Author Topic: .375H&H on North American Big Game??? (Read 2080 times)

prairie boy · « **on:** October 28, 2005, 04:29:59 PM »

Hey guys I'm thinking of buying a Sako 75 Grey Laminated Stainless in
.375H&H with a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36 or 3.5-10x40. I will use it for game such as Elk,Moose,Black bear,Grizz,and coastal Browns. Most of the game i've taken have been shot between 50-150 yards with a few around the 250 mark. I hunt in all conditions snow, rain or shine. Do you think this rifle/scope setup would be ideal for my needs? or maybe a .338 or .416 would be better. This will be my first big bore and I plan on keeping it for a long time. Any comments would be appreciated.

mr.frosty · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2005, 05:05:07 PM »

I dont have a 375 but I can say this for anything in north america
you wont have a problem unless you miss :grin:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2005, 05:40:45 PM »

Quote from: prairie boy

Hey guys I'm thinking of buying a Sako 75 Grey Laminated Stainless in
.375H&H with a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36 or 3.5-10x40. I will use it for game such as Elk,Moose,Black bear,Grizz,and coastal Browns. Most of the game i've taken have been shot between 50-150 yards with a few around the 250 mark. I hunt in all conditions snow, rain or shine. Do you think this rifle/scope setup would be ideal for my needs? or maybe a .338 or .416 would be better. This will be my first big bore and I plan on keeping it for a long time. Any comments would be appreciated.

The 375 H&H will work for all you listed. As will the 338 Win Mag. Now the 416 will work also and it is a power house. I would not fell under gunned in any situation with the 416. What 416 were you looking at? Rigby or Remington etc.

Ramrod · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2005, 06:02:40 PM »

The .375 is a bit much for anything in North America, but that did not stop me from owning one. But I do find your choice of scope magnification a little silly for shots that will average under 150 yards, when 4 or 6x is plenty on any critters bigger than deer at the stated max of 250 yards.

prairie boy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2005, 06:10:44 PM »

What would you reccomend? I could always just leave the 2.5-8x36 on 2.5

Ramrod · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2005, 06:27:16 PM »

I remember when a 3-9x was a combo deer and varmint scope. If you are really serious about using this gun on something that can eat you, 1-4x or 1-1/2-5x variables are what you want. A 2-7x or even 3-9x is recomended by some, but God help them if they get charged by a bear and the scope is screwed up to the higher power.

prairie boy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2005, 07:04:26 PM »

gotcha

warf73 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2005, 12:58:16 AM »

I've mounted a Millett 1.5-6x on my 460WBY.
Seems to be holding up really well.
I'm getting ready to mount a BUSHNELL 1.5-4.5X on my 445SM.
Which could be another nice choice for a 375H&H.

Just my .02 worth hope it helps.

Warf

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2005, 03:15:55 AM »

prairie boy, my big bore guns wear Leupold VXII 1X4X20mm or VariXIII 1.5X5X20mm. The largest scope I would put on one of my big bores is a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36. No need for those large scopes in the 3X9 or 3.5X10, leave them for the medium bore long range guns.

jro45 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2005, 03:47:10 AM »

My big boar rifles wear Leupoles and my 416 wears a 23/4X5 Burris. With the Burris I have it sighted in at 150yds. It drops 5" to 6" at 200 yds. That is a 400 gr bullet.

Lawdog · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2005, 12:43:43 PM »

Quote from: prairie boy

Hey guys I'm thinking of buying a Sako 75 Grey Laminated Stainless in
.375H&H with a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36 or 3.5-10x40. I will use it for game such as Elk,Moose,Black bear,Grizz,and coastal Browns. Most of the game i've taken have been shot between 50-150 yards with a few around the 250 mark. I hunt in all conditions snow, rain or shine. Do you think this rifle/scope setup would be ideal for my needs? or maybe a .338 or .416 would be better. This will be my first big bore and I plan on keeping it for a long time. Any comments would be appreciated.

The .375 H&H is an excellent choice for the game you mentioned, especially Coastal Brown Bears. I have taken three of these with .300 & .340 Weatherbys and never again. IF I go after a Coastal Brown Bear again I am going to have my .375 Weatherby or bigger in my hands. The Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x 36mm will work but I would prefer something in the 2-7x or 1.75-5x like the Burris 1.75X-5X-32mm Safari I prefer to put on all my big bores. It has a posi-lock system that once set no amount of recoil will change the POI. Lawdog

China Fleet Sailor · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2005, 09:52:52 PM »

The first deer I ever shot was with a .375 H&H (Sitka Blacktail on Uganik Island just off Kodiak). I didn't find it too much even for deer, as there wasn't much meat damage. That deer was very dead, too.

A stainless Ruger MKII in .338 WinMag now serves as my Alaska deer rifle. But my choice in caliber was dictated mostly by the fact that Ruger runs special promotions for servicemen stationed overseas and did not offer a .375 when I purchased mine. Otherwise I probably would have a .375 H&H. Fine deer rifle, and good for a few other critters I hear.

msorenso · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2005, 04:34:35 AM »

LawDog,
The 300 and 340 weatherby, why never again? Did you feel undergunned? Didn't fall like you wanted them. Both of these calibers and not exactly weak. I would love to hear the story

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2005, 10:06:20 AM »

Quote from: msorenso

LawDog,
The 300 and 340 weatherby, why never again? Did you feel undergunned? Didn't fall like you wanted them. Both of these calibers and not exactly weak. I would love to hear the story

I'll send you a PM with the details. Lawdog

Robert · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2005, 05:23:14 AM »

I have heard over and over again from people that have a 375 H&H, that they are very confident with these and use them primarily for EVERYTHING. That probably why you don't see many of them in the classifieds. I have a 35 Whelen Ackley Improved, and with Paco Kelly load data, it is close on the heels of the 375 for performance. I am very happy with it and have been seriously considering getting rid of a lot of other firearms that I no longer have a need for. I am in Love with my Whelen.....can't see letting all these others rust from neglect. I am sure you will love your H&H as well. Just remember.....don't skimp on what you want on this rifle....you will probably have it for the rest of your life.

Jimi · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2005, 10:08:35 AM »

Get the .375 and enjoy, prairie boy. It is obviously powerful enough for anything in North America, and when someone tells you that it is overkill you can just respond with "How dead is too dead? You can eat right up to the hole."

I think a lot of people don't realize how flexible this cartridge is. I used 235 grain bullets for the smaller game like deer and elk, and took a pronghorn at 500 yards with it. With a lighter bullet it shoots flatter than most people would care to admit. I wouldn't bother with a .338.

As for your scope... I think your choice is fine. It is nice to have a 1.1 or 1.5 power for the dirty, close-in work... but 2x isn't too much... and 8x is nice on the longer distances.

And I've always liked Sako's. I'd say you're good to go.

msorenso · « **Reply #16 on:** November 01, 2005, 03:55:10 PM »

If any of you that have a 375 H&h or ultra mag and were hunting griz or moose what power of scope would you suggest? I have a 375 RUM 26 inch bar. and would love to hunt moose and griz in the future and was wonder the power of scope I should use. Thanks

Robert · « **Reply #17 on:** November 02, 2005, 05:16:16 AM »

With the 375 Ultra-Mag...It is always best to let the 'Grizzly' fire the gun. That will surely kill him.

Jimi · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2005, 08:35:18 AM »

I'd suggest a 1-5x, or if you want a more power I would encourage you to use a detachable mount and rely on iron sights for close-in work. Some folks wouldn't even mount a scope, but I feel confident in thick country with a 1 or 2x and I really like a scope at 100yds+.

Lawdog · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2005, 08:46:38 AM »

Quote from: msorenso

If any of you that have a 375 H&h or ultra mag and were hunting griz or moose what power of scope would you suggest? I have a 375 RUM 26 inch bar. and would love to hunt moose and griz in the future and was wonder the power of scope I should use. Thanks

I have 1.75-5x Burris Safari scopes on all my .375 caliber rifles(two .375 H&H's, one .375 Weatherby and one .378 Weatherby). I wouldn't go over a good 2-7x variable when hunting Grizzly's, especially in the thick Alders of coastal Alaska. In fact that is when QD mounts and open sights come in handy. Lawdog

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 02, 2005, 03:43:43 PM »

Lawdog, you sure are right about them Alders. :eek:

retrieverhunter · « **Reply #21 on:** November 05, 2005, 08:31:51 AM »

I have just bought a Blaser R93 Prestige 375 H&H Safari and am not familiar with the caliber, but from what I am reading here, it would not be too much for whitetail deer. I was considering getting a 300 Win Mag barrel for this gun, but if I buy another barrel, the "deal" that I got on the gun is not near as sweet. Does anyone have any personal knowledge of Blaser guns? This gun is beautiful and has the best trigger out of the box that I have ever seen. In terms of recoil, how does a 375 H&H compare to a 300 Win Mag? I have no plans for Africa or even moose or bear, but i really like the gun.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #22 on:** November 05, 2005, 08:42:25 AM »

Quote from: retrieverhunter

I have no plans for Africa or even moose or bear, but i really like the gun.

Make plans for Africa and/or Alaska. You won't regret going or miss the cost of the trip.

If you don't go, dollars to doughnuts, you will regret not going.

Ramrod · « **Reply #23 on:** November 06, 2005, 11:23:51 AM »

Quote from: retrieverhunter

In terms of recoil, how does a 375 H&H compare to a 300 Win Mag? I have no plans for Africa or even moose or bear, but i really like the gun.

It's probably just me, but my .300 Win Mag. just plain hurts. My .375 H&H rocks me some, but never any pain. I think it has to do with recoil "velocity" or some such. The recoil calculations I have seen for various calibers bear little resemblence to my own experiences.
P.S. Conrgats on the Blaser, they are sweet!

retrieverhunter · « **Reply #24 on:** November 06, 2005, 02:52:53 PM »

Ramrod
I have to agree about the recoil of 300 Win Mags. I have owned 2, and they do hurt. I have a friend with a 458 Win Mag that has told me about the "push" in large calibers, but I have never owned or shot one myself. I am planning to use the gun for whitetails. Do you know of any "light" loads for deer size game? I am currently leaning toward the Federal Premium 250 gr bullets. They are ballistically not that much larger than a 300 Win Mag. Any suggestions?

Butler · « **Reply #25 on:** November 07, 2005, 06:56:46 AM »

I put the leupold vx-2 2-7 on my cz 375,it is a nice fit,,and great eye relief which is very important,,One does not have to even think about getting nicked by the scope..I have taken deer ,black bear and moose with mine,all with great results..Doesnt knock deer down any quicker than my /06 but sure hammered the moose!!!!Meat damage hasnt been any worse than my /06 either...Absolutely love the rifle and caliber and the old /06 stays home most of the time now...The 375 seems to shoot as flat as my /06 out to 300 yards,and I do not usually shoot farther that that,in fact all the game I have taken with this rifle has been inside 150 yards.

retrieverhunter · « **Reply #26 on:** November 07, 2005, 08:50:44 AM »

Butler
What is your bullet of choice for whitetails? I have a Zeiss Diavari Victory 3-12x56 ordered for my gun. I am planning on "bloodying" my gun on my Oklahoma hunt during Thanksgiving.

Butler · « **Reply #27 on:** November 07, 2005, 09:07:19 AM »

The nosler 260 grain accubond in front of 76 grains of imr 4350...Getting about 2800 fps with this load..shoots flat and accurate in my rifle..Have not recovered bullets ..Have done a spine shot a neck shot and a behind the shoulder shot with deer with little meat loss.Had one penetrate through a moose and smash the back leg bone that did some meat damage ,..Penetrated through a black bear at about 20 yards too :grin:

Ramrod · « **Reply #28 on:** November 07, 2005, 11:35:38 AM »

retrieverhunter,
I'm not a big fan of downloading. My opinion is that if you have to download, you are using too much gun. On the other hand, if you just want some game killing practice with the .375, you might as well use full house 270 grain loads.