375 H&H -which gun to buy?

[forty below]

okay. starting awhile ago, i was looking to buy a .375 h&h, then winchester went bust, so model 70s w/ pre64 controlled-round feed action were nowhere to be found. then ruger announced their version of the .375. looks like a nice gun, not crazy about the hogue stock and .375 ruger ammo looks to be both expensive and hard to find.

so.... at this point, wondering if i should again look at a 375 h&h, but since no winchester, what is the next best make/action for alaska's big and dangerous game--remington, browning, sako, tikka, ruger no 1???? can't afford custom, so brown, h-s precision and others are out.

looking for learned opinions about what would be best choice.

forty below

 

[forty below]

if no 375 h&h choices, what about .338 win mag?

if no 375 h&h choices, what about .338 win mag?

and while i have longed for a .375 h&h, the choices of controlled-round feed are very limited, so i ask a second question--what recommendations for medium-weight (7# or less for bare gun) .338 win mag? here i am looking hard at:

kimber's new montana in .338, but not crazy about the 26in tube, and don't know for sure, but in the pictures i have seen online, the barrel looks a bit whippy? if this were the choice, i would cut the barrel to 23-24in and would like to put a set of open sights on it.

i looked at the tikka t3 lite, but not convinced the tikka with it's parts can handle the .338 round over time. and the tikka looks a bit on the cheap side.

let the opining begin!

forty below

 

[AKWannabe]

In the case of the .338, I think your choices are more plentiful and a little less expensive. I'd say the Ruger 77 (not sure if the Hawkeye is in .338-if so, then I'd go Hawkeye myself) probably in Stainless/synthetic for sure, being in AK. It comes with a 24" tube, I only wish they still offered them with irons like they used to when they had the "paddle" stock.

That Ruger Hawkeye in .375 Ruger is a pretty sweet rifle though. I shot one recently and there's one available at my favorite local shop for $790. Ammo hasn't been too hard to find around here.

I'd seriously look around at the online auctions sites for used (and NIB) .375's. I would think that the Remington XCR .375 would be good too except for the push feed. Still not sure that it's that big a deal since I've never had any bad feed/extract problems with any mod. 700 I've ever owned plus that's what Marine snipers count on (M40-a1 if I recall), though they do have the benefit of close air support quite often.

I was fortunate enough to get a S/S mod. 70 in .375 H&H just a week before the Winchester plant closing announcement! Got a good price on it too, so it was doubly good. I like it, though if I were in the market now, I'd probably go with the Ruger Alaskan Hawkeye in .375 Ruger.

Dave

 

[Grizzly1]

I'd buy the 375 Ruger, put a better synthetic stock (McMillan ect) on it and be one happy hunter. The availability of ammo and brass has vastly improved over the past few months, the price of loaded ammo isn't that bad compared with the 375 H&H.....It's about the same in the Hornady line of ammo. Can't remember the exact price.

 

[broncoformudv]

I would go with the Ruger 375. The ammo can not be much more than standard 375 H&H is at the stores. All of it is expensive! Just be sure to bring plenty of ammo with you while hunting in Alaska due to some smaller towns lack of availability.

But I do love my Ruger #1 stainless laminate in 375H&H. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Ok well maybe a Model 70 stainless, synthetic pre 64 action. But thats just dreaming again.

 

[t-w-t]

375

375

Have you looked at the CZ 550???

 

[stevelyn]

But I do love my Ruger #1 stainless laminate in 375H&H. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Ok well maybe a Model 70 stainless, synthetic pre 64 action. But thats just dreaming again.

That's what I want.

 

[.338 mag.]

.375 ?

.375 ?

I think the tapered case on the .375 H&H allows it to chamber very easy in a reliable rifle and that old round has nothing to prove. The Ruger Hawkeye .375 in the wood stocked 23" tubed model is the best feeling factory rifle I have shouldered in a long time. It could use a better recoil pad. Sako makes a very good .375 H&H rifle and they usually hold 4 in the magazine. I shoot Winchesters (because I can't afford Dakotas) and I think they have the best hunting trigger, also, the bolt field strips easily. I do not want plastic or detachable magazines on my hunting rifle. A "reliable rifle" feeds and/or ejects a round every time we cycle the action, goes bang only when we press the trigger and has enough accuracy for the shots we ask of it.

 

[forty below]

375 h&h in ruger no 1?

375 h&h in ruger no 1?

i agree that the crf model 70 is about the best choice. it sounds like there are custom crfs out there, but they are out of my price range.

i think the h&h is the better choice since availability of ammo from federal, winchester, remington, hornady unlike the 375 ruger that is currently limited to hornady.

comments on going with a ruger no 1 in 375 h&h?

forty below

 

[Thebear_78]

The Montana rifleman action would be a good one and there are a few of those M70 classics floating around at more reasonable prices.

 

[Matt]

How soon do you need one? If you really want a Winchester crf rifle, then I'd just wait. The new Winchester rifles will be available to see at the '08 SHOT show. American made as well.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Consider a MRC and put it in a McMillan stock. Total investment will be about $1,500.

 

[forty below]

montana rifle or new winchester model 70?

montana rifle or new winchester model 70?

i can afford to wait and will look at the new model 70. the shot show is in feb?

also, i am checking out the montana rifle company--very nice! lots of options.

snowwolfe--do you order direct from mrc or talk to an alaska dealer to order?

thanks all for the input. much appreciated!

forty below

 

[Snowwolfe]

I have Boondocks in Eagle River order my MRC for me. I just go to the MRC web site and print out what I want and take it to Shawn and he calls them up and places the order. I have a SS barreled action in 458 Lott due in any time. But any FFL dealer can order them for you.
I order the McMillan stocks from the 24 hour campground forum. They run about $425 shipped and are built to your specs. The stocks take longer to get than the barreled actions.
About a year ago I ordered the exact same thing and the McMillan fit the MRC like a glove. Unfortunately I was in one of those "gotta have this other rifle" and sold the MRC. This one is destined to stay with me ( I hope,lol)

 

[swampdonkey]

I know that the 375Ruger hasn't been out very long, but for what it's worth, does anyone know (preferrably 1st hand) on how it's performed so far on AK big game? What load was used?

Also, if anyone has reloaded for it, has it been finicky, forgiving, or ???

Any intel (good or bad) is appreciated...

Thanks...

 

[Kalispell Jim]

How soon do you need one? If you really want a Winchester crf rifle, then I'd just wait. The new Winchester rifles will be available to see at the '08 SHOT show. American made as well.

Hey - I'd like some info on that. I guess I missed the news on "The Return Of Winchester"? Got any links I could browse?

TIA!

Jim

 

[swampdonkey]

How soon do you need one? If you really want a Winchester crf rifle, then I'd just wait. The new Winchester rifles will be available to see at the '08 SHOT show. American made as well.

I was just visiting the Winchester web site and they are saying that there isn't any plans to reintroduce the M70 or any other older rifle models anytime soon. The site had new shotguns, gear and a new auotloading rifle called the Super X Rifle (SXR) w/ detachable mag. It only came in 4 calibers (270wsm, 300wsm, 300wm, and 30-06). I thought that I had heard elsewhere that the model 70 patents were picked up by another company and THAT company was gonna build them again to Winchester spec's. Is that true? Has anyone else heard that? Or has anyone heard something totally different? Cause if they're coming around again, then I'll definately wait and check them out before buying yet.

 

[Murphy]

375's I've known...

375's I've known...

I want to commment further about this 375 thread and the 375 Savage thread, they seem to be tied together.

First of all, I agree with .338 Mag's post about the the H&H, the Winchester Trigger, and Dakota's and what he likes in a hunting rifle. And what was said about the new Ruger.

Ruger has cleverly set things up to where if you want a 375 H&H you ain't buyin' a Ruger. (Except for the Magnum $$$$ rifle.) This of course to sell their 375 Ruger caliber in the Hawkeye. I will say that the 375 Alaskan is all the 375 Savage guide gun ever claimed to be and much more, with only a modest jump in price. It is just available only in the 375 Ruger caliber. The stock is crappy on both but the Ruger is one hell for stout and a reliable rifle. It has some weak points but they are with the walnut sapwood stock that isn't bedded or cross bolted and will break after some shooting. They have this funny diagonal bedding screw and it is part of the problem. This goes away when bedded, and it is actually a very good set up then and can handle heavy recoil. While your at the smith for bedding have him install a decelerator or similar recoil pad. The stainless, Hogue stocked Alaskan rifle would only need a good McMillan stock properly bedded. This would boost the price considerably but we could get by with the Hogue until the wife finds another night job.

The H&H has been both praised and cursed for the same reason. The long tapered case. It does feed even in CRF actions, about the only belted caliber that does without a hitch and even when the load or the climate is a little warm, extraction of that tapered case is still assured. It's belt has never served any function in a bolt action rifle, except chambering and firing of any ammo regardless of where the shoulder is. It headspaces on the belt. The action still must be lengthened, especially the magazine box, for this old field proven caliber, but few seem to object to it's slightly longer bolt stroke.

The 375 Ruger caliber will indeed produce H&H ballistics with the 20" barrel of the Hawkeye Alaskan. We don't have to take it to the fields and tundra to know how effective it will be, we have a century of proof resting with the old 375 H&H. Also if you can shoot an H&H you can shoot a 375 Ruger (after application of the aforementioned recoil pad).

I think we will soon find it difficult to find any new rifle in the 375 H&H caliber. Two major companies are pushing an alternative and presently only offer limited custom shop versions of rifles for the H&H. The Winchester Model 70 will not return in the nick of time like the cavalry and the Belgium made bolt guns (PBR) will never be so chambered. I also am afraid that if you don't make your own ammo, you won't have ammo as it will not be available on the shelf at the local stores.

The 375 Ruger caliber is a good round. I would have made it ever so slightly different but they didn't consult me before the design. It is a straight forward easy to handload with all the same old powders and bullets we used with the H&H. The case capacity is more than adequate to achieve advertised ballistics and factory ammo is not loaded with some exotic unavailable canister powder. It is factory loaded with what appears to be w-760 powder and I can duplicate factory ballistics with Hornady bullets and that powder.

Feeding is positive but I'll say with 300 grain round nose Hornady's the nose rub on the feed ramp drags a little. I polished the Stainless rifle I have and that helped a lot. I did not polish the African version, I have it for sale and left it unaltered. I even let Ruger put two new walnut stocks on it as they broke at the wrist. The first after 43 rounds the second took about 60 rounds to crack. I will, if I fail to sell it, put it in the McMillan stock I have coming for the Alaskan. I think I have the Hogue stocked rifle sold. I advertised both and the Alaskan is more popular. The Ruger's trigger is strong and reliable and I was unable to break it. I did stone it slightly and it has a very good pull. There is no screw adjustments but it is the easiest trigger I've ever seen to disassemble and reinstall after stoning the sear notch.

Any way the 375 Ruger is here to stay and it is a good caliber. My complaint with the cartridge design is the short neck. I've designed six new calibers on that case, even an improved 375 version, and have given all of them a full caliber of neck. Longer than the .315" neck of the 375.

This opinion is based on my experiences with the guns mentioned. And I think I have more rounds through a 375 Ruger than any owner of the rifle.

 

[cold zero]

Does anyone have a link to an article about Winchester coming back into business?

classic synthetic stainless was one of their best products. i have one in .30-06 and a .338 or .375 would be sweet.

 

[broncoformudv]

I have a Ruger #1 375 H&H stainless laminate with a limbsaver recoil pad. The recoil is mild in my opinion and a pleasure to shoot. Granted this is the only 375 H&H I have fired, for that mater the only weapon above 300 win mag I have fired. So far I think it is plenty of gun for anything I will ever hunt.

I also agree the mod 70 in classic stainless is one fine rifle and wish I had picked up a couple of them before prices skyrocketed!