Author Topic: 375 H&H (Read 664 times)

jvs · « **on:** April 23, 2006, 12:25:02 AM »

What are the merits of the 375 H&H ?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2006, 02:44:14 AM »

What do you want to know? It is just a blanket statement.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2006, 05:15:45 AM »

It shoots heavy, fat bullets, generally from heavy rifles.

jro45 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2006, 05:16:08 AM »

The merits for the 375 H&H are endless. In Africa that rifle has killed Elephant and on and on. I can't spell all that it has killed over there.

jvs · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2006, 08:30:54 AM »

Quote from: Redhawk1

What do you want to know? It is just a blanket statement.

I might be in the market soon for one of the Bad Boy Cartridges and I am considering the 375 H&H. Among others.

And since I have never had the opportunity to be up close and personal with a 375, I thought I'd ask first.

nasem · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2006, 10:20:32 AM »

I shoot it from time to time, And I love it.

but its not my "fav shooting gun at the range" kinda thing, I don't reload so $1.5 a pop can get expensive real fast.

as far as recoil goes, I think its a GREAT round to help you practice handling recoil of the greater calibers. One day I want to move into the 416 and 458 world and 375 h&h is a great start.

I have never been hunting with it. But I watch alot of "dangerous game" hunting shows on OBLN channel, those guys were using double rifles and whatnot with 470 and 500 Nitro, and were still not dropping them cape buffalos from first or 2nd shot. (Usually takes them 3-4 to put that monster down)...... what does all that tell me.... BULLET PLACEMENT.

you can use anything from a 30-06 to a 700 nitro, but if your bullet placement is weak, that animal might run off, or even worse, charge straight at you.

jrhen · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2006, 01:38:28 PM »

If you have or are starting a collection the 375 is one of those have to have calibers.

I got into a .375 H&H due to some crazy buddies that pick which caliber they want to shoot that day and you are supposed to show up with it or you get ribbed and roasted. I picked up a CZ Safari with the hogback stock, mounted a Leu 3x9 vII with CZ's rings. I reload so ammo cost is not a huge factor. I have it dialed in now, normal day at the range is 15-20 rounds and then I switch to somthing lighter or go to pistols. Our game is shooting golf balls off hand at 75 to 100 yards. It is supposed to simluate shooting a saltwater crock in the brain. As if any of us will ever get to Africa let alone have the $$$$ to hunt. :-) But it's a fun afternoon and loser buys lunch.

Yes the rifle is heavier than the lastest bigboxsuperstore bluemarkeddown special plasticcomposit stocked rifle. No you can't find accessories for it at you local gunshow, you moved into a whole different class. We are talking deep blued metal, mauser 98 claw extractors, cross bolts and walnut stocks.

I was the only one to show up in Elk camp (cow) this year with anything larger than a .30 cal. I spent $50 on a good corbra shoulder strap and didn't mind the weight at all. I got my shot and hit my elk, she went down and stayed there. Could I have used less rifle? Sure, a Win 270 would have done the job but I wanted to be different.

Buy one, put a hundred rounds though it over the next few months and see if you like it. You will have all the company at the local range that you want, split between "you're crazy to WOW can I shoot it" it really puts the fun back into shooting.

Qaz · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2006, 02:06:17 AM »

JRhen- How often does someone hit a golfball off hand at 75-100 yds?

Questor · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2006, 03:18:44 AM »

If you're going after big animals and you don't like heavy recoil, it's hard to beat the 375H&H. The guns typically weigh one to two pounds more than an average 30-06. I don't find this extra weight objectionable, or even noticeable, because I tend to use good slings. The 375 also has an easy to understand trajectory out to 300 yards. Lots of good bullets are available. It's just one of those special cartridges that has its niche and is really good in that niche. If you ever get to handle an expanded 300 grain 375 bullet you'll be impressed.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2006, 08:51:11 AM »

Quote from: Questor

If you're going after big animals and you don't like heavy recoil, it's hard to beat the 375H&H. The guns typically weigh one to two pounds more than an average 30-06. I don't find this extra weight objectionable, or even noticeable, because I tend to use good slings. The 375 also has an easy to understand trajectory out to 300 yards. Lots of good bullets are available. It's just one of those special cartridges that has its niche and is really good in that niche. If you ever get to handle an expanded 300 grain 375 bullet you'll be impressed.

Concur with Questor.

Larry Gibson

jrhen · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2006, 06:34:51 PM »

Qaz,

Not as often as I would like to claim... -:) On a good day maybe 25% and a lot of near misses. Good fun and it will make you a better shot. When you do hit the golf ball it is a sight.

I heard about this drill watching a hunting show on saltwater crocks and how you pay $4k per crock and the only shot placement was in the brain. The host was hunting from a long boat and the only way to shoot was standing up.

Mike in Ct · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2006, 05:06:41 AM »

Quite possibly the most fun you can have with brass & lead....Factory loadings that are very good..easy to reload for...Get a mold & gas checked well lubed bullet...Nothing better for versatility..except maybe the 35 Whelen, cheaper brass & you can buy gas checked lead bullets to plink with if you reload...mike in ct

jro45 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2006, 10:55:46 AM »

I plan on going to Africa in 2007 if things go right. I will take my 375 H&H. I can not afford to pay to shoot an elephant but some of those antilopes would make nice trophes. I have a 416 Rem also might take it also for the big antilopes maybe.

Jimi · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2006, 12:19:07 PM »

It is a pretty commonly held belief that the .375H&H is the most versatile caliber you could own and as the legendary Jack O'Connor said, "If was limited to only one rifle to hunt the world, it would be the .375H&H." (I think he liked the .270 Win when limited to North American game)

It is the standard in Africa, and the smallest legal caliber for thick skinned game in several African nations. A large part of its versatility stems from the range of bullets available. 300 grain loads are standard for thick skinned game... 265gr to 275gr is great for bears of all type... and a personal favorite of mine is the 235 grain, which I use on deer and elk. It has a muzzle velocity of 3,000fps and shoots about as flat as a .270. I took a pronghorn at 500 yards. If you handload you can also try 210 grain and 350 grain, at either extreme. While people will say that it is overkill I simply ask, "how dead is too dead?" In my experience there is very little meat damage, in most cases less than with smaller calibers. It is great fun to shoot. Makes a helluva racket at the range. The recoil has more bark than bite. Ammunition is readily available. And here in the States, you will probably be the only one with it in deer camp.

A word of advice, however... if you get a dangerous game caliber like the .375H&H, get a rifle with controlled round feeding. At least if you actually intend to hunt dangerous game. I will get a lot of flack from Remington M700 fans, but in my five trips to Africa I have yet to hunt with a PH that relied on a push feed action.

So much for my primer on the .375H&H.