Sako 85 .375 H&H

[SilentKnight]

A recent, new to me, acquisition that is chambered in a cartridge I have long been curious about getting some trigger time with.
Just wanted to share a beautiful rifle, on a beautiful day with the community!

The recoil impulse on the 375 is stout but manageable. It felt more like a hard push straight back into the shoulder, not a snappy kick to the jaw, and it reminded me a little bit of my .45-70 in that regard. I am not entirely sure what I had expected, having never fired the 375H&H before but I did walk away with the impression that it was relatively easy for me to tame.

The Express style iron sights function very well in the densely forested, bear filled mountains where I spend most of my time but I also have a simple Zeiss 3-9 on some dovetail rings for anything beyond 100y or an Aimpoint Acro dovetail mount incase I want to use a RDS. The action and trigger on this particular rifle are both fantastic. Looking forward to more time with this medium bore rifle, before next hunting season starts.

Photo two and three are of the only bullet that I was able to find intact. It is a Federal 270gr Power Shok fired at roughly 15 yards from the 21" Sako 85 Kodiak.

 

[4fifty8]

Fine rifle I have one I load 270gr TSX @ about 2500 fps with good accuracy.

 

[jpappy]

I love my kodiak 375 H&H, I hand load 300g accubonds with H4350. Very good results on a few whitetail, a few elk and a coyote. I wish it had a proper stainless hinged floor plate instead of a mag. They are a little heavy for a short rifle but the recoil is very manageable because of it. Talley quick release rings and a vx3 2.5-8 for the win! Way more class, versatility and usable power than any 45-70. I had a 45-70 in the past, its easy to find a reason to sell or just not buy a 45-70 compared to the 375.

 

[Longwalker]

Nice rifle. And welcome to the club! I also have a Sako M85 .375 and have used it for local hunting, elk, bear, and even a whitetail. A nice, versatile classic cartridge that should get more use in Canada. And an added bonus is that you’re also ready for Africa now!

 

[SilentKnight]

Fine rifle I have one I load 270gr TSX @ about 2500 fps with good accuracy.

Have you hunted much with that load?

 

[SilentKnight]

I love my kodiak 375 H&H, I hand load 300g accubonds with H4350. Very good results on a few whitetail, a few elk and a coyote. I wish it had a proper stainless hinged floor plate instead of a mag. They are a little heavy for a short rifle but the recoil is very manageable because of it. Talley quick release rings and a vx3 2.5-8 for the win! Way more class, versatility and usable power than any 45-70. I had a 45-70 in the past, its easy to find a reason to sell or just not buy a 45-70 compared to the 375.

That is awesome. Yeah, Talley's are what I have as well. It is a bit heavy overall but it does feel rock solid and handles some of the recoil for sure.
Definitely a classy round! I'm excited to try some other factory ammo next time I take it out. I'm getting some Federal Premium 300gr Nosler Partitions and some Hornady 300gr DGX Bonded and Hornady 250gr CX Outfitter. This just until I start reloading for the cartridge, if it ends up being a keeper.

 

[SilentKnight]

Nice rifle. And welcome to the club! I also have a Sako M85 .375 and have used it for local hunting, elk, bear, and even a whitetail. A nice, versatile classic cartridge that should get more use in Canada. And an added bonus is that you’re also ready for Africa now!

Thanks man! I love it. It is a highly versatile cartridge that covers all the bases for me. I love being able to top load the Kodiak, with these big belted magnum rounds, while still retaining the ability to remove a box magazine for truck hunting situations or hunting in general.
I'm looking forward to shooting it more and I might take it in the spring for bear.

 

[4fifty8]

SilentKnight: my .375 H&H 85 Kodiak is just one of the fine rifles among others I take hunting no field results yet with 270gr TSX @ 2500 fps mv. I did however use my Kodiak & Nosler 300gr handload to drop a big Bull Moose.

 

[Longwalker]

I just decided tonight that my Sako 85 Kodiak .375 will accompany me in Mozambique in August this year. I expect it will do nicely while I'm hunting Cape Buffalo, Crocodile, Bushpig, Eland, etc. It's so nice to give it a chance to do the work a .375 H&H was designed for! Yours just needs a little encouragement, we all know it's up to the task!