Author Topic: Sako 75 Hunter in .375H&H (Read 2517 times)

13B40 · « **on:** September 21, 2004, 02:36:03 PM »

Hi guys. I'm new on the board, and have a option on a Sako 375H&H. Wondered what the general feeling is about Sako's 375.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2004, 05:28:56 AM »

I had one for years and one of the biggest mistakes I ever made with a gun was that I sold it to a buddy and I have regretted selling it ever since. I would highly recommend this rifle/cartridge combo. I don't know about other 375 H&H rifles but my Sako gave me 100 yard clover leaf groups every time I did my part.
Cam

Lolly · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2004, 07:54:50 AM »

I have this. You are not going to get any better factory off-the-shelf.

13B40 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2004, 10:15:23 AM »

Thanks for the information. Sounds like it would be a wise purchase for me.

hans g./UpS · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2004, 02:24:22 PM »

If there any southpaws looking for a l/hed Sako cal.375H&H,contact me.

gwindrider1 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2004, 06:23:58 AM »

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum, and don't want to ruffle any feathers, but I feel compelled to comment on this thread.

Some years back I owned a Sako Hunter in .375. Love that classic old cartridge, however, I wasn't very impressed with the rifle. I know you Sako lovers don't want to hear this!

My humble opinion is that no DGR should be a push feed, but my major problem was with the stock design, and lack of weight. This rifle wound up pointing at 11 o'clock everytime it fired. It had a somewhat short magazine length which required some very careful bullet selection in order to feed. And, by the time I sold it, was showing some metal deformation at the forward camming surface of the bolt shroud.

Granted, a new stock would have helped overcome my problems with it, but I feel proper stock geometry should be an issue the factory takes into consideration. If it feels right to you tho, shoot and enjoy!

Lawdog · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2004, 01:37:14 PM »

gwindrider1,

Quote

My humble opinion is that no DGR should be a push feed

CORRECT!! And you ruffled no feathers either. Lawdog

Ramrod · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2004, 05:16:57 PM »

I agree, that's why I went with the Winchester Safari Grade for my .375. I prefer Mauser style extractors on big game rifles, and leave the pushfeed for the varmint guns.

Geno · « **Reply #8 on:** December 31, 2004, 06:31:26 AM »

I've seen the debates forever on Push Feed vs. other types extraction. My question is, Is this really a problem? has it ever been a problem? is it just a perceived or theoretical problem that has never been encountered? I'm not as experienced as many folks here, but I can never recall an extraction/feeding problem on any rifle or action I've ever shot in the last 40 years. Well, one exception, My Rem. 760 if I get in a hurry and short pump it, but that's my fault and as much as I love that gun, would never use a pump action for dangerous game as I'm assuming we're talking about here.

Ramrod · « **Reply #9 on:** December 31, 2004, 09:06:47 AM »

Well, I have been told many times that there are no professional hunters in Africa using pushfeed rifles. Maybe there are a few, maybe not. If so, they are the ones that don't believe all the stories about dead hunters and pushfeed rifles.

Lawdog · « **Reply #10 on:** December 31, 2004, 09:50:06 AM »

The main problem with a push feed is that you can jam it up by "short stroking" it while chambering another cartridge. And yes it has happened and gotten the owner hurt or killed. Just ask Brown Bear guide Scott D. Newman of Alaska. It happened the end of April this last year as he was following a wounded Brown Bear, that his client had shot, into the brush and the bear charged. He fired his first shot and then "short stroked" his custom Sako in .416 Rem. thus jamming it up and rendering it to a status of being a club. Thankfully the shot he did get off killed the bear but not before it worked him over. Read the story at http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/042804/loc_brownbear.shtml for yourself. Since then Scott has retired his favorite Sako in favor of a Win. M70 in .458 Winchester Magnum caliber. There have been many other times where a push feed rifle has jammed and either got the owner maimed or killed. I love my Weatherby rifles and cartridges but would never use one as a dangerous game rifle. Lawdog

Geno · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2004, 03:02:20 PM »

OK, let's say that I agree in principal with what you are saying, but educate me if you will. Would a similar problem also maybe have been encountered had "Brown Bear guide Scott D. Newman of Alaska" short stroked a "Win. M70 in .458 Winchester Magnum caliber." Mmy thinking is that we are all guilty of it at one time or another. Does the Win. 70 allow you to short stroke it and still chamber a round that saves your hide?

crow_feather · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2004, 03:08:23 PM »

There was a hunter, who ate a lot of Tootsie Rolls, that came upon a lion with his guide. The hunter immediately stuck a Tootsie Roll in the action of his rifle and closed the bolt, causing the rifle to jam. If that hunter had a larger extractor, such as those found in Mauser type rifles, he might have been able to extract that Tootsie Roll and get something more powerful in the action..................................like a Kit Kat Bar or a Hershys with Almonds.

C F

Ramrod · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2004, 11:51:22 PM »

Unlike the pushfeeds, the controlled feed rifles will not try to load another round if the first one hasn't ejected. A gun with an empty shoved back in the chamber can still be cycled again. A jammed gun is usless.
You can argue the merits of the pushfeeds all you want, but the facts speak for themselves. Almost All the professional hunters use controlled round feed.

gwindrider1 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2005, 08:20:07 AM »

In regard to the PF vs CRF question, truly, none of us can know with any certainty, how we would react in a crisis situation until we have been faced with it. When your heart is coming out the sides of your neck, and the adrenaline is oozing out the pores of your skin, only then will you know if you can function properly under those circumstances.

Some people can't! That's just a fact with humanity in general. Control feed rifles are as idiot proof as possible. We mere humans need that advantage when facing a life or death situation. I see no need to expand on the discussion beyond that.

Good shooting to you all!

Lawdog · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2005, 11:06:26 AM »

Geno,

Thanks to Ramrod and gwindrider1, they made it so I didn't have answer your question. They did it for me. Lawdog

Geno · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2005, 12:15:02 PM »

Thanks guys, that explanation clears things up for me anyway. Was highly thinking of a Sako, maybe not so much anymore. Guess I'll look at a few others before deciding, the Winchester seemed hard to beat. thanks again.

Lolly · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2005, 01:12:15 PM »

Be realistic and honest wih yourself when considering which rifle. If you're going to hunt Alaskan Grizzly or African dangerous game, CRF is probably a better choice. BUT if not, then the SAKO 375H&H is a very accurate, dependable and outstanding quality rifle out of the box for under $800. It will suffice very nicely for anything else in North America and elswhere and you will not be disadvantaged with it's push feed.

Lawdog · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2005, 07:57:16 AM »

Lolly,

Quote

BUT if not, then the SAKO 375H&H is a very accurate, dependable and outstanding quality rifle out of the box for under $800. It will suffice very nicely for anything else in North America and elswhere and you will not be disadvantaged with it's push feed.

If you are not going to be hunting dangerous game then what do you need a .375 H&H for? Better cartridges to choose from for deer, elk, moose, etc. that shoot flatter and with less recoil. Lawdog

Lolly · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2005, 09:48:50 AM »

Well, Lawdog,

Theoretically I mildly concur and hold a similar opinion. BUT practically, 375H&H is a whole lot of fun to shoot and recoil is not an issue if the stock fits, shooting technique is good and tolerance is built up. As far as shooting game that "does not need" so much bullet and power, well, it's a matter of power management on your reloading desk. Also, whether the game is humanely killed by a freight train or a Ferrari, it's not really going to be any more or less dead :-)

I guess what I'm saying is that if one enjoys shooting a particular caliber accurately and knows it's limitations, quircks, trajectory etc., go for it and use it on anything that it will do the job humanely. I have spent waaaaay too much time with chronographs and chasing and achieving the 1/4 moa (including lesser aerodynamic hunting bullets) with all calibers from .223 to .375. I am a bit of a techno-geek and developed empirical correlations for all my calibers, bullets styles and charges to hit within very small error circles upto 960 meters. The different calibers and charges behind the bullets can be optimized for reliability and quickest killing for different game ignoring the chase for superior accuracy and I do that too. It's just that if you have the 375H&H, and can shoot it accurately and reliably for specific game targets, it CAN be used for anything in North America. I never mentioned or insinuated anything about tossing your other calibers. - Just go out and and enjoy the rifle. :grin:

By the way, I go plinking with my 44 mag Anaconda using 300gr hunting loads. After 100 rounds it does not feel any worse than my 223. I guess I have just tamed the recoil and it is overkill for plinking but so what, it's fun and I love exploding pumkins and watermelons with it. Oh, and I have also taken rabbit with it.....

Questor · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2005, 10:04:49 AM »

The numbers speak for themselves too. There are an awful lot of guys who hunt dangerous game with push feeds and it doesn't seem to be much of a problem for non-professionals. All those Remingtons and Weatherbys and Sakos can't be that bad or we'd sure know about it by now.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2005, 11:26:38 AM »

My older Sako 375H&H is built on a Mauser action. I have liked the Mauser action for years. But I also have other actions and never had a problem with ejecting a round and short stroking or double feeding a round. But if it really concerns you, you may want to consider a double rifle.

But the price of a double rifle is a bit much. :eek:

Lawdog · « **Reply #22 on:** January 05, 2005, 09:45:20 AM »

The problem of short stroking most times happens when the hunter comes under stress. Usually the stress caused when the animal that you were hunting turns on you. Just how many times has this happened to hunters that were using a push feed action, I dont know and I dont believe they keep a records of that. There has been many cases on record where a push feed HAS jammed and got the user injured/killed but I have never heard of a control round feed doing the same thing. Hundreds or thousands of successful hunts where the hunter was NEVER put under stress doesn't count. I do know that if I had to follow a wounded big nasty into the brush I would feel a lot safer if the rifle in my hands wasnt a push feed. Lawdog

Ramrod · « **Reply #23 on:** January 05, 2005, 11:22:21 AM »

Quote from: Questor

The numbers speak for themselves too. There are an awful lot of guys who hunt dangerous game with push feeds and it doesn't seem to be much of a problem for non-professionals. All those Remingtons and Weatherbys and Sakos can't be that bad or we'd sure know about it by now.

Most of those hunters are being backed up by a professional, who will bail them out if there is trouble. And, usually, he's not carrying a pushfeed.

Ramrod · « **Reply #24 on:** January 08, 2005, 02:00:34 AM »

By the way, apparently even Sako admits a DGR rifle should be controlled feed. Check out this Guns and Ammo article on the 75 Safari model, and how they modified the bolt. Real nice photos too.
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/king_sako/index.html

crow_feather · « **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2005, 05:24:15 AM »

Would be a great rifle..............................................in 416.

C F

Ramrod · « **Reply #26 on:** January 11, 2005, 12:27:12 PM »

Quote from: crow_feather

Would be a great rifle..............................................in 416.

C F

Aw, heck, crow, you are dead right. But in .375 it is a World Class Big Game Rifle[/u] Right up there with my Winchester!