.375 H&H stainless woes...

T

Ticonderoga

New member
I'm looking to buy a rifle in .375 H&H & prefer a controlled round feed. While searching I've had my eye on the (current production) Winchester Mod 70 Safari, the CZ 550 & the Remington 798 (Serbian Mauser).

But, as I thought about it, I realized that I wanted stainless & synthetic as I plan to use the rifle quite a bit and will be in some inclement weather.

The problem is, there are really NO stainless CRF guns in the >$1200 range. I just love the "look" of the Ruger Alaskan but they only come in .375 Ruger. I'm sure the die-hard Ruger fans will applaud this round but I'll never buy it for two reasons: first, ammo availability in Africa, and second, I won't buy something that's forced on me. That Ruger won't make a stainless gun in H&H sort of "forces" you into their round. I think that it is anti-freedom and I'll have no part of it (same reason I don't own an ipod, I won't subject myself to itunes).

For the life of me, I cannot understand why Winchester discontinued the .375 stainless in 2005. Every site I see that offers one for sale it is snatched up inside of 24 hours.

If CZ offered a 550 in stainless I'd buy it tomorrow. With such a demand for .375 H&H CRF guns, why don't any of the "big" manufacturers produce them any more? Winchester could make some $, or so I think.

I've now turned my sights to the Kimber Talkeetna, a rather beautiful gun that reviews like a tack driver, albeit an expensive one.

Anyone have any thoughts, ideas, or know of a buddy selling a .375 H&H stainless CRF gun?

just for reference:

the Mod 70 in stainless:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/historic-detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535012

and the Talkeetna:

http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/rifles/specialty/talkeetna/

both are beautiful rifles
 
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For the life of me, I cannot understand why Winchester discontinued the .375 stainless in 2005.
Click to expand...

Probably for the usual reason; they weren't selling enough of them to make it worthwhile.

It's a shame because the package makes a lot of sense. If I lived in Alaska I would definitely own one. But I don't and I don't.
 
Browing made an A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in .375 H&H might look for one of those. MRC will make you a stainless .375 H&H as well as several other gunmakers out there if you are willing to open your pocket book. Most people who hunt Africa want a wood and blue rifle that is why most companies have dropped the stainless synthetic .375 H&H rifles.

I own the Ruger as well in a blued wood stalked rifle and while I don't know the ammo availability in Africa is. I figured if I ever take it on safari then I'll take my own hand loaded ammo. If my ammunition gets lost and I can't find any, I'll borrow a rifle from my PH if I ever hunt Africa.

Love the H&H and someday I might just get me one but more than likely it will be wearing a nice walnut stock and have a high luster blue finish on it.
 
Ruger Mk II Magnum Bolt Action and the CZ 550 Safari Classic comes close to your spec of CRF and 375 H&H. Of course, they are both walnut/blued, so there's that. Or you can get in contact with a FFL holder and have him order one of the Zastava Mausers. They are available in stainless, and in 375 H&H.
http://www.ussginc.com/pdfs/USSG_2011_Z98_Z5.pdf

Winchester Modfel 70 in stainless and 375 H&H can be found on the used market. It will be hard to find one for less than $1200, though. Anything in 375 H&H is probably going to cost more.
 
Doesn't Tikka make a 375 in stainless? I recall looking at their web site some time back that they had one for harsh conditions.

I also agree with the 375 Ruger. Good luck finding that ammo especially out of the country. Ruger's claims about it out performing the Holland have been doubted by some later tests of both rounds.
 
Doesnt Sako make a stainless for 375HH. I think its called the Kodiak. Not sure if its a true crf though.
What does everyone think about the Sako Kodiak compared to the M70 and CZ?
 
Yes, Sako and Tikka do make a 375 H&H. Read the OP, he wants CRF, and neither the Sako nor the Tikka come in CRF.
 
suggestions

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

The Sako is a beautiful rifle and I fell in love with it at first sight. Unfortunately, Browning's A-bolt is push feed as is the Sako. I have not yet looked at the Tikka, I'll have to check that out.

So far as Mod 70 Classics in stainless, I've seen 3 (after searching for a week), two were $2300 (why not just buy the Kimber) and one is $1400; I've got an email to that dealer but no response as of yet. Will try calling but phones are dodgy over here.

I just can't believe that there isn't a market for a Win Mod 70 in stainless considering how quickly they are snapped up on the used market. I think that a lot of folks in Alaska would take one. I've seen a few stainless with laminated light wood stocks and they are beautiful (like the Sako).

I may well end up with a Rem 798, CZ 550 or a a blue/wood Mod 70, but you all know how it is, once you set your heart on a particular gun, its hard to go with something "else."
 
People who want traditional features usually want traditional finishes. Have you considered replacing and selling the walnut, and having the action hard-chromed?
 
Tikka

I checked out the Tikka; it looks like they only go up to .338

The Sako Kodiak is a very sharp looking game rifle but I don't like its 21 1/4" barrel. The hunter laminated stainless has a 24" barrel but doesn't appear to have sights. I'm only looking at the Sako again after I've read a number of articles on the push feed vs. controlled feed debate.

It looks like many of the new controlled feed guns, to include the Rugers aren't bona fide CRF guns, they are a hybrid CRF/PF.

From what I've read in the articles, the old CRF design was to prevent double feeds caused by short stroking of the bolt & greater extraction abilities.

It seems that the "new" CRF guns will allow a 2nd round to feed before ejection. So, if you short stroke one of these, it will double feed as well. The larger stronger Mauser extractor (or so I've read) is really moot these days as brass is much stronger and deformed/stuck cases are more a phenomenon of the early 20th Century.

If most current manufactured guns with supposed CRF can allow a double feed, what's the point of paying a premium for them and limit my selection to these guns.

Here are some of the debates that I read on the CRF issue:

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/powder-keg/2279-contro

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315503

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2211978
 
Intriguing quest.

That Model 70 you mentioned was my original choice many years ago and I never went for it.
Ended up with a 700 / .375 RUM instead. :D

Yet, the mystique of the .375 H&H and my preference for 'Remington' still haunts me.
I like your idea of the 798, and the above poster mentioned a refinish...not a bad idea.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/047700898469.html
rem_798_safari.jpg


A worthy project, indeed.
Good luck.
 
I read an article many years ago by Ross Seyfried about his Remington 700 / .416 Rem.Mag. that he used in Africa as a DGR.
I wish I could remember the issue! RIFLE Journal, Sep 1999 or something.
He said he never had a problem with the feed/ejection with his PF 700 fixed-magazine.
Potent argument FOR the PF/700 in a very capable cartridge.
Food for thought.

Anybody have info on that article?
 
I'll probably hunt boar with it this spring and then eventually plan to take an Elk, some deer next fall and eventually a bear, maybe a moose and then some game in Africa. I have two S. African colleauges at work and one has friends who are guides and his elephant stories have rekindled my desire to take a safari.

Hadn't considered a chrome job. I'm overseas and would like to have the gun ready to go when I get home; a stainless job with a scope mounted and bore sighted is what I have in mind...
 
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