375 H&H for deer?

[jaeger]

I am going to be aquiring a Ruger 77 chambered in 375H&H mag and 1500 rds on saturday from my grandfather and was wondering how this would be on deer, elk, bear. He used it for moose with great success, and much to my suprise there was no "softball sized exit wound" on any of the bulls ive seen him kill. Looked more like a 300 win mag POP out the side. Anyway just curious because I like to hunt with every weapon I own.

[Midas]

The .375 is just fine for deer, I used mine hog hunting last year, and I found that it wasn't as destructive on meat as the 7mm or .300 Mags, it will knock the snot out of whatever it hits, that's for sure. What bullet weight will you be using?

[polarnewfie]

"Honey, do you think this sledgehammer is gonna be enough for this caterpiller?"
Of course it will be O.K. but I mean COME ON
why not just get a Barrett 50BMG and just be done with it
Just because you like to hunt with all your guns doesn't mean you should take everything with each one.
If that was all you had I guess it would have to do, but a slingshot could take a deer with the right shot, and hitting a doe with a 300 grain slug is just plain overkill.
I am just stating my opinion, but how many more posts are there gonna be with the "do you think my 300 win mag is enough to take a chipmunk?" thread starters on them
If you dont know what a .375 H & H is capable of, then you shouldn't own one

[samuel]

I have seen sizable holes on elk and moose with a .375 H&H with 250gr bullets,but not nearly as big on muleys and one antelope I shot.Considerable damage inside tho. sam.

[allen1980]

yes the 375 h&h 'SHOULD' kill them.

[Shaun]

you can kill anything in North America with the 375 H&H -- by the way it sounds like a perfect squirell gun

[nathangdad]

Can't say I ever encountered anyone hunting deer in
Texas or New Mexico with a .375 H&H but my hat is off
to anyone getting good with this round as the recoil
would be too much for me to overcome with regards to
this classic round.

Good luck with your hunting.

[sbowers5]

The recoil on the 375 is not much more than anyother mag and it is as mild as a 30-06 if properly handloaded, probably one of the most versital round ever invented. Just my opinion
steve

[samuel]

Have to back Nathangdad on this one.A .375 has about 36lbs recoil,a .338win mag has about 33lbs,a .300win mag has about 26lbs,a 7mm rem.mag has about 20lbs,this is all in 8.5lb rifles.Now a .416 rigby has about 58lbs in a 10lb rifle. sam.

[7mmremmag1995]

the 375 is way too small for deer. try something like a 700 Nitro Express. thats the smallest i would go

it's simple. gun made for killing cape buffalo + deer= a hell of a dead deer

[Purdy]

Originally Posted by samuel

Have to back Nathangdad on this one.A .375 has about 36lbs recoil,a .338win mag has about 33lbs,a .300win mag has about 26lbs,a 7mm rem.mag has about 20lbs,this is all in 6.5lb rifles.Now a .416 rigby has about 58lbs in a 10lb rifle. sam.

6.5lb in a 375H&H? That's a little light. My Sako Safari is 9.5lbs. which some consider light in this caliber but it is well stocked and quite manageable. And yes, I have shot prarie dogs with it

[AKHunter]

I am guessing you mean whitetail deer. I know of a number of people in Alaska that use a .375 to hunt the smallish blacktail here due to the numbers of biggish brown bear that share the habitat with the deer. I am told its "pokes a hole in them" and drops them readily, with proper shot placement of course.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Purdy

6.5lb in a 375H&H? That's a little light. My Sako Safari is 9.5lbs. which some consider light in this caliber but it is well stocked and quite manageable. And yes, I have shot prarie dogs with it

Glad you caught me!!! I meant *.5lbs.Good thing someone is awake,thanks sam.

[MOD 70]

I may use my .375 H@H as my all around deer + rifle again this year, as my .300Wea. is ready for a new barrel anyways.(2-3000 rds). I have no reservations about using a .375 on deer at all. In my Super Express I`m using 270 grn Hornadys loaded right near max. with W760. It shoots around 1" @ 100 yrds and is just as flat as a .30-06 with 180`s.The recoil is really more of hard push than the wack of the bigger .300`s. I like the .375 enough that I may rebarrel the .300 to .458 Lott and use the .375 as my go to gun all season.

[Nathan123]

Originally Posted by nathangdad

Can't say I ever encountered anyone hunting deer in
Texas or New Mexico with a .375 H&H but my hat is off
to anyone getting good with this round as the recoil
would be too much for me to overcome with regards to
this classic round.

Good luck with your hunting.

Have you ever fired a .375 H&H? recoil is not that bad, as it is a push rather than a hammer to the shouler like some other cartridges. I can shoot my .375 H&H over a bench with not even a hint of a sore shoulder.

[bigbuddy21]

I DONT THINK A .375H&H IS BIG ENOUGH FOR DEER. YOU NEED TO GO WITH A .510 MAGNUM.

[Nathan123]

Jaeger do you reload? If you do may i reccomend trying some 270gr woodleigh protected points (can you buy Woodleigh projectiles in the US?) They will open up a bit more than a Barnes projectile (while still holding over 90% of their weight) so they might be a little better for shooting at deer, they absoluteley pole axe the biggest of pigs. I shot a water buffalo at 180 yards with 270gr Woodleigh PP's and he fell where he stood and didn't move again.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Nathan123

Have you ever fired a .375 H&H? recoil is not that bad, as it is a push rather than a hammer to the shouler like some other cartridges. I can shoot my .375 H&H over a bench with not even a hint of a sore shoulder.

Nathangdad was giving a personal opinion.He doesnt care for recoil.I know a lot of people that way.They do ok in non dangerous game country.If you hunt in country where those buff,s are or someone over here hunts in bear/moose country,they might want a big boomer.I hunted a lot with a .375 H&H pre ,64 M70 Win. because I liked the rifle,not because I needed that much power. sam.