock for the model 70
* 24" #5 Pac-Nor stainless steel barrel with bead blasted finish
* John is doing all of the action truing, lapping the lugs, trigger job, pillar bedding the stock, making sure that it feeds smoothly etc.
* I'm not going with any iron sights right now. I figured that I could always add them later.

I should have the rifle back around the first of next year.

This is the hardest part...the waiting!!!

Thanks again for your interest,
X

Thanks CoonDawg.