I have narrowed down my due diligence to 3 manufacturers in a 375 H&H(I am open to others)

Sako
Ruger M77
Kimber

I would appreciate your thoughts, opinions and blasphemies based upon your experiences. Also, I am open to others within a price range of $2-4K.

I am a noob from a small town southwest of Houston where I hunted mainly ducks and geese however, hopefully going to the dark continent for plains game in 2008.

Thanks in advance for your help here,
Bill

PM jeffeosso & Hogkiller. Hop in your truck and head north of Houston to their respective places, invited of course. Shoot the various Bigbores and decide which is better.

I have not shot the Sako or Kimber, but I do own and use the Ruger. I really love my Ruger. I find tht after relieving the wood around the tang and bedding the action, it is reliable and very, very acurate. It will be hard to find a better rifle for the money when you look at what are considered options on others, but standard on the Ruger.

I have a few rifles. CFR be darned. Get a Sako. Work the bolt.

quote:

hopefully going to the dark continent for plains game in 2008.

While you are welcome to hunt plains game with a .375 H&H it's very overkill and you'd do as well or possibly better with a 30-06 or possibly a .30 cal magnum.

I've not personally owned any of the listed rifles in .
375 H&H so won't comment.....but certainly agree with 390ish on the CRF feature.....much overrated.

Having a Sako 75 synthetic stainless in 375, my only real gripe is that feeding from the box magazine is less than perfect as it comes from the box. With a bit of use, mine got better. I personally love the barrel and the safety on the Sako. It is also nice to shoot sub MOA with a 375. The bolts are smooth and one piece. The trigger is user adjustable and crisp.

The ruger mkII is a strong action, CRF, and a good safety, but the finish is poor compared to the others in your field. The CZ would be similar in most ways to the ruger. Both are still competent rifles.

I haven't seen or handled a new kimber 375 yet, the reps didn't have any the last time they were in my neck of the woods. I will say that all of the other kimbers I have fondled had a good fit and finish.

Even the biggest CRF fans would admit that CRF is not critical for plains game. The 375 action is a bit longer so once you choose your piece, make sure to practice throwing the bolt all the way back to prevent short stroking.

John

Howdy..
you need to come on up and make a range day!

here's the only negative thing i'll tell you about the rugers...

the RSMs are too heavy in 375
the mkII could be slightly purple when blued unless you talk someone into "killing" a salt bath to take it hot enough to black..

i had my wisdom teeth out late last month, so I am a month out from shooting any bigbore seriously.. heh, but a 375 aint serious!!

jeffe

The CZ 550 Magnum rifles hold SIX! rounds of 375H&H for less than $1000. It is fashionable here to compare them to rifles costing from two to three times as much $$$ and then pooh-pooh them. Option two: find a clean used Whitworth Mauser in 375.
Like the notion of having one built to suit your build? Find an enfield P17 and go from there...

Rich
DRSS

I have previously had a SAKO and a Whitworth in 375 H&H.

I now use a Blaser R 93. It is the best bolt rifle I have used.

You either love them or hate them.

They are the only bolt rifle I have used that has never had any problems.

I own three Winchester Model 70 rifles, one of them in .375 H&H. Why have you taken that manufacturer off your list? Given the price range you are willing to consider I believe you could obtain one.

Personally, I wouldn't pick any of those for a .375. If pushed, I would probably go with the Sako.

For spending op to 4k, you have a lot of options. You could find a real pre-64 M70. An even better action is the Classic CRF M70, but because of romance, the lesser pre-64 action has more of a following and an original rifle will cost a little more.

You may could find a used Dakota 76 in that range-depends on wood and options.

You could comission a custom From a "lesser known" maker and get one easily under $4k if you do not go crazy with options. Using it in '08 would likely be a problem though.

You could find a nice used custom for well under $4k that could be very, very nice.

Another option is to get a CZ .375 and have it completely reworked. They are pretty rough and clunky as thry come from the factory, but you can make really nice rifles out of them for not not too much money. Plus they hold a handful of .375's in the mag. May not actually be that important, but I always thought that part was cool!

For just buying something now and shooting it and being sure it is in proper working order for a hunt in 12 months, I would just buy a M70.

I don't care for the Ruger at all and have heard too many things about the Kimbers. They may be fine, but I would want to run it through the paces very well before taking it anywhere.bHeard a lot of good things about the shoert action Montanas, but seems some of the newer models will sometimes have some kinks to work out. But you would have a year to work them out if you act now.

I know it is akin to blasphemy here, but if you found a 20 year old Rem 700 in .375 I would bet she would really shoot and provide years of toally trouble free service for you. Finding an old model Sako .375 would cost more than the 700, but would likely be just as accurate and just as boringly reliable.

Man, you have tons of good options. Is that a great problem to have or what!?

I own a Winchester Safari Express, and a Whitworth both in 375 H&H. If a deal came along on a CZ I'd buy one. I have a CZ in 9.3X62. It a wonderful rifle!

Hello,
The overall reports for the RSM in whatever caliber, 375HH, etc. are as a rule, outstanding in all respects. Check it out. As to weight, the RSM is probably the most robust, durable of all of them in your price range and probably any other price range and for your intended purpose, do not see weight as a negative. You are not hunting sheep in the Brooks Range with it and plains hunting normally not as rigorous is it???(Hunted sheep, never hunted plains game, but would think less stress??) As to the overall quality of the RSM, they will rival many so called custom jobs and have features many shout about, CRF, side safety, outstanding wood stocks, barrel band/swivel, solid one piece barrel/rib rear sight system(cost on that alone for custom is price of most sporting/rifles!) square bridge scope mtng. system w/ bomb proof rings provided. Nope, hard to beat overall and well withing the price range you mention. Might also add, they shoot well under 1 moa of accuracy in all the calibers I own and or shot. Good luck in whatever you select.

You can get a really nice used pre-64 model 70 Winchester .375 H&H in the price range you mentioned........Grant.

quote:

Originally posted by Oldmodel70:
You can get a really nice used pre-64 model 70 Winchester .375 H&H in the price range you mentioned........Grant.

Excellent suggestion!

Wait for the new Kimber! It looks like a winner. Most who saw it at SCI were impressed. IMHO the Ruger RSM 375 is too heavy. The new Ruger African handles very nicely but it is a 375 Ruger not an H&H.

The Ruger RSM is the best factory rifle available for hunting Africa. It is in essence a semi-custom rifle manufactured on a limited basis. They are handsome rifles that say "Africa" and embody custom features of rifles costing thousands of dollar more. The location of the weight of the rifle provides a stable feeling and is perfect off shooting sticks. The rifles are reliable and accuracte.

I am an advid shooter and hunter not involved in firearm sales. There are posters here that are in the businness of selling firarms and handle certain brands and use this forum to peddle their wares. Their opinions are self-serving.

Good luck with your selection and good shooting.

Bill,
What do you own for rifles right now?

From your list I would choose:
1. Kimber in 375 H&H
2. Ruger Hawkeye in 375 Ruger
In that order.

For PG, You should find a rifle YOU like. Go to the store and handle a bunch. You will know what rifle you like.

Cartridge and caliber is secondary IMO because they are so many good ones out there. And don't let some salesman tell you, what YOU like.

I want to thank everyone for the great reponses.

SGHUNRT:

In terms of rifles, I have the following:

Sako Deluxe in 7MM. Absolutely Adore. great accuracy and simply a handsome gun
Remington 700 ADL 30-06, Inherited from my grandfather, wonderful connection to my past
Ruger mini 30
Ruger 10/22

I guess that I am hung up on 2 issues:

1) Control feed vs. push feed.

2) Caliber: I will at some point in time be hunting buffalo and possibly....thats why I am leaning toward the 375.

Thanks again for your time and POVs

If you're going for plains game, take the 7mag or the 06. Either will work fine. I would lean towards a Winchester in the 375 H&H.

quote:

If you're going for plains game, take the 7mag or the 06. Either will work fine.

I agree 100% with that statement.

Now as far as the CRF vs PF. That's a whole can of worms. The CRF is a sacred cow issue to some.

I own both types and I'll be honest, I've had more problems with CRF's than PF's.

But I will say that there is absolutely nothing that feels better than a PROPER functioning CRF. Key word being proper. They just feel good to work the bolt and cycle cartridges.

I'll not weigh in too much on caliber, as I've never shot a Cape Buffalo. I think 375 caliber is great sensible starting point. There are lots of cartridges to get the job done. The rifle choice is more important in my opinion.

As far picking the individual big bore rifle, it's going to be a very personal choice.

I owned a 375 H&H in a CZ. Great shooting gun, but I felt it was too big & heavy for the cartridge. Hence I went with a 416 Rigby.

My personal choice is a CZ in 416 Rigby that I had Marc_Stokeld rework. I absolutely love this rifle. But CZ's may not be for you.
As CZ Magnums come from the factory, they are what I would term clubby feeling. But the clean up very nice.

$2-$4k gives you an awful lot of room to choose.

You like your Sako in 7mm, so that may be a great option for you.

I personally don't like Sako's, Rugers, or, Winchester's, but that's my opinion. Not that there is anything wrong with them, just a personal preference. That's why you should pick the rifle you like and are comfortable with.

Make sure you run a bunch of ammo through it. Have it cleaned up by a gunsmith and most importantly enjoy and feel confident in what you carry.