For a short while - - -
- - -I had a Browning .375 H&H bolt rifle. A friend gave it to me to "try it out." This was an original, built on the slickest Mauser action I've handled. Beautifully figured wood, finely checked. A blue job you could almost look down into. Fairly heavy, with a modest little recoil pad. A really great looking rifle, which felt very good.
One box of 270 gr. factory loads came with it. I was so certain I would love shooting this classic rifle that I bought a box of new brass, dies, bullets, etc., and assembled some less-than-max loads. Purchased and mounted a receiver peep sight.
This was a horrible afternoon! I shot a .30'06 and a light 8X57 for fun back then, but I couldn't find a way to hold that .375 so it wouldn't hurt. Finally got it sighted in from a standing rest, with a sandbag between my shoulder and the butt. Couple of decent groups, but at the price of a LOT of pain.
I believe I lasted about 15 rounds total. Went back to the seller and cried
"UNCLE!" I was grateful he was a good enough pal that he'd insisted on my shooting it before closing the deal. I gave him the dies, sight, and components . . . .
Several years later, another friend had a .375 Model 70 at the range. He wasn't shooting well that day, and insisted I check it out. I must explain that this was one of the fairly early POST 64 M70s, with all that was wrong with 'em. Cruddy looking piece, muddy blue, light-colored stock with zero grain, crude checking, not near heavy enough for the big ol' cartridge - - -everything wrong. It DID have a decent trigger, though, and a mid-grade scope.
My first three shots, Winchester factory ammo, went under an inch-and-a-half! Recoil seemed no worse than my .30'06! The judge insisted that I try another load. This group was just under an inch! Just the difference in rifles, I guess . . .
Best,
Johnny
