Winchester 1885 High Wall Safari 375 H&H

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blueoval56

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Does anyone have one of these? Care to Let me know what you think if you do?

(Some pics from google to show which model i'm talking about)





This was a run Winchester did that had a 28" full octagon barrel chambered in 375 H&H weighing in at around 8.5 pounds. Apparently there was also a 300 H&H version but I have yet to even find a picture of one so they must have not have made very many of them. The 375's on the other hand are all over the place in the states and are going for decent prices.

I know Prophet River had quite a few of them a couple years ago and I missed out as I had zero expendable funds at the time. They must have sold and I'm wondering if anyone who frequents here could give me their thoughts on this rifle.

I know there are many other 375's out there that would be easier to acquire or might make more sense, but this one falls into the category of "I just plain want one".
 
blueoval56 said:
Does anyone have one of these? Care to Let me know what you think if you do?

(Some pics from google to show which model i'm talking about)





This was a run Winchester did that had a 28" full octagon barrel chambered in 375 H&H weighing in at around 8.5 pounds. Apparently there was also a 300 H&H version but I have yet to even find a picture of one so they must have not have made very many of them. The 375's on the other hand are all over the place in the states and are going for decent prices.

I know Prophet River had quite a few of them a couple years ago and I missed out as I had zero expendable funds at the time. They must have sold and I'm wondering if anyone who frequents here could give me their thoughts on this rifle.

I know there are many other 375's out there that would be easier to acquire or might make more sense, but this one falls into the category of "I just plain want one".
Click to expand...

We just got one in stock. Not listed yet. First one we've seen in a year or two. Had a few 300 HH's too but that was four or five years ago.
 
What do they weigh? Nice looking rifle... It would be a dandy pair to bring on a hunt, in .300 H&H and .375 H&H.
 
My thoughts exactly! I think it would be tough to find one in 300 but you could re-barrel one to make its pair.

For weight I've seen everything from 8 to 9.5lbs. Not a light weight, but classy ;)
 
I've shot a Win 70 Alaskan in .375 H&H that ran around 8.5 pounds or less. The rifle had a good smack to it but not terrible.

It's a bit more of a handful than the 9.5 pound Model 70 Safari under recoil, but a bit less of a handful the rest of the time. The Alaskan left me a wee bit rattled where the Safari left me smiling.
 
blueoval56 said:
I know there are many other 375's out there that would be easier to acquire or might make more sense, but this one falls into the category of "I just plain want one".
Click to expand...

My experience with these rarities is to strike while the iron is hot. They usually aren't produced in great numbers and quality rifles hold their value. The difference from purchase to sale minus any precluded investment opportunities is the real cost of ownership. Compare it with the residual value of a computer or smart phone and you see that it's not so expensive after all.

Don't hesitate. That's a beautiful rifle chambered for an incredible cartridge.
 
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Nine-and-a-half pounds...closer to eleven once you put on a set of steel rings and a scope? Too heavy for my taste; it's a .375, not a .577. On a positive note, it should be a pussycat to shoot with that much heft to it.

You carry it for hours. You only feel recoil for a split-second.
 
jjohnwm said:
Nine-and-a-half pounds...closer to eleven once you put on a set of steel rings and a scope? Too heavy for my taste; it's a .375, not a .577. On a positive note, it should be a pussycat to shoot with that much heft to it.

You carry it for hours. You only feel recoil for a split-second.
Click to expand...

Too heavy for a bolt action carry rifle in .30/06... for a octagon 28" barrelled falling block in .375 H&H, it is just the right heft for proper balance and also for recoil with the steel buttplate, based on my experience with many falling blocks... at least for my taste and preference.
 
On traditional big-bore single-shot guns, absolutely...no one expects them to be lightweight. But this rifle has a thick rubber recoil pad; it's a serious hunter, not a steel-silhouette or Quigley Match gun. I've done a fair bit of hunting with C.Sharps, Rem rolling blocks and others, and the weight of them is part of the experience of using them. By the end of the day it becomes an unpleasant part of the experience! :)

This gun seems more like a Ruger #1; it's got "the look" and the undeniable single-shot cachet, but it could serve beautifully as an all-around hunter without handicapping the user in any way. A bit less weight would make it more versatile in that role, IMHO.
 
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