Short barrel H&H

[Grizz66]

I was wondering has anybody ever chronyed a short barrel 375h&h, short meaning around 20-22 inches. Kinda thinking of doing it just wondering what kind of velocity loss over a 24-26 inch barrel, and if ya get a complete burn of powder or a barrel full of unbrunt powder. Also any stabilization problems with 270-300 gr bullets? Hoping to make this rifle into a nice easy carrying peice. Thanx in adavnce Dave

[drdougrx]

I knew a guide in montana who had a 22" 375HH and used it for elk.  He said that you don't lose anything to a longer barrel because of bore ratio, bigger bores burn powder more efficiently?

See you Sunday?

[Frank46]

Sako used to or still does sell a short bbld 375 H&H with mannlcher type stock. Think the bbl length was around 20" Frank

[lgm270]

Check out this earlier thread on the same subject. 
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,187417.0.html

[Grizz66]

Thanx guys I guess I should have been more specific when I did a search before I posted this question. Sorry for the repeat.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  66, Paul Mathews shortened his model 70 to I believe 21.5 inches..kEvery thing went fine...I am sure he lost a bit of vel...He wrote about this in a little book 60 YEARS WITH RIFLES.. I also remember a guide in Alaska had one about 19 inches..Of course bears at close range was his thing...

[jro45]

I wouldn't cut off my 375 H&H But to each his own. You loose about 25fps for every inch  you cut off.

[bigswede]

In my opinion shorter barrels are the way to go.  Shorter barrels are stiffer, which translates to better accuracy.  They are easier to handle. And velocity doesn't kill animals.  Also, there is no set amount of velocity loss per inch of barrel loss.  I think you will also find in larger bore calibers, which are more efficient anyways, there will not be much velocity loss at all.  Another consideration is do yo handload?  You can try different burn rates to achieve the velocity you wish to obtain.  In a 375 H&H a 20" barrel would be about perfect, or you could just buy a 375 Ruger Alaskan and be done with it

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

Swede, has a good point especially with the 375, especially  since it is not a long range weapond to begin with....

[drdougrx]

I shot this gun, it's nice and I agree that shortening it would be helpful.  It has a break on it, so the barrel is 25/26"

Grizz/Dave...what do you think?

[lgm270]

Check out this 21.5" SAk0 .375 H&H. Pretty sexy. Short stainless steel barrel and laminated weather beater stock.

http://www.sako.fi/sako85models.php?kodiak_showdata

[mcwoodduck]

Swede, has a good point especially with the 375, especially  since it is not a long range weapond to begin with....

What do you consider short range.
I shoot my 375 out to 200 yards. and sighted in there in case I have a 350 or under shot on an elk or other large beast.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

mc, short range on elk, moose etc. under 250 or so...couple years ago I shot an antelope with my 375 at a bit over 200 held high on the chest and the 300 grain dropped into the bottome 1/3...antelope are small animals, but when the 375 atarts to drop, it seems to fall right off the earth...

[mcwoodduck]

I think when they mentioned short range they were talking Africa and out to 100 yards for Cape Buffalo, Loin, and other beasts.
And mine is not so much a rainbow with pointed bullets.  I think it follows about the same arch as my 338WM with standard rounds.
With the round nose 270 grain soft Points or 300 grain Monolith Solids....  I think they get tired at 200 yards and take the express elevator to the ground but no more so than 308, 30-06 or 270 with a round nose bullet.

[Grizz66]

Well, I thought this thread died sorry for not responding quicker. From what I can see if I cut the barrel down to about 20.5 get rid of the brake I might lose a little velocity, but gain a rifle that can be carried quite easily, I can also kinda taylor my loads for the shorter barrel. As I have no delussions on taking a shot on a game animal out past 250 yds with this rifle it should be fine, and if I had to I don't beleive a short barrel will make that big a difference. I guess it comes down to knowing ones limit and I'mout of my comfort zone past 250 yds, I've shot farther but at chucks and such not larger game. This rifle will be for woods hunting when I want a solid thumper in my corner. Just think about this people use the 375jdj with a pistol lenth barrel to shoot past my limit and I know I have more H.P. with the H&H just a thought?. Again thanx for the responces

[bigswede]

Good decision Grizz66, I think you will be very happy with that short barreled thumper.  I'd do something like if I didn't already own a 375 Ruger alaskan.  Man its nice for packing in the elk woods.  It killed one with a 270 grain Hornady sp at 375yds last fall. 

lgm270, that link to the Sako Kodiak made me believe there really is love at first site.  I think i'm twitterpated.

[Grizz66]

Ok gents I shortened the barrel  to 20.5 inches last week, kinda easy to cut down and square the barrel end, but getting a chatter free crown lets just say not that easy. It's amazing cutting 4.5 off the barrel how much different it feels in the hand, it's almost like a different rifle.  Took it to the range on sunday just to see if it would even hit the paper, and to my surprise darned if it didn't group at 100 yds nothing special, but it made my day. Figure I would stick with the faster burning powders and some 270 and 300 grain pills and see  what happens. Again thanx for all the imput, bigswede I considered the ruger but this rifle fell into my lap maybe someday this one will get a chance at an elk and perform like that.

[jro45]

When I was over there in Africa my shots were two were 200yds and one 285yds and of course the Linx Cat I shot with a shotgun at 10 yds.  I here shots under 100 yds. That just doesn't happen unless your are hunting the big cats.

[Lloyd Smale]

personaly i allways wondered why they put those long barrels on them to start with. I think a 20 inch 375 would be about perfect.

[mcwoodduck]

personaly i allways wondered why they put those long barrels on them to start with. I think a 20 inch 375 would be about perfect.

You need 24 to 26" to burn up the 75 to 80 grains of powder and goet the 2600+ FPS.
New faster powders could be the answer much like the Ruger 375 that burns up everything in 20"

[Lloyd Smale]

the 375 is not really an overbore round that needs alot of barrel lenght to be effecient. Just about any rifle 33 cal and bigger does better then a guy would think with a short barrel. The tradition of long barrels on them comes from the old days of powders that were on the market when the first smokeless powder were on the market

[mcwoodduck]

the 375 is not really an overbore round that needs alot of barrel lenght to be effecient. Just about any rifle 33 cal and bigger does better then a guy would think with a short barrel. The tradition of long barrels on them comes from the old days of powders that were on the market when the first smokeless powder were on the market

Also not to mention they came from England where 25-28" Barrels are common on Side By Side rifles.
And those barrels lengths moved to the bolts.

[efremtags]

If you want a short barrel 375, get a 375 Ruger, they already come that way. The case and powder design take advantage and are more efficient than the old HH in short barrels.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  while the ruger 375 comes with a short barrel, how about reloading it....can the same Vel. be achieved with the powders we can access...I just don't see this as a winner of a caliber...not that I have anything against it or other new calibers...but the old H & H is world wide..the call for .375's is not great at all...so far, I cannot say I hav e even seen one...and I usually check out any new guns on the racks...it is like the little Ruger .300 that is suppose to be so hot with a 20 inch barrel....what about reloading...I cannot afford factory ammo and do much shooting...Since I have owned neither and am not likely to as I have both in the older calibers, what have you guys found out about reloading these calibers and getting the same vel..as fact. loads....

[nomosendero]

while the ruger 375 comes with a short barrel, how about reloading it....can the same Vel. be achieved with the powders we can access...I just don't see this as a winner of a caliber...not that I have anything against it or other new calibers...but the old H & H is world wide..the call for .375's is not great at all...so far, I cannot say I hav e even seen one...and I usually check out any new guns on the racks...it is like the little Ruger .300 that is suppose to be so hot with a 20 inch barrel....what about reloading...I cannot afford factory ammo and do much shooting...Since I have owned neither and am not likely to as I have both in the older calibers, what have you guys found out about reloading these calibers and getting the same vel..as fact. loads....

Plain & simple, it (375 Ruger)has a wee bit more powder capacity, hence a wee bit more velocity, just the numbers. But they are close enough to not be a biggie.If you fill both cases with water, the 375Ruger holds 6 grains more. Individual actions will influence things a little due to seating depth, but remember the mag actions with few exceptions will have a "375 H&H" length action, so the diff in most cases is mute, but small net gain for 375 Ruger, as in contrast to the Win Short Mags with the short actions that lose a little cap with the heavier bullets. I love the H&H & I don't see the Ruger replacing it, but the Ruger is a very good short barrel set-up at a decent price.

[Grumulkin]

My 375 H&H Magnum with a 13 inch barrel including the brake and, guess what, I load with RL-15 and don't find unburned powder in the barrel.

I don't appear to have a problem with bullet stabilization either.

Theoretically a slightly shorter cartridge like the 375 Ruger would give a longer effective barrel length but I abandoned that idea quickly after I checked price and availability of 375 Ruger brass.

[efremtags]

I don't thin the ruger will ever match the H&H because the old gal has had a 100 years head start. I do believe new buyers to the market will go for the Ruger more often for 3 reasons, they are cheaper rifles, the ammo is cheaper, it comes in the short barrel config that people are discussing and shooters like out of the box.

If I had to buy one tomorrow, hands down the ruger alaskan in SS. Top that with a 1.5x6 scope and some 300GR SP, your all done.

realguns.com has extensive report on375 factory and handload ammo.

[nomosendero]

Grumulkin, very impressive!!

[Brian T]

not sure of the velocity but I shot a custom Ruger #1 with a very heavy 16.25" barrel last week.  It had express type sites and was great to shoot.

Take a look at the "Beast" rifles on Gary Reeder's website

http://www.reedercustomguns.com/custom_rifles/beast.htm

I have shot 4 of these, the 375 did not have a brake, and all were very shootable.

[KodiakKid]

My dad's got a remington 700 in 375h&h with a 20'' barrel

shoots pretty good

that was a three shot group with 300gr nosler partitions at 100yds sighting em in

i'll try to find a pic of the gun