Author Topic: 375 H&H or 338 Lapua wich is better for dangerous game (Read 6086 times)

sherppa · « **on:** March 20, 2006, 04:22:26 PM »

Trying to decide between the 375 h&h and 338 Lapua. Looking for one caliber to do it all. Which caliber and or rifle do you recommend?

thanks
sherppa

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2006, 01:16:06 AM »

What is your definition of do it all? Deer to Grizzle or Cape buffalo. Is the biggest you are going to hunt to hunt is Grizzle, the 338 will work, if you plan on bigger the 375 H&H or even a 416.

Sourdough · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2006, 06:02:31 AM »

You're almost to the point of talking apples and oranges here. The .375 hits with tremendous authority, but has a rainbow trejectory. The .338 Lapua shoots a smaller bullet, but rules in the long range field. The .338 with a 250gr bullet is capable of taking down an Elk, Deer, Moose, or Bear out to 1000 to 1200 yards with good results. While it is beyond my capability I know people that do it. The .338 Lapua shooters are holding their own with the .50BMG shooters at the 1000 yard range compatition shoots here at the Ft Greely range.

Both will do the job out to 300 yards.

sherppa · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2006, 05:01:03 PM »

Thanks gentlemen, I pose the question as I am giving consideration to either an Alaskan Kodiak hunt or Cape buffalo in Africa. Economics and time will dictate one or the other. I would love to use my 40-70 but that doesn't appear to be very realistic.

So I am looking for something that will do the job right the first time. I have heard alot about the capabilities of 338 Lapua but there is alot to be said about the ammo availibility of the 375 h&h.

Again thank you I appreciate your input.

sherppa

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2006, 07:34:13 PM »

I don't think you can use the 338 in africa on buff, minimum is 375. If you are worried about range and velosity why not check out the 375 weatherby or RUM. A nice bonus on the weathby being that you can shoot standard 375 H&H out of it.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2006, 12:50:01 AM »

sherppa, to be honest the 375 H&H will work, but if you decide to go to Africa for Cape buffalo, you might want to consider a 416. The 416 can also be used in Alaskan for a Kodiak hunt. When I got my 416 Rigby I sold my 375 H&H. If I want to load my 416 down, I can duplicate a high end 45-70 or load it up to surpass the 416 Remington. Just some food for thought.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2006, 01:42:35 AM »

I believe the minimum caliber in most places in africa for dangerous game is a .375. In some places there is also a minimum kinetic energy requirement. If those are the only 2 choices I'd pick the .375, but I kinda like Redhawk1 suggestion that a .416 would be a better choice for dangerous african game.

Sourdough · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2006, 06:42:04 AM »

Shot a .338 Lapua Mag in an AR-30 yesterday at the range. At three hundred yards my three shots could be covered by a quarter. Yea!!!! That is deffantly in the running for my new long range gun.

sherppa · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2006, 04:34:02 PM »

That is some shootin! sourdough. I had a chance to look at an AR30 this week and CZ 375 h&h safari both very interesting rifles. Does yours AR30 have the muzzle break? What is recoil like?

corbanzo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2006, 01:06:27 PM »

For the big boys up close, go with the .375, lots more stopping power than the .338. The .338Lapua is a good cartridge for big game, but only if you are planning on surveing an area, spot and stalk, and taking the game from a distance, where you won't be forced to stop a close charge. It's plenty for a brown bear, but I wouldn't get close to a buff with a .338.

tundragriz · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2006, 03:33:04 AM »

I doubt any animal would know any difference whether it was hit with the 338 Lapua or the 375. With hard bullets, what one gains in bullet weight the other counters with velocity. Both would give very similar wound channels and both are more than capable of killing anything.

Because you are looking for versatility combined with travel hunting, I think the 375 is the only choice of these two. The 375 is a very capable 300 yard gun and is required for some African countries. In some cases you will be required to travel with your bullets packed separate from the gun, if you don't receive your bullet bag, with the Lapua you are done using that gun. With the 375 you will have no problem getting back in the game.

Not sure how much travel hunting you do but this is a very real concern. Safaris are way too expensive to waste a day of hunting waiting for your bullets to arrive on the next day's flight. You might have a connecting charter flight that cannot be delayed and you will probably have other hunters travelling with you into the field and they are not going to want to wait for your bullets.

Sourdough · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2006, 07:52:06 AM »

Sherppa: The AR-30 I shot was equiped with the Howitzer style muzzle brake. Recoil was about like a .243. That brake is very heavy, you need a rest or bi-pod to shoot from.

CEJ1895 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2006, 08:07:33 AM »

sherppa - The .375 H&H without a doubt! What happens to your hunt when your rifle shows up at the airport and your ammo doesn't? This happens alot more than people think. You can buy .375 H&H most anywhere in Africa or Alaska but how many places will carry the .338 Lapua? I'm not knocking the .338 Lapua at all, its a fine cartridge but of the two I'd opt for the .375. It's just got too many great things going for it! CEJ..

Don Fischer · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2006, 12:32:13 PM »

Quote

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:33 am Post subject:

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I doubt any animal would know any difference whether it was hit with the 338 Lapua or the 375. With hard bullets, what one gains in bullet weight the other counters with velocity

There's a very intresting article in one of P.O.Ackleys manuals on bullet wounds that was conducted by the Army at Edgewood Arsenal years ago. One of the things they found was that to much velocity could actually impeed penetration. The extra velocity of the 338 Lapua at closer ranges, where a stopping shot would be real nice, might really work against you.

All I know is what I read. Ya might go ask J.J.Hack about this one.

nasem · « **Reply #14 on:** May 08, 2006, 02:08:19 PM »

we are talkin about all these nice cannons here, but we are forgetting the cost of recoil. I have only been shooting for about 3 years now and Im still not used to the heavy recoiling magnums (my largest is 375 h&h). I once shot the 30-378 and..... hated it, that was, too much.

338 Lapua is pretty expensive, both the rifle and the ammo. And Im pretty sure your gonna end up getting one with a muzzle break and that means, your probebly going to need hearing protection even when your hunting lol. On the other side of this, you got the 375 H&h, recoils about 2x a 30-06 (almost), cheap ammo, and decently priced guns (about 800-900).

both rounds hit hard, esspecially for the type of hunting your going to be doing (shots will be less than 200 yards), a 375 h&h is the prefect match. But if you don't like its "rainbow" trajectory, get a 375 RUM or 378 wby. that way you can have that 375 bullet with very good trajectory, however your shoulder will hate you for it.

Demonical · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2006, 06:11:27 PM »

Quote from: Sourdough

You're almost to the point of talking apples and oranges here. The .375 hits with tremendous authority, but has a rainbow trejectory. The .338 Lapua shoots a smaller bullet, but rules in the long range field. The .338 with a 250gr bullet is capable of taking down an Elk, Deer, Moose, or Bear out to 1000 to 1200 yards with good results. While it is beyond my capability I know people that do it. The .338 Lapua shooters are holding their own with the .50BMG shooters at the 1000 yard range compatition shoots here at the Ft Greely range.

Both will do the job out to 300 yards.

The .375 H&H has a "rainbow trajectory"... really? :roll:

And you know guys who shoot big game at 1000 to 1200 yards? I have seen videos of people doing that but do not confuse that with ethical hunting. As Elmer Keith said, "I like to do my hunting before I pull the trigger".

All responsible hunters get as close as possible!

longwalker · « **Reply #16 on:** May 31, 2006, 10:58:48 AM »

taken from Speers 13 edition

375 h&h 285 grin bullet 2600 ft/ sec.

200 yard zero -10 inchs @ 300 yards -30 inches @ 400 yards

7mm remingtom magnum 175 grain bullet 2900 ft/ sec.

200 yard zero -7.7 inchs @ 300 yards -22.6 inchs at 400 yards

still a darn flat rainbow.

longwalker

Jimi · « **Reply #17 on:** May 31, 2006, 01:27:38 PM »

The .338 Lapua is a tremendous cartridge, but for either bear or buff I would take the .375H&H, hands down. Not really a choice on the cape buffalo as you're not allowed to use the .338 in most areas. We Americans tend to be ignorant of what it takes to kill a thick skinned animal like the cape buffalo, but you want a heavy, tough bullet. And for a bear stopper, I think you're still better off with the .375H&H. And you can also load it down for smaller game. I have had great success with a 235 grain bullet, my best shot being a 500 yard kill on a pronghorn. With the lighter bullet it pretty much shoots as flat as a .270, but with a lot more oomph and little damage to the meat. And if you really have some long range desires you should take a hard look at the .378 Weatherby... though be prepared for some serious recoil.

Demonical · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2006, 07:47:21 PM »

Quote from: Jimi

The .338 Lapua is a tremendous cartridge, but for either bear or buff I would take the .375H&H, hands down. Not really a choice on the cape buffalo as you're not allowed to use the .338 in most areas. We Americans tend to be ignorant of what it takes to kill a thick skinned animal like the cape buffalo, but you want a heavy, tough bullet. And for a bear stopper, I think you're still better off with the .375H&H. And you can also load it down for smaller game. I have had great success with a 235 grain bullet, my best shot being a 500 yard kill on a pronghorn. With the lighter bullet it pretty much shoots as flat as a .270, but with a lot more oomph and little damage to the meat. And if you really have some long range desires you should take a hard look at the .378 Weatherby... though be prepared for some serious recoil.

Another option is to become a better hunter and get in closer to the game...

You know the old standard .30-06 works just fine in the hands of a competent woodsman.

Any of the calibers with trajectories that have ~8-12" drop at 300 yards are great game getters and ought to be flat enough shooting for anybody. .30-06, .270, 8x57, .338WM, .375 H&H etc...

Any guy who says they just cannot get closer to big game and claims to need one of the RUMs (or other) makes me laugh.

Jimi · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2006, 08:22:16 AM »

Hey Demonical, I have an idea... Instead of hijacking threads started by other members to get comments whatever topic they raise, why don't you just start a thread of your own titled "Why Long Range Hunting Sucks"... or something to that effect?