Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 375 H&H

Anybody use a 375H&H for an elk gun? Got to shoot one this weekend and was plesantly suprised. I always discounted it as too much much gun for me but the lower level loads were down right pleasant to shoot, and that had me thinking that it might make a good (but heavy) elk/bear gun. Anybody want to comment on their experience with it?

I use mine for everything - antelope to elk. I haven't killed an elk with mine yet but did get one with my brother's .375. One thing I dearly love about the .375 is that it does not destroy as much meat as my .300 did. It is very decisive when a critter is hit with one.

It is a very easy cartridge to load for. RL-15 & a Sierra 250 gr BTSP and you are good to go for anything in North America.

I've used and seen the 375 used a bit, personally for me when it comes to magnums I like the big 7's and the 375's. The 375 is by my way of thinking a wonderful elk rig. The only fly in the ointment to me is that most and note I said most factory 375's are heavier than I want to tote around the elk hill anymore.

But, if I had one that came in at no more than 8.5 lbs all up and ready to rock I'd sure be for using it a lot.

Dober

Wyo-we used the 250 Sierra as well

Dober

I've had good luck with the 250gr A-Frame and 270gr Barnes on elk. One day I will try some 235gr Barnes, or if they ever come out with them, 250gr Barnes. I think its a fun round to use elk hunting. +1 on R-15 as well.

I have taken two large bulls with the .375 using 260 grain AccuBonds. One was a one-shot kill and the second one stood on his feet (dead but didn't know it) long enough to get a second. I prefer to hunt with a lighter rifle, but used the .375 as much as I could getting ready for a trip to Namibia. With the 260 ABs, it shoots pretty flat out to over 300 yds.

I'm at a point where I am really looking at my mid and uper 30 caliber options to round out my rifle battery. I still making my mind up on the 35s and a lot of that choice has more to do with the rifle platform than particular balistics.

The 375 seems to fill a nice hole between say a 358/348 winchester/338 RCM and (my mid cal choices) and my next step up the 45/70gov't

Pluss how flat shooting it is with 210gr loads is impressive.

I'm thinking a Remington 798 with a 1x5x20 or 1.75x6x32 leupold would be awesome and not out of this world price wise.

It is not hard to get a Rem 700 to 8.5 pounds all up in a 375HH. An XCR in a McMillan Classic (Magnum fill) with a Leupold 1.75-6 weighs in at just under 8.5 pounds.

RH

There's always the .358 Norma Mag. The one I built on a Rem 700 action weighed 7.2 pounds scoped. 24" #3 Douglas barrel, and 250 grain Partitions at 2850 fps will ruin the day of a lot of critters. 280 A-Frames should do about 2600, that's not fooling around and is up in .375 power territory.

Hi Matt

I am not seeing the weight issue..A Marlin Guide gun weighs 7 pounds without a scope and if you scope it and put a sling on it,your just over 8 pounds depending on hardware used.Then load up 5 425 to 550 grain bullets in the tube and your right close to a 375's weight..

Dang...About a pound or so difference.

My Win 70 Classic(375 H&H) feels about the same as my Ruger .300 Win Mag.I am just not seeing how 1 or even 2 pounds in weight ruins a hunt,but thats just me.

Jayco

It wasn't me that had the qualms about the weight issue. I did say that it would be heavy, but its not a problem. And 'heavy' is compared to my lighter weight 30-06 and my eventual 35cal purchas which will be somewhat light as well.

I like how Reflex's 375 ballanced. You could feel the weight, but it was in the right spot, making for a very steady offhand shooter.

I didn't know you had a .375 Ron, good stuff.

My restocked Sako .375 H & H weighs 7 lbs 7 oz with a Leupold 3x scope in old style steel Sako rings (no sling though).

It is a bit lively to shoot prone, but any other shooting position is OK.

Not needed for moose, but I like the rifle so much that it is almost always the one that goes hunting nowadays. Good all round rifle and cartridge!

Also, my .375 it is more pleasant to shoot than a Marlin Guide gun -- to me anyway. CMG, you there? whaddya think?

John

The one thing I noticed about shooting the .375H&H was that its recoil was very very similar to a Marlin Guide Gun. That is it is more of a big push than a sharp kick. I can take that all day long and much prefer it. That is a big part of the reason I'm considering the caliber, that and the balistics seem to just be very very versital. From light flat shooting 210gr loads to 300gr cape buff killers. Good stuff.

Exactly!!!

If you run the numbers,there all but the same in paper recoil.

The 550 cast in a Guide Gun at 1550 fps gives less snap than a 420 grain at 1850 fps which is just about the same recoil as the 375 H&H with a 270 grain bullet at 2700 fps.I have shot and shoot some stiff loads in my Guide Gun and the 375 isn't as bad as a 45-70 loaded to Max,in my opinion.Course Rick Jamison said of the 450 Marlin when he tested it...Recoil is a by product of power.....

I'm sold Matt...You better get one also.

Jayco

I have been shooting mine alot, getting ready for a trip in August. 270gr Hornady over 75gr Rl 15 (will substitute tsx bullets for the hunt). It is very accurate and fun to shoot. I wish I had gotten one sooner. If recoil is keeping you from getting a .375, rethink.......

It was till I shot one this weekend, I was very surprised. Of course that same day I shot a lot of hard hitters, up to a 416 Rigby in a ruger #1 loaded up to about 58ftlbs of recoil. The rigby was the only one I don't think I'd shoot a lot. Next time I get to try out a 96ftlb recoil elephant load. I'm eating my wheaties already!

I really like mine. It's heavy, but that's its only drawback. It's killed mulies, whitetails, antelope, elk and a wolf. All with a 260 Partition. Next to zero meat damage which I can't say for similar shots with a 30-30, 270 or an -06. Recoil is more than bearable.

Matt - this one weighs in at about 8.5 pounds and is very nice to shoot with a good recoil pad. Easy to handload as well. I haven't taken any game with mine, only had it out hunting a few days last fall. Hoping to hammer bear & elk with it this fall, we'll see.



I hope to someday take it to Africa, it's been there before with a previous owner who took cape buff and gemsbok with it. But, even if I never get to Africa, I think it's going to be one heck of a bear & elk gun here in the Pacific Northwest!

The darned thing shoots particularly well with 260 gr Nosler Accubonds, and is quite accurate even at 300 yards.

Regards, Guy

Pretty gun Guy, you settled on a scope for it yet? I don't have any desire to go to Africa, but sure would like to hunt elk our west and one day Alaska for a big bear and think the .375 would be just perfect for it.

I have a whitworth espress in 375 and I have killed a couple of bulls and 3 or 4 cows with it. Mine shoots 3 270 grain Nosler Partitions into one ragged hole at 100 yards. It is Magna ported so it doesn't jump at all and with the slots instead of a bunch of little holes it doesn't seem to be so loud to shoot.

Bart