375H&H long range capability

[Woodbutcher]

Gentlemen:
 Please give me your opinions. What would you consider the " sensible" long range capability of the 375 H&H for hunting Caribou in Alaska, given handloading and enough range work to have some skill at longer ranges?
 There are many choices available, to be sure, but an opportunity to acquire a rifle in this chambering is open to me.
 Smaller bore, higher speed choices, are more often considered, out to say 300 yards, but would the 375 H&H be at enough of a disadvantage for you to choose something different?  Thank you....Woodbutcher

[jackfish]

The .375" H&H generally has a trajectory similar to the 30-06.  If you can shoot your 375 well, why not?  I load the 260 grain Nosler Accubond to 2750 fps in my Winchester M70 Classic Stainless.  This yields an 8" diameter point blank range of 306 yards.  One can hold high and still on the animal to about 350 yards.  Hunting caribou with this combination would be a lot of fun, I hope to go some day.  Good luck!

[Woodbutcher]

Hey Jackfish, thank you!
 That is exactly what I needed! Why not indeed? But your advice and experience reasures me more than just ballistic tables. Your SS Winchester must be a beautiful piece, and a 260 gr. bullet needs a lot of stopping. Should handle a breeze better than smaller calipers.
 My friend just returned from a successful Alaskan hunt and I ain't been the same since. Poor guy got cornered and questioned to exaustion.
 He spoke of the need to reach out to 200 to 300 yards because the open country did not allow a close approach. Mention was also made of a visit to his campsite by a couple of bear interested in the meat.
 These are not Eastern Whitetail conditions, so this cartridge choice feels more comfortable.  Many thanks...Woodbutcher

[VernAK]

Woodbutcher,

I hunt almost exclusively with one of my 375s.....when hunting caribou, I usually carry the custom 700 with scope.....I just got out of the bush where I fired three shots taking a moose, a caribou and a wolf so I better quit while my reputation is intact.  I don't bother to load for these rifles anymore. I buy a box of Federal Premium High Energy 300 gr TBBC and use them for everything. I have never recovered a bullet from the 15-20 animals killed with same but I have not had any animals walk off either. Last year, I shot an interior adult grizzly facing me....the bullet entered in the neck and came out a few inches from the tail....no bullet recovered.

The ballistics table is printed on the side of my stock and I would take a caribou out to 350 or so if needed.....last week I shot one at 50 feet.

Good luck with your hunt.

[Woodbutcher]

Dear Vern AK:
 Thank you! Stem to stern you say? My friend uses a 300 Weatherby, but I like yours better! ...Woodbutcher

[Questor]

A 260 grain Nosler Partition with 2600fps muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient of .314:
If zero is 250 yards, it's 4.6" high at 150 yards and 5.5" low at 300 yards.  

If zero is 200 yards, it's 2.5" high at 100 yards and 4" low at 250 and 10.5" low at 300.

If zero is 100 yards, it's 5" low at 200 yards, 10" low at 250 yards, and 18" low at 300 yards.

If zero is 300 yards, it's 7.3" high at 150 yards, 7.3" low at 350 yards, and 17.5" low at 400 yards.

A 270 winchester zeroed for 300 yards is 4.5" high at 150 yards and 10" low at 400 yards.

For the 375, I think the 200 yard zero makes a lot of sense. I'd really like to have a range finder for shots beyond 200 yards, though.[/quote]

[Woodbutcher]

Thank you for your help. Questor, thank you.
 May I explain myself a little? For a guy used to stumbling thru the hills and brush of Western Pa. under conditions that must be a whole lot...gentler... than what Alaska might be, well, a little learnin is in order.
 And then there are those bears!
 Now, there are long range, windswept, areas around here, to be sure, but most of the time, things happen close. 300 yards is long way out there!Paper targets and groundhogs taught me just how far that is, and how much can happen between me and them.
 And then, there's those bears!
 Delivering enough to a large animal at this kind of range is why I ask, your experiences are better than my opinions.
 And then, there are them bears! Please don't think that I'm scared of bears. After all, lots of people go thru life without bear problems. Follow the advice of the outfitter or guide and use some common sense, right?
 Seen a bear at the zoo once. He didn't like me and I didn't like him!  
 It's still that way........Woodbutcher

[Questor]

It looks like we're thinking along similar lines. The decision to choose either a 338 or a 375 is a big one. The 338 seems to have the kaboom to do the job, but has an edge in long-range shooting. The 375 seems to be OK out to 300 yards if you learn the trajectory, but has more kaboom at the close range.

[crow_feather]

I have a 338 and a 375.  If I had to carry a rifle a long distance, I would bring the lighter 338.  If I didn't have to walk too far, I would bring the 375.  Beyond 300 yards, you will be able to use a range finder.  If you have your trajectory table taped to the rifle stock, the difference in bullet drop is nill.  

I would rather have the 375 for bear but the 338 with 275 grain bullets is a darn close second.

C F

[Woodbutcher]

Gentlemen. I'm grateful for your thoughts. I hear experience talking. This is priceless!
 My small experiences at 300 yards have left me... challanged. Things get smaller out there, and kinda wobbly. Shooting away from a bench, after a walk back from puttin up targets, allows reality to give a good dose of humble. If the seat of my pants is waterproof, so I can sit without a surprise,  that will be good. Lots of practice answers the problem. Great way to deal with a problem.
 I must confess that this whole thing is gettin serious, looks downright do able, but the list of things that I need to know is getting longer. I think that you've helped me head in the right direction on this one though.
                                                           Woodbutcher

[crow_feather]

Woodbutcher,

My first trip outside my state was for antelope in Wyoming and I didn't know snot.  I found that there are tons of nice people willing to help out a person who has the heart but not the knowledge.  

Best of luck to you in your hunt.  My trip to Wyoming was 20 years ago and I still remember it as one of the better trips in my life.

C F