Author Topic: .375 H&H -elk and recoil. (Read 12000 times)

jim huntington · « **Reply #30 on:** October 28, 2007, 02:44:22 PM »

Well Fellas! My Sako .375H&H is all sighted in and ready to go.Shooting it was a blast and the recoil wasnt any worst than my 12 ga. slug gun. Of coarse I sighted it in using a lead sled.Afterwards I shot it a few times off hand and was pleasently surprised at the way it handled.One thing is for sure, my neighbors will know when I shoot it! It has a very loud BOOOOM!!!! Might try it on whitetails this fall if the wright situation presents itself.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #31 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:10:42 PM »

I sighted in My Sako AIII with the Remington 270 grain soft points at 200 yards. I get about a 2.5" 5 round group. But with recoil and the difference in ammo I am really happy. I shoot mine quite a bit and really like it. If I take my time I can close down that group to around 1.75" for three shots.
I took it with me to Idaho last month and was not able to use it on an elk. Mine wears a fixed power 4X scope and I have no problem hitting the 200 yard 12 inch gong at my clubs range. The only down side is everyone wants to shoot it and ammo costs rise the more people are at the range.
I will be using it for a wild boar hunt here in CA this spring as the area we will hunt is a no lead area and I have A squared 300 grain Monolith Solids that print 1/2 low at 200 yards. So I'm not worried about hitting one or ruining meat. I'll let you know what they do to a hog at what range.
Good buy. Congradulations!

jim huntington · « **Reply #32 on:** November 30, 2007, 05:15:02 PM »

I have taken my Sako out a couple of times already during our ongoing deer season. But havent seen anything to shoot at yet.Would just love to set the sights of my .375H&H on a nice buck.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #33 on:** November 30, 2007, 05:23:49 PM »

Even a not so nice buck would do for a first with the rifle. If you pick a small buck you always have bigger to look for the next year. I look to shoot a bigger deer than the last one with the same rifle each time out. It makes it really hard with one of my .308's as it holds a county record where the family farm is.

jim huntington · « **Reply #34 on:** December 13, 2007, 07:30:08 AM »

In my mind, any deer is a trophy! Antlers are nice to get but I like the venison alot better. I have had chances this season . I got a 3pt. in the Adirondacks this fall during the early muzzleloader season. Got a doe during the regular shotgun/rifle season. Missed a 4pt. with the spr18 and missed a 6pt with my Marlin 336A- 30-30. Now Iam in the middle of the late muzzleloader season and have missed two doe. Nothing wrong the firearms. Just the shooter is a little off. Happy Holidays to everyone in this forum. May you get all that you had on your CHRISTmas list!

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #35 on:** December 13, 2007, 07:43:27 AM »

Thanks,
Jim, Hopefully you will get some range time and iron out your buck fever. Good luck.

S.B. · « **Reply #36 on:** December 13, 2007, 02:11:40 PM »

There are a lot of hunters that use the .375H&H for elk?

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #37 on:** December 13, 2007, 04:17:28 PM »

Sure,
Elk depending on where and how you hunt have a big following for almost any cartridge.
Till I bought one I thought the recoil was going to be way too much. But mine was purchased as a drive or woods rifle. I like the big round nose bullet. Recoil is not bad. Or should I say not as bad as I thought a dangerous game rifle would be.
With the hot loads in the 1895 45-70 I have to check my fillings the 375 is just a big shove rather than a slam.

S.B. · « **Reply #38 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:23:56 AM »

My thought on recoil, it's like my 7mm Nag.?

jro45 · « **Reply #39 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:57:31 AM »

If I were going ELK hunting I would take my 300 RUM . I've killed a Zerba with it so an Elk should be no problem.

As far as using a 375 If the elk are going to be with in 200yds go for it.

S.B. · « **Reply #40 on:** December 14, 2007, 03:12:32 AM »

Gun writers and magazine articles aside, I think the .375H&H has a very good track record as a distance killer? So good in fact, there are a lot of PHs in Africa that still use it today.

fernie · « **Reply #41 on:** January 01, 2008, 03:27:22 AM »

JH,

So how's the .375 doing?

Gotta chrony your loads, though. Had a friend with a one-holer load going, 'til he chronyed it and found out that his reloads had less power than his 30-06!

Happy New Year...

Doc

S.B. · « **Reply #42 on:** January 01, 2008, 04:39:35 AM »

What was the velocity of your friends reloads? Must been able to watch the bullets go down range, to have 1/3 increase in diameter and loss so much punch? What was his 30.06 load, that he was comparing the H&H to?

deltecs · « **Reply #43 on:** January 01, 2008, 01:07:19 PM »

The .375 H&H has an impeccable reputation on game world wide. Having one load that puts bullets in one hole is not necessarily the hunting load. If the bullet consistently impacts within 2 minutes of angle, that is more than good enough for most hunting done with the .375. That's not to say that another sweet spot may not be found for the rifle that shoots within 1 minute of angle with good velocity and energy using different powders or bullets. The .375 has plenty of trajectory to shoot comfortably to past 300 yds with the right bullets and loads. I have the utmost respect for this round though have none myself. I have used them on occasion and find no real criticism.

fernie · « **Reply #44 on:** January 04, 2008, 05:49:35 AM »

SB,

He was using 230 gr. - I don't recall the type/brand. If you do a comparison between an '06 and .375 using this same bullet weight and both being loaded to 2,500 fps, the .375 has an energy advantage at the muzzle of only about 200 fp (at the muzzle). As I recall he had loaded the entire range recommended in his loading manual and couldn't get what was in his mind a decent group. So he began backing off loads and got a one holer somewhere down around 2300 - 2350 fps. When we did the math it turned out that an '06 bullet of the same weight had more fp than did his .375. A 230 gr. bullet in a .375 at about 2400 fps is equal to one out of an '06 going 2500 fps - someone correct me if I'm wrong. All this was corrected when he started going over max published loads. I don't recall his powder. It was only a grain over 'max' and he got the same accuracy results, with a significant increase in energy (2750 fps range I believe). If you don't have a chrony, you don't know what you're shooting. A basic chrony can be had for 100$

Happy New Year to all the big bore fans out there...

Doc

S.B. · « **Reply #45 on:** January 04, 2008, 01:51:26 PM »

I've had a chrono for about 20 years now? Used it to learn more about my handloads when working up a load, than anything I've ever owned. But, can't see the purpose of loading bullets that light, in the .375 H&H? I've shot a couple of them and thought the recoil was comparable to my 7MM magnum with 175 grain bullets?

fernie · « **Reply #46 on:** January 04, 2008, 05:54:05 PM »

SB,

I'm not sure why he was shooting a 230 gr. in a .375?

Doc

jim huntington · « **Reply #47 on:** January 15, 2008, 04:59:40 AM »

I had a 7mm mag in a Savage rifle for a while. Now that you mention it the .375 H&H's recoil was about the same as the 7mm was. The Savage 7mm mag was a nice gun and flat shooting.But my Sako fits me alot better and is well balanced,with good carrying weight. I will have a 7mm mag again some day. But for now the .375H&H holds top honers in my gun case.

jro45 · « **Reply #48 on:** January 22, 2008, 02:48:34 AM »

It sounds like a real good deal. If I were you I would have it. Recoil is all that you make it, all it takes is a firm grip.

45north · « **Reply #49 on:** April 14, 2008, 09:01:43 PM »

The 375 H&H is the best world wide rifle you can use. I have never used my 375 H&H on elk but I have on moose and bear. And it really gets their attention. The recoil is not that bad with practice. Do the majority of your shooting standing and NOT from a bench.

45north

T.R. · « **Reply #50 on:** April 17, 2008, 08:20:41 AM »

I've hunted elk in Wyoming nearly all my life. But one successful elk trip to Oregon in 1980's. In all my travels I've never met a hunter armed with a 375 H & H. I haven't seen any of this ammo on any gun store shelves recently. But perhaps in your area, things are much different.

Good hunting to you.
TR

S.B. · « **Reply #51 on:** July 21, 2008, 04:30:51 PM »

Quote from: 45north on April 14, 2008, 09:01:43 PM

The 375 H&H is the best world wide rifle you can use. I have never used my 375 H&H on elk but I have on moose and bear. And it really gets their attention. The recoil is not that bad with practice. Do the majority of your shooting standing and NOT from a bench.

45north

On heavy recoiling rifles, from the bench, I use a soft case, rolled up, between my shoulder and the butt of the gun?
Steve

jro45 · « **Reply #52 on:** July 22, 2008, 05:25:49 AM »

The 375 H&H with a 270gr bullet recoils 40 to 42 Ft. Lbs. If recoil hurts you put a brake on for shooting off the bench and take it off when hunting thats what I did. I put a threads protecter on where the brake was.

BBF · « **Reply #53 on:** July 22, 2008, 06:32:32 AM »

You wrote you would get better bullets at a later time after loading the Speer stuff. Pardon me, what is wrong with the Speers?

Brithunter · « **Reply #54 on:** July 26, 2008, 01:00:43 AM »

Quote from: jro45 on July 22, 2008, 05:25:49 AM

The 375 H&H with a 270gr bullet recoils 40 to 42 Ft. Lbs. If recoil hurts you put a brake on for shooting off the bench and take it off when hunting thats what I did. I put a threads protecter on where the brake was.

Then how do you know where your bullets land when hunting? the POI will most likley be different when using the brake to a bare barrel?

I have yet to see a braked rifle that shoots same to the same POI with the brake removed when sighted in using the muzzle brake, same thing often happens when using Sound Moderators.

BBF · « **Reply #55 on:** July 26, 2008, 10:34:05 AM »

Agree with Brithunter can also say the same for those bi pods that attach to the forend

S.B. · « **Reply #56 on:** July 26, 2008, 11:22:05 AM »

45-70 Govt., who'ld want a bipod on a .375 H&H? I know I wouldn't.
Steve

kevthebassman · « **Reply #57 on:** July 26, 2008, 03:02:42 PM »

Quote from: jim huntington on December 13, 2007, 07:30:08 AM

I got a 3pt. in the Adirondacks this fall during the early muzzleloader season. Got a doe during the regular shotgun/rifle season. Missed a 4pt. with the spr18 and missed a 6pt with my Marlin 336A- 30-30. Now Iam in the middle of the late muzzleloader season and have missed two doe.

Am I the only one who is concerned by this?

Brithunter · « **Reply #58 on:** July 26, 2008, 10:31:30 PM »

Not concerned more like dissmayed

and I wonder how many of those misses actually wounded a beast to die slowly and in great pain

.

kevthebassman · « **Reply #59 on:** July 27, 2008, 06:07:34 AM »

It would seem to me that a person who misses 2/3rds of the time needs to spend more time practicing from field positions.