Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Big Nan

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Pretty cool. So ruffedgrouse said your big nan is a 375 WBY, or did I read that wrong? I was under the impression it's an H&H, according to your other thread..

I believe the rifle started out as a 300 H&H. It got re barreled to 375 H&H. Later on it got sent to Weatherby and rechambered to 375 Weatherby. I do not claim to know the complete and accurate history of the rifle, just what I have read and what my dad told me. I have shot both 375 H&H and 375 Weatherby through it.
I called the rifle a 375 H&H to make it simple while looking for any help finding another stock for it. I got help and info from some of the folks who really know model 70's.

Great thread fellas. Truly cool working rifle!

Ah, I see. Hopefully they found you a clover leaf tang stock that you needed/wanted. Last year I bought a near identical rifle to yours for $600.00. It had the original stock though. Like I said in that thread, that stock was worth what I paid for the rifle. Cool history on your rifle there.

I appreciate mr. WhelenNut's post about Big Nan, Hal Waugh's famous .375 Weatherby Model 70. I thought some of you might be interested in a little more history on Big Nan. A lot of information about this historic rifle is in the book "Alaska Game Trails with a Master Guide." Hal Waugh was awarded Alaska's first master guide status, hence the name Master Guide. In one of the last chapters of the book, entitled "Gun Talk" there copies of written correspondence between Waugh and his clients re: rifles. The most detailed one is about his "Big Nan" M70 and here is a quote from that portion, written by Hal Waugh himself:

"Weatherby and I had an argument in Grancel Fitz's apartment in 1960 about the value of his caliber, .375 Weatherby. My contention is: It is one of the finest game killers and most accurate big gun calibers on the market. He couldn't stand the traffic of hunters converting Mod. 70's (as I have) and Enfields, etc. so changed over to the .416 Rigby case with belt added, to make it difficult for those who wanted an improved .375, yet couldn't afford the Weatherby price tag.

"My .375 W. is a Mod. 70 (1947) action I sent in to Roy W. and had rebarreled to his .375, chrome lined bbd. in 1949. I am on the 6th stock now. Can't seem to hold that recoil. It has two recoil lugs, too. One stock did hold, however, for 10 years. This has proven to be the bear gun to top all others. I shot 8 Kodiak bears that had been wounded, in 1949. In almost every instance, since 1949 I have killed every bear I had to shoot with one shot. Use 270 gr. MGS bullets (have only about 100 left) and 75 gr. of 4064. With this load I have shot through big bear from almost every angle up to about 250 yards. I'm sure I could have killed the two elephants, two rhinos and one cape buffalo In Africa, that I shot with my .458. The only thing is, the 500 gr. solid made by Winchester is without doubt the finest solid of all metal jacket bullets every made."

So there you go, especially old M70 lovers: straight from one of Alaskan's historic bear outfitters on his old school but potent bear rifle. Just think of it: traditional wood stock and blued steel classic bear rifle used for so many years in that harsh Alaskan environment. And I might add, no scope, but a Lyman 48 rear sight.

Now that is straight awesome RF. I love that sorta reading!

Off topic but, Hal Waugh appeared to have utter contempt for the 338 mag!

Everyone needs a big, nice rifle or, a nice Big rifle.

@ruffedgrouse, That's a great post of the details (and Hal's storied ability)... helping keep he and his gun's history alive.

Great thread! Thanks to all the contributors.

The rifle I used to make a replica for the APHA auction was the same vintage and I still have that stock and you are welcome to it. In fact I wild bet happy to bed it for you so it didn’t split like Hal’s first five stocks.

The 3 men mentioned is why majority lug a 375 H&H to kodiak. Reading this thread thread giving me the itch to put in for kodiak bear tags my 4 years is up next year and I can start putting in for tags again.