375H&H Decision

[natman]

I like No. 1s. However I once owned one in 375 H&H. It was the nastiest kicking gun I have ever fired. Unlike my 458, which kicks big and hard, but it's slow enough that you can roll with it, the No. 1 kicked big, hard and fast.

It worked out OK, though. It came with a nice Leupold VXIII scope. I sold it for what I paid for it and kept the scope.

My advice: If you want to go 375, get it in a bolt action. Anything that requires a 375 should be hunted with a repeater.

 

[eastbank]

i used a CZ-550 in .375 H&H on six hunting trips to africa and no animals(64) escaped that were shot. and any where i went .375 H&H shells were available.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Nice eastbank!!!!!!

 

[sisyphus]

pulled the trigger and ordered it just now, now I need to get some dies and brass so I can go shoot it

 

[redneck2]

That’s a nice rifle. Need the obligatory range report when you get it

 

[edwardware]

now I need to get some dies and brass so I can go shoot it

Suggestions:
- dies from ebay, as they seem plentiful and quite inexpensive.
- With patience, you'll source brass for $0.25/ea. With impatience, it'll be $0.75.
-Don't full length size at the first. Let the shoulder grow until you can feel it engage on closing, then set it back 0.002-0.004"
- This one wants Magnum Large Rifle Primers
- be prepared to spend some learning recoil management; it's not brutal, but it's definitely present.

 

[sisyphus]

oops I posted the wrong rifle, here

 

[sisyphus]

Suggestions:
- dies from ebay, as they seem plentiful and quite inexpensive.

I'm still building my reloading setup, but I made the decision along the way that I would buy 100% Redding stuff in an attempt to avoid second guessing myself later.

 

[DocRock]

Sexy rifle! I agree with the suggestion above regarding shoulder setback, although the lack of case taper means the 375 Ruger is somewhat less prone to stretching. As to recoil, it is pretty brutal but not unmanageable. You do need to remember it before first shot though or you will get scoped.

 

[Legionnaire]

Enjoy! I bought this one last year: Hawkeye African in a McMillan Hunter stock. Haven't done much with it yet, but like the Speer 235 grain Hot Cores I've loaded. Still need to load up and test the 260 grain ABs @LoonWulf sent me. Work's been killing me of late, so not much time for shooting. My only regret about the 375 Ruger is ... I should have bought it years ago!

 

[LoonWulf]

Congrats on a nice rifle!
I've got a few hundred pieces of brass, if you have a hard time finding any let me know and I'll send you some.
I'm using lyman dies for my .375, but I've got feedings for other stuff. Honestly between the two (or rcbs) i can't really tell a difference, but both are very nice.

 

[sisyphus]

well there is Hornady brass out there, and I'll probably buy a box or two of commercial ammo out of impatience not having everything I need to load 375 which will give me a start. I figure I'll need a smaller qty of 375 brass because I won't be shooting as much per range visit as I do with the sidearms or my other rifles.

 

[LoonWulf]

well there is Hornady brass out there, and I'll probably buy a box or two of commercial ammo out of impatience not having everything I need to load 375 which will give me a start. I figure I'll need a smaller qty of 375 brass because I won't be shooting as much per range visit as I do with the sidearms or my other rifles.

....don't be too sure of that.....nothing i shoot is as much fun, at least on reactive targets!

Actually I enjoy shooting paper with mine also, I think the heavy recoil actually helps with my ****ty follow thru. kinda like heavy bows hide my poor release. I have less issue consistently shooting good groups with my .375 than any other gun.

 

[WisBorn]

Nice LEFTY! Enjoy your new rifle

 

[Legionnaire]

We will, of course, want pictures and a range report ...

 

[marksman13]

As a Ruger No. 1 fanboy, I’m partial. There’s just something about the classic lines of a No. 1 and paired with a 375 H&H it carries a certain nostalgia that bolt guns just don’t give me. I’m going to pick up a No. 1 in 375 H&H or 375 Ruger one of these days, Good Lord willing.

 

[BigBore44]

I think it depends on the person. I love history. So personally, I like old cartridges. They were plenty capable back in the day, and animals haven’t changed. There’s also the nostalgia of the older cartridges. Give me a 45-70 over a 458 SoCom, 7 Mauser over a 7mm-08, 6.5 Swede over the Creedmore, and a 375H&H over the Ruger.

It’s not to say that the new cartridges are bad, or I snub my nose at them. I certainly don’t. I even have some of the new(er) ones like the 450BM and 260Rem. And they’re great. Do they do anything that my older cartridges don’t do? Performance wise, in finite increments, sometimes. Is it enough of a performance advantage for me to throw away my love of history and nostalgia? Not a chance. The advancements in technology that has caused improvement in modern cartridges, also improved the older ones.

 

[sisyphus]

picked up my Ruger today, I'll get some pics taken. I am very satisfied. I expected compromises and many from a $800 mass produced rifle. I can't fault anything about the gun. The bluing is more nicely polished than I expected. The checkering is well done with no overrun. The action feels great with no slop in the bolt fit. The trigger is light and has no takeup whatsoever. I know this Ruger is nowhere near the high end of bolt action rifles, but it exceeds my expectations and I feel like it was a great value. Can't wait to shoot it.

 

[WisBorn]

picked up my Ruger today, I'll get some pics taken. I am very satisfied. I expected compromises and many from a $800 mass produced rifle. I can't fault anything about the gun. The bluing is more nicely polished than I expected. The checkering is well done with no overrun. The action feels great with no slop in the bolt fit. The trigger is light and has no takeup whatsoever. I know this Ruger is nowhere near the high end of bolt action rifles, but it exceeds my expectations and I feel like it was a great value. Can't wait to shoot it.

@mlankton enjoy your new rifle!
As a lefty I'm looking forward to hear about your range review.
Safe shooting!!!