Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 375 H&H 22" vs. 24" barrel

I have one that I bought used, it started life as a 30" target taper. that barrel was trimmed back to 24", it was still silly heavy, I spun itdown to .68" at the muzzle and it is quite nice now. it is on the do not sell list.

JB/OU:On one trip to Alaska I got to goof around with one of those little Sako's with the full length stocks in 375H&H. I used it to peck at boulders off hand with 300 gr factory stuff...and it was fun.

That little rifle got a 2.5X Kahles to snap its' reticle; I liked recoil more then than I do now......

I always thought that the "light weight" 375 guys like Jobson had built by Al Biesen were great sounding rifles....he would have Biesen cut the barrel to 23",turn down to a lighter contour,and pimp it out in French walnut...back then I guess they were light rifles, I guess about exactly like a Ruger African hawkeye,which is a sweet rifle.

Today nice handling 375's are pretty common, and I have found that even a pre 64 with that 25" barrel just hangs on a target like it's nailed there,and is a very easy to hit with offhand,...

I had a stainless model 70 shortened from 24 to 22 inches and added some nice necg sights. To me the balance of the rifle is improved and I only saw a 25 fps decrease in velocity.

My 375 has a 25 inch barrel. I like it very much, as is. It's a Sako Model 85 Stainless Synthetic that weighed 7lbs, naked in the box.

I live and hunt in B.C., where there is lot's of real thick country.

I own and shoot rifles with barrels that have ranged from about 20 inches all the way up to 30.

I think worrying about an inch, or two, or even four, really is much concern about very little. I prefer mine to average around 24 inches, as I appreciate having the muzzle blast that little bit further from my ears.

I carry mine with a front-mounted sling, and by doing so - don't worry about a few inches either way on the length of the rifle.

Agreed!

Whats good for one man isn't always good for another.Opinions are like................Find out yourself...

Most Men can pack a 9# rifle around all day and don't whine about 16 ounces but they fill there backpacks with garbage food and don't think twice about it...

Just an opinion!!!

Jayco

?????????

Toad

It's all about the weight to some then comes 1-2 or 3 inches in barrel length, and it's not an acceptable rifle.

I want to know how 16 ounces makes any difference in rifle weight when some choose to load up with other things weighing far more?

My 24" Winchester works just fine for me at 9 pounds...And I am old,just not a whiner.

Jayco

no, it's not all about the weight. balance/handling trump all IMO.

my M70 weighs 9# 14 oz. ready to hunt, AFTER i cut the barrel back to 21". have yet to miss those 3", either on my shoulder or at the intersection of bullet and fur.

Right!

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So those of you running these rifles with iron sights, what mounts/scope are you using? and do you end up seeing the front sight through your scope?

With a low powered scope you will see the end of the bbl and the sights. After a bit you'll get used to it and ignore it.

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What SuperCub said.

My H&H has a 22" barrel and the brownies haven't noticed any differance since I had it cut down from 24".

After owning two, I thought 23" was about right. However, I added a .375 Ruger Alaskan, and the 20" barrel feels right. Shoulders, balances, and points beautifully.

Your right,of course and each and everyone of us are built different and our needs also, are different.Finding a stock firearm that fits both in summer/spring type conditions and clothes worn, don't always work in fall and winter conditions with extra layers.

What works for my 6'4" long armed son,isn't ideal for me..

Jayco

Toad: have you chronographed your loads before and after the barrel cut down? jorge

jorge, no i did not. several things with that, first was that there was a muzzle brake machined into the end of the barrel, and it is punched AI. i just took a wild guess as to how short i could go and still equal/exceed plain 'ol .375 H&H/24"barrel speeds.

thanks for the quick response. Both my 375s have 24" barrels and with this caliber, barrel length should not be that critical. jorge

Got a funny feeling that in a confrontation with a dangerous animal,a guy could whip a barrel long as a vaulting pole into instant action with lightning dexterity....that's if he has any reactions at all....

And after it was over he'd never pay attention to 2" of barrel, more or less,again.....

Probably why Finn Aaggard used a factory 25" tube on his favorite 375H&H to slay unruly animals.

I used to like a 24" bbl till I got one shorter. Never again with a 24", but then it largely depends on the type of hunting one does and where.

I think Ruger nailed it with their Alaskan format for NA hunting.

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