Recoil and the .375 H&H

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...


Sir, your calculations are flawed. The 375 cannot have a quicker recoil time than a cartridge with a significantly faster muzzle velocity, physics just won't allow it, sorry.


OP, the 375 H&H is a very manageable cartridge in an appropriate rifle. It is not however a 223 as some would have you believe. I have used a couple very extensively in Africa and I will tell you it is a truly wonderful cartridge. Don't go out and try to shoot 50 the first afternoon you get one though.
I have several and truly love this cartridge and most anything pushing this diameter bullet.

Here's a few shots of some of the 375s victims.















 
Last edited:
I find the .375 H&H to be more tolerable than any .30cal magnums I've shot... There is plenty of recoil making it a poor choice as a bag riding range toy tho, as a hunting rifle shot standing or kneeling it is a superb tool that can be enjoyed not feared.
 
c-fbmi said:
Sir, your calculations are flawed. The 375 cannot have a quicker recoil time than a cartridge with a significantly faster muzzle velocity, physics just won't allow it, sorry.
Click to expand...

You forgot the second part of the "physics" equation. Muzzle velocity is only one of the TWO variables, the second being the mass of the projectile.

So because of "mass" a 270 grain projectile exiting the barrel at 2690 fps does create a faster recoil velocity than a 180 grain projectile exiting at 2960 fps.
 
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...

If you get near the GTA, Whitby, Oshawa PM me and you can try mine with Remington, Federal and Nosler from 260-300 gr. before you buy.
 
I have a BRNO ZKK 602 in .375 H & H and find it pleasant to shoot with 270 grain Hornady handloads at 2850 fps. Rifle and scope weigh around 10 pounds though. I have found a Ruger M77 in 30-06 shooting 180 grain factory loads to have more recoil. Worst recoil I have experienced was a Rem 700 in .300 Win Mag

Norm
 
C-fbmi those are some fantastic pictures, must have been a priceless experience!

375 h&H (and 375 Ruger) remind me of a 12 ga with buckshot. No worse.
 
leeelmer said:
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
Click to expand...

I X2 this statement. I have a 375 H&H Ruger No 1 K1-B-BBZ and find the recoil much more tolerable from it then from any 300 Mags or even some 7mm Mags I have shot. It really is more of a big hard push then a stinging slap across the face kind of thing. Pick a rifle weighing 8.5lbs or more and I don't think it will bother you at all...matter of fact I am betting you will enjoy it more then most of the other calibers you mentioned that you shoot.

Jim
 
galamb said:
You forgot the second part of the "physics" equation. Muzzle velocity is only one of the TWO variables, the second being the mass of the projectile.

So because of "mass" a 270 grain projectile exiting the barrel at 2690 fps does create a faster recoil velocity than a 180 grain projectile exiting at 2960 fps.
Click to expand...

You sir are still mistaken, as projectile weight only affects the quantity of recoil it does not affect recoil speed. Recoil speed is directly proportionate to projectile acceleration, weight of projectile does not affect this relationship.
 
Dogleg said:
People act like they had a near death experience after shooting a rifle that barely manages to bounce off the sand-bags.
Click to expand...

This ^, definitely! :)

Rifle weight makes a huge difference in actual recoil. Rifle fit makes an even more noticeable difference in felt or perceived recoil.

And listening too much to people who roll their eyes and begin sobbing whenever a gun goes off will mean that you are defeated before you even begin. :)
 
heronfish said:
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.
Click to expand...

No expert here by any means. But my No. 1 in 375 is way less vigorous than I'd have thought. It's quiet nice actually, my daughter enjoys shooting it too.
Go buy a Russian M44 and a spam can of surplus. Blaze away with it; burn up a couple hundred rds, then a week later try a 375 H & H. Cha-ching, 375 in your stable
 
I shoot a pre-64 M70 in 375 H&H and find the recoil tolerable and more of a push compared to my pre-64 M70 in 338 WM. . The 375 has a C-1 barrel which is quite heavy in comparison to the standard barrel on the 338. . The heavy barrel helps with recoil just a bit heavy to pack around. . You'll be fine with the 375.
 
.375 H&H... There is just something majestic about those simple words. Read just about any novel including an African safari hunt and those numbers appear. I think every gun nut should own one. I have no immediate use for one, but it is on my "bucket list". Will probably have to start handloading before I do though, pretty pricey ammo around here.
 
Very late to the party, sounds like the OP has a good introduction to recoil. In the true sense of recoil, a .375 doesn't really have much, but it does kick compared to a .30-06. Most experienced shooters express disbelief at a .375's recoil, that disbelief being at how reasonable it is.
 
Very true. The vast majority of shooters who approach a .375 intelligently and who know how to shoot will find it very managegeable...as evidenced by most of the responses here. Conversely, most of the warnings and fear-mongering tend to originate from people with little or no experience with the cartridge.
 
Ardent said:
Very late to the party, sounds like the OP has a good introduction to recoil. In the true sense of recoil, a .375 doesn't really have much, but it does kick compared to a .30-06. Most experienced shooters express disbelief at a .375's recoil, that disbelief being at how reasonable it is.
Click to expand...

My Winchester model 70 Super Express isn't bad to shoot.



Empty, it comes in at 10lbs 5oz so the weight helps ;) calm it down a bit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom