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Nechako

Nechako

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Fraser Valley, BC
I've had my 9.3x62 for a few years now, but in my lapse from buying rifles I'm feeling the urge for something new and bigger.

The question is; what do I buy next? I plan on keeping with the 9.3 as my main moose and bear gun but something in stainless would be really nice for those foul weather hunts.

I've always wanted a .375 H&H, but the .416 has caught my eye and I'm having trouble making up my mind.

The gun will be used for moose, bear and possibly bison. I did buy a Leupold 1.5-5x20 that will go on whatever I choose.

My current cartridge selection consists of the .308 Win, 7x57, 8x57 and 9.3x62.

What does the CGN collective think? Should I go .375 or .416? While it isn't stainless, the Ruger No.1 in 450-400 Nitro looks very interesting too.
 
The difference between the 9.3 and a .375 is 15 grs. of lead and 200 fps, loaded to equal pressure with bullets of similar sectional density. A very small step up, and to me, not worth it. I would go with the .416 or the Ruger in .450/400 ( my personal preference)
 
Nechako said:
I've had my 9.3x62 for a few years now, but in my lapse from buying rifles I'm feeling the urge for something new and bigger.

The question is; what do I buy next? I plan on keeping with the 9.3 as my main moose and bear gun but something in stainless would be really nice for those foul weather hunts.

I've always wanted a .375 H&H, but the .416 has caught my eye and I'm having trouble making up my mind.

The gun will be used for moose, bear and possibly bison. I did buy a Leupold 1.5-5x20 that will go on whatever I choose.

My current cartridge selection consists of the .308 Win, 7x57, 8x57 and 9.3x62.

What does the CGN collective think? Should I go .375 or .416? While it isn't stainless, the Ruger No.1 in 450-400 Nitro looks very interesting too.
Click to expand...


I think you should follow your heart and buy a 375H&H ... keep the .308 and sell the 7x57, 8x57 and 9.3x62 ... as these are/will be redundant. OTOH as you are no stranger to redundancy (like me) keep everything you have and buy the .375H&H AND in a while buy the .416 Rigby as well! They are all excellent!
 
If you have the itch for a big bore, nothing will scratch it until you go .40 or bigger. Trust me. If you're stuck on 416 I would say go for the Rigby. But if you really want to have some fun step up to a 458 :) The 458(WM or Lott) is a whole lot more fun and versatile if you are a handloader as there are way more bullet options available in 458 than 416. I hope you are a handloader as anything above 375 and ammo prices get ridiculous in a hurry if your're buying factory!
 
Don't sell any gunz...

Buy a .375 H&H... load your 9.3 down a bit and load the .375 to the nutz...

Next year buy a No.1 in .450/400... then load it until your nose bleeds...
 
hoytcanon said:
Don't sell any gunz...

Buy a .375 H&H... load your 9.3 down a bit and load the .375 to the nutz...

Next year buy a No.1 in .450/400... then load it until your nose bleeds...
Click to expand...

I just gave a rifle and scope combo to my amigo because I had no room left in the safes. A new cannon is on the way to me so I had to make a hole fer it. Well, I actually made him a deal on the scope, but the rifle was gratis.

I like yer reasoning hoyt.;)
 
9.3mauser said:
The difference between the 9.3 and a .375 is 15 grs. of lead and 200 fps, loaded to equal pressure with bullets of similar sectional density. A very small step up, and to me, not worth it. I would go with the .416 or the Ruger in .450/400 ( my personal preference)
Click to expand...

sherlockbonez said:
I love my 375 but since you already have 9.6, i would step up to 416 for extra oomph.
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That is what I was starting to think about the .375 and was wondering about going bigger so there is more of a gap.


AP said:
I think you should follow your heart and buy a 375H&H ... keep the .308 and sell the 7x57, 8x57 and 9.3x62 ... as these are/will be redundant. OTOH as you are no stranger to redundancy (like me) keep everything you have and buy the .375H&H AND in a while buy the .416 Rigby as well! They are all excellent!
Click to expand...

Sell? What does that mean? ;)


blueoval56 said:
If you have the itch for a big bore, nothing will scratch it until you go .40 or bigger. Trust me. If you're stuck on 416 I would say go for the Rigby. But if you really want to have some fun step up to a 458 :) The 458(WM or Lott) is a whole lot more fun and versatile if you are a handloader as there are way more bullet options available in 458 than 416. I hope you are a handloader as anything above 375 and ammo prices get ridiculous in a hurry if your're buying factory!
Click to expand...

medvedqc said:
458 win is your step up.

i have 9.3x62, 375 ruger and wont have a 416 ...
Click to expand...

Two votes for the .458. I'll do some looking around.

I do have loading equipment so once I get some supplies I'll be loading for whatever I buy.


hoytcanon said:
Don't sell any gunz...

Buy a .375 H&H... load your 9.3 down a bit and load the .375 to the nutz...

Next year buy a No.1 in .450/400... then load it until your nose bleeds...
Click to expand...

That could work.
 
9.3x62....375H&H....458WM....boring....
404 Jeffery on the other hand....COOL!
No other serious caliber feeds as smoothly into chamber, allows you faster follow up shot and has better hunting record.
It might be overkill here in NA but not to much against the biggest of game like moose, grizly or bison.
 
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hoytcanon said:
A dandy Ruger No.1 .458 just hit the EE...

Just sayin'...
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I did see that but I'm hesitant because it's too pretty. I love wood and blued steel but I would like something that handles the rain better.

Adding a stainless rifle gives me a bad weather option and would be less redundant. I may go with wood but a hard use rifle would be nice to have.
 
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Nechako said:
True, but being out for a week or two in the rain sure doesn't play well with wood and blued steel.
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We do it all the time... no problems. Just take care of your gun... even if it is a stainless gun, you don't leave it wet and sitting in a gun case... and you don't case it in the cold and leave it cased when you bring it into the camp or tent... a little common sense goes a long way...
 
hoytcanon said:
We do it all the time... no problems. Just take care of your gun... even if it is a stainless gun, you don't leave it wet and sitting in a gun case... and you don't case it in the cold and leave it cased when you bring it into the camp or tent... a little common sense goes a long way...
Click to expand...

Obviously care is required and I do take very good care of my firearms, but I don't enjoy beating up my old BRNOs and M98 so I would like an all weather big bore.
 
I've played the blued steel rifle hunting in the rain thing a fair bit. I'm not talking showers here and there I'm talking all day rain like it does most of the season in these parts. Bottom line is it can be done but you're looking at at least a half hour of dicking around each day drying the rifle properly and no matter how careful you are after the first season there will be blemishes, lots of em.. wood dings blueing loss possibly pock marks. With tuperware and stainless I do zilch and the stock shows no issues at all unless you really nock it hard and the stainless just does its thing gets dinged up a little but looks fine. And if you want to talk about hunting out of a boat on the inlets here a blued rifle can be destroyed in short order. Luckily much of Canada is semi arid I'd have more wood and blue living elsewhere but not out here.
 
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