.375 H&H group

sniper58

sniper58

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Quesnel, BC
I finally got out and shot the rifle that my wife bought me for our anniversary.

Browning X-Bolt Stainless Hunter in .375 H&H. It is a "Shot Show Special" and isn't listed in Browning's on-line catalogue.

It's scoped with a Leupold VX II 1-4x20 in Weaver rings.

I put 3 rounds through it at 35 meters to get the scope sighted in, then moved out to 100 meters.

I was shooting Federal factory ammo. 300 grain RNSP

I have determined that this is not a rifle/caliber to be shooting a lot off the bench. 6 rounds today was enough for me.

Pretty impressed, the group (shots 4-6 from a brand new rifle) measured .310"

I think I'll have a hard time developing a handload that shoots as well.

Browningx-bolt375magtarget.jpg


P1020543.jpg
 
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The group excites me but not the stock design. The grip is too closed for a rifle in a caliber meant to be relatively quick handling. Can't see the sights too well but they look fairly large and high up. So for what I'd use a 375 for I'd pass, but it does shoot the damn lights out which is an attractive quality in any rifle. Could make a really nice elk-hammer if you want to land heavy bullets with authority at a distance.
 
Very impressive ! Thats more than respectable for any rifle not just a 375 !
Please keep us posted, especially if you handload for that fine rifle...
 
Congratulations! You have an excellent rifle, chambered for a great cartridge, and fitted with an appropriate scope. IMHO, too may hunters over-scope their big game rifles. You were wise to stop shooting when you felt like you had enough. Over time the amount of shooting you can do without discomfort will increase, particularly when you begin shooting from field positions. Shooting a .375 for precision from the bench is an acquired taste; I would point out that match shooting is not really what the .375 was designed for, but I expect you already know that.

As you use the rifle, you might find some of its features aren't quite right. The LOP might be a touch long, the grip might crowd the trigger guard and rap the knuckle of your middle finger, and if the scope extends much behind the cocking piece, it won't be long before you get tagged. All of these things however are fixable with a minimum of fuss. A wood stock can be easily shortened, a finger deflector can be installed behind the trigger guard, the scope mounts can be changed to move the scope forward or back, or higher or lower, relative to the height of the comb. The idea is that as soon as your cheek hits the stock, the reticle is right there, without having to go on a quest to find it.

As for loading precision ammo, just keep the tolerances that you have control over as tight as possible, thats how you make accurate ammo, regardless of the cartridge. Pull a factory round and weigh the powder charge. The factory will almost certainly use a propellant that is not available to handloaders, but matching a powder to the factory charge weight will get you in the ball park. Neck size your cartridges, match the priming to the powder charge so that you have reliable ignition with the minimum amount of violence, watch the neck and bullet runout, then you're on the road to making precision ammo.

Once you've beaten that out of your system perhaps you can concentrate on making quality big game ammo, that cycles reliably through your rifle without having to fight the bolt, that is accurate enough to hit a large target over the range you intend to shoot from, and retains sufficient power at that range, and uses a game bullet that performs well given the size and density of the target, and the velocity at impact, so as to have a reasonable expectation of killing the animal with a single blow. Then get out and shoot that rifle, with that load, at realistic targets at unknown ranges, under a time constraint, from supported and unsupported field positions, in a variety of weather and light conditions. I think you'll find that far more interesting, challenging, rewarding, and relevant than attempting to shoot bug holes with your buffalo (bear, moose, deer, elephant) gun.
 
Install a Kick-Eez recoil pad and you will be good for 3 - 4 times as many shots per session.

Don't let anyone tell you that there is a better or similar recoil pad out there actually none even come close.
 
They are great shooting guns, at least the ones Ive seen.
My .375 A bolt does as well with the Remington Brand.

If you really want to find out the structural capability of your shoulder, do a few rounds from the prone position. Just make sure there are no children, ladies or preachers within earshot.:D

And don't feel bad about the 6 rounds. With the light weight it thumps pretty bad. After about 10 rounds back to back I've enjoyed enough too.:D
 
Camp Cook said:
Install a Kick-Eez recoil pad and you will be good for 3 - 4 times as many shots per session.

Don't let anyone tell you that there is a better or similar recoil pad out there actually none even come close.
Click to expand...

Never tried a Kick-Eez but I did put a Limbsaver on my 375 and it does make range sessions more enjoyable. Those Browning 375's seem to shoot well! :D
 
NB444 said:
Never tried a Kick-Eez but I did put a Limbsaver on my 375 and it does make range sessions more enjoyable. Those Browning 375's seem to shoot well! :D
Click to expand...

The difference you feel between a stock pad and the Limbsaver is the difference you will feel when you switch from a Limbsaver to a Kick-Eez.

Kick-Eez pads are made of a material called Sorbathan they are not as durable as the lesser recoil reducing pads with that said I am still using my first pads that I installed over 15 years ago one does have a small piece cut off when I closed my hard case onto it but that is it.

If you get grind to fit install it onto your stock then throw it into the freezer or if you live anywhere other than the Fraser Valley, BC just leave it outside overnight then grind to fit...

:p
 
Demonical said:
I'm impressed that your wife bought you a rifle for your anniversary.
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My wife has bought me about 12 firearms in the past 8 years. She's not really impressed that I "kill defenseless animals" (hunt), but she knows that my hobby keeps me out of the bars and gives me a great deal of enjoyment. She will go to the range with me on occasion and has fired most of my firearms at one time or another.
She likes the "pretty" guns. When we go to the gunshops, she usually ends up at the gun racks looking at the pretty (expensive) stuff. we almost got into a fist fight at Wholesale Sports once. She decided that she was going to buy me a $3500 Beretta shotgun, but I said no. She saw a Marlin .44 mag stainless, thought it was cool because it was a "cowboy gun" with the thing on the side for the bullets, so she bought it. Trip after that, she saw the Pedersoli .357 mag "baby carbine" rolling block and had to buy it. Then it was a Rossi Trapper in .357 mag

Last anniversary, I got a Remington VTR, .223, the one before that ,it was a Remington XHR in 7mm-08, before that was a Ruger #1 in .45/70. The cat actually bought me a Browning 20 ga. o/u for Father's day 4 years ago. I got my first Norinco M-14 for Father's Day from the cat last year.

And for everyone that wants to know...............yes she has sisters, but they're nowhere near as nice as she is!
I'm going to keep her around for a while.
 
I doubt that the large toothed critters will be able to tell how hard or soft that recoil pad is after being on the receiving end of that X-bolt in the venerable 375H&H.
Keep us informed with your progress and stories of its first hunting trip.
BTW, does your wife have a single sister who is as appreciative and generous?
Congrats on the Anniversary and the New Gun.
Rob
 
Camp Cook said:
Install a Kick-Eez recoil pad and you will be good for 3 - 4 times as many shots per session.

Don't let anyone tell you that there is a better or similar recoil pad out there actually none even come close.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll be looking into the Kick-Eze. I put Limbsavers on my .45/70's and tamed them down to where I can shoot 20 rounds (350 grain bullets @ 2150 fps) off the bench without any serious discomfort. If the kick-Eze works better, I'll be buying and installing one.
 
sniper58 said:
My wife has bought me about 12 firearms in the past 8 years. She's not really impressed that I "kill defenseless animals" (hunt), but she knows that my hobby keeps me out of the bars and gives me a great deal of enjoyment. She will go to the range with me on occasion and has fired most of my firearms at one time or another.
She likes the "pretty" guns. When we go to the gunshops, she usually ends up at the gun racks looking at the pretty (expensive) stuff. we almost got into a fist fight at Wholesale Sports once. She decided that she was going to buy me a $3500 Beretta shotgun, but I said no. She saw a Marlin .44 mag stainless, thought it was cool because it was a "cowboy gun" with the thing on the side for the bullets, so she bought it. Trip after that, she saw the Pedersoli .357 mag "baby carbine" rolling block and had to buy it. Then it was a Rossi Trapper in .357 mag

Last anniversary, I got a Remington VTR, .223, the one before that ,it was a Remington XHR in 7mm-08, before that was a Ruger #1 in .45/70. The cat actually bought me a Browning 20 ga. o/u for Father's day 4 years ago. I got my first Norinco M-14 for Father's Day from the cat last year.

And for everyone that wants to know...............yes she has sisters, but they're nowhere near as nice as she is!
I'm going to keep her around for a while.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't have wanted the Beretta either, but man that's a FINE WOMAN YOU GOT THERE!! :cheers:
 
sniper58 said:
Thanks, I'll be looking into the Kick-Eze. I put Limbsavers on my .45/70's and tamed them down to where I can shoot 20 rounds (350 grain bullets @ 2150 fps) off the bench without any serious discomfort. If the kick-Eze works better, I'll be buying and installing one.
Click to expand...

Have a kick-eze on my slug gun, tames the recoil pretty well.
 
I just acquired a .375 H & H too, seems appropriate to do so during the 100 year anniversary of the cartridge. Like you I was amazed at the first groups I shot with it - I didn't know that .375 were capable of such fine accuracy! Makes getting thumped in the shoulder more meaningful somehow when you know that when do your part the rifle and cartridge is capable of any possible hunting job that you could ask of it.
I like the looks of your rifle!
Mine is a Ruger RSM that I picked up used on the EE. I just dropped it off at the gunsmith yesterday to have a Limbsaver pad installed. Too bad I didn't hear about the Kick-Eeze yesterday, I would have given it a try. But I do have a Limbsaver on my .35 Whelen, and find it is quite comfortable with heavy loads.

two three shot groups while sighting in at 90M, 260 gr. Nosler Ptn.
IMGP1634.jpg
 
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Camp Cook said:
The difference you feel between a stock pad and the Limbsaver is the difference you will feel when you switch from a Limbsaver to a Kick-Eez.

Kick-Eez pads are made of a material called Sorbathan they are not as durable as the lesser recoil reducing pads with that said I am still using my first pads that I installed over 15 years ago one does have a small piece cut off when I closed my hard case onto it but that is it.

If you get grind to fit install it onto your stock then throw it into the freezer or if you live anywhere other than the Fraser Valley, BC just leave it outside overnight then grind to fit...

:p
Click to expand...

Have to try one on the next heavy I buy. A 375 doesn't really kick anyways, it's more of a gentle shove. ;)
 
sniper58 said:
My wife has bought me about 12 firearms in the past 8 years. She's not really impressed that I "kill defenseless animals" (hunt), but she knows that my hobby keeps me out of the bars and gives me a great deal of enjoyment. She will go to the range with me on occasion and has fired most of my firearms at one time or another.
She likes the "pretty" guns. When we go to the gunshops, she usually ends up at the gun racks looking at the pretty (expensive) stuff. we almost got into a fist fight at Wholesale Sports once. She decided that she was going to buy me a $3500 Beretta shotgun, but I said no. She saw a Marlin .44 mag stainless, thought it was cool because it was a "cowboy gun" with the thing on the side for the bullets, so she bought it. Trip after that, she saw the Pedersoli .357 mag "baby carbine" rolling block and had to buy it. Then it was a Rossi Trapper in .357 mag

Last anniversary, I got a Remington VTR, .223, the one before that ,it was a Remington XHR in 7mm-08, before that was a Ruger #1 in .45/70. The cat actually bought me a Browning 20 ga. o/u for Father's day 4 years ago. I got my first Norinco M-14 for Father's Day from the cat last year.

And for everyone that wants to know...............yes she has sisters, but they're nowhere near as nice as she is!
I'm going to keep her around for a while.
Click to expand...

I already have a wife, so the question is; Does your cat have any siblings?
 
w:h:You got it made. :D

We rock the BRNO 602 (prone/bipod) out to 500+yd., with 80'ish grains of IMR 4350 under the Horn. 270gr. S.P.. (work up in your gun)

So many smiles, from so many <new to medium bore> gunners over the past 20 years.

The gongs?, they take a serious beating;).
 
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