Please explain why I've been so enamored with this caliber? There's not one thing in my state that needs it (maybe 'cept got gators), but I've always wanted a rifle so chambered.
I've resisted so far.
Show me your dangerous game rifles
- Thread starter .38 Special
- Start date
- Status
I've resisted so far.
Turkeytider
Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2021
- Messages
- 620
I suppose one has to mentally and physically prepare one`s self before pulling the trigger on some of these firearms. Not exactly what one would employ for a " casual and relaxed day of target shooting at the local range " I would think ?
Archie
Member
Not me, (he said meaningfully).
troy fairweather
Member
Guess maybe because it is the sweet spot, powerful but not over kill recoil is not bad. Designed to fit in a mauser, has more power the the Whelan. Most of all a cool history
Gerd33
Member
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2021
- Messages
- 212
Kinda depends......
with my .375 Ruger, which only weights 8.25 pounds scoped and loaded, recoil is heavy and brisk, but not brutal or painfull......unless you play tag with the leupy like my buddy Ed did.
20-40rnds of full power handloads interspersed with other shooting are quite entertaining.
The fact the things a tack driver and fairly easy to shoot well off hand helps.
Loaded down to 25-2600ish fps or shooting factory 250s recoil is still "heavy" compared to even a 300wm, but its so much slower that i find the thing alot more pleasant.
I also put together a .458 Winchester a while back that ended up with a heavier than expected barrel. At 11lbs That gun was very pleasant to shoot with 405s leaving at about 24-2500fps....recoil energy was effectively the same as the .375, but again added weight, and slower velocity made recoil feel slower..... I have a video of my friend and his daughter shooting both somewhere.
Last edited:
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I've posted this pic before. Ruger 77 Hawkeye African in .375 Ruger. Haven't hunted dangerous game, but I still like the rifle and the cartridge.
Here's the .375 Ruger next to a .223.
Here's the .375 Ruger next to a .223.
troy fairweather
Member
If the gun is set up and fit properly you should be able to pull up and shoot instinctively and quick. Sighting them in is usually the worst from a bench. I like a fence post or a rope hung from a free,
My 1999 production Winchester 70 SS Classic 30-06 in McMillan Edge stock with Zeiss Conquest scope. I might opt for a lower powered scope if I were expecting a close-range rodeo with something that might bite back. It is plenty accurate, and I have more confidence in this one working every time with no excuses for weather or anything else than any rifle I've ever owned.
I've owned 35 Whelen, 338-06, and 45-70 in the past. I'd choose 30-06 loaded with good 200-220 gr bullets 10 times out of 10 over the others.
If the opportunity to hunt really large game were more realistic, I'm very much interested in the 9.3X62. IMO that, or one of the 375 magnums is the next step above heavy 30-06 loads. I find the 375 Ruger interesting, but think I'd prefer 9.3X62 simply because in a Winchester action I'd have 5+1 rounds. Only 3+1 with any of the magnums.
I've owned 35 Whelen, 338-06, and 45-70 in the past. I'd choose 30-06 loaded with good 200-220 gr bullets 10 times out of 10 over the others.
If the opportunity to hunt really large game were more realistic, I'm very much interested in the 9.3X62. IMO that, or one of the 375 magnums is the next step above heavy 30-06 loads. I find the 375 Ruger interesting, but think I'd prefer 9.3X62 simply because in a Winchester action I'd have 5+1 rounds. Only 3+1 with any of the magnums.
Turkeytider
Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2021
- Messages
- 620
I've posted this pic before. Ruger 77 Hawkeye African in .375 Ruger. Haven't hunted dangerous game, but I still like the rifle and the cartridge.
Here's the .375 Ruger next to a .223.
LOL!! Looks more like a small artillery shell!
.308 Norma
Member
An old blanket draped across the hood of my pickup-truck, and a couple of homemade sandbags work pretty well.
I'd never heard of the "rope hung from a tree" trick before. What do you do? Do you tie a loop in the rope, or do you just hang onto it with the hand you're also holding the rifle's fore stock with? I think I'll give it a try the next time I'm shooting where there's a tree to hang a rope from.
BigBlue 94
Member
An old blanket draped across the hood of my pickup-truck, and a couple of homemade sandbags work pretty well.
My favorite memory of my grandpa is sighting in his Marlin 17VS over the hood of his mint 88 chevy 1500. I now own that marlin and havent touched the scope adjustments since. Still dead on accurate to this day.
troy fairweather
Member
Just a loop so the gun passes, you can move along the forend to raise or lower your aim. There will be more free recoil but standing it's much easier then shooting from a bench. You can get a surprising steady hold. Some of them big boomers really jump ive seen them jump right off bench expectantly if your trying to get some groups going and not supporting the gun tight. You maybe able to do a knot and the gun may balance, it will at least hold the gun if it slips off your shoulder or you can't hold on to it.An old blanket draped across the hood of my pickup-truck, and a couple of homemade sandbags work pretty well.
I'd never heard of the "rope hung from a tree" trick before. What do you do? Do you tie a loop in the rope, or do you just hang onto it with the hand you're also holding the rifle's fore stock with? I think I'll give it a try the next time I'm shooting where there's a tree to hang a rope from.
Archie
Member
Made a 'standing rest' from an old camera tripod and a small bit of 2x4 shaped and carpeted with scrap stuff. Now I see commercial products amounting to the same thing offered for close to $200.00. Maybe I should have made some for sale?
DustyGmt,
Another company that did the conversion work was E R Shaw. I had them convert two for me. The first had a 25” barrel. No iron sights, and I sunk it into a nice piece of English walnut. I used it for several years and it took quite a few white tailed deer. I had it on a black bear hunt in Pennsylvania and another hunter was more impressed with it than I was. It went home with him.
The second one has a 27” barrel and is waiting to be let into another chunk of English walnut. This stock is more plain but has proper grain flow through the wrist. IF, I ever complete it, the primary load will equal the original ballistic of the 45-70. I no longer feel the need to get slapped around for no reason. I can still hunt within yards of my quarry. Realistically, my last several deer have fallen within handgun range. I doubt the longest shot was over 90 yards.
Now, if I really need some extra oomph, there is this rifle. So for, only 1/2 dozen game animals have fallen to it but it is a sure shooter.
Kevin
MacAR
Member
Is that a trapdoor shoe-horned into an 1848 Musket stock? I feel like we need to know the full story...
Mac
Actually it is fit into a Harpers Ferry 1841 aka Mississippi Rifle stock and bits. The thread is here, but the images are long gone.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/a-different-trapdoor-rebuild.589227/
Kevin
Obturation
Member
45/70 is my do all, some folks will disagree but I'm confident that there's not a critter that walks or crawls that can't be ethically taken with a properly loaded and placed shot. I know it's not the most popular man bun round but I will say it's more powerful than a lot of people give it credit for and much less powerful than some people claim. Darn great cartridge that I'd never be without. Henry makes some very good rifles and they're made here unlike some other "American legend" that can't be bothered to make guns here but charges double.
Dr T
Member
Mine is a SS M70 pre'64 action in 375 H&H topped with a Leupold 1-4 variable, Its backup is a Remington Classic in 35 Whelen with a Leupold Var-X II in 2-7. The M70 looks a lot like jmr40's except for the scope. It shoots about 1.25" with my very limited supply of Winchester Silvertip 270 gr factory loads.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
My as-of-yet unblooded CZ .416Rigby.
Who says you need a rifle?
They say water buffalo aren't dangerous.....
......until they look at you like you're the tick they're about to pop.
This one gave us fits for three days until he was sent for the long dirt nap with a couple .500 solids.
Another hunter was charged and badly injured only a couple months after these were taken.
Who says you need a rifle?
They say water buffalo aren't dangerous.....
......until they look at you like you're the tick they're about to pop.
This one gave us fits for three days until he was sent for the long dirt nap with a couple .500 solids.
Another hunter was charged and badly injured only a couple months after these were taken.
- Status
