.375 H&H Magnum

[Shawnee]

For some absolutely insane reason I have become sorely tempted to buy a Ruger #1 in .375 H&H Magnum (a specific rifle that I know is for sale).

Does anyone have and load for one of these and do you load some sane ammo ? How would one approach loading ammo that doesn't dislocate one's shoulder? Cast lead bullets? 200-grainers?

I know SOMEbody out there must be using one of these thundersticks - what say Y'All ?

Next question - for those of you who own and use a .375 H&H Magnum - do you regret buying it?

Thanks Y'All !!!

Shawnee

 

[K3]

I love the .375HH. Savage 116FSS ( I think that's right). It's light and has a little oomph when you press the bangswitch, but it's not terrible.

I push 270gr TSX to 2600fps. Can't remember the exact load off the top of my head, but I use RL15 and Remington LRM primers. I've also got 270gr Hornady Interlocks that go a smidge faster. These are more accurate than the TSX for my setup, but I trust the TSX more for terminal performance on big varmints.

I also have loaded some Hornady 300gr RN, but I haven't shot/chrono'd those yet. Theoretically they should run 2550fps. They ought to kill game as large as raccoons.

I guess sanity is in they eye of the rifle beholder as far as these loads go. Now, when I say the recoil is not terrible, that's not saying that I can shoot paper all day long off a bench. Bench work with this rifle lasts only 15 rounds. Standing freehand shots are much nicer and easier on the body but obviously not terribly useful for load development and verification. Or getting the correct POI.

I thought about using my TSX loads on some hogs this fall. I'm reasonably certain that if I do my part, not even the biggest pig will go far.

 

[Hutch]

I was a little hesitant with my first handloads in my Interarms .375, and I loaded the 235gr Speer semi-spitzer with 72.0 of H4895 (iirc, look it up), and the first three shots went into .8 inches at 100. I also tried loading 200gr FP designed for .375 Win. Got lotsa vertical stringing, so I gave it up.

 

[eflatminor]

What you going to shoot?

Working up a load on that monster won't be fun but shooting freehand really isn't that bad. You might consider a 'Lead Sled' or something similar to reduce recoil while you work up a load...which, by the way, I have no recs for; sorry.

I've always wanted a double rifle in that caliber though I have no plans to hunt Africa right now. But it's good to be prepared, no?

Yours might make a fun large pig gun or maybe Elk at shorter ranges...or Bear the size of a house?

 

[Slamfire]

It has been at least twenty years since I purchased a push feed M70 in 375 H&H.

It was an illogical decision. But then, so were most of my purchases.

The M70 was heavy enough that recoil was not punishing. I did fire a Ruger #1 in 458 Win Mag, and that hurt.

The round is everything that was ever said about it. Bullets of different weight have the same point of impact. The cartridge is accurate, given a good tube. The solid rounds will penetrate through an impressive amount of wood.

Sinclair makes and adjustable cartridge headspace gage for the 375 H&H http://www.sinclairintl.com/catalog2.html. I highly recommend buying and using this if you want to shoot your brass more than a couple of times without case head separations.

I recall that IMR 4064 shot well with 235 and 270 grain bullets.

At 70 grains of powder per round, expect to quicky use up a pound of powder.

 

[AirForceShooter]

It's not a monster. Can you shoot a 30-06 comfortably? If so you're home free.
I happen to love the .375.

AFS

 

[Shawnee]

Thanks a million, Gents !!!!

I did a little load development and sighting in on two Win. model 70s for a couple fellows back in the 80s and the rifles were great with the second (thankfully) load I tried (but I never wrote down the loads). The rifle I have in mind now is a Ruger #1.

I liked the .375 - but liked it a lot more when standing up than when on the bench. I have no earthly use for such a bomb but that matters not so much to The Insane.

Hey AirForceShooter ! Are you anywhere near Avon Park ? I used to live in Winter Haven and then in the country east of Lake Wales. Hunted Avon Park a few times.

Thanks again Dudes !

Shawnee

 

[K3]

Sinclair makes and adjustable cartridge headspace gage for the 375 H&H http://www.sinclairintl.com/catalog2.html. I highly recommend buying and using this if you want to shoot your brass more than a couple of times without case head separations.

I tried looking through the catalog, but there's a lot of stuff to sort through, even with a search. You wouldn't happen to have a manufacturer or a part number, would you?

.

 

[NuJudge]

I have a .375 in a Mark X Mauser. You can do a lot with loading up or down with the rifle. My handloads have never shot as well as Winchester factory ammo, but of late they hurt a lot less. Some good links:
http://webpages.charter.net/375magnum/index.htm
http://www.accuratereloading.com/375hhmag.html
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=46922
http://hgmould.gunloads.com/casting/castinthe375hh.htm
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=6281&highlight=375449

 

[Shawnee]

Thanks for the good links, NuJudge !

 

[BigBuckMaster]

when i hunted in africa, i used the .375 H&H for plains game (with a soft bullet) and leopard (solids).

 

[Oldcoyote]

For Big Bores

Best to use Lead Sled for bench rest shooting. The DFT model is the best, mainly because of the rear adjuster.

Good recoil pad is also advisable.

I shoot my .375 bareback but for my .416 I wimped out and installed a muzzle brake.

 

[zgate]

when i hunted in africa, i used the .375 H&H for plains game (with a soft bullet) and leopard (solids).

I’m curious why you use solids on thin skinned game?

 

[moosehunt]

The .375 H&H is not a "big" gun, it is the upper end of the mid-weights. It also is not a "short" range caliber. One of the nice interesting things about it is that it has basically the same trajectories as an 06 when comparable bullets are compared, i.e. high end or low end or mid-weight.

 

[MikeKeyW]

In my 20" Steyr S I've hand loaded from 30 cal carbine level mouse farts through "Thunder stick" solids. Along with factory loadings, none are too bad but I wouldn't want to spend a day at the range firing prone... I do love the attention factor I get with the thunder stick loads out of the short tube, can we say "muzzle blast"

 

[Southern Raider]

I have recently started loading the 375H&H for a Ruger #1. My initial loads are 265gr casts using 32gr of RX7 per the manuals (check me!).

I shoot these prone and it is not much worse than a pistol caliber carbine. I haven't chrono'd them yet, but I imagine they come in at 1500fps or so. Soft loads...Bigger to come.