Buying a Sako 85 Kodiak, which Cal 338WM or 375H&H

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I am buying a Sako Kodiak, about to put the deposit. I have a 308 Sako TRG22 for hunting smaller long range stuff (bloody heavy 13lbs) so i am now buying a large bore rifle for hunting in the BC, Peace River area. I have my heart set on the Sako 85 Kodiak, i have read alot on the diffrences between the 338WM and the 375H&H and from what i can tell the 375 is a little nicer to shoot as its recoil is more of a shove then a kick. Recoil is something I can handle. I will be scopeing it with a nightforce either 1-4x or 2-10x. weighing in at 9lbs.

My question is what caliber(of the two) would you choose and why?

hunting elk and moose while providing bear protection.

I am a bigger guy if that makes a diffrence, 250 and 6'3"


thanks for the help
 
About the only thing I can say is that you have to decide if money will be an issue when it comes to ammo. 375 H&H is pretty pricey compared to the 338.
 
Having shot both a .375 H&H and a .338 Win, I definitely found that the .375 did indeed feel heavier but softer. More of a shove vs. a slap. Some of that is probably due to the fact that most .375 rifles are built on true magnum actions and are correspodingly heavier. My CZ 550 weighs over 12lbs fully loaded with a scope but the recoil isn't bad at all. I've done 40-60 round sessions with no problem, but then I'm 6'4 and 285lbs myself.

I guess it comes down to the ranges you expect to shoot at. If you're shooting longer distances you'll probably prefer the flatter .338 Win. If you're going to be in heavier cover the .375 might be the ticket. Not a lot of critters are going to go far with a 300gr premium bullet through their vitals.
 
Though not my cup of tea, I'd take the .375 or the new .375 Rooger, naturally my first pick would be a Marlin 45/70 loaded with 480gr. hammers to 1900 fps. In the .375 vs .338 debate; I'd always go with the heavier bullet and bigger bore of the .375.
 
On wholesale's website, they have some hornady stuff for $51.99 for the 270 grain 375, and $41.99 for the 225 grain 338
 
I'm a handloader as well so for me cost doesn't matter.


My thoughts, 375 H&H makes the other guys you hunt with go ooh and aah, all teh guys at the range will want to try it. The 338 is common enough that everyone has tried them, no real cool factor.


I want a Sako 375 in the worst way, but finances just don't dictate it at the moment.
 
Get it in the newer Sako 370 caliber. If not go with whatever your heart desires more. I it was me, I'd go with the 338WM. Should be a sweet rifle

I had a 338-06AI built on a Sako m75 Greywolf rifle....cant wait for spring bear.
 
I'd have a hard time not going with the 375 myself. I handload as well so ammo cost isn't a concern to me. Mind you, I'd like a 338 as well, especially in a configuration like that.

Tough call but the 375 H&H would be just ahead for me.
 
I want a .375 not just for a bear gun...but mainly because ive always wanted to own a historical big cartridge and I think its hard to beat the .375 H&H for nostalgia.
 
For BC hunting, I'd get the .375 H&H.

Ammo cost shouldn't really be a factor, when you're spending $2000+ on the Sako, and $1500+ on the Nightforce...;)
 
375 all the way.

Don't worry about the recoil. Your rifle will be heavy enough to absorb a significant amount of the hit.
Guys that own 338s usually end up buying 375s anyway.

I'd go with the 2.5-10X32 Nightforce over the 2.5-10X24. I own the 24mm version and the exit pupil is a little small for comfortable shooting at 10X (the image blacks out easily).

Should be a very nice rifle!
 
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All right I'm going to buck the trend, even if I'm wrong. For Canadian Hunting, I think the 338 is more versatile, and therefore the better chambering. If you've got a trip to Africa in the future than I'd go with the 375 ouch and ouch.

Ooops I guess I'm a day late and a dollar short.
 
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