who makes "the best" bolt action 375 H&H?

eltorro

eltorro

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I fired a 375 H&H a couple of days ago. Not bad - recoil wise.
I was expecting a lot more. The rifle was a Browning. The weight wasn't excessive but it had a nice recoil pad.

I pulled it against my shoulder until it started wobbling, and squezed the treigger hoping for the best. Not BAAAAD. I hit about 1" from where I aimed. Offhand and afraid of the recoil... 300gr @ a decent speed reloads...

Some of my 308s (with metal buttplate) kicked worse with the HE 180 bullets.

I knew right away I'll want one some day... some day pending on ,,,, you know what....

What do you consider to be the best bolt action in this caliber? If you could detail as of why... even better.

thank you
 
Tough question eltorro, but assuming you're talking about current production I like the Deluxe Ruger Magnum. I haven't shot one but..

Why? cause they're built like a brick s**t house, the barrel and sight rib are made out of a solid bar of steel, they have a cool folding leaf sight and I like Ruger's ring system which the rifle comes with a pair. They're the better part of 2 grand though :eek:
 
I have a Winchester M70 Stainless with a synthetic stock, it is a good set up for a hunting rifle. I would rate it as the "the best" 375 for my needs. I like a light easy to handle rifle that will take abuse. I also prefer the controlled round feed, normaly when I grab the 375 (or my 9.3x64 Brenneke)it is for a reason as I use it when things are about to get hairy.


The ruger M77mag is a bit heavy and bulky for a true hunting rifle. I have one in 416Rigby and never use it. Nice to look at, probably good to take to africa and wack a Cape Buffalo with but not good bouncing around on a quad in the muskeg. The 375 version is half a pound lighter but still "clubby"

The Ruger #1 is always an option but then you are limited to one shot, fine if you are not using it to get out of bad situations. I have a #1' and don't realy care for them as a serious hunting rifle, the main reason is the safety always comes off on it's own.
 
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oh, my mistake.... I forgot to mention that I'd appreciate a rating of the iron sights as well.... and a bulk park price (if possible) of the said rifles.
so far Ruger, Win 70, Sako and Brno....
 
Well, as you didn't put a price limit on "the best" I'm gonna say a Holland and Holland!
Price-wise, you can't go wrong with a CZ 550 Magnum
 
Dustin said:
Well, as you didn't put a price limit on "the best" I'm gonna say a Holland and Holland!
Price-wise, you can't go wrong with a CZ 550 Magnum
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Ditto!:D or a Rigby, or a Westley Richards!:cool:

The one I had was a Win classic Super Express. It was a real good shooter too.

If this is the kind you may be looking for, drop me a line Eltorro, I know the guy who bought it from me hasn't used it since and would sell it back to me (you);) ;) if you want it. Less than 100 rds through it and I still have the Steel Leupold QR bases and rings for it too so going to the irons is real fast.:)

They feed like greased lightning and although they could have used a bit better recoild pad they still aren't bad right out of the box.

Noel
 
I have one in a sako a-111
I like it a lot - mcmillion stock
a little on the light side but geting some recoil reducer in stock to help a bit
every sako i have owned has shot great -cant go wrong with a sako
 
I should also add that at the time I was using the Win 70, I also had a Ruger M77 Ultralight in 308 Win. I will totally agree with you that the recoil from full power 180gr loads "felt" every bit as nasty as the toploads in the 375. The follow through withthe 375 was just a bit more. lol!

Noel
 
The Winchesters's sights are the only problem I have with the rife. The back (on this model) is a folding type. I don;t know how many times I have looked down to see the dam sight folded down. Many of those times I was within 15 yards of a bear. I might chang it out, how it is right now is not good. The sight picture is great and easy to use though, front sight has a silver bead that is easy to see, eventhough it is hooded.


The 77 Rugers sights are heavy duty. I would rate them tops on that price rage of rifle..with only one down fall... the front bead is to small to see in all conditions. The front has a brass bead and can be changed out for a larger bead though it may screw up the regualtion of the sights. Mine are dead on with a 400g at 2350fps out of the Rigby. There is no provision for elevation adjustment other than filing them down. The rear sight has one standing V iron for 50 and two folding one for 100 and 200 yards. The rear sights are dovetailed to a integral bbl rib, high quality type ####, with a locking screw used to hold them in adjustement.
 
If you are serious about a 375 H&H and looking for the rifle with the longest list of well thought out and valuable features...do a search on the BRNO ZKK. Interchangable dovetail foresights to quickly regulate for your chosen load (by dovetail I mean you push a spring loaded plunger down and slip out the old foresight and slip in a new one... no hammerimg required.. and you can do it in the field as quickly as dropping another round into the chamber!); excellent (and very strong) express sights; dovetail scope mounting with integral recoil provision on the receiver; deep strong action with full circumference collar only broached for the extractor. Dovetailed forward barrel/stock bolt; Easily dismantled bolt for field maintenance; The lug is not split for the ejector etc etc etc..... anyway ... it would take several pages to explain what makes the BRNO so desireable...best to do a web search and have look at a copy of "Bolt Actions of the World" ...

The big ZKK actions are pretty special and I think easily surpass the much fabled Brevex and commercial double square bridge '98's ....

I bought several of the long action ZKK's .. one in 375H&H... I also later purchased a Sako Carbine in 375H&H ... the Sako was almost 3 times the cost of the BRNO. The finish on the Sako is excellent and they are both more accurate that most 270W's...but if I could only keep one of them... I don't know which one I would sell... but I think I might have to let the Sako go first....the BRNO's are easily that good!
 
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Another vote for the Win 70, classic or pre-'64. The stock design just 'works' for me in terms of recoil, iron sights are decent, and very accurate.
 
while the Wichester sounds familiar and Ruger had some feed problems in many a rifle, I would consider them both suitable for the job.
I am not familiar with the Sako models you speak of are CRF or PF.... ?

As far a Brno goes.... is it better than the CZ(550)? Do they still make it? who sells it? How much?

For the Hollan& Holland remark... come on.... I clearly made out that I'm in the process of saving for one. If I had the money already, I'd buy one and this would be a WTB post.. :dancingbanana: ..... But I'd say that one does not save for an H&H rifle (or a Richards for that matter)... one affords it or not.
Guess what : I don't. I just sold my house and still don't.

649 er
 
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Well that's okay Eltorro, most of us are in the same boat here!

Like I said, The Winny is in the CRF model, hardly used and available quite quickly if you decide to go that way. He wanted $800 IIRC and then my rings bases on top of that. She's there if you want it!

Noel
 
I'll put a vote in for the CZ as well. I have a couple 550s in .375 and .416 Rigby. Lap and polish the actions and bed them. Most shoot very well. Price is right too.
If price was no object you could get Rigby to build you one, but they would start with a CZ action and polish the hell out of it.
The Ruger is nice, a bit heavy and double the money. Rugers don't have much of a reputation for accuracy. Gorgeous rifle though.
I like Winchesters Classics a lot, if you can find one. If you could get a later example with the Williams one piece bottom metal it would be a bonus. Pre 64s are priced way up there but are good.
Sako makes a nice rifle, ready to go.
 
If price was no object you could get Rigby to build you one, but they would start with a CZ action and polish the hell out of it.
Click to expand...

ain't that the truth....most of these makers of "fyne olde Englishe" rifles are simply pimping out someone else's firearm. It is particularly annoying if you have had to deal with one of their pasty faced clerks with the pickle up their ass who has never drawn a bead on anything other than a Pims at the local pub....
 
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