Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Who makes an affordable 375 H&H....????

Ok bunch.....I think I have the wife talked into an Alaska hunt in 2008. Matter of fact, she is excited to hunt sheep or Bou's and I want a MASSIVE Moose and a MASSIVE Bear.

Well, when Bear comes up in the conversation, it will be easy to convince her that I "must" have another gun.... (gotta love strategy).

So, for many reasons, I think the 375H&H is going to be my boy.....for many reasons.

Can you think of a gun manufacturer who pops one off the line for a decent price, with decent performance?

Sako

Whenever I get itchy about a .375, I pull up Gunbroker and then search through the sidebar using "Rifles" then "Bolt action" then typing in "375" and watching what comes up. Different styles, manufactures and definintely different prices. You get a feel for what they are selling for, anyway. Also, you get an idea of who is presently making them.

WH;

PM Biathlonman here at the Campfire.

He has/had a .375H&H Whitworth for a helluva nice price a couple of months back.

You won't find one cheaper, and few any better.

I put a NIB Model 70 in .375 H&H for sale here and got only one serious inquiry. Took it down and sold it elsewhere for $400 more.

For Alaska, you should look at the Remington 700 XCR in .375 H&H, because of the bad weather and salt air that might be your hunting environment.

CZ 550 and Zastava are the most affordable 375 H&H on the market. No one can beat them on the price. The CZ 550 also has decent quality on most of their rifles.

I have dragged my CZ550 all over Alaska and Africa and found it to be a most worthwile piece. I also have a Model 70 Classic that I like a lot. If you can find one for a reasonable price snatch it up. Good luck and good hunting. (BTW, AFRICA is a lot more fun and more affordable, IMHO <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

By the time you have got your Zastavas and Czs to feed properly and the triggers to work the way they should, you will have bought the Sako.

Of course the Sako is pushfeed.

Maybe a Remington in XCR but I would only consider one if the Sako type extractor is fitted instead of that feeble excuse for an extractor - so its back to a Gunsmith.

Browning A Bolt? - Maybe but I do not know much about them -but have seen some positive feedback on them.

I have a model 70 which is good now after some tender gunsmithing but was apalling before.

It gets back to the Sako - may seem expensive initially but actually works out as being as affordable as all the other non custom factory rifles without all the hassles.

And when they make the Sako 85 CRF action in 375, that will satisfy the CRF supporters. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As most everyone knows I spent months looking for three-seven-five... I just bought a Whitworth. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

mlg, I agree that CZ rifles can be of different qualtiy. But that was not the question. CZ are affordable, that is what he wanted to know. If it was me, I would go for a Sako or a Sauer in stead, but that is twice the cost of a CZ.

Like Mark, I spent many months looking for a 375 H&H ..... I went with a M700 Sarfari Grade. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but looking forward to it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Frederick

Fair enough - here is Australia the price of a cz is only about 200 to 400 dollars (depending on Sako configuration) less than a Sako and thats at least what it would cost to sort the cz out.

My point was that by the time thats been done , one could buy the Sako. But that is at Australian prices.

What is a Whitworth? I have never heard of them. Not a fancy name for Zastava is it??

"Affordable" and truly good are often two different things.

Rifles are like anything else: You get what you pay for..........

AD

Also, if you can afford a guided hunt for a massive brown bear, which will probably be in the $15k ballpark by 2008, then you can afford a good 375 H&H. I'd also say you don't need a 375, and just might prefer a ligher rifle in say 300 or 338 mag, which is much more versatile for NA hunting.

Ok.....great suggestions.....

I have researched CZ and they seem to be impressive, especially for the price.

I gotta tell you....I am a little intrigued with the 416 Rigby in the CZ.....

What do you guys think?

IMHO, if you're going to an action big enough to handle the 416 Rigby, you should go with a big chambering, like a 470 Mbogo or 500 A-square.

That said, a 416 Rem mag can be built in a 375 H&H sized action and about 9-10# package. I think a 416 is about the perfect big bear round, push a 350 gr X or bonded bullet ~2600 and you have perfection. That is provided you can handle the setback, and want to be toting a 9-10# rifle all week.

I can handle a 9-10# rifle...I am 6'5", 230 lbs, bench 300lbs and can run 10 miles. Two pounds on a rifle is not an issue. But.....I am a puss with heavy recoil.... I am wondering if a muzzle brake that is removable is a good thing? I wouldn't hunt with a muzzle brake, but it might be nice at the range.

What do you guys think?

Wildernesshunter

A 10lb 416 rem Mag should not be a problem at the range for a guy of your size.

Buy yourself a Past Recoil pad and use that over the bench. Its a lot cheaper than a muzzle brake and a lot less hassle.

IMO a muzzle brake is the last thing I would consider. I hate them and would rather put up with the recoil personally.

If you cannot handle the recoil over the bench with a recoil pad the I seriously suggest you move down in caliber. A 375 or a 9.3x62mm comes to mind and they will both handle any bear with the right projectiles.

The 9.3x62 is the milder of the 2 and can be quite tolerable in a lighter rifle than a 375. That would be my choice in an 8 lb rifle if I was concerned with recoil.

The corner piece of my gunsafe is a bog-standard Rem700 Safari Classic in 375H&H. Even at under 8lb ready to go, recoil is relatively mild with its Decelerator pad and straight stock. I've also had a Rem700 BDL in 375H&H and at closer to 9lb it was a dream to shoot. Personally, unless my heart was set on a 375H&H, I'd look at a 338WinMag in a rifle with a configuration that you personally feel comfortable with. Cheers...
Con

On previous occasions I've carried 375s and 416s to Alaska and B.C. for spring bear, and quite honestly, I doubt I ever will again. I don't like packing rifles that heavy, and from here on out, I'm taking my lightweight 338 Win. Mag. instead.

That's really why the 338 Win. Mag. was developed in the first place, and that's to provide near-375 H&H performance for Alaskan-type hunting in a smaller, lighter rifle package, with lighter, more compact ammunition. In that role it succeeds ever so well.

Most 375 H&H and 416 rifles are at their best in flat Africa......

AD