Do I really need a .375 H&H ?

You definately DO NOT NEED A .375 H & H. You need a .375 Ruger. Love to shoot it, more accurate than the H&H, 10% more power, shorter action, shorter more efficient round. Can use in shorter barrelled guns. All the smackdown you ever need.
I have done bench sessions now and with medium power up to max loads. I have been able to shoot 50 rounds before I decided to call it quits. I equate the recoil to be exactly like shooting a 20 guage slug with a single shot shotgun. Maybe a 12 guage......... but barely.
The main consideration before you buy the gun is to make sure the STOCK FITS YOU WELL, and YOU USE A SCOPE THAT HAS ADEQUATE EYE RELIEF. I use a 3-9x40 Leupold VXII on mine (Ruger Alaskan with 20" barrel) and it feels like shooting a .30-06 at best. Stock FIT is the key to attenuating big recoil. (Plus a decent recoil pad!!!)
 
I beg to differ with post # 21, my 375 H&H is more accurate than three 375 Rugers that I played with over several years, and until Ruger quality control improves, I wouldn't touch another one at any cost...
As for recoil itself, both my Alaskans and an African had sharper, nastier recoil than my 375 H&H, much more than any 30-06 I have ever shot....
 
I say you were at a loss for stock fit. I found the two .375 H & H guns I owned to be rather long fitting and the long barrel to be rather cumbersome to point. Anyhow, I use reloaded ammo, and combined with the great fitting stock of the ALASKAN, I FIND RECOIL TO BE LESS than either of the H & H guns I owned. (My Loads use 1.5 gr less than max loads of Reloader 15 and using 300gr X bullets) IT is stout for sure, but not scary. The biggest part of the recoil of these .375's is the PERCIEVED Recoil. Half the shooters are too scared before they ever pull a trigger, hearing stories of massive roaring recoil, and scope eyes that require stitches to fix. They are defeated before they ever get to try one. I have yet to get one of my friends to shoot my Alaskan, as they all think they are going to get a headache after shooting it. Yet they don't worry a lick shooting at clays with me for an afternoon using a double barrelled 12 guage with a steel butt pad.
 
I was in the same boat, and just pulled the trigger on a 375 Ruger. After researching the heck out of it, the 375 ruger has slightly better ballistics, in a shorter action. Just waiting for my gun now.

Read up on the two rounds and maybe you will get a the ruger too, maybe not. But get something lol
 
Kevan said:
I beg to differ with post # 21, my 375 H&H is more accurate than three 375 Rugers that I played with over several years, and until Ruger quality control improves, I wouldn't touch another one at any cost...
As for recoil itself, both my Alaskans and an African had sharper, nastier recoil than my 375 H&H, much more than any 30-06 I have ever shot....
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I haven't heard anything wrong with Ruger's QC since the early 90's and the outsourced barrel fiasco. The odd lemon squeaks through every mfg, but Ruger isn't any worse than the other big mfgs. I have two modern Ruger's and one Mk II from 2003. All shoot superb.

However if the OP wants a H&H I suggest that is the route he go. Cartridge selection doesn't have to be rational, sometimes we just want a certain cartridge. I own a .300 H&H, sure a .300 WM may do the exact same thing with cheaper dies and more available brass, but I wanted a H&H.

P.S. I own a .375 Ruger, but one day I will probably add a RSM in .375 H&H to the safe. I hold nothing against the H&H.
 
sgt.rock said:
I say you were at a loss for stock fit. I found the two .375 H & H guns I owned to be rather long fitting and the long barrel to be rather cumbersome to point. Anyhow, I use reloaded ammo, and combined with the great fitting stock of the ALASKAN, I FIND RECOIL TO BE LESS than either of the H & H guns I owned. (My Loads use 1.5 gr less than max loads of Reloader 15 and using 300gr X bullets) IT is stout for sure, but not scary. The biggest part of the recoil of these .375's is the PERCIEVED Recoil. Half the shooters are too scared before they ever pull a trigger, hearing stories of massive roaring recoil, and scope eyes that require stitches to fix. They are defeated before they ever get to try one. I have yet to get one of my friends to shoot my Alaskan, as they all think they are going to get a headache after shooting it. Yet they don't worry a lick shooting at clays with me for an afternoon using a double barrelled 12 guage with a steel butt pad.
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I had no problems with stock fit, any changes needed were done before firing the rifles.
The Hogue stock on the second Alaskan was a perfect and comfortable fit out of the box.
As for tested loads I used the same powder charge as you did with Kodiak, Hornady, Swift A-Frame, and Woodleigh bullets to name a few, but with all except Hawk bullets the results were disappointing.
My main criticism was not with the 375 Ruger cartridge itself, more with the quality of the rifles I had and I'm certain that in a properly built 98 Mauser or a 700 Remington it would be a fine combination.
Actually, I'm presently trying to decide whether to re-barrel a fine old 721 Remington in 308 Norma or a mint BRNO 98 to 375 Ruger simply to use up the hundreds of brass I have hoarded.
Also, please don't misunderstand me as I'm not trying to bad-mouth your findings and your satisfaction with your 375 Ruger rifle, just telling you of my experience, I'm glad that you are happy with yours...
 
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It sounds like you are an addict requesting the voice of reason to bring balance to your thinking and life... So here is the voice of reason; "With your current battery and purposes, you have NO need of a .375 H&H."

But you also said "want," which is far different from "need," so if you have the resources and are not compromising "needs" in other areas, then by all means, treat yourself to a .375 H&H (or Ruger)... It is a fine cartridge...
 
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Life's too short!

I'm 45 year old and I've learned one thing: Life is too short!
If you have the money, buy yourself a 375 H&H rifle and enjoy it.
In the worst case, you can always resell it later!

The only real question is: Is there anything better to do with your time and money?

Alex
 
Of course you need a 375 - I have two, although only one is an H&H, the other is a 375 Ruger. Heck, maybe you should get one of each too!
 
You probably need one as much as I needed the .375 Ruger Alaskan I got a couple weeks ago! But being in BC we all know that there's huge grizzlys behind every trees waiting to pounce on unexpecting hunters. That's how I justified mine anyway! ;)
 
bcsteve said:
You probably need one as much as I needed the .375 Ruger Alaskan I got a couple weeks ago! But being in BC we all know that there's huge grizzlys behind every trees waiting to pounce on unexpecting hunters. That's how I justified mine anyway! ;)
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Yes, that's true! I've had a "close encounter of the grizzly kind" hunting here in BC twice in the last 5 years...it certainly gets the heart rate up!

Thanks for all the encouragement guys...yes, I guess I'm really just trying to talk myself into it...lol!
 
You're .30-06 is all you'll ever "need" for any game in North America. No magnum, of any kind, will do anything it does not. Big bears included. However, 'I want one' is a reason and the best reason to buy anything. A .375 H&H really should be a double though.
 
I have 3 H&Hs and one I just chambered out to a 375 Wby, of course you need one !!! And never mind that Ruger imposter, there are several 375 cartridges that out do the old H&H and yet they still aren't a 375 H&H, it is a wonderful cartridge and capable of excellent shooting, it is a most comfortable round to shoot with a correctly fitting stocked rifle and will kill with great reliability.

One cannot truly be called a rifleman unless he has a 375 H&H.............or 3!!!!!
 
sgt.rock said:
IT is stout for sure, but not scary. The biggest part of the recoil of these .375's is the PERCIEVED Recoil. Half the shooters are too scared before they ever pull a trigger, hearing stories of massive roaring recoil, and scope eyes that require stitches to fix. They are defeated before they ever get to try one.
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How true! Nothing makes recoil worse than listening to guys (who often have little or no experience with the gun in question, or any gun for that matter) wringing their hands and wailing about how much it's gonna hurt when you shoot. If you fall prey to this negative fear-mongering...if you "know" that it's going to hurt...then guess what? IT'S GOING TO HURT!...even if it really doesn't. You're beaten by your own pre-conceived ideas...and the worst part is, they aren't even your own, but rather someone else's ideas...who probably got that "wisdom" in the same fashion.

Thanks, sgt.rock, for bringing up that pearl. Of course, it would have more impact if it wasn't in the same paragraph as your foolish recommendation of the Ruger over the H&H...but to each his own...:)
 
Everyone should own a .375 H&H.

Great all around caliber with bullet weight from about 200 gr to 380 gr. So you can use it confidently on deer up to and including a tyrannosaurus rex on bath salts and red wine.
 
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