375 H&H Accuracy

[Big Game Hunter]

I just got my new 375 H&H in a Sako model 75 Hunter Deluxe. I topped it with a 1.5 x 6 x 42 Swarovski PH scope. My question is, what kind of accuracy should I expect? I haven't shot the gun enough to be concerned but the best I have been able to do is about 2 ½" 3-shot groups at 100 yards. This is with Remington 300 Gr. Swift A-Frame PSP. This is the only ammo I have tried through the gun. All of my other guns shoot at least 1 ½" groups at 100 yards and main my deer rifle shoots ½" 5-shot groups at 100 yards. I do not expect this kind of accuracy but I would like to see this gun do better than 2 ½" groups. Any imput will be welcome.

[Type99]

Big Game Hunter...

I certainly think that you are justified in expecting better accuracy than that.  I had a Sako in .243 - it was a Garcia import - and I was never impressed with it's accuracy.  Could it be the rifle?  Also, as you say you have only tested one particular brand of ammo, you might consider other brands and bullet types.  Could be the load.  If I were you, I would experiment alot more with other loads before giving up on the rifle.  

In my CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .375, I get 1" groups.  I am most pleased with the accuracy.  

Cheers,
Gary

[oso45-70]

BGH,
 I think after you shoot your 375 more you will have better accuracy. I have had three 375s and i found once the bore slicked up the groupe size went down. the one i have now started out the same way so i lapped the bbl. and it is doing good now. I don't know if you load or not , but if you do you will find a load that will work for you, best of luck with your 375
 stay safe,,,, joe

[Tom H.]

Hello BGH.

I'v got a #1 in 375 and the gun will shoot into .5 if I can manage it.

Found out that basic factory stuff like the older winchester st and the federal lion load are equally accurate, so much so that I don't bother reloading a full power load for it.
I did find that the groups are more repeatable if I'm shooing with a tight sling (from the bench).

Good luck

Tom

[oso45-70]

Tom, Thats what i have now is a #1 and its doing a lot better since i cleaned it up, I'm having a little problem holding still now because i have a messed up rotator cuff and it is plying heck with my accu. I used to have a mod. 70 and i got real good groups with it. I shot p-dogs with it
and lots a times i would shoot 30 or more rounds through it in a day and it never did hurt, i was a little younger then too. recon that has something to do with it.  good luck and keep your powder dry,,,,,,joe

[PAHUnter04]

Hi BGH:

You should expect the same accuracy as you get with your deer rifles. Just because it ia a bigger caliber doesn't mean that it will be any less accurate.

I would be happy with 1.5 in groups at 100 yards, very happy with sub MOA. I would not accept 2in. group or better, but this is just me...

Try some of the new Federal 375 H&H 260grain Accubonds, Cabelas has them for $45.00 a box.

Another accurate factory round that I have found for the 375 was the 300 grain Swift loaded by Remington, it was more accurate in the rifle I was setting up for a friend than the Federal 300 gran. Trophy Bonded Bear Claws... I have never had good luck with them accuracy wise.

It is rare that a Sako will not shoot at least sub 2in. MOA. Break in your barrel first with some shooting and good cleaning procedures.

I am always amazed how well the various 375's I played with shoot. It is just a great all around caliber.

Regards Jim P.

[Zachary]

I wrote a post on my .375H&H titles "Guys, you aint gonna believe this."  Below is my post:

I read an article in Shooting Times recently and there was an article about a Sauer 202 in .375 H&H that shot a .095" (yes, .095") groups at 100 yards. I thought that it was a fluke. Maybe it was supposed to read .95 - as in almost 1 inch - which is still great groups for a .375H&H. Heck, 1" groups are great for ANY caliber, right?

I have a Winchester M70 Classic Stainless in .375H&H with an after market McMillan Stock. In fact, I even wrote a post on this some time ago when I took it to the range. At that time, I was shooting open sights at 50 yards and was getting about 1 1/2" groups or so with PMC 300 Grain Barnes X Bullets.

Since that time, I took my gun to a local gunsmith and had the following work done to it:

1) "Jewell the action" - or something like that. The action was very noisy and rough. Now it's smoother than a baby's bottom.

2) Trigger job with pull set at 3.0 lbs.

3) Pillar bed the action with aluminum pillars.

4) Glass bed the action and free float the barrel.

5) Mount a Bushnell Elite 3200 1.5x-4.5x-32mm Firefly scope.

I would say that I have over $1,500 invested in this rifle.

This time I was using Plain Jane Federal Classic 300 grain Hi-Shock Round Nose Soft Points. It was 95 degrees in Miami, so I only took 2 shots groups instead of three because it was so hot. Time between groups was about 20 minutes or so.

Well, Guess what? At 50 yards, I got 2 bullets virtually IN THE SAME HOLE!!  That was about 1/8" CTC!!  

I thought it was a fluke. Then, I set the target at the 100 yard range. Guess what? The 2 bullets were again almost in the same hole!! Maybe not as tight as 1/8", but it was about 1/4"!! BUT STILL, THAT'S AMAZING!!!!  Now, I am no official measurer of groups, and maybe you guys may measure the groups a bit bigger, BUT STILL..THAT'S INCREADIBLE!!

I just wish that I had a digital camera so that I could post the pics because even I still can't beleive it. Guys, we aren't talking about a Sisk rifle in .308, or a benchrest rifle in 6mmPPC. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A FREAKING .375H&H MAG!!!    

After about 10 shots or so, my groups started to open up a bit. But I don't think it has anything to do with the gun, but rather me because, let me tell you, 10 shots with a .375 can cause your shoulder some damage. I don't anyone can shoots a .375 as well at the end of a shooting session as he can at the beginning.  In fact, my worse group was never bigger than 1"!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!

I'm also going to create a separate post on the Elite 3200 in the optics forum, but let me just say that tracking on this scope was excellent. And guess what? IT HELD IT'S ZERO PERFECTLY. Folks, if the Elite 3200 can handle all this recoil from a .375 H&H and be perfect, then you all should never have to worry about it on lesser kicking rifles. Granted, only time will tell how well this scope will hold up, and the 4200 series has better glass, but I couldn't be any happier with the 3200!!!


Zachary

[swifty]

You might consider some reduced loads as listed  in the Hornady reloading manual. I have been shooting the 220 grain Hornady at about 2300 ft/sec with good accuracy.
Also, I shoot a lot of cast lead bullets Lyman #375449 sized .378.
Check the Cast Bullet section at the bottom of The Forum list.
You might check out the Ask Veral section. He has a lot on getting the right bullet length as well as fire lapping the barrel to slick the bore. It makes it a lot easier to clean.
A lead cast bullet with a Gas Check at about 1800 feet/ sec is a hoot to shoot . You can even drop down to 14 grains of red dot and shoot at 1200 to 1300 feet per second and presto you have a 38-55 black powder velocity . Cast the bullet no harder than wheel weights so it can open up when you hit the deer.

[Camp Cook]

Most groups that I get with my Sako Hunter are clover leafs @ 100 yards. I find that this is one of my more accurate hunting rifles. I have a Leupold VariX 111 2.5-8 scope mounted with sako rings.
Cam

[pc]

I have a cz 550 .375 with leupold 1-4 mounted in cz mounts. I am currently using win caes and wlr primers with 78 gr of AR2209 behind the Hornady 300 gr Round Nose. I figure about 2500-2550fps. I am shooting groups that run  1" at 90 yards. This is about as good as I can shoot with a 4x power scope. The gun is a pleasure to use and it thumps game as well as providing a reasonably flat trajectory. I have not got enough good things to say about the .375 H&H and the cz 550 rifle that I have.

I am also fond of the win m70 stainless .375.

[magnum308]

Big Game Hunter,

I don't have a 375 H&H but I have a 375 Chatfield-Taylor (375/338 developed by RF Chatfield-Taylor of 416 Taylor fame).

It was built for me by my brother-in-law, a gunsmith, on a Ruger M77 rebarrelled with a .375 barrel and chambered for 375 Chatfield-Taylor. I have had it for years, shot it now and again (mainly at the rifle range) but only last week decided to sit down and work out some loads for it. I found a load with the 270 gr Hornady spire point that shot a 3 shot group of just over 1" at 100 yards. I was happy with that as the load (using Australian ADI powder which is sold and repackaged in the US by the likes of Hogdson) AR2208 (similar to 4064 see http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp). Although I didn't chonograph it, it seems to be getting similar ballistics as the original British 375 H&H load, c.f. 2,600 fps.

Mind you, I did not find shooting this rifle from the bench a preasant experience.

Regards,
Magnum