Parker Hale Safari model in 375 H&H
- Thread starter 375rum
- Start date
I do not know exactly what the Safari model is, but years ago I had a PH .375 for sale in the shop. It was a plain jane professional hunter's type of rifle. Military pattern safety, express sight, reinforced stock. Flooplate release was modified so that it wouldn't be accidentally hit under recoil. I'm not a big fan of PH sporting rifles, but I was impressed with this one.
Depends on the action. Parker Hale made a whack of rifles using good milsurp actions, but when those became harder to source, they switched to a cheaply cast action made in the UK that resembles an Interarms MkX, only more crudely polished and finished. The former is good karma, the latter... well, I wouldn't personally buy one.
Tiriaq,that sounds very much like what I have.The action
says safari on it on the left side.The action is nicely
blued and polished and does not look to be cast.Claven
I hope I don't have the one you are talking about,how
do I tell?Regards 375rum
says safari on it on the left side.The action is nicely
blued and polished and does not look to be cast.Claven
I hope I don't have the one you are talking about,how
do I tell?Regards 375rum
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I believe there is a fellah over at the Campfire forum who has one, or maybe two.
I querried him how they modified the action to accept the long cartridge but alas he wasn't able to figure out what I meant.
Have they removed alot of material from the front ramp compared to a standard mauser action?
I have been told by many sources here to watch out for that as it takes away the support for the bottum bolt lug.
Can you post pics for us?
Noel
I querried him how they modified the action to accept the long cartridge but alas he wasn't able to figure out what I meant.
Have they removed alot of material from the front ramp compared to a standard mauser action?
I have been told by many sources here to watch out for that as it takes away the support for the bottum bolt lug.
Can you post pics for us?
Noel
First, does the action have the thumb cut in the LH receiver wall? If yes, it is an early Safari, based on a military Mauser action. PH used a great many of these after the war. They then went to a commercial Mauser action, no thumb cut, various makers. Early ones (50's) look just like commercial FN 98's (although made in various factories in Europe), later one's are Spanish copies (somewhere on the action it will be stamped "SPAIN", you will probably have to remove it from the stock and maybe disassemble it to find the stamp. I have never seen any cast PH actions, although I have seen some of the Spainish ones that were so poorly polished they looked cast. Doesn't mean they never used any (although it's a statement I haven't seen anywhere else either), just that I haven't seen one. If it's one of the early ones, they are nice guns, and the later ones are servicable. FWIW - dan
Noel,the front of the ramp does not look modified
unfortunately I can'do pics.Dan,it does indeed have
a thumb cut on the left side of the reciever just in
front of that is where it is marked safari.Thanks for
the info gents.375rum
unfortunately I can'do pics.Dan,it does indeed have
a thumb cut on the left side of the reciever just in
front of that is where it is marked safari.Thanks for
the info gents.375rum
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To shoehorn a .375 into a standard length Mauser action, metal must be removed from the ends of the magazine opening in the bottom of the receiver. No other way to do it. Metal is removed from behind the lower lug seat. I have observed the following styles of PH 98 based actions.
-early, with thumbcut in left sidewall.
-smooth sidewall, but with C style inner receiver ring collar.
-smooth sidewal, but left lugway is broached all the way the through the inner collar.
-last style, no inner receiver ring collar at all, firing pin shoulder like a '96 Mauser.
The "Spain" mark is on the left of the tang. Usually it has been defaced by a small grind.
I consider the second style of action to be the best, because it incorporates all the design features of the classic '98, with the style of a commercial FN. The last version has abandonned all pretense of incorporating Mauser gas handling properties.
PH barrels are the only centrefire barrels I have observed which shatter when they fail, rather than bulging or splitting.
I have rebarreled a number of PH actions. They exhibit a remarkable lack of dimensional control in barrel shank diameter.
-early, with thumbcut in left sidewall.
-smooth sidewall, but with C style inner receiver ring collar.
-smooth sidewal, but left lugway is broached all the way the through the inner collar.
-last style, no inner receiver ring collar at all, firing pin shoulder like a '96 Mauser.
The "Spain" mark is on the left of the tang. Usually it has been defaced by a small grind.
I consider the second style of action to be the best, because it incorporates all the design features of the classic '98, with the style of a commercial FN. The last version has abandonned all pretense of incorporating Mauser gas handling properties.
PH barrels are the only centrefire barrels I have observed which shatter when they fail, rather than bulging or splitting.
I have rebarreled a number of PH actions. They exhibit a remarkable lack of dimensional control in barrel shank diameter.
I have one of the "second style" in .458, and it's formal model is an 1100 M. As far as I can tell, the 1100 M's were made in .375, .458, and .404 Jeffrey. This one has unusually nice bottom metal, and it's long enough for .375 right from the factory (i.e. it hasn't been cut & welded.) For the .458, they just stuck a rubber bumper in the front of the box to take up the extra room - pull the rubber out, and it's an (almost) instant .458 Lott. Most .458s have so much leade that I suspect it might almost digest a Lott as it stands...
I suspect the action is a Santa Barbara, but fit & finish are very good.
I suspect the action is a Santa Barbara, but fit & finish are very good.
I've seen late PH receivers that I suspected were cast. All the Midland receivers were, of course, but that is a very different action. The problem which I have observed with the PH trigger units is that the little tab on the safety which blocks the sear will, on occasion, break off.
Hello all and thanks for the info,I have another question,we have figured
out I have an early PH 375,it has the thumb cut on the left.Is it normal
when the bolt is pulled all the way back for it to move around alot when
you wiggle it back and fourth?It locks up tight when closed.My mark V
has no where near this amount of slop.Thanks 375rum
out I have an early PH 375,it has the thumb cut on the left.Is it normal
when the bolt is pulled all the way back for it to move around alot when
you wiggle it back and fourth?It locks up tight when closed.My mark V
has no where near this amount of slop.Thanks 375rum
I have owned several of these P-H rifles over the years, at least three chambered in 308 Norma Mag. Presently have a 1000C in 6mm Remington. While the later ones are often not finished well, I have yet to own one of these that was not remarkably accurate, considering the cost. My present 6mm will group 3-100 Partitions into less than ¾" every time. That being said, I'm not about to trade off any of my Remingtons on P-H rifles! 
Regards, Eagleye.
Regards, Eagleye.
Some can be beautiful rifles and shoot exremely well like mine. This gun was my best purchase ever, and i am looking for more. This one came with remarkable wood too. Perfect bluing and swept bolt handle which all gave it a nice classic stlyle look to it, I have seen the midland before and they don't look as good as this one. I used to hate Parker-Hale until I purchased this one.
