Which model 375 H&H?

[H&Hhunter]

Thank you all very much for the feedback! Sounds like I need to start hunting for a pre-1964 or post-1992 (FN) Win M-70. Seems like if I stay away from the G-prefix serial numbers I'll avoid the sour vintages.

The Alaskan (with sights) and the Supergrade (without sights) look good. The Safari Express has the forward recoil lug, but perhaps they got it right. I see these new for $1100, so I'm sure I can find a deal.

No.... the 1992 to about 2004 in the classic action are good rifles. They have the G prefix and the old Winchester style triggers built in New Haven. After 2007 is when the new model Winchester’s started being built out of South Carolina then Portugal.

Post 64 to 1992 are the ones to be avoided. They are the push feed rifles and generally considered the dregs of the Winchester production rifles.

The last couple of years that Winchester was in New Haven their quality started to suffer.

 

[MCMXI]

I just started a new thread about this but here's my Kimber Talkeetna feeding empty cases! I love that rifle!!

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I built a superb .375 H&H about four years ago. To begin, I bought a Rem 700 XCR II in .375. It is stainless steel and factory nitrided and came with excellent express sights and a hooded front sight. I replaced the factory canoe paddle with a Bell & Carlson Magnum Sporter stock in the Weatherby configuration with Aluminum bedding block, and had it skim bedded, the barrel free-floated and a Timney 508 trigger to replace the factory X-Pro adjustable. All in, it cost me ~$1,400 for the build ($175 for my gunsmith to bed it and replace the factory trigger with the Timney ), and it shoots 5 shots into and inch at 100 yards with factory Federal Premium with 260 gr. AccuBonds. I built it for Alaskan hunting/fishing trips so a non-warping stock with a rust-resistant action was important. I used Leupold QR bases and 2 sets of QR rings, one for my 1.25-4x24 and one for my Leupold VX-3 in 3-9x40. Both scopes return to virtually their respective zeros when re-installed. For durability, reliability, and flexibility, I believe my approach was ideal for me.

Were I getting such a rifle today, I'd buy a Winchester Mod. 70 Alaskan straight-away for the controlled round feed action. I have, in more than 40 years of using Rem 700s in various models and calibers, never experienced a FTF, FTE or glitch but do believe CRF is the way to go with dangerous game rifles. YMMV, but my approach has worked for me.

Cheers,

Harry

 

[mshootnit]

I built a superb .375 H&H about four years ago. To begin, I bought a Rem 700 XCR II in .375. It is stainless steel and factory nitrided and came with excellent express sights and a hooded front sight. I replaced the factory canoe paddle with a Bell & Carlson Magnum Sporter stock in the Weatherby configuration with Aluminum bedding block, and had it skim bedded, the barrel free-floated and a Timney 508 trigger to replace the factory X-Pro adjustable. All in, it cost me ~$1,400 for the build ($175 for my gunsmith to bed it and replace the factory trigger with the Timney ), and it shoots 5 shots into and inch at 100 yards with factory Federal Premium with 260 gr. AccuBonds. I built it for Alaskan hunting/fishing trips so a non-warping stock with a rust-resistant action was important. I used Leupold QR bases and 2 sets of QR rings, one for my 1.25-4x24 and one for my Leupold VX-3 in 3-9x40. Both scopes return to virtually their respective zeros when re-installed. For durability, reliability, and flexibility, I believe my approach was ideal for me.

Were I getting such a rifle today, I'd buy a Winchester Mod. 70 Alaskan straight-away for the controlled round feed action. I have, in more than 40 years of using Rem 700s in various models and calibers, never experienced a FTF, FTE or glitch but do believe CRF is the way to go with dangerous game rifles. YMMV, but my approach has worked for me.

Cheers,

Harry

Pics, or it didn't happen!

 

[edwardware]

New-production (Portugal, FN barrel) M-70 Alaskan is on the way! Found a VX-II 4-12x40 LR for it. I think it's going to be a hoot!

Thanks again for all the insight and experience.

 

[Slamfire]

When I was looking for a M70 in 375 H&H the only ones available were push feed, the controlled feed post 64's had not come out. When I looked at pre 64's in M70, they were unaffordable. I just looked at Gunbroker, prices for a pre 64 M70 in 375 H&H, are about as ridiculous now as then. Selling a pre 64 375 H&H and 458 Win Mag would nicely buy me an island, and not a bad island either, one stocked with dancing girls and cool drinks.

However, I do want to say that my push feed M70 is not a bad M70. It feeds and ejects reliably, and goes bang each pull of the trigger. I never scoped the thing, I think I shot it on the bench, and gave up on that idea. I don't know how anyone can shoot sub MOA with the things, because the flinch will be so bad. I read that the gunsmith Griffin (or Howe) put lead shot bags, maybe 50lbs or so, between him and the big boomers, when sighting the things on a bench. Every wood stocked M70 I owned, if I glass bedded the thing it shot much more accurately. The action was a favorite of across the course shooters, largely due to the slick and easy bolt lift, and low parts breakage on high mileage rifles. Of the commercial actions available, the action was quite stiff, today there are more massive actions out there now, but it is still a good one.

M70 Express rifles are a good value for the calibers. The action is a proven design, one with a claw extractor is what I would pick, if I were to pick again. Hope you enjoy yours, it is a classic rifle in all respects. Get them before FN finally drops the brand, you never know.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Mine shoots tiny little 1/2 MOA groups off the bench. That is off sand bags with no recoil reduction devices of any kind. Every .375 H&H that I’ve owned or shot will do the same. Some need a little tuning but the .375 is inherently accurate.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Absolutely love my model 70 alaskan. Shoots great, fit and finish is fantastic, FN made a good move bringing back controlled feed. Its not stainless or plastic though, so wait for it.....,youll have to clean it sometimes
Also it comes stock with iron sights

 

[FN in MT]

Bought a new Win 70 Safari grade , .375 H&H back in 1997. Remember strapping it to the back of my BMW 1200GS and taking it home. Nice to live in Montana...not recommended in NY, NJ, etc.

Mine shot very well out of the box. Had my Smith tune the trigger a bit and at the same time he rebedded it for me. The factory bedding was simply minimal and with the recoil from 300 gr bullets, a wise thing to do. Accuracy was on par with the other .375's I have owned, short of the Ruger #1. Three shot groups off a bench at 100 yds usually produced shots touching. ALL a guy ever needs. Never saw an inaccurate M-70, Rem 700, Sako or CZ in .375 H&H.

The Ruger #1 was the .375 anomoly. Beautiful, Classic looking rifle...lousy accuracy.

NEVER had ANY issues with mine. Shot a couple of mature elk with it, then took it to RSA in 98 and 2000.

I used Talley mounts/bases and had both a 2.5-8X and a 1.5-5X Leupolds in rings, so I could switch back and forth as needed. IIRC I used the 1.5-5X my entire time in RSA, both trips.

GOOD choice going with a M-70. But....the CZ's are decent as well. But anything with the "Safari Grade" moniker...tough to resist THAT.