Flatbush Harry
Member
A few weeks ago, I succumbed to a long-term weakness and popped for a Remington 700 XCR II in .375 H&H Magnum. As I noted to a friend, those of us with flower gardens run a serious risk of elephants trampling the plants, and this would help manage that risk.
I had a Bell & Carlson Medalist Sporter stock in Weatherby configuration that I had pulled off a Rem .25-06 I had sold as well as a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 Z-Plex scope from that rifle. I bought a set of Leupold QR (Quick Release) bases and rings and had my friendly gunsmith inlet and glass bed the stock. Today was range day. In anticipation, I had made up some test loads using 260gr Nosler AccuBonds and 250gr Sierra GameKings and a number of different propellants: IMR 4895, IMR 4064 and RL15.
This rifle is just stupid accurate: my best result, with 69.4gr of RL15 under the Nosler 260gr A/B, was a 3-shot group at 100 yards that tore one ragged hole. I'll measure it shortly, but I'm guessing that the group will be slightly less than 1/2", center to center. This is my fifth Remmy 700 in the last 35 years and each one is a superior shooter. While I'm sure they have turned out lemons, I've never had one.
As an aside, I'm a bit sore after 40 rounds off the bench. My lighter loads, 63.0gr of IMR 4895 produced 1-1/2" groups and didn't punish me while 69.4gr of RL15 was definitely a bit sporty. Having now sighted this rifle in and found its apparent "best" load, future range sessions will be off shooting sticks and field positions. The .375 H&H is manageable but a bit of a handful with 2670 fps loads. One of my pals, who was RSO today, told me his preferred load was 74.0gr of RL15 under the 260gr A/B. I found my comfortable limit at 69.4gr.
In all, I now have a hunting rifle for anything, anywhere, anytime. Best of all, my garden is now safe from pachydermous peony poaching.
Hope you all have as much fun shooting as I do.
Cheers,
Harry
I had a Bell & Carlson Medalist Sporter stock in Weatherby configuration that I had pulled off a Rem .25-06 I had sold as well as a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 Z-Plex scope from that rifle. I bought a set of Leupold QR (Quick Release) bases and rings and had my friendly gunsmith inlet and glass bed the stock. Today was range day. In anticipation, I had made up some test loads using 260gr Nosler AccuBonds and 250gr Sierra GameKings and a number of different propellants: IMR 4895, IMR 4064 and RL15.
This rifle is just stupid accurate: my best result, with 69.4gr of RL15 under the Nosler 260gr A/B, was a 3-shot group at 100 yards that tore one ragged hole. I'll measure it shortly, but I'm guessing that the group will be slightly less than 1/2", center to center. This is my fifth Remmy 700 in the last 35 years and each one is a superior shooter. While I'm sure they have turned out lemons, I've never had one.
As an aside, I'm a bit sore after 40 rounds off the bench. My lighter loads, 63.0gr of IMR 4895 produced 1-1/2" groups and didn't punish me while 69.4gr of RL15 was definitely a bit sporty. Having now sighted this rifle in and found its apparent "best" load, future range sessions will be off shooting sticks and field positions. The .375 H&H is manageable but a bit of a handful with 2670 fps loads. One of my pals, who was RSO today, told me his preferred load was 74.0gr of RL15 under the 260gr A/B. I found my comfortable limit at 69.4gr.
In all, I now have a hunting rifle for anything, anywhere, anytime. Best of all, my garden is now safe from pachydermous peony poaching.
Hope you all have as much fun shooting as I do.
Cheers,
Harry
