375 H&H

mmb1226

New member
I am going to Africa in September and I bought a Sauer 202 in 375 H&H for the trip. My PH told me to look at the Federal Cape Shock in 300 gr. When I went to site in the gun with this load I was getting about a 7" group at 100 yards. I am not expecting bench rest accuracy out of a 375 but I also can't take a gun to Africa shooting this size groups. Any suggestions on different loads to try or adjustments I need to make?
 
What are you going to shoot? Some Federal ammo don't shoot worth a crap. You didn't say which bullet you are using. I like the Nosler load they make in the FC Cape Shok. Try another manufacturer, like Remington or Winchester.
 
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go buy a browning... it could be alot of things...try differnt ammo, scope, mabey ur flinching...make sure all screws are tight...ur crown on ur barrle

Ryan /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Welcome to the board 226.

I would have to agree with having to shoot different types of ammo. .375's can shoot really well.
 
Try a different brand of ammo. Dom't underestimate the
accuracy of the .375. My buddy used to shoot cloverleaves
regularly with his Rem. 700.
 
I will be shooting Eland, Kudu, Gemsbuck, and a few other species on a trophy fee basis. I realize the 375 may be a bit overkill for these particular animals but I really wanted to purchase 1 rifle that I could hunt all game with in Africa. The Federal cartridges I was using were the Cape Shock Nosler Partitions. I thought the problem was me flinching so I had someone else shoot the gun and he had the same results. I think I will find another cartridge to try. At around $60 per box of 20 the 375 is hard on the wallet and the shoulder. Thanks for your input.
 
you know Hornaday makes a very good load for that 375 most ones I have shot and worked with were very accurate but it is a 270 grain bullet but that should not be a problem.
 
Give the Remington Safari load a try...it uses the 300 grain Swift A-Frame.

Really though, for plains game I would load 270 or 250 grain, premium bullets and be happy.

But then again, there's nothing wrong with a 375 and 300 grain bullets. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
If your going to do much shooting with that big boomer for accuracy testing do your shoulder a favor and get a lead sled and a couple of 25 pound bags of shot to put on it. Oh and try several different bullets.
 
IdBob has given you some good advise on purchasing a lead sled. You have bought an expensive rifle for your trip to Africa and most 375's shoot very well.

When you consider the expense of a African hunting trip there is no sense blowing a shot on a trophy animal because of induced "flinching" at the shooting bench.

I sighted in a farmers friend CZ 550 in 375H&H and found the recoil similar to a 20 gauge slug gun which equates to no fun shooting in my book.

You did not say if you scoped your Sauer rifle or not and if you did what scope did you use??

Hog
 
Quote:
IdBob has given you some good advise on purchasing a lead sled. You have bought an expensive rifle for your trip to Africa and most 375's shoot very well.

When you consider the expense of a African hunting trip there is no sense blowing a shot on a trophy animal because of induced "flinching" at the shooting bench.
Hog



.

I would offer the opposite opinion.

DON'T USE A LEAD SLED!!!

I have owned an English .375 H&H for a number of years.

I bought it cuz it was so dammn gorgeous beautiful. I just needed to have it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

These are not rifles to be shot from a bench - the bark is loud, and 5000 foot pounds of energy can brutally beat the crap out of you, and leave you with a serious case of the flinches if not shot right...
... and shooting from a lead sled will not prepare you for shooting the gun in Africa!

If you practice from a bench, you will get a horrible case of the flinches in Africa, and you will come home empty handed.

You need to learn to roll your shoulder with the shot, and you can not learn that on a bench.

If you hand load, load up a bunch of light bullets, like the Speer 235gr Hot cores.

If you don't hand load (and don't have a friend who does), buy some non-premium rounds like Remington Express... at least at half the price, it won't kill your wallet, while it's killing your shoulder /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Sight it in over some cross stix from a sitting position. You can make them from arrow shafts, but you might consider buying a collapsible set of "Stoney point "X" stix"

http://www.midwayusa.com/esearch.exe/sea...h=Search_Button

There is a set that can be used sitting AND standing.

Unless you are very good at sneakin' up on game, you are not going to get close, off hand shots at Eland, Kudu, and Gemsbuck... so you will need some rest.

There is no point in shooting off of a benchrest, unless you are going to hunt off a benchrest.

Sight in the rifle from a sitting position, using "X" stix. They are surprisingly accurate.

Then move to standing.

Hold the rifle into your shoulder as hard as you can. Learn to let your shoulder roll with the shot. It is similar to shooting a very large pistol - you grip the pistol like death, but let your wrist be flexible.

Same with the .375 H&H... hold it hard to your shoulder, but let your body roll with the shot.

After you get it sighted in, start shooting targets that are fun, like gallon jugs of water... it helps to take your mind off of the recoil.

Get to the point where you can hit five jugs of water at 100 yds - watching the water burst will be worth it.

You can master the .375 H&H, and get to the point when you can reliably shoot game with it, and NOT feel the recoil (too much)... but you MUST practice.

You must master the rifle here in the states, or your trip will be a large disappointment.

I would shoot no less than 200 to 300 rounds BEFORE going over there. It might seem expensive, but compared to the cost of the trip, it is a tiny pittance.

Africa is NOT the place to learn to shoot... and sitting around the camp at night, listening to the PH tell you how to try to avoid flinching, and thinking of the lost shots of that afternoon, does not bring home the memories that you want!

It's much nicer to be toasting that night with the PH over the greats shot of the day.

.
 
Don't get stuck on preimum bullets with the 375. The old WW silvertips and powerpoints worked really well. remington core loc's you can go down to 25-28$ per box. They usually shoot better than anything else anyway. Shoot alot maybe have a spare scope also. Good luck Denny
 
I agree with Catshooter. You are going to have to run the rifle from a variety of stances... and as far as the 270-grain Remington Express is concerned you may find as I did that it is all the round you need for all but the largest of game. It is a perfectly adequate round for hunting in the states and the 270-grain weight in a premium round should be all you need for Plains game.
If you draw blood on most game over there you own it. You need to know exactly what kind of shots you can reasonably expect to make and take only those shots. And that takes practice. One wounded animal's fees will more than make up for a couple of hundred rounds of ammo... so spend the money on the practice ammo. You need to master the gun from shooting sticks, a comfortable sitting position, and close range standing offhand shots. I like the inexpensive portable targets that stick in the ground for learning new rifles. Jugs come later when you have confidence in the rifle. I imagine that right now it is confidence and not the rifle that is your main problem. This is not unusual. It took me several hundred rounds to trust and learn a .458 and I'm working on the .375 right now myself for next trip over. I have never bench rested either rifle. Go deer, hog and elk hunting with it if you can. Make it part of your hunting life until you go over.
Actually a 7" group from a new high powered big game rifle first time out is not that bad. It ain't no danged varmint rig. And there is nothing wrong with a Sauer rifle! I imagine that rifle will always shoot better than the guy running it. Mine do.
 
Have a gunsmith install a Pachmeyer Decelerator recoil pad
and mercury recoil reducer in the butt stock. If this is
not enough reduction, have a GOOD gunsmith install a
muzzle brake. This should tame it.
 
Mercury recoil reducers - DON'T. They are a gimmick.

If you have a muzzle break on it, you may find yourself hunting all alone.

There are no short cuts... just learn to shoot the rifle.

.
 
I taught 100# little lady to shoot a 375 H&H and now she has 3 Water Buff's to her credit and a handful of other dangerous game plus a bunch of the other critters. If you hand load do the light bullet thing and start with softer loads. If you don't, like the others have said get on the cheaper light bullets and then go up to the heavier loaded max-out loads.
My own 375 is loaded with barns bullets and I have no trouble from the bench(it is a custom Sako with a break)but that's not where the hunting shot will be from. Also by shooting different ammo you will find the one your gun likes. You won't be shooting dangerous game so just about any load will do the job for you. Even with the 375 bullet placement is the key.

LEN
 
I think i've got 10 safaris under the belt now. I've probably shot 75 animals with the 375 using either nosler partitions or barnes x bullets. I used both 260 and 300 gr partitions, and 270 and 215 grain x bullets. all work well - shot placement is everything. Practice shooting off shooting sticks because that is the way you will shoot 90% of the time. If the recoil really bothers try the 215 grain barnes, but remember when you're shooting game, you're not going to notice the recoil anyway. Practice reloading. Short stroking the bolt is a common mistake. Don't get over involved in gear or clothes, laundry is done every day there and i down to using just a little pocket pair of leica binos. Going back myself in sept to zambia, good luck - you are about to have the time of your life.
 
I'm of a different opinion on the 375 than most. You need to zero from a bench. When you have found the load your gonna use then work with the sticks. Don't bother much with sitting you'll be standing for most. You've got a really nice rifle but if you find that it's more than you are willing to learn to shoot or just take the recoil admit it. You can impress your PH and take a 9.3X62 with you. (CZ $500-600)it works, does not kick as bad has been killing stuff there for probably near 100 years too! Have a great time. Denny
 
First of all thank you for all of the responses. I mounted a VX-III 3x9x40 on Leupold quick detach rings so I hope that is not the problem. This weekend I am going to try a few different loads from various shooting positions and see if it shows any improvement. From the many bits of info I have obtained many have suggested the Remington A-frame so I am hoping this yields positive results. I will let you all know what I discover after the weekend. Take care.
 


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