The I LOVE THIS GUN Thread

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by Fe Man

You are spot on about the 375 H&H versus the 338 Win Mag!

I had the 375 in a Ruger #1 and the 338 Win Mag in a Winchester Model 70 while living in Alaska and would much rather shoot the 375; the .338 was punishing. I had rather shoot my .338 Lapua over the Win Mag, though not really a fair comparison as the Lapua was a much heavier gun.

Yup. 338 Win Mag kicks like hell in standard-weight rifles. Of course, in a similar gun the Lapua would be uber-nasty; most guns in that caliber are not only hefty, but have a big honkin' muzzle-brake on 'em.

One issue I did have with the 375H&H, now that I think of it, was case-stretch and some case-head separations. I handloaded and, because of the cost of the cases and the amount I was shooting it, was probably guilty of using my brass one or two handloadings too many. The case would split just ahead of the belt. When I'd open the bolt the head would come off leaving the forward portion of the case hopelessly stuck in the chamber. I bought a special case remover and had that happen several times over the years I owned the gun. I also had to trim the cases fairly often, so I am thinking that because of the long sloping shape of the brass, it flowed under pressure, thinning at the head and lengthening or thickening where you didn't want that.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by HardCase

Yup. 338 Win Mag kicks like hell in standard-weight rifles. Of course, in a similar gun the Lapua would be uber-nasty; most guns in that caliber are not only hefty, but have a big honkin' muzzle-brake on 'em.

One issue I did have with the 375H&H, now that I think of it, was case-stretch and some case-head separations. I handloaded and, because of the cost of the cases and the amount I was shooting it, was probably guilty of using my brass one or two handloadings too many. The case would split just ahead of the belt. When I'd open the bolt the head would come off leaving the forward portion of the case hopelessly stuck in the chamber. I bought a special case remover and had that happen several times over the years I owned the gun. I also had to trim the cases fairly often, so I am thinking that because of the long sloping shape of the brass, it flowed under pressure, thinning at the head and lengthening or thickening where you didn't want that.

How did you have the sizing die set up? If you set the shoulder back each time, eventually you'll get a separation. The belt holds the base stationary and the rest flows forward to fill the chamber each time it's fired. If you take a fired case and smoke the neck, then adjust the die down gradually until the neck is completely sized without contacting the shoulder, you'll be headspacing against the shoulder instead of the belt, and the brass won't be worked and hardened as much, making the case last longer. This only applies to rimmed and belted bottleneck cases.

Always headspace against the shoulder, not the rim or belt.

[RedRocker]

Originally Posted by HardCase

Yeah, sorry, I know I've posted that pic several times......in this thread!

When I bought that gun about 4 years ago I really wanted it in 308. I love the 308 round and have several guns in that caliber. But the shop only had the '06, and I'd never had one so decided good enough and bought it. I'm actually glad they didn't heve the 308 in retrospect, although that would be great too, but it's been fun playing with this one. I think Ruger has discontinued its Mannlicher bolt-actions.....although they still make the "International" version of the No. 1.

I'd go for an 06 myself if I had the chance.

[CurtOKC]

Many years ago I built a 375 H&H on a 1917 Enfield action. It was a great and accurate rifle that I greatly enjoyed. Due to spinal injuries I could no longer handle shooting it and have passed it onto my eldest son. He now enjoys taking it out to the desert and shooting it. I want to mention an idea that I ran accross many years ago. The standing bench rest. It was being used by some english gents sighting in some heavy caliber rifles.Basically a bench rest built at sternum height. It allows you to shoot with the same accuracy of bench rest but it allows more of your body to be involved in absorbing the recoil. I have seen some people do the same things over the hood of their pick-up trucks or roof of their cars. Just make sure that you put something down to protect the paint job.

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by ttpete

How did you have the sizing die set up? If you set the shoulder back each time, eventually you'll get a separation. The belt holds the base stationary and the rest flows forward to fill the chamber each time it's fired. If you take a fired case and smoke the neck, then adjust the die down gradually until the neck is completely sized without contacting the shoulder, you'll be headspacing against the shoulder instead of the belt, and the brass won't be worked and hardened as much, making the case last longer. This only applies to rimmed and belted bottleneck cases.

Always headspace against the shoulder, not the rim or belt.

Yeah, I knew that so I bought a special neck-size only die and would use that for two or three reloadings until a tight fit would mandate FL sizing. I'm sure I wasn't doing it perfectly. The 375H&H doesn't have much of a shoulder, but probably enough to headspace up to a point.

I'm now handloading for 9.3x74R which is a very long tapered round, lots longer and more tapered than the 375. I have both a FL and a neck die for that and we'll see how it goes. I may find I have to FL size more often as the gun is a No. 1 single-shot, so doesn't have the camming power of a bolt.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by HardCase

Yeah, I knew that so I bought a special neck-size only die and would use that for two or three reloadings until a tight fit would mandate FL sizing. I'm sure I wasn't doing it perfectly. The 375H&H doesn't have much of a shoulder, but probably enough to headspace up to a point.

I'm now handloading for 9.3x74R which is a very long tapered round, lots longer and more tapered than the 375. I have both a FL and a neck die for that and we'll see how it goes. I may find I have to FL size more often as the gun is a No. 1 single-shot, so doesn't have the camming power of a bolt.

There IS a rimmed version, the .375 H&H Flanged. It was for doubles and single shots.

I have a .375 built on a really nice Brno Mauser action that was originally used on one of the Persian contract rifles. These were made with a polished blued receiver and polished unblued bolt and operating parts. It has a model 70 style side swing safety and the front sling swivel on a barrel band. The builder had some nice cherry wood blanks that had been in the loft for 30 years, and he used one to make the stock. Barrel is a Douglas XX. Scope is a 1X4 Leupold zoom.

[tslewisz]

Originally Posted by henrymartin

This one always went bang

I hate those damned squared off trigger guards.

[EvilGenius]

Originally Posted by tslewisz

I hate those damned squared off trigger guards.

+1

The one on the new Czs everyone seems to like drives me bonkers.

[doc_ricketts]

Originally Posted by HardCase

Yeah, sorry, I know I've posted that pic several times......in this thread!

When I bought that gun about 4 years ago I really wanted it in 308. I love the 308 round and have several guns in that caliber. But the shop only had the '06, and I'd never had one so decided good enough and bought it. I'm actually glad they didn't heve the 308 in retrospect, although that would be great too, but it's been fun playing with this one. I think Ruger has discontinued its Mannlicher bolt-actions.....although they still make the "International" version of the No. 1.

Never saw a Ruger Mannlicher, but that Sako that we used in Alaska was so smooth and carried so well that I would probably buy one if I saw it. And your right, 375 H&H is not really that bad. Kicks hard, but smooth and slow, even from that short Sako barrel. It is the sharpness of report and impulse kick of the really long, sharp shouldered mags.

[gatling]

I've been a fan of the .375 H&H for a long time. This is my "go to" rifle...it's a Remington 700 I bought in Texas in the late 1970s...



Last year I bought a Ruger M-77 in 375 H&H that was still new in the box...haven't fired this one yet...I sure like the wood.



And I take delivery tomorrow on a Ruger No. 1 in .375 Ruger. That one has even nicer wood than the two above, but I don't have any photos of it yet. The .375 Ruger is an interesting round, with velocities at or above the .375 H&H and case dimensions that allow chambering it in standard length actions (not that this feature makes any difference in a Ruger No. 1). I'm curious to see how it shoots and how it recoils.

Someone above posted about case shoulder making a difference in recoil. I'd never heard of that; I always thought recoil was strictly a function of muzzle velocity, bullet weight, rifle weight, and stock design. You know, F = ma.

My 375 Model 700 has a hefty kick to it; substantially more than a .30 06, but still manageable. It is not a gun you can shoot from the bench all day long. That said, the .375's recoil is way below a .458 Win Mag or a .45-70 loaded to max velocity in a Ruger No. 1. I love shooting the .375 H&H, but if I'm going to be burning up a lot of ammo, the .308 and the .30 06 are two of my favorites. Been doing a lot with the .223 lately, too (I kind of fell in love with my Circassian Mini 14). The Mini is not all that accurate, but every once in a while it kind of settles in and lets me connect with metal gongers at 275 yards on a regular basis.

[acesandeights]

Originally Posted by HardCase

One of my best friends, a guy in his late 50s, hadn't hunted since he was a young man and decided to take it up a couple of years back. He wanted to go after deer so asked if he could borrow a rifle, didn't own one, so I loaned him one of my 308s. He got a deer and was happy with the rifle/caliber combo, but the next season he decided to buy his own gun. He ended up with a 300 Remington Ultra Mag! Good gawd that thing is obnoxious. Noisy, kicks like hell, I named it the Thermonuclear, or just the Thermo for short. He shot a deer with it last season and it practically dissintegrated the forward quarters of the animal. The meat, even in the hindquarters, was blood-shot. I wasn't present when he took the shot, was about 300 yards away, but even from that distance my ears were ringing and when I arrived on the scene-of-the-crime, which is pretty much what it was, there were bits of hide and blood and bone all over the place.

So, on my recommendation, last spring he purchased a nice Marlin 1895 in 45/70. I told him that I think he'll be happier with it for the close-range deer hunting that we do around this area, plus it's enough gun for anything bigger and meaner that he might encounter.

For a minute there I thought you were talking about me. I had a 300-mag for a while and hated it (for all the reasons you posted above). I now have several Marllin lever-guns that take care of pretty much any distance I'll shoot, including a Marlin 45-70. My only bolt gun now, a CZ452 in .22

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by gatling

I've been a fan of the .375 H&H for a long time. This is my "go to" rifle...it's a Remington 700 I bought in Texas in the late 1970s...


Last year I bought a Ruger M-77 in 375 H&H that was still new in the box...haven't fired this one yet...I sure like the wood.


And I take delivery tomorrow on a Ruger No. 1 in .375 Ruger. That one has even nicer wood than the two above, but I don't have any photos of it yet. The .375 Ruger is an interesting round, with velocities at or above the .375 H&H and case dimensions that allow chambering it in standard length actions (not that this feature makes any difference in a Ruger No. 1). I'm curious to see how it shoots and how it recoils.

Someone above posted about case shoulder making a difference in recoil. I'd never heard of that; I always thought recoil was strictly a function of muzzle velocity, bullet weight, rifle weight, and stock design. You know, F = ma.

My 375 Model 700 has a hefty kick to it; substantially more than a .30 06, but still manageable. It is not a gun you can shoot from the bench all day long. That said, the .375's recoil is way below a .458 Win Mag or a .45-70 loaded to max velocity in a Ruger No. 1. I love shooting the .375 H&H, but if I'm going to be burning up a lot of ammo, the .308 and the .30 06 are two of my favorites. Been doing a lot with the .223 lately, too (I kind of fell in love with my Circassian Mini 14). The Mini is not all that accurate, but every once in a while it kind of settles in and lets me connect with metal gongers at 275 yards on a regular basis.

Those are some beautiful guns, gatling. I've seen a lot of really nice wood on No. 1s, but not so much on 700s or 77s, although occasionally you'll spot one that seemingly slipped through. Post up some pics of the 375 Ruger when you get a chance, I'd love to see it. I need to pull the 9.3x74R out of the safe and take some pics, it's a No. 1 although the wood on that one is nothing spectacular. Not bad though. I have one other No. 1 in 7mm Rem. Mag that is beautiful. I bought that one back in the 70s.

Re the 375 case shoulder affecting recoil, I didn't see that and certainly didn't say it. We did discuss case stretch, head separations following repeated handloadings, that sort of thing, and how that is something a guy has to be careful of with long tapered cases with puny little shoulders.....like the 375H&H.

[gatling]

Originally Posted by HardCase

Those are some beautiful guns, gatling. I've seen a lot of really nice wood on No. 1s, but not so much on 700s or 77s, although occasionally you'll spot one that seemingly slipped through. Post up some pics of the 375 Ruger when you get a chance, I'd love to see it. I need to pull the 9.3x74R out of the safe and take some pics, it's a No. 1 although the wood on that one is nothing spectacular. Not bad though. I have one other No. 1 in 7mm Rem. Mag that is beautiful. I bought that one back in the 70s.
ater
Re the 375 case shoulder affecting recoil, I didn't see that and certainly didn't say it. We did discuss case stretch, head separations following repeated handloadings, that sort of thing, and how that is something a guy has to be careful of with long tapered cases with puny little shoulders.....like the 375H&H.

Thanks, Hardcase. The Model 700 I posted above is an exceptional rifle. The guy at the gunstore (Alpine Range, in Fort Worth) knew I was a wood freak and he showed it to me when I was in the store one day. He had ordered it for a guy who was going to Africa. I told him I wanted it and he told me it was already sold, but the guy hadn't seen it yet. I asked him to order another one for the other guy and he told me he couldn't do that. I told him to take a good look at me, because it was the last time he'd ever see me if he didn't sell me the one above. Long story short, he did as I asked and the gun was mine. I think I paid something like $342 in '78 for it. When I came back to pick it up he reluctantly showed me the other one he ordered for the guy who was supposed to get this one; it was plain (broomstick wood, I called it).

I am getting the 375 Ruger No. 1 today and I will try to get a photo or two of it posted later this weekend.

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by gatling

Thanks, Hardcase. The Model 700 I posted above is an exceptional rifle. The guy at the gunstore (Alpine Range, in Fort Worth) knew I was a wood freak and he showed it to me when I was in the store one day. He had ordered it for a guy who was going to Africa. I told him I wanted it and he told me it was already sold, but the guy hadn't seen it yet. I asked him to order another one for the other guy and he told me he couldn't do that. I told him to take a good look at me, because it was the last time he'd ever see me if he didn't sell me the one above. Long story short, he did as I asked and the gun was mine. I think I paid something like $342 in '78 for it. When I came back to pick it up he reluctantly showed me the other one he ordered for the guy who was supposed to get this one; it was plain (broomstick wood, I called it).

I am getting the 375 Ruger No. 1 today and I will try to get a photo or two of it posted later this weekend.

That's a good story. My 7mm Rem. Mag. No 1, purchased around that same time, '78 or '79, wasn't a gun I had any intention of buying. I just happened to be in a shop and spotted it. I fell in love with the wood and bought it on the spot. I remember my wife at the time practically shit a brick, we didn't have a lot of money and our son had just been born recently. I was seriously in the dog-house for a while after that impusle purchase. I did use the gun quite a bit in the next several years, took an antelope with it at a little over 300 yards, and also a mule deer at long range, same hunting trip to SE Montana.

Enjoy the new No. 1! I envy you. I am about to head out to pick up a single-shot rifle myself, but nothing nearly as pretty or glamorous.....an H&R single-shot in 500 S&W Magnum. Downright ugly, actually, I think broomstick wood would be nicer than what this one has. It's like someone plied it lightly with a blow-torch to try to simulate fiddle-back, prior to slapping on the Verathane. But I've been wanting a rifle in 500 because I've played with that caliber so much ever since it came out in handguns in '03. And for $249 OTD it should be pretty cheap entertainment.

[gatling]

Interesting. I've toyed with the idea of buying one of those H&Rs in .45/70 just to play with a it a bit. Keep us posted with your adventures on the .500.