Yes, it's true. The old Faithful .375 Ouch N Ouch, Introduced to the World in London 1912 By the Firm Holland & Holland. Cartridge Can do lots of Big Game Chores. Very Well at extended distances too. Say, this side of 400 yds. play safe, I like to get really close up on really Big Critters Think Moose...Not because I might miss. I'm from the use enough Big bullet crowd. The Thump or Whoomph factor very important to me.... Lets Discuss : this article is from 12 years ago. We can add other articles. Please feel free to do so. Mike in Ct. Damit. https://www.gun-tests.com/rifles/375-hh-rifles-from-cz-ruger-and-kimber-go-head-to-head-2/
Opps, Mike .375 H&H too much, too many happy memories..
- Thread starter mikeinct
- Start date
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
When I was a teen an older gentleman who hunted groundhogs with us had a desire to kill a brown bear. He boughta .375 in I belive a M70. He hated to shoot it which was funny because he was a big guy. I volunteered to zero it at 200 yds for him before he headed to Alaska. It beat me around a bit. Every shot rocked me. He did not get a bear. Next 2 years he went back each year and had me zero the rifle each time. I got smarter and put a small sand bag between me and the butt, made a big difference, He never did get a bear but the one summer hunting groundhogs with us he got covered with chigger bites and ended up in the hospital with some kind of infection. Ken was not a lucky hunter.
rockhound78
Silver $$ Contributor
I like my ouch and ouch's. Have a Ruger #1 and Remington 700. That said, I load them down to about 2200 fps with 220's/235's unless I load cast boolits, then its a 310 or 280gr at about 2100fps. A plinking load. Can shoot all day and 1.5" groups @100yds is fine. Fun to load the #1. Drop a round in the chamber and get this "thunk".
Might have to pull it out this year for a deer hunt!!
Might have to pull it out this year for a deer hunt!!
Ive killed a few whitetails with a 300 h and h . Always wanted the big brother now I dont want to take the beating. I like 22s . Doug
7br
Silver $$ Contributor
Back in the mid 80’s a friend of mine had a Sako in .375 H&H that he didn’t enjoy shooting. He offered to trade it for my Ruger 77/22 and my S&W 8 3/8” K22 Masterpiece. When I took it to the bench to sight it in I could see why he didn’t like it. It was a light rifle for the caliber with a composite stock and a skinny 22” barrel. I guessed it couldn’t have been much over 6 lbs. At the time I was in my early 30’s, 6’ 4” and around 250 lbs. Ten rounds of factory Remington core lokt off the bench later and I felt like I was in a heavyweight prize fight. Offhand it still set me back a step. My brother who was 6’ 2” and around 220 lbs tried one shot and with his eyes watering said that’ll be enough of that!! I sold it shortly thereafter. About 15 years ago I bought a new Winchester 1885 in 375 H&H. The walnut stock, heavy 28” octagonal barrel and 9 1/2 lb weight made a world of difference. Full power loads off the bench still definitely get your attention but offhand it doesn’t rock you too hard. It’s a pure pleasure to shoot with my 280gr powder coated cast bullets over a charge of SR4759, 5744 or TrailBoss with 5 shots touching in a cluster at 75yds. If I’d have been into casting bullets back then I might’ve kept the Sako, but I’m glad I made the switch.
I have a 1948 model 70 375 bored to 375W. Even with just peep sights it is pretty heavy. With the weight and long barrel it is not bad at all to shoot. I find it to be a heavy push and not a slap. I had a model 600 350 mag from age 12 that would knock the fillings out of your teeth. Light weight, short barrel max 250 grain loads will do that. The first owner of my 375W was Alaska's first master guide and claimed one round was all any bear ever needed.
CJ6
Silver $$ Contributor
My friends wife has taken numerous big game with the 375 (lion, wildebeast, kudu, giraffe, Kodiak and brown bears and many others). He says she shoots it better than he does. She's 5'5 and MAYBE 125 lbs. She passed 1 year after she bagged the kudu and giraffe at 78 years old.
CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
Friend wanted to go to Africa back in the early '90's. I bought a new Model 70 in 375 H&H. He then went to Russia, adopted two kids and we never went.
I tried to like that rifle. Shot a few deer with it but the bullets just borrowed through them like a full metal jacket. Even the lighter bullets did the same. One day I got aggressive at the rifle range. Shot it 18 times off the bench and separated my shoulder.
Took a year and a muzzle brake to get me feeling better with it. Still not fun. Kept it for over 20 years and then broke it apart, selling the barrel, dies, cases and more to someone on this forum. Converted the rifle to 25-06 which was much more usable.
Good experience but at age 80 today but not one I would want to repeat.
I tried to like that rifle. Shot a few deer with it but the bullets just borrowed through them like a full metal jacket. Even the lighter bullets did the same. One day I got aggressive at the rifle range. Shot it 18 times off the bench and separated my shoulder.
Took a year and a muzzle brake to get me feeling better with it. Still not fun. Kept it for over 20 years and then broke it apart, selling the barrel, dies, cases and more to someone on this forum. Converted the rifle to 25-06 which was much more usable.
Good experience but at age 80 today but not one I would want to repeat.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
Years back, I came across a brand new Sako .375 H&H, being sold in a "divorce" sale, very low price. Though I really had no need for it, I told myself it would make a good elk, moose or bear gun as an excuse to buy it. For most of the past 30 years, it has been relegated to shooting mule deer with 235 grain Barnes TSX bullets (when I'm also holding an elk tag). It is like the deer get struck by lightning. The effects of that large frontal diameter bullet which opens up quite a bit, is quite impressive. Kind of like shooting a ground squirrel with a high-power rifle as opposed to rimfire.
BobT
Gold $$ Contributor
I’m a huge fan of the .375 H&H, I bought one for a safari to Tanzania because my 9,3x62 didn’t meet the requirement for dangerous game. Once my load development was complete I only shot it offhand or off sticks. I bought a bunch of 270 grain seconds from midway and fired hundreds of rounds in practice. For 2 years before my safari I used the .375 exclusively and killed several hogs and a few deer with it. The loads I took to Africa were 300 grain Swift A-Frames and 300 grain Cutting Edge Safari Solids both loaded to my target velocity of 2500fps. I shot everything from Oribi and Duiker to a massive old bull Cape Buffalo and it did the job every time. I did shoot a Zebra twice but the second shot wasn’t needed and I shot the buff several times but the first shot would have done the job, the bull just didn’t realize he was dead. I will always have a soft spot for the .375H&H! The recoil is something you have to get used to but I think most people can handle it with practice.
I've killed Cape Buff with 505Gibbs, 470 Nitro, 416 Rigby and 375 H&H......the old 375 just seems to make em dead quicker! I've used it for one shot kills on lion and rhino as well.
Everything but the rhino was with Barnes 270g X, the rhino was a 300g solid.
Mine is an old Whitworth Mauser, it goes on pretty much every trip.
Everything but the rhino was with Barnes 270g X, the rhino was a 300g solid.
Mine is an old Whitworth Mauser, it goes on pretty much every trip.
BobT
Gold $$ Contributor
Mine was also a Whitworth Express, a fantastic rifle.
300+ LB friend bought a 700 safari in 375H&H, bunch of us watched him shoot it for the first time one hot summer day.
When he touched off the recoil sent a fat shock wave down his body, he then turns to us and says
"Farking Brutal". We literally peed in our pants laughing.
When he touched off the recoil sent a fat shock wave down his body, he then turns to us and says
"Farking Brutal". We literally peed in our pants laughing.
They are and a Whitworth is a lot of rifle for the money! I have a pristine 458WM as well. Then on a Whitworth magnum action I built a matching 300H&H. Ill have them until I die!
Last edited:
Only a borrowed Interarms Mark X 375 H n H shot the 235 grain bullets really well for my taste. This Winchester 70 Safari is an good enuff 1980s vintage rifle..Does its job. Shoots two bullets extremely well. One is a 283 grain Lyman GC semi-wadcutter nose profile. Using a 68% of max charge/ then filler topped load of rifle powder. It shoots that nicely. My wife enjoys it from even a bench. mike in ct.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
I had to try a few different powders before finding a good one with that 235 TSX. IMR 4895 was the ticket.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.