Rifle question

[tikkatac]

I'm looking at buying a new rifle and the two calibers I have to choose from are 300 WSM and 375 H&H Which one and why?

I'll be using it for everything from, whitetail hunting to moose hunting in the north and everything in between.

What about long range shots 200-300 yards? is the H&H up to the task? I know the 300WSM is a great all around caliber but I thought it would be neat to have the 375.

[bearhunter338-06]

Me, myself and I prefer the 375 H&H. The 375 H&H is just one of those cartage's that are the perfect blend of killing. When loaded with todays bullets like the Barnes TTSX it makes for a deadly 300 yard plus rifle. Ether the 300 WSM or the 375 H&H will do the job, with the 375 H&H doing it better.

[Amphibious]

There can only be one. the true king of the Medium bores. the 375 H&H.

[bandit]

375 is not much use for a beginner. Is this your first rifle?

[Tikka270]

Personally I would go with a .300wsm over a .375h&h as an all around everyday hunting rifle.

[Str8shooterbc]

The 375 H&H shoots flat to be sure but in order to tame the recoil the rifle need to weigh a bit. I just wouldn't want to shoot a 375 in a 7 pound rifle. That's why they used rifle bearers in Africa. A 338 Win Mag might just suit you a little better because a 375 H7H is overkill for any North American game. There is a world of difference between a 375 H7H and a 300WSM. How the heck did you come up with 2 cartridges that are so far apart??

Ken

[Pioneerman]

I personally owned the 300 win mags for 25 years and the rem 416 mag for 12, and last spring got rid of them both for the 375 Ruger, or as some call it the true King lol . But this is not what I would suggest as a first gun . It does pack a punch and there is no such thing as "overkill" how can something be too dead ? Some people think you get more meat damage with larger calibers and that is not the case as much as cheaper bullets flying apart spreading and cause mayhem throughout the animal. If you got any of the 30 cal mags you will be able to load up or down a ton of loads for a major variety of hunting .

[REMINGTON JIM]

I'm looking at buying a new rifle and the two calibers I have to choose from are 300 WSM and 375 H&H Which one and why?

I'll be using it for everything from, whitetail hunting to moose hunting in the north and everything in between.

What about long range shots 200-300 yards? is the H&H up to the task? I know the 300WSM is a great all around caliber but I thought it would be neat to have the 375.


I know you are wanting a opinion on weather a 300 wsm or a 375 h&h But i really think you need to re evaluate what you need in a around cartridge - i personally think you would be much better off with a 338 win mag - just about as powerful as a 375 and flatter shooting like the 300 wsm - very wide range of ammo and bullets avail- Very good bullet bc and high sd make the 338 cal a winner - if you want more power go up to a 338 rum ! jMHO jim

[tikkatac]

I found two sako hunters for sale and really like them, one is 300wsm and the other 375hh. I'm wondering if that rifle might be a little light for such a large caliber? Currently I have a 7mm mag and a 6.5/284 I just want to get a little more umph for the northern critters but still hunt blackies and deer with it.

[Str8shooterbc]

I personally owned the 300 win mags for 25 years and the rem 416 mag for 12, and last spring got rid of them both for the 375 Ruger, or as some call it the true King lol . But this is not what I would suggest as a first gun . It does pack a punch and there is no such thing as "overkill" how can something be too dead ? Some people think you get more meat damage with larger calibers and that is not the case as much as cheaper bullets flying apart spreading and cause mayhem throughout the animal. If you got any of the 30 cal mags you will be able to load up or down a ton of loads for a major variety of hunting .

There is another thread on this site that suggests a 223rem is a perfect deer rifle cartridge. From one extreme to the other.

[Str8shooterbc]

I found two sako hunters for sale and really like them, one is 300wsm and the other 375hh. I'm wondering if that rifle might be a little light for such a large caliber? Currently I have a 7mm mag and a 6.5/284 I just want to get a little more umph for the northern critters but still hunt blackies and deer with it.

You're just not going to gain a lot over your 7mm Rem Mag with the 300WSM - a little heavier bullet. Keep the 6.5 for deer and such and go for the 375H&H for the rest. That covers you for every continent.

Ken

[tikkatac]

You're just not going to gain a lot over your 7mm Rem Mag with the 300WSM - a little heavier bullet. Keep the 6.5 for deer and such and go for the 375H&H for the rest. That covers you for every continent.

Ken

Kinda what I was thinking too. Between the 7mag and the 375 how much more recoil do you think? Say like going from a 222 rem to a 30/06 ???

[Pioneerman]

There is another thread on this site that suggests a 223rem is a perfect deer rifle cartridge. From one extreme to the other.


I know I commented on that also because I own a 22-250 and learned to hunt with a 22 high power. But again you can not make something too dead. The OP asked out thoughts on these two rifles. I think they are both great calibers and I opted for my choice as I am sure he will do, and again either of those two will be good. Seeing as he said now he has the 7 mm the 300 is not much difference when using the same weight bullet, but you can use a much heavier bullet with the 30 cal, but again why when you have something so close, may as well grab the 375 and make a noticeable addition to the safe.

[Brambles]

I know you are wanting a opinion on weather a 300 wsm or a 375 h&h But i really think you need to re evaluate what you need in a around cartridge - i personally think you would be much better off with a 338 win mag - just about as powerful as a 375 and flatter shooting like the 300 wsm - very wide range of ammo and bullets avail- Very good bullet bc and high sd make the 338 cal a winner - if you want more power go up to a 338 rum ! jMHO jim

My experiances say the 375 HH is a more pleasant rifle to shoot and plenty flat enough to make 300yd shots.

[REMINGTON JIM]

i found two sako hunters for sale and really like them, one is 300wsm and the other 375hh. I'm wondering if that rifle might be a little light for such a large caliber? Currently i have a 7mm mag and a 6.5/284 i just want to get a little more umph for the northern critters but still hunt blackies and deer with it.

find a 338 win mag - you can not go wrong !

[Amphibious]

I found two sako hunters for sale and really like them, one is 300wsm and the other 375hh. .

I have a sako 75 in 375H&H, it's well balanced weight/recoil. added a limbsaver and it's fun to shoot now. I think my 325wsm kicks harder.

[r106]

I was going to say the 300wsm hands down reason being ammo avalibility and cost, but seening you have a 7mm already you might as well go .375hh.

[Tikka270]

I was going to say the 300wsm hands down reason being ammo avalibility and cost, but seening you have a 7mm already you might as well go .375hh.

I agree. No need for two calibers so close.

[todbartell]

375 will reach 400-500 yards with the right load. It shoots a 250gr bullet to the same speed a 30-06 shoots a 165gr

[wildcatter]

The 375 HH is a true classic and a well balanced round, I don't own one but it will be my next.

[tikkatac]

I think 375 it is, Thanks for the help guys. I'm a reloader as well so any info on best hunting bullet and powder would help. Now for optics I'm tossing between the Schmidt & Bender Summit 2.5-10 x 40 with A7 Reticle or the Leica ER 2.5-10x42 IBS G7 Reticle. Anyone have any experience with these? I have an S&B 2.5-10 on my 7mm and really like it but wouldn't mind hearing about the leica?

[knightcc]

300 Caliber Mags are in my opinion better. Way more bullet choices (check out Nosler, Barnes and Berger websites to prove this). You can work up a load for a quality 300 WSM or 300 Win Mag rifle and hunt everything with it. Also, ammo is easier to get and trust me it happens once in a while that you will forget your ammo!! I shoot a 300 Win Mag with a Limbsaver pad on and the recoil is not bad at all. Very similar to my 30.06 that does not have a recoil pad. You don't need a brake. Exotic calibers are nice to say you have one but at the end of the day for me at least it's about putting animals down and the 300 WSM or Win Mag does it better and more consistently than most. 300 mags also let you take those less than ideal shots such as quartering to or away if you practice. Others on this site will disagree but I would bet a pile of money that if you polled professional guides in BC what their guns are, 300 Mags would far outnumber other calibers. Nobody ever looks at a nice mount and says "Yah its nice but I wish you would have shot it with a different cartridge"

[BiG Boar]

I would get the 375 also. They are good for grizzly right down to wolves.
Why such unusual scope choices? I didn't even realize Leica made scopes!

[Weatherby Fan]

I would get the 375 also. They are good for grizzly right down to wolves.
Why such unusual scope choices? I didn't even realize Leica made scopes!

Bigboar,
the 2 scope choices he mentions are pretty good scopes,Leica has made them for quite a few years and Schmitt&Bender probably makes the best scopes on the planet,mind you also very expensive,
after 30 or so years of hunting you to will know of all of this stuff :mrgreen:

Tikkatac,since you have a 7mm not much point in getting a 300wsm,so I guess the 375 H&H would be the logical choice in the options you mention.

[tikkatac]

Bigboar,
the 2 scope choices he mentions are pretty good scopes,Leica has made them for quite a few years and Schmitt&Bender probably makes the best scopes on the planet,mind you also very expensive,
after 30 or so years of hunting you to will know of all of this stuff :mrgreen:

Tikkatac,since you have a 7mm not much point in getting a 300wsm,so I guess the 375 H&H would be the logical choice in the options you mention.

Kinda how I felt as well regarding caliber, as for the optics I have always felt your optics should cost as much as the firearm and when I budget for a rifle I simply double the price of the gun to account for it. I would love to hear if someone has a Leica on their rifle as I haven't got the chance to look through one. The cost of each is about the $1400 mark so if you compare them to the other big names you're really not that far off and you're getting a bit better glass than most.

I have a Swarovski Z6 2-12X50 Scope on my 6.5/284 and it's pretty tough to tell the difference between the S&B and the Swaro Glass, and the Swaro was $500 more than the S&B. I'll probably stick with S&B if no one can tell me different, Best to stick with what you know sometimes.

[Foxton Gundogs]

I'm looking at buying a new rifle and the two calibers I have to choose from are 300 WSM and 375 H&H Which one and why?

I'll be using it for everything from, whitetail hunting to moose hunting in the north and everything in between.

What about long range shots 200-300 yards? is the H&H up to the task? I know the 300WSM is a great all around caliber but I thought it would be neat to have the 375.

Personaly I'd go for a 338WM but thats not what you asked IF you are going for 1 rifle only I'd go for the 300 BUT if you think you may wasnt to use a 1/2 punch I'd opt for the 375 backed up by a 270Win down the road. Just my oppinion