Recoil and the .375 H&H

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thepolinator

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Hello all,
I have gotten in it my head that I would like to buy a 375 H&H at some point next year. I don't really have a need for one other than, 'because I can'. My question is in regards to the Recoil. I was speaking to a friend who runs a local range about this gun and she warned me that the recoil is ridiculous. So I am asking you internet experts, 'how bad is this calber's recoil.

I am not a small guy (6 ft tall & 230lb) I regularly shoot a .300 WSM loaded to max and a 45-70 Govt with heavy loads. The 300 WSM is in a light platform, so the recoil is a little amplified. Aside from 12 ga from a bench and .50 cal muzzle loader(with 100 gr BP charge and 300 gr bullets), these are probably the larges calber's that I have fired.I find I can shoot the 45-70 all day, but when firing the 300 WSM my teeth begin to hurt after about 50 rounds (only on the bench, no issues when standing or prone shooting).

So all that to say, would you recommend this calber and do you think based on above that I would be able to handle it?
 
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Don't worry about the recoil
I was shooting mine a ruger#1 with full house 300 grain loads bench and standing. Found it to be a big push. Not a violent teeth puncher.
Standing is better but bench was not a big issue
Found it a way nicer kick than a 300 winchester.
IM 6 foot 170 pounds
 
A 375 H&H is probably not something you are going to take to the range and shoot 100 rounds in an afternoon, so maybe you can tolerate the recoil in the few shots you will take with it.

To try and put it into some perspective you can look at recoil and recoil speed to try and decide for yourself if it's "too much" - just because "Bob" says it's "not bad" doesn't mean that you or I would cry like a little girl after pulling the trigger :)

Your 300 Win Mag, depending on the weight and the ammunition you are shooting with it is developing free recoil in the 23 to 26 lbs coming back at your shoulder at speeds of 13 to 14 feet per second.

A 375 H&H develops 30 to 37 lbs of free recoil coming back at you at 14 to 16 feet per second.

So the "felt recoil" would be at least 30% harder and 14% faster.

Or to put it another way - hang a 35 pound dumb bell from a rope and swing it into your shoulder at about 16 kilometers per hour - if you can stay standing with a smile on your face, you can pull the trigger on a 375 H&H :)
 
Turkey loads in my Supernova cleared my sinuses way more effectively than the 375 602 I used to own. Weight of the rifle and configuration of the stock are very important. I have a 308 BAR with a butt stock that when fired feels like the sharp end of a chisel. A lot of recoil, managed properly, is much more fun to shoot in my opinion.
 
my 375 is quite light. 8lb 7 0z scoped. its ok from the bench a lot harder push than a 300 mag but not as sharp. my 8 mag is worse from the bench than the 375. for practice try shooting 250 grn until you get used to it. I notice quite a difference between the 250 and 300 grn full power loads.. all in all if you can handle a light weight 300 or 338 the 375 is easy to shoot. I had a tika t3 in 338 win that was a lot sharper on the shoulder than the 375H&H. most 375's are heavy beasts that tame the recoil.
 
As others have said it's all about the rifles weight and stock design....

I have a very light (mountain rifle) in .280, which literally smacks the snot out of you, where's as my Westly Richards.375 H&H, is no more than a good push on the shoulder.
 
galamb said:
A 375 H&H is probably not something you are going to take to the range and shoot 100 rounds in an afternoon, so maybe you can tolerate the recoil in the few shots you will take with it.

To try and put it into some perspective you can look at recoil and recoil speed to try and decide for yourself if it's "too much" - just because "Bob" says it's "not bad" doesn't mean that you or I would cry like a little girl after pulling the trigger :)

Your 300 Win Mag, depending on the weight and the ammunition you are shooting with it is developing free recoil in the 23 to 26 lbs coming back at your shoulder at speeds of 13 to 14 feet per second.

A 375 H&H develops 30 to 37 lbs of free recoil coming back at you at 14 to 16 feet per second.

So the "felt recoil" would be at least 30% harder and 14% faster.

Or to put it another way - hang a 35 pound dumb bell from a rope and swing it into your shoulder at about 16 kilometers per hour - if you can stay standing with a smile on your face, you can pull the trigger on a 375 H&H :)
Click to expand...

That makes it sound worse than it really is. The most important consideration is that the rifle fits the shooter. A rifle with a stock that's too long feels like it kicks harder than a rifle that fits the shooter properly, or is a tad short. The rifle's fit must be correct even with heavy winter clothing on. A puffy down parka might actually extenuate the effect of recoil, rather than provide additional padding; now it can take a run at you.

Provided the rifle fits, and good field shooting techniques are employed, .375 recoil isn't particularly bad, even for an occasional shooter. When acclimatizing yourself yourself to the new rifle, begin by shooting off hand with iron sights. Take a short step forward, bend your forward knee, and balance your weight over your forward foot; the recoil will cross your chest and run down your rearward leg. A few rounds like that, and you'll smile and wonder what all the fuss was about. From that point onward, you can begin using lower supported positions, and if in these lower positions you find the recoil a bit much, take a break, don't tough it out and allow the rifle to hurt you.

When you mount your scope, ensure its mounted well forward, and does not extend behind the cocking piece of the rifle. If you have a variable power scope with a long eyepiece housing, you will want to either use extension rings, or even a Picatinney rail to ensure the scope is far enough forward. If you get tagged by the scope, you might never master that rifle, so its important the scope is mounted far enough forward, even if it means you're unable to use it's full range of magnification.
 
stock fit and a good pad will go a long way in reducing your felt recoil so choose your platform accordingly. My current .375 (montana VS2 stainless extreme) comes with a good stock and good pad and is no big deal from the bench.
 
I am not a great fan of recoil. I have a 375H&H in a M-70 Alaskan. And I enjoy shooting that rifle. More like a big push than a sharp violent blow. I equate it to my firing my heavy 1330fps 1/4oz. duck loads from my SX-1. From reading your post you should handle a 375H&H just fine.
The very worst rifle I ever encountered for recoil was a Rem.700 in 300RUM. Very sharp violent wickedly fast recoil, and the cartridges were some of c-fbmi's mild reloads. Half doz. rounds out of that 300RUM and they bring tear's to your glass eye.
 
The .375 is a piece of cake to shoot. Recoil is mostly in your head anyway. People act like they had a near death experience after shooting a rifle that barely manages to bounce off the sand-bags.
 
As mentioned, it must fit well or sooner or later when shooting from a tree blind or prone it will ouch you good.

Mine is just over 8 lbs and I don't want much more after about 10-20 rounds/day. That's in hot weather in tee shirt and shorts and standing.

Around 10-15 rounds from a bench is getting close to enough and slightly less rounds when prone maybe 8-10.

Get one that fits and has a little weight, and it won't be any issue.
 
thepolinator said:
Hello all,
I have gotten in it my head that I would like to buy a 375 H&H at some point next year. I don't really have a need for one other than, 'because I can'. My question is in regards to the Recoil. I was speaking to a friend who runs a local range about this gun and she warned me that the recoil is ridiculous. So I am asking you internet experts, 'how bad is this calber's recoil.

I am not a small guy (6 ft tall & 230lb) I regularly shoot a .300 WSM loaded to max and a 45-70 Govt with heavy loads. The 300 WSM is in a light platform, so the recoil is a little amplified. Aside from 12 ga from a bench and .50 cal muzzle loader(with 100 gr BP charge and 300 gr bullets), these are probably the larges calber's that I have fired.I find I can shoot the 45-70 all day, but when firing the 300 WSM my teeth begin to hurt after about 50 rounds (only on the bench, no issues when standing or prone shooting).

So all that to say, would you recommend this calber and do you think based on above that I would be able to handle it?
Click to expand...

Your friend needs his horizons broadened. Anyone who complains about the recoil of the 375 H&H lacks the constitution required to shoot anything more vigorous than a 308.
 
I have a Brno 602 in .378 Weatherby and sure when you are at the bench sighting in it hurts but when you are hunting you do not notice it in the excitement of the kill. Same thing with my 30-.378
 
Worst recoiling rifle i ever shot was a Savage 110 in 7mag, worst shotgun was a single shot 16ga. Compared to those my H&H was pleasant. Dont go lightweight, get the right length of pull, a decent recoil pad, and you are good to go.

No medium bore is a 100 round a session range toy. My upgrade was the M700LSS in 375 Rum, now that was unpleasant, got a break.
 
Nice to see the overly proud crowd come out here and claim that the 375 is a mere pop gun and any man as manly as they can shoot it without problem.
The truth is the 375 is a large, powerful round and is above what most would find comfortable to shoot. All the other comments about finding a gun that fits definitely apply to it.
The only way to find out if you enjoy it is to buy it. And buying a gun is almost always a good idea.
 
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