375h&h

Hello I am 59 and am going to start getting some of my bucket list completed. My first is a coastal Brown Bear hunt in Sitka Alaska or a grizzly bear hunt by Dennall. The guides that I have been in contact with recommend a 375hH magnum. I will be going in 2020 or 2021. Any suggestions on the rifle and scope that I should be looking at. They told me shots could range from 1-250 yards.
Thanks,
David Zimprich

I have a set of rcbs dies in 375 H&H if want them make an offer. I like the ruger hawkeye alaskan but that would be in the 375 ruger. The Winchester model 70 and the CZ are controlled round feeds. Stainless and carbon fiber with laminate as a second choice for stocks. I would only do the laminate if you plan to hang onto the rifle but it is a distant second choice for Alaska.

Thanks, I was looking at the Ruger African Safari rile. Since you have the dies, what would you consider for a accurate shot in distance? I was told to use Barnes 300 grain bullets? I have never looked at bullet drop at any distance, I also have looked at the Leapould 6hd scopes. I have a 6.5 creedmoor and have been able to shoot at 400, the range limits.

I had a CZ550 in 375 H&H a few years back, it was a pleasure to shoot. Rather accurate and very well built. It's the one, and only, rifle I wish I would have held on too

Thank you very much. May I ask what you hunted with it? I have also looked at this rifle. How bad is the recoil?
David

I used it on a asiatic water buffalo hunt in Argentina, recoil was a non factor. At the time, my 300WM was kicking a lot worse. Granted the CZ weighed a bit more, but recoil was a not a issue for me. It came down to the price of ammo when I was a poor college student which is why I sold it.

I will own another, if for no other reason than to have it.

Thanks for your reply sir.

I just sold most of my 375 bullets. I had 4 boxes of 300 partitions 2 boxes of 260 accubonds. left. I had 3 speer grand slams I think they were 285's I dunno I had them in an envelope. They shot best in the model 70 I had or I would have had a whole bunch laying around. I had a fixed 2 or 2.5 ziess on that gun with a very heavy #4 cross hair circa 1989 or 90. I'd like one of the donut reticle QCB style like the 1-6 1-8 power scopes. Nightforce Ziess S&B USO. second focal plane long eye relief bullet proof and then great glass.
What ever you use for bullets you want it to leave it's energy inside the bear not in the dirt behind it. The partitions swift a-frames accubonds all are pretty to very good at this. As are the grand slams. A-square made a lion load for the 375H&H That was recommended to me for big bear. I dunno if it's available today but someone must make something equivalent. There are plenty of Alaskan residents here.
They would be a much better source or what's best bullet wise as well as where to source that.

Thank you very much for your response, I really appreciate it. I am completely trying to learn as much as I can off this forum that I can. Every one of your resonances has definitely helped me.
Thanks again,
David

David Zimprich said:

Hello I am 59 and am going to start getting some of my bucket list completed. My first is a coastal Brown Bear hunt in Sitka Alaska or a grizzly bear hunt by Dennall. The guides that I have been in contact with recommend a 375hH magnum. I will be going in 2020 or 2021. Any suggestions on the rifle and scope that I should be looking at. They told me shots could range from 1-250 yards.
Thanks,
David Zimprich

Click to expand...

David welcome.

If you're going .375 skip right past the H&H and pick up a .375Ruger. The extra 150-200FPS doesnt' sound like much but when you figure the added energy it's a pretty big difference. I've been shooting the .375R for about five years now and love it.

The X2 from Montana in .375R is one I'd recommend along with the Ruger Hawkeye Stainless guide gun. I've owned and shot both and like them. I also had the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan in the 20" bbl and it did very well for me too but I like the longer 22-24" barrels.

Thank you, may I ask what big game you are hunting? How is the recoil?
Thanks,
David

For scope suggestions look at these.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/TRIJICON...suAHWUAVmlcstz0bpQ7ktpcO5-PNTYoRoCgxgQAvD_BwE

I have four of these mounted on my tactical rifles and dangerous game rifles and it's more than enough scope to get you to 400yds.

The 2.5-12.5 is another great option if you're not concerned with having a true 1x at the bottom end.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/TRIJICON-ACCUPOINT-2-5-12-5X42-GRN-POST/150968957

I prefer the Green German #4 or Mildot reticles for these purposes over all others.

AK does not allow you to use any kind of battery powered illumination so the daylight combined with the tritium dot is a huge advantage for you as well.

Thanks, I did not realize that you couldn't use illimitable scopes. What did you sight your rifle to in yards?
David

David Zimprich said:

Thank you, may I ask what big game you are hunting? How is the recoil?
Thanks,
David

Click to expand...

You won't notice the difference between the H&H and Ruger recoil wise.

How much recoil you have to deal with depends on several factors starting with bullet weight and whether or not you put a brake on it. I have a very good brake from NWP on the Ruger which tamed it to the point of being a real pleasure to shoot.

My M70 Custom I was going to put a brake on but as yet have not. You won't enjoy putting fifty rounds through it at the range in a couple of hours but unless you're particularly recoil sensitive you'll never notice it in the field.

I put the Limbsaver's African Magnum recoil pad on the M70 custom which is a very light rifle for one of this caliber and so far I just keep on shooting it and enjoying the heck out of it.

Compared to my other magnums it's probably comparable to the 300 Rum M70 shooting the 200-220gr bullets. It's slower and less sharp though like most medium bores being more of a big shove than a sharp whack.

Honestly I bougt the first one just for a trip to African and never thought I'd end up enjoying it as much as I have or that it would be a rifle I regularly pick up to hunt deer and hogs when I have twenty smaller rifles laying around that are in calibers much more commonly thought of as "deer rifles" from .260 Rem to 7mm STW, .300's both WM and RUM.

I"m not all that tough either but I've really enjoyed the .375 Ruger in all three platforms.

Personally I prefer the Peregrine VLR's particularly the 250gr and 270gr for my application but for your hunt I'd suggest the .300gr.

They are the most reliable bullet I've ever shot. No matter what you hit you get consistent and very controlled expansion every time at any practical velocity. I got introduced to them while in South Africa and having tried just bout everything else in the bullet world over the years they have become my absolute favorite.

If you want some I can aggrange it, I have I think 100 or 200 of the 300gr laying around and probably a hundred of the 230gr which are just fantastic for deer, hogs, elk, or just about anything else you'd want to shoot out as far as 400-600yds.

For your hunt though I think I'd stick with the .300gr.