.375 H&H Magnum (Value? / How Punishing Is It?)

A. Do you reload ?
B. Do you cast ?

If neither of the above, I'd pass.
If Either of the above (and B usually implies A), then a good and very useful deal.

375H&H is the do-anything/30-06 of the medium bores.

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dredd said:

So.... Would you consider this a good / great buy?

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If I were you, I wouldn't ask me.
Seriously, I'd probably buy it because I've always had a fondness for the .375 H&H, and I sure don't "need" one either.

dredd said:

Too nasty to enjoy shooting?

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Well, I wouldn't consider a .375 H&H a "fun" gun to spend an afternoon plinking with. However, you could tone it way down with some judicious handloading - maybe even use some cast bullet loads in it. On the other hand, even though I ran a few full-house .375 H&H Magnum loads through a buddy's Winchester 70 rifle once, I didn't find it as "nasty" as the .300 Win Mag Model 70 I was using at the time.
I know, I know - on paper the .375 H&H kicks "harder" than a .300 Win Mag. To me though, it's a "slower" kick, and it doesn't hurt as much.

Id buy it, but then i already have a .375 Ruger and don't find it offensive in a gun that probably weights a pound less, shooting the same bullets 50 to 100fps second faster.

A decent squishy pad makes a world of difference.
I've got a Kickeez pad on my gun, and have been quite happy with it. I'll probably replace it with another of the same. I also have limb savers on other guns, including the 458 Winchester I had , and find them to be pretty bloody good too.

It’s like asking “should I buy another round” at 10 pm in the pub. Of course you should.

I've shot a family member's CZ 550 chambered in 375 H&H. As far as recoil goes, it wasn't that bad to me, but that's a very subjective topic. His stock 550 FS is heavy-ish (9-10 lbs), which affects recoil. How heavy is the Sako? I only have one Sako rifle and it's not the Kodiak model.

I'd probably pick it up and treat it like I did my 500mag snub nose.

Shoot a few rounds of full power so through it just to see. Then work up a cast handload that's still powerful, but easily controlled at my threshold of "fun, but not too much recoil" and try to wear it out.

Keep a few rounds of the hot stuff for the recoil junkies to test their mettle. Stuff like that is always a good way to get to rest drive whatever you want at the public range too. "Can I try your XXXXX? You can put a few rounds through my 375H&H/500mag." You'll very rarely be turned down.

1948CJ2A said:

I've shot a family member's CZ 550 chambered in 375 H&H. As far as recoil goes, it wasn't that bad to me, but that's a very subjective topic. His stock 550 FS is heavy-ish (9-10 lbs), which affects recoil. How heavy is the Sako? I only have one Sako rifle and it's not the Kodiak model.

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I have very little want for a 375H&H, but if it came chambered in a 550FS, I'd find an excuse to give the wife why I needed it.

gotboostvr said:

why I needed it.

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550fs? There is no WHY, just how quickly can it be acquired!


Here's the why ill build (or buy) another 458......


Dell shooting the 375 his daughter has the 458.

dredd said:

I would appreciate your input.
This seems to be a good deal from what I can tell.
$1,000.00

I have the opportunity to pick up a Sako 85L.
Based on the Laminated Stock, All Stainless Materials & Iron Sights, it appears to be a Kodiak.
I need a .375 H&H Mag. like I need another hole in my head, but that hasn't stopped me in the past.

The rifle has has less than a box of rounds through it.
It comes with 2 full boxes as well.

I'd say my most punishing rifle is my 45-70 Gov. Lever Action.
I am now screwing a 'can on it, so that makes a significant difference.

I would seriously consider threading the .375 to accept a 'can.

So.... Would you consider this a good / great buy?
Too nasty to enjoy shooting?
I'm just an average guy at 5' 10" (could afford to drop a couple pounds).

At a glance, Ammo is over $100/box
I'd definitely need to round up reloading components. LOL

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As a Former owner ,ask yourself #3 questions and answer truthfully .
WHAT would You use it for ?. Do you own Dies and Reload ?. Do You intend on Hunting Kodiak Bear in the near future or Safari in Africa ?.

IF you answered Yes to any two GO FOR IT

dredd said:

Can't argue that and all of the other enablers around here.

I just don't want the Bar Maid bringing me a Keystone Light and charging me $7.50 LOL

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Tip them well, and regularly and they'll bring you the craft beer and ring it up as a Keystone Light!

dredd said:

Can't argue that and all of the other enablers around here.

I just don't want the Bar Maid bringing me a Keystone Light and charging me $7.50 LOL

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I have one of the Mossberg Patriots in 375 Ruger, essentially same ballistics in 30-06 length cartridge. Recoil feels not dissimilar to heavy load 30-06. The Sako is a very nice rifle and will be heavier than the Mossberg, so should tame the recoil a bit.

I've shot both. A 12 gauge 3" turkey load has more recoil, quite a bit more, in my opinion.

Well I figure it this way. Punishing depends on the person being punished. My punished and your punished likely aren't the same. My 03A3 was not at all punishing till I hit about 65. Now at 72 it doesn't get shot much. When my wife and I had our gun shop I rented the building from Kastaway Kulis. Joe was a great guy and frequently gave me rifles to scope and sight in. Big bore rifles as he hunted the globe for big game. Today I would not even look at any of those rifles. Even back then 20 rounds of .375 H&H or 458 Win Mag hurt. I guess today if I had a use for a .375 H&H I would consider it but realistically that's one rifle I would no longer have any use for. Even reloading for it I just could not justify it to myself. Hell I haven't even shot my .444 Marlin lever gun in years.

You need to do what works for you. You want it? Then buy it rather than regret not buying it.

Just My Take....
Ron

buy it, i used a cz 550 in 375 H&H in africa and liked it so much that when i got home i bought a new (top rifle) cz 550 american in 375 H&H.

IF You want Punishment find someone who owns a TRex .577 and pop him or her Lol , $7.00-10.00 to cover the cost of the reload .
Yeah Go ahead and YOU too will know the meaning of PUNISHMENT . I'm 6'4" 235 lb. and have shot More than MY fair share of near everything shoulder-able or slung from a whirlybird's cargo . It WILL give you a New meaning to PAIN !!.

I would buy it, if I hadn't already bought a Win M70 in .375H&H, for fun at the range.

Recoil is not bad standing. Sitting. . . it requires some adaptation, and it'll learn you ALL about muscle tension's effect on POI.

Buy it. Figure out the safari later.

If I were not left hand and left eye dominant, I would have a much larger variety of bolt action rifles. A .375 H&H would certainly be among them. Currently, I have a .375 Ruger Guide Gun instead.

I say, buy it, shoot it, enjoy it (even the shoulder bruising).

Anything big will kick. I've got no experience with 375h&h but I've shot plenty if hard kicking rifles, it's a skill that needs to be practiced and big guns will teach you to flinch- you've got to overcome it and you'll shoot everything better. As I understand it, 375 can take any game on earth, always good to have more then you need even if you never go to Africa.

1948CJ2A said:

His stock 550 FS is heavy-ish (9-10 lbs), which affects recoil.

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Sorry, I mis-typed. His 375 H&H CZ 550 is not an FS (full length stock mannlicher) model. His is just a CZ 550 in 375. I'm not sure if they called it a Safari model. They don't make it anymore unfortunately. I do own a 550 FS but not in 375.

Back to the OP, I vote to buy it. If recoil is a concern, get a lead-sled for bench shooting.

I’ll be another facilitator!
I went through the same process with a Ruger M77 African in .375Ruger.

Recoil is not as bad as you would imagine.
About like a 12ga REM 870 with 1-1/4oz Pheasant loads.
Certainly not as bad as a 20” M870 with Breneke slugs (Think .458mag!).

I scrounged around and found a lifetime supply of bullets at fire sale prices.
Also found that the Lee .378”-255gr cast over 10gr of Unique is a tack driver.
(Think .38-55 BP loads).
It really is a more universal rifle/cartridge than the .30/06. I once knew a textile engineer who hunted most everything with a MkX Mauser Whitworth .375. Like he did, my favorite load is the Speer 235gr Semi spitzer. At ~2,800fps it works like a .30/06 w/180gr bullet.

With a 300gr Nosler Partition, it’ll take anything on the planet, though a solid might be preferable in some instances.
Mine wears a Burris FF2 3-9x w/ballistic reticle. A 250gr Sierra BTSpt @ 2,900fps hits to hash mark at 300yds with 200yd zero.
I did shorten the butt stock and fit a Pachmayer “Old English” brown 1” recoil pad.
Did I mention that it’s MOA or better, accurate?