CHOICE in .375 - Guidance please!

Ok,

i have been pondering on this for a long time and the past 2 years buying ammo, my eyes have been drifting to the .375 gun rack at my gunstore every time, i gotta have one !

As i am situated in Namibia i do not have a huge list of models and brands to choose from, and also my budget is limited to + - N$ 20 000.00 (roughly U$ 3000)

I am not posting this thread to start a debate - i am seriously considdering buying a .375 and will appreciate some experienced comments here please fellow hunters.

Below are models available to me curently.
Say you have to choose your .375 from below list - disregarding the price difference - which one will you choose and why please?

Description	Model	Stock	Barrel diameter	Price
.375 H&H Winchester	70 Classic s/steel	Synthetic	?	N$ 26 K
.375 SAKO (Stainless)	?	Synthetic or Wood	?	N$ 26 K
.375 H&H CZ 550	Standard	wood straight	19mm	N$ 15 K
.375 H&H CZ 550	De Lux	wood straight	19mm	N$ 16 K
.375 Ruger Titan	Allround	synthetic	20mm	N$ 16 K
.375 Ruger Titan	Standard	wood straight	20mm	N$ 16 K

FHM3006

I have found the store price to be flexable...

sometimes you can reduce the price by 30 to 40 percent when you walk in witha a hand of cash and talk to the owner and make a purchase...the workers are limited in the price reduction they can make...recently i bought a rifle that had a sticker price of $4,000 and paid $2,600 you do the math...this dickering went on for 6 months to get my price i was willing to pay....do not tip your hand a drewel while trying to make the purchase...

some stores it take many trips to get the rifle or shotgun reduced to the price you are willing to pay...

If the list above are your choices i would work on 1 - 2 - 4 as ones to purchase...

Originally Posted by James.Grage

FHM3006I have found the store price to be flexable...sometimes you can reduce the price by 30 to 40 percent when you walk in witha a hand of cash and talk to the owner and make a purchase...the workers are limited in the price reduction they can make...recently i bought a rifle that had a sticker price of $4,000 and paid $2,600 you do the math...this dickering went on for 6 months to get my price i was willing to pay....do not tip your hand a drewel while trying to make the purchase...some stores it take many trips to get the rifle or shotgun reduced to the price you are willing to pay...If the list above are your choices i would work on 1 - 2 - 4 as ones to purchase...

Thanks James,one shop informed me that the price on the Win Mod 70 is 26 K but added "he will make me a good deal" so i take that the pricetag is negotiable. And as you correctly say - a hand-full of cash and negotiation skills does work its magic, often.Thank you for your suggestions. I have heard good things from the gunshops about the Win 70 and both shops informed me that this rifle is top value for money in "my limited price / make / model range" offered. Here on AH i have also read a lot of good things about the CZ 550. Personally i would love to go for a Mauser M03 PH but that's looking at U$ 8 K....just to steep for me.It will be the best on the list below.

Dont know where you guys shop, but gun retail is based usually around 30% gross margin (on new guns) so to get 30-40% off would be giving it away--so I dont think that would work( sorry to burst anyones bubble about being 75 to 100% markup--it is a tough business). On a used gun maybe--depends on how long one has had it--ect. ect.

On the ones you have listed for a 375 H&H I'd go with the CZ--higher cap. (will hold 5) can be made into a very fine rifle too. They make 3 pos safety for it, and now very nice bottom metal. Right out of the box it is a little rough around the edges but functions just fine.

Ed

To get the gread deals is you have to have time on your hands a goood rworking relationship with the gun shop...

When a customer comes in and orders a rifle and makes a deposit and then when the rifle, shotgun, relover comes in is unable to pay the ballance this item is usually reduced to go out the door and this is where you find your great deals... like purchasing a new sako 243 for $400 or as used crown grade trap combo ULM for $1,500...the deals are there you just have to shop to find them...and have the money to make the purchase...

Originally Posted by 505ED

Dont know where you guys shop, but gun retail is based usually around 30% gross margin (on new guns) so to get 30-40% off would be giving it away--so I dont think that would work( sorry to burst anyones bubble about being 75 to 100% markup--it is a tough business). On a used gun maybe--depends on how long one has had it--ect. ect.

Ed

Hey FM,stop being lazy and come over to my place.You can have a beer and,if you behave yourself,the chance to drool over my semi-custom CZ .375..!

Originally Posted by 505ED

Dont know where you guys shop, but gun retail is based usually around 30% gross margin (on new guns) so to get 30-40% off would be giving it away--so I dont think that would work( sorry to burst anyones bubble about being 75 to 100% markup--it is a tough business). On a used gun maybe--depends on how long one has had it--ect. ect.

On the ones you have listed for a 375 H&H I'd go with the CZ--higher cap. (will hold 5) can be made into a very fine rifle too. They make 3 pos safety for it, and now very nice bottom metal. Right out of the box it is a little rough around the edges but functions just fine.

Ed

Appreciate your input Ed - thank you. I have a very 'wide' choice of 2 shops in Namibia - Ahrens Guns and Rosenthal's Guns in Windhoek. Their prices compare very similar.

If i could get a 5-7 % discount paying cash i will be happy and content. I am sure i will be able to negotiate that.

Right - now we have 2 hits on the CZ and 1 each on the Win and Sako.

Originally Posted by DOCMAN

Hey FM,stop being lazy and come over to my place.You can have a beer and,if you behave yourself,the chance to drool over my semi-custom CZ .375..!

Yeah-yeah-yeah...i am sitting on site 150 Km out in the desert boet. Early/dark out and late/dark home week in/out. I have seen your thunder-stick twice already at the range! The invite for a beer is taken - let me know on e-mail when you at your waterhole again this weekend ok.

I take it that makes it 3 for the CZ then....!

I have no experience with the other brands, but I bought a second hand CZ550 standard, American (straight) stock, off an Air Force Pilot who used it to hunt water buffalo in the Northern Territory (Australia). It obviously did well for him, he only sold to finance the development of a wildcat cartridge / rifle. It is smooth, well balanced, and shoots a treat. I find it also doesn't hurt that it is aesthetically pleasing...

Originally Posted by James.Grage

To get the gread deals is you have to have time on your hands a goood rworking relationship with the gun shop...

When a customer comes in and orders a rifle and makes a deposit and then when the rifle, shotgun, relover comes in is unable to pay the ballance this item is usually reduced to go out the door and this is where you find your great deals... like purchasing a new sako 243 for $400 or as used crown grade trap combo ULM for $1,500...the deals are there you just have to shop to find them...and have the money to make the purchase...

James I agree with you to some extent. I will also say with that scenario that you gave you have to take what you get. ie sako 243--eventhough you are looking for a 375. It is just a sore spot. If you have ever owned your own business, you understand. The worst 2 deal- makers I've every delt with were lawyers and doctors (I could almost tell what they were with in 2 min). Everyone needs to make a profit (a fair one), to keep the family fed and doors open. Now back to guns... I think the CZ 375 would be a perfect fit!

I am all for saving money wherever possible but I sure wouldnt spend 6 months pestering a gun shop owner to lower prices. After a while they give you the deal just to get rid of you. Here in the states we also have great access to the internet where many guns are bought and sold. I rarely buy guns from a shop anymore largely because the type of stuff I want is not usually available from the local "spit and whittle" in town.

James; did you mean to say - "tip your hand or drool"????

As to the guns, I own 2 CZ's and love them. The Sako looks interesting too but the only .375 I ever owned and still do is an '80's vintage Interarms Whitworth Express Mauser.

I agree with Ed's comments...a guy has to make a profit to stay in business.

I agree with sestoppelman, hardly evey buy something from a gun story in person...like shopping the internet.

And the CZ 550 375 H&H is my current Big bore gun. Best gun for the money!

I have a Sako 375 and it's great, but it doesn't have a 'true' mauser action like the CZ does, though the bolt is a lot smoother (and doesn't jam or wobble). The CZ might take some work to make as 'slick' as the Sako but both are good choices.

Thank you for the wisdom gentlemen.
It would seem the CZ is by far the favourite amongs the AH members.

Just makes me wonder why the WIN and SKO is up there with 10 K more on the price -brand perhaps?

Next week i am going to Windhoek for biz, will drop in at Ahrens Guns and Rosenthal's and let my mind play me a while and see what my heart decide on.

Although I don't see this specific model on your list, and granted I have not placed my hands on any of the above rifles -- I was watching the "Gun Nuts" from Field and Stream on the Outdoor Channel on Wednesday night, and one of them did an in-depth review on the new Winchester Model 70 .375 H/H Safari Express. Per him, "this is one of the very few flawless rifles I have ever had my hands on, including custom rifles," and he said that he would shoot it off the rack without making any changes--in fact, he implied it would be heresy to change it. His groups were "so close to the groups I get with my custom .375 that it is negligible."

I have been ogling the 50th anniversary edition that Cabelas has produced this year...

Happy shopping!

I have a beautiful CZ 550 that started out as a 375 H&H but grew up to be a 500 Jeffery lol! The gun took some work by several gunsmiths, but it's my favorite rifle now. That being said, if I wanted a 375 H&H again, I would buy a Win M70. All reports is that they function flawlessly right out of the box, are very accurate, and are about 1 lb lighter than the CZ. If you're going 416 or 450 Rigby, 505 Gibbs or 500 Jeffery, I'd recommend the CZ 550. Here's a pic of my 500 Jeffery...

Mighty handsome rifle that!!

Thanks! It's a treat to shoot offhand, won't shoot it from a bench anymore without a lead sled though, learned from experience ...

Originally Posted by fhm3006

Thank you for the wisdom gentlemen.
It would seem the CZ is by far the favourite amongs the AH members.

Just makes me wonder why the WIN and SKO is up there with 10 K more on the price -brand perhaps?

Next week i am going to Windhoek for biz, will drop in at Ahrens Guns and Rosenthal's and let my mind play me a while and see what my heart decide on.

Some advice I heard during a CME course held by a Psychologist about our subconscious: If your choice is down to 2 and you cannot decide, toss a coin. Usually, the result will trigger an instant emotion, either "Yeah!" or "Oh, no!". Go with that, it will tell you what you have subconsciously already decided, and you will be happier with your choices. Because, let's face it: choosing a rifle is more based on likes than on science. Any of the above mentioned rifles will do the job very well, so it really comes down to how a particular rifle suits you. I remember choosing my .375 H&H, testing several. The Ruger just felt wrong, there was a perfectly good Interarms, great deal, too, that just didn't speak to me, and the CZ 550 was IT. No regrets to this day.

If you are thinking about hunting the big fellas that can hit back then please forget a push feed in other words the sako! I have two CZ actions which are based on the old 98k Mauser. Anything based on the old Mauser action gets the thumbs up from me. The CZ I reckon is good value for money but the Winchester model 70 will do just fine. As mentioned the cz magazine box takes that extra round which could be helpful!