Help me make the final decision on 'THE .375' !

[BusMaster007]

Admittedly, trying to fill this niche in my collection has been the most difficult decision in the safe, so far.
For years, I've wanted a .375 H&H rifle.
I've gone bananas trying to 'finalize' my decision. :banghead:
I am down to 3 choices, all different.
disclaimer:
I DO NOT want and AM NOT considering a CRF Model 70; 98; 550; etc., so, please don't waste your time trying to get me there...thank you!

I know a couple of other guys on the Forum were also looking at the SAKO 75.
Anybody go get one yet?
I'm still looking at the Stainless 75 in .375 H&H as a possible 'best in quest' to replace my Remington 700 BDL-DM in .338 Win.Mag. that I unloaded to get things right with a .375.
I should mention that this .375 rifle will join my AR15.com/ArmaLite AR10 2003 Special Edition Black Rifle as a crowning achievement in the acquisition phase.
I originally wanted a .308 autoloader and a .375 bolt-action when I started my 'quest' 10 years ago. They would've both been Remingtons. One is now very different and paid for, the other is about to be purchased, which is why I'm enlisting the help of the Forum.

I'm down to making a choice among 3 guns real soon to fill this '.375' niche.
I've come down to:
SAKO Stainless 75 in .375 H&H; a fine gun that I wouldn't hesitate to take into harsh conditions someday. Two scopes and set of rings is necessary due to no open sights.
Browning A-Bolt II Medallion w/BOSS in .375 H&H; a 'nice' gun with all the toys, and I'd be hesitant to take out and ruin...but, would be a joy to own as the wood&blue is beautiful and the caliber is nostalgic.
Remington 700 BDL in .375 Remington Ultra Mag; a familiar gun to me with additional power, recoil, and cost of ammo.
Initially less expensive than the other two rifles.
Easy to add accessories to. Still has open sights.
Planned would be the Hogue full bedded stock; heavier tactical style base/rings; reasonable power range scope.
(I was going to make a 'TACTICAL' Custom Shop version, but, it was too expensive to start with and still needed some additional work to get it to where I wanted it.)

Three different rifles, to be sure. Each with their strong points.

The one thing that really bugs me is the SCOPE MOUNTING system used on the SAKO.
What a weird and expensive set-up...not to mention 'proprietary'.
I'm poring over my distributor flyers and Brownells catalog and even the internet searching for an alternate system of mounting a scope to the 75.
NOT MUCH out there!
I know what I'd do with the 700 or A-BoltII, but, I still need to be convinced the SAKO is the 'only' choice of the 3 I listed.
Any other important and pertinent input on the 75 for us?


Bus

 

[Badger Arms]

My primary gun being a Browning A-Bolt II in 300 Winmag, I cannot fault that choice. My dream gun being the Sako 75 Stainless in 375, I cannot fault that choice either. The Remington is a tough one. It does have an advantage that I can think of off the top of my head, there is more room to 'get into' the action from the top. It's more open. I don't like thier extractors and their bolt welding techniques and quality control is questionable these days. All-in-all, I like the 700 though.

I'd list them in order as, Sako, Browning, Remington. BTW, the Hogue stocks are a pain in the field. They just tend to catch my coat and pull it all over the place. Very annoying.

 

[BusMaster007]

Good points, Badger Arms.
Got any ideas on those SAKO 75 scopemounts?

 

[Badger Arms]

Yes. My "Dream Rifle" concept included Warne rings:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=15496&title=EUROPEAN+DOVETAIL+MAXIMA+RINGS

 

[Mike Irwin]

Of the three choices, I'd probably be inclined to go with the Browning.

It's in .375 H&H, a caliber that's been with us for decades, and will be with us for many more decades, and it's got the Boss, which does a very good job at helping get small groups without a lot of painful shooting.

I don't care much for the finish that Browning puts on their wood stocks, but it's a good rifle.

 

[BigG]

Every SAKO I've checked out impressed me although I'm not familiar with the particular model you cited. The Browning looks nice but I have no experience with the A-Bolt. I've had the Remington and they usually shoot very well out of the box, but for me the aesthetics suck. The Remington would be a safe choice, imho, but I would opt for the SAKO were it me. HTH

 

[M16]

none of the above

 

[Gordon]

I have a 700SS .375 as my primary Big Game rifle. It replaced a .300 Weatherby and a .338 Ruger 77. Please forget the Hogue stock, trust me they are not the hot set up in this application. The new rem factory syn stocks are pretty good if you bed them, certainly plenty strong. You can upgrade the recoil pad with a decelerator which you may be able to do yourself if you luck out on the prefit model!. I have found the the Leupold QRW mounts on weaver style Leupold bases to be real good if properly locktited ect. Talley mounts are good too. The Leupold 1.75-6 VariX3 or a Nikon Monarch 1.75-6x42 are excellent units that wont let you down and work well with the package. If you want the all stainless look the Varix2 in 3-9 Silver in Leupold or Buriis Signiture silver mounts will prolly hold up if you don't get rolled on by your horse! Complete the set with some stainless sling swivels , and you got it. BTW I upgraded my stock by sending the Gun to Brown Precision , and they clean up the trigger, bedded into one of their High Country stocks and with a Quiet Brake installed I lost 1/2lb of weight , Total weight with scope (Leupold 1.75-6 Varix3) is 7.25lbs!

 

[PJR]

Of the three rifle brands mentioned the Sako is a superior product and is commensurately more expensive. Although not having owned one in .375, I've owned several in other calibers. I have also owned Brownings and Remingtons.

The Sako scope mounting system is a bit cumbersome and heavy but they work as well as anything out there if not better. I would choose the Warne QD rings if I didn't have Sako rings on already.

The Sako 75 safety system has the advantages of the two and three position safety. The bolt is locked while on safe yet the release button allows the gun to be opened without taking the safety off. Sako also incorporates the only reasonable gun lock that I've seen with their safety bolt system. It's there to be used if you want but can be totally ignored if you don't.

Sako rifles have much better triggers than the Remington or Browning out of the box and you can adjust Sako triggers to your liking. The Browning with a Boss can match or even exceed Sako's accuracy but at the expense of a louder gun. Although I have no experience with the .375, my 75 in .223 shoots everything under an 3/4 inch or less (no cheap surplus however). A shooting acquaintance has a Model 75 in .375 and the guys at the club are getting a bit tired of him bragging about his rifle's accuracy.

Browning's magazine system is the worst of both worlds. The detachable magazine and the floor plate do not give you the benefits of either system IMHO. I like the Sako detachable system better than most however the only caution is that their replacement magazines are very expensive.

As for Remington I will not but a new rifle from them again. Their quality control is abysmal across the board. Every recently produced Remington I've seen lately had something wrong with it. My sense is that this is a company seriously flirting with collapse.

What the Remington and Browning do have in their favor is price. However, if that is your guide then I strongly recommend you look at Tikka. Made in the same factory as Sako with more plastic parts and less finishing they are very good rifles and certainly better than anything in a comparable price range from North America.

Paul

 

[BusMaster007]

PJR,

Thanks for the input.
If the SAKO/.375 is as accurate and good as you say, the extra $$$ is worth it.
I think their stocks are butt-ugly, though.
The mags/mounts are ridiculously overpriced, too.
I'd bite the cost of one extra mag.
The Warne site lists a QD type mount for the 75, as well as the 'permanant' type.
I can't imagine needing to remove/replace the scope in a hurry, so the permanant type would suffice.

I wouldn't get a TIKKA because of the way they must be loaded, and they don't have a .375 H&H...

I must've been lucky with my Remingtons, 'cuz they ALL are or have been nice, dependable guns, period.

The Browning is just such a NICE GUN, I hate to discount it altogether, except I've already got a BAR to play with!
I understand what you're saying about the magazine system, and reluctantly agree with you on that.

That SAKO is looking better the more I give thought to it.

 

[BevrFevr]

I love the A bolt bolt design

mmmmmmm nice, Would skip the boss on it and just use ammo experimentation or reloading to dial it in. A browning A bolt .300 win mag was probably the best feeling rifle I have held in my life. It was like I was born to own one. But alas I have not shot one.

Tough choice with the SAKO though.

If you can afford It I would get the SAKO, or the browning, or the sako mmmmm that is a tuffy!

Talking out of my arse as usual.

-bevr

 

[PJR]

BusMaster:

The Sako synthetic stocks aren't very attractive but their rifles sometimes come with very nice wood. Mine has a blonde coloured, figured walnut stock that doesn't look out of place among the shotguns in my safe some of which have very nice wood.

Thanks for the info about Tikka, I wasn't aware that they didn't make a .375. The lack of top loading ability was one of the reasons that convinced me to switch to the Model 17 from a Whitetail Hunter.

QD rings are my preference with Warne because getting them off can be a minor challenge. I have a pair on another rifle and consider them permanent. QD rings would be for a hunting trip where I had the extra scope with me and my main equipment failed. Switching standard Warne rings in the field wouldn't be something that would appeal to me and I would have to rezero the rifle.

I have owned 4 Remington rifles over the years and 6 of their shotguns and still would buy anything that was made before the mid 90's. Recent production isn't up to scratch IMHO.

Sako or Browning? It's a tough choice but I've owned both and kept the Sako.

Paul

 

[tbige]

In time the mounts/mags issues will fade into vapor, but the pride and performance of the Sako will grow. Don't give the other two choices a second thought. I would give some thought to a wood stock, however.

 

[BusMaster007]

I love this ****!
It's comical the way I go around in circles with a choice until it's final.
I'm a dog on details, though.

Check out this link:

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=14736608

It's a SAKO 75 Finnlight, the light caliber version.
The POINT is that it has the Leupold Tactical scope I was thinking about...!
(edited: That one looks to be the 30mm side focus model, my mistake...I've got one of the 1" 40mm A/O models on my 700 Police. I also have two others, one gloss, one matte, that could be used to save $$$ on buying a nice scope.)
Now, the power level is probably a 'bit' high for a .375 H&H, but, they have a Vari-X II in 3-9 OR a fixed M8 6x42 A/O that would give the same look I'm in love with.

Take a look at those mounts, though.
Leupold, right?
I've read somewhere they may shoot loose...but, hey! There they are.
Much less and easier to get than the SAKO models.
Not bad looking and they go with the scope.

Any info on those mounts?
They look to be the correct ones for a SAKO 75.

We're getting closer~!
OK, I gotta go drive a Bus. I'll check back later.
Happy New Year!