Unlicensed Dremel
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So I've got my first .375 HH mag coming; a CZ 550 Safari Mag. Like an idiot, I traded my CZ 550FS in 9.3x62 a year or so back - so I went ahead and replaced that rifle I loved with this one, instead of another FS in 9.3, just *in case* I ever get to Africa.
The bbl length is 25".
The question is whether to:
A. Leave it at 25"
B. Cut it to 23"
C. Cut it to 22.5", or
D. Cut it to 22"
Obviously, I want what all of us always want - light, quick, fast handling in thick stuff (such as in Alaska), without giving up *too much* performance.
The main purpose of this rifle is hunting very large OR small dangerous - but NOT the large AND dangerous - game - here and in Africa, to-wit:
North America: Coastal Brownies, Polar Bear, Bison, Musk Ox
Africa: Zebra, Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Lion, Leopard, Hyena
Eur-Asia, Australia, & New Zealand: Brown Bear, Yak, Water Buffalo, Saltwater Croc, Camel, Tapir
...with load A: Probably plain old factory Federal Power-Shok 270s
It is only a very SECONDARY purpose of this rifle to cover the following, since there is a 99% likelihood I'll never be able to afford a tag for one of these:
Africa: Nyati (Cape Buff), Black Rhino, White Rhino, Elephant, & Hippo
...with Load B: Probably a Rhino 380 load.
Realistically, if I hunt any of the latter more than 1% chance, it would/will be the Nyati, but still probably only 5% chance.
I probably WILL get to Africa someday for the plains hunt (Zebra, Eland, Blue Wildebeest, etc), where 25" is no burden (only helps; doesn't hurt, due to the desert-y climate and drivin-round-in-da-truck nature of the hunt - not too much walking).
BUT, this needs to cover the thick stuff for coastal brownies in AK too, which is why I probably want to cut it some.... (lighter, faster handling, less brush snagging in tight cover).
Part of me says that 22" is the MAXIMUM length I want, to achieve the tight cover, good handling aspects (since a lot of guys do the 20" thing in .375 ruger or .375 HH, etc.), but part of me says that 23" is the minimum I want to go and still not lose much velocity - i.e. retain best tradeoff of velocity loss and sight radius (if I use the express irons). Therefore part of me says that I should split the difference and run with 22.5". And a very small part of me says that I should just leave well enough alone at 25", and max out the velocity; that on any coastal brownie hunt I go on (or polar bear hunt); it won't be that mountainous (therefore weight won't be an issue), and that I won't really need the tight handling characteristics. It would likely be guided, and thus the guide/PH would have a .45-70 or something else big right behind me, if we get in the thick stuff. But then again, I'm just crazy & stupid enough to try stuff like that on my own on public lands, so you never know.
What say you, and why?
I'm gonna add one more extreme choice:
A. Leave it at 25"
B. Cut it to 23"
C. Cut it to 22.5", or
D. Cut it to 22"
E. Go all the way to 20" (i.e. 20" is still plenty fine for cape buff even?)
Thank you. If this should go in hunting, well - sorry and can we move it?
The bbl length is 25".
The question is whether to:
A. Leave it at 25"
B. Cut it to 23"
C. Cut it to 22.5", or
D. Cut it to 22"
Obviously, I want what all of us always want - light, quick, fast handling in thick stuff (such as in Alaska), without giving up *too much* performance.
The main purpose of this rifle is hunting very large OR small dangerous - but NOT the large AND dangerous - game - here and in Africa, to-wit:
North America: Coastal Brownies, Polar Bear, Bison, Musk Ox
Africa: Zebra, Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Lion, Leopard, Hyena
Eur-Asia, Australia, & New Zealand: Brown Bear, Yak, Water Buffalo, Saltwater Croc, Camel, Tapir
...with load A: Probably plain old factory Federal Power-Shok 270s
It is only a very SECONDARY purpose of this rifle to cover the following, since there is a 99% likelihood I'll never be able to afford a tag for one of these:
Africa: Nyati (Cape Buff), Black Rhino, White Rhino, Elephant, & Hippo
...with Load B: Probably a Rhino 380 load.
Realistically, if I hunt any of the latter more than 1% chance, it would/will be the Nyati, but still probably only 5% chance.
I probably WILL get to Africa someday for the plains hunt (Zebra, Eland, Blue Wildebeest, etc), where 25" is no burden (only helps; doesn't hurt, due to the desert-y climate and drivin-round-in-da-truck nature of the hunt - not too much walking).
BUT, this needs to cover the thick stuff for coastal brownies in AK too, which is why I probably want to cut it some.... (lighter, faster handling, less brush snagging in tight cover).
Part of me says that 22" is the MAXIMUM length I want, to achieve the tight cover, good handling aspects (since a lot of guys do the 20" thing in .375 ruger or .375 HH, etc.), but part of me says that 23" is the minimum I want to go and still not lose much velocity - i.e. retain best tradeoff of velocity loss and sight radius (if I use the express irons). Therefore part of me says that I should split the difference and run with 22.5". And a very small part of me says that I should just leave well enough alone at 25", and max out the velocity; that on any coastal brownie hunt I go on (or polar bear hunt); it won't be that mountainous (therefore weight won't be an issue), and that I won't really need the tight handling characteristics. It would likely be guided, and thus the guide/PH would have a .45-70 or something else big right behind me, if we get in the thick stuff. But then again, I'm just crazy & stupid enough to try stuff like that on my own on public lands, so you never know.
What say you, and why?
I'm gonna add one more extreme choice:
A. Leave it at 25"
B. Cut it to 23"
C. Cut it to 22.5", or
D. Cut it to 22"
E. Go all the way to 20" (i.e. 20" is still plenty fine for cape buff even?)
Thank you. If this should go in hunting, well - sorry and can we move it?
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