Is a .375 H & H too much cartridge for moose

SuperCub said:
Any more than 9lbs scoped is getting to be too heavy.




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That's true for some hunters, but not all. It depends on how one hunts and where, also on physical condition.

A few years ago I took my CZ550 in .458 Win Mag to N. Ontario for moose (and bear). All up it weighed 11.25 lbs. Walking trails (a lot), I never noticed it slung on my shoulder, but in fighting thick brush and alders it was more the OAL (46") that was cumbersome. In my view, it's better to loose ten pounds of blubber and get in shape than carry a rifle that's too light. A heavier rifle settles down easier and faster when having to shoot from offhand in my experience.

Having said all that, a rifle that is now my favourite medium bore is a 9.3 X 62 in a Tikka T3 Syn. that all up (scope, sling and ammo) weighs 7.6 lbs at 42" OAL. I now do most of my bear hunting from tree stands and that rifle is a lot handier for climbing into and out of stands. Also, excellent and fast in scouting where a bear could surprise you at a few feet.

But my all-time favourite is a #1 Ruger in .45-70 Improved (long-throated). It has a 22" spout and at 38.25" OAL and 8.6 lbs with scope, sling and 5 in a cartridge holder on the stock, it's the "perfect rig" for bear or moose when using the 350gr TSX at 2500 fps or the little brother 300gr TSX at 2650 fps.

I love the Ruger no.1 rifle.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca
 
bigborefan said:
That's true for some hunters, but not all. It depends on how one hunts and where, also on physical condition.

A few years ago I took my CZ550 in .458 Win Mag to N. Ontario for moose (and bear). All up it weighed 11.25 lbs. Walking trails (a lot), I never noticed it slung on my shoulder, but in fighting thick brush and alders it was more the OAL (46") that was cumbersome. In my view, it's better to loose ten pounds of blubber and get in shape than carry a rifle that's too light. A heavier rifle settles down easier and faster when having to shoot from offhand in my experience.

Having said all that, a rifle that is now my favourite medium bore is a 9.3 X 62 in a Tikka T3 Syn. that all up (scope, sling and ammo) weighs 7.6 lbs at 42" OAL. I now do most of my bear hunting from tree stands and that rifle is a lot handier for climbing into and out of stands. Also, excellent and fast in scouting where a bear could surprise you at a few feet.

But my all-time favourite is a #1 Ruger in .45-70 Improved (long-throated). It has a 22" spout and at 38.25" OAL and 8.6 lbs with scope, sling and 5 in a cartridge holder on the stock, it's the "perfect rig" for bear or moose when using the 350gr TSX at 2500 fps or the little brother 300gr TSX at 2650 fps.

I love the Ruger no.1 rifle.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca
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I was referring to the 375Magnum when I mentioned the 9# weight limit. It does make good sense for a 458 or 45-70 to weigh more to manage recoil.

I currently am working up a load for a 6.5lb 358Win. It is quite handfull with 250gr fullhouse loads. I now wish it was another lb heavier.
 
SuperCub said:
I was referring to the 375Magnum when I mentioned the 9# weight limit. It does make good sense for a 458 or 45-70 to weigh more to manage recoil.

I currently am working up a load for a 6.5lb 358Win. It is quite handfull with 250gr fullhouse loads. I now wish it was another lb heavier.
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Easy enough to do. Just hang de tacticool stuff off of it.

Mount a flashlight , maybe an extra red dot sight and some shell holder system!
 
c-fbmi said:
Well I have taken animals from this size...................







to this size with a 375 H&H............so you decide..........





It's a pretty universal cartridge for anything from 30 lbs to 5000 lbs, pretty sure you could wedge a moose in between there somewhere.

I used the same load with a 270 TSX for all my critters.
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Great examples of field results and experience. I picked up a model 70 Winchester Super Express a short while back in 375 H&H. A fairly close matches for the 458 WM I already had and it filled a calibre void in my little family. 458 WM top, 9lb 11oz and 375 H&H below at 10lb 5oz.



I've picked up some Hornady 300gr RN Interlock and more recently, from Marshal at Matrix, some of his 300gr FBRN to work up loads. What I had in mind for powder is IMR 4064. Your thoughts on my choice of powder:)?
 
There's always bantering back and forth, where some state they have killed moose with a 30-30 or .243, while others prefer the .300 or .338 Win mag. Most seem to say they succeed with .270, .308, 30-06, .358 etc. IMO, it's better to over-gun, than under-gun, any day. I always said, "I'd sooner waste some meat, than lose the whole animal". The .375 H&H for moose......"smoke em, if ya got em":)
 
I once had the opportunity to compare two dead moose side by side one killed by a .375 H&H the other with 25-06 both dropped on the spot, the one that was shot with the .375 did not appear to be any deader.
 
bunny said:
I once had the opportunity to compare two dead moose side by side one killed by a .375 H&H the other with 25-06 both dropped on the spot, the one that was shot with the .375 did not appear to be any deader.
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Ah yes bunny, but appearances can be sooooo deceiving.............I can guarantee the one shot with the 375 was in fact much deader than the one shot with the 25-06, but you really have to know what to look for.....;);)
 
c-fbmi said:
Ah yes bunny, but appearances can be sooooo deceiving.............I can guarantee the one shot with the 375 was in fact much deader than the one shot with the 25-06, but you really have to know what to look for.....;);)
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Do you only have to shoot them 30 times with a .375 H&H or is it still the standard 40? ... nowhere near the eyelids?
 
bunny said:
I once had the opportunity to compare two dead moose side by side one killed by a .375 H&H the other with 25-06 both dropped on the spot, the one that was shot with the .375 did not appear to be any deader.
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Yes, but given the choice, which would you choose to shoot a moose with? I don't think moose are all that hard to kill but do see the value of a heavier bullet on bigger game.
 
Any caliber between the .243 and the .50 cal will work for moose. I prefer the .338, and a .375 will work better 50% of the time than my .338, but not quite as well for the remaining 50% of conditions. So if it's the one you like, just use it and enjoy the roasts.
 
pacobillie said:
Let us be honest: although I do not need a new rifle, I feel like getting one. My current rifle battery is as follows: Winchester 490 in .22LR; Mauser 96 in 6.5X55; German Voere Shikar in 30-06; and T/C Encore in .50X209 muzzleloader. The Ruger #1 tropical in .375 H & H has caught my eye. I do not plan on going to Africa; although one never knows what the future may have in store. That new rifle would be for moose hunting. Hence the question: is it too much gun for that application?

In case anybody wonders: I do reload. Therefore the cost and availability of ammunition are non-issues. And also, I have no need for (nor do I desire) anything in between the .22 LR and the 6.5X55. I am essentially looking at getting something bigger than the 30-06. If anyone believes that some other cartridge would be better suited, please explain why. And please let us not turn this into a debate about the virtues of the .375 Ruger over the other .375 cartridges. FWIW, I have read those threads.
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A gun can be too much for you to handle.

It isn't likely to be too much for the game you shoot.

You reload.

Choose an appropriate bullet and powder charge - enjoy.
 
pisces-guy said:
The .375 might be a bit heavy for the dog sized deer on the Queen Charlotte and Texada Islands of B.C., but it's great for regular bucks and moose/elk.
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Shot quite a few with the 9.3 285 grain privi partisan, no muss no fuss and don't imagine a .375 would be any different. Its actually pretty good practice with a medium bore.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Great examples of field results and experience. I picked up a model 70 Winchester Super Express a short while back in 375 H&H. A fairly close matches for the 458 WM I already had and it filled a calibre void in my little family. 458 WM top, 9lb 11oz and 375 H&H below at 10lb 5oz.




I've picked up some Hornady 300gr RN Interlock and more recently, from Marshal at Matrix, some of his 300gr FBRN to work up loads. What I had in mind for powder is IMR 4064. Your thoughts on my choice of powder:)?
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rl15 is good too and there is recipe around ....
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Great examples of field results and experience. I picked up a model 70 Winchester Super Express a short while back in 375 H&H. A fairly close matches for the 458 WM I already had and it filled a calibre void in my little family. 458 WM top, 9lb 11oz and 375 H&H below at 10lb 5oz.



I've picked up some Hornady 300gr RN Interlock and more recently, from Marshal at Matrix, some of his 300gr FBRN to work up loads. What I had in mind for powder is IMR 4064. Your thoughts on my choice of powder:)?
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It will work (it's listed in Hodgdons manual) but you can get higher velocity with less pressure using other powders. Wouldn't be my first choice unless I had no other option or if I had lots of it I wanted to use.

H4350 and RL15 are better choices for performance, but that may not matter to you. Short answer is that it will work.
 
medvedqc said:
rl15 is good too and there is recipe around ....
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Thanks guy. I've never used RE-15 but I'll have to try some. I use a fair amount of IMR 4064 and have a good supply. Also, it 'seems' to be one of the powders favoured choices for the 375 H&H in my Sierra manual, listed for both their hunting loads and their accuracy loads. I'll probably at least start out with IMR 4064. Thanks again:).
 
bunny said:
I once had the opportunity to compare two dead moose side by side one killed by a .375 H&H the other with 25-06 both dropped on the spot, the one that was shot with the .375 did not appear to be any deader.
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But to determine which one will take the soul and which one will leave it.
That there is an important factor.
 
BwanaDave said:
Shot quite a few with the 9.3 285 grain privi partisan, no muss no fuss and don't imagine a .375 would be any different. Its actually pretty good practice with a medium bore.
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You didn't find the big bore did more damage to the meat than a .243 would? That was my only consideration for not shooting those little coastal blacktails with a big bore...
 
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