I really like the 375 RUM and bought a Remington 700 Custom Shop North American Custom back in 2016, one of the ones assembled by Dakota Arms. I’ve only used it on North American animals, elk, bison and large wild boar with handloads: Barnes 235 grain TSX at 3100 fps (moderate load), got under an inch 100 yard groups and worked great on those animals. It’s mounted with a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40mm with a Kenton Industries custom dial for shots out to 600 yards. Where I used to hunt elk in Montana, cross canyon shots were anywhere from 300-500 yards. I really like this rifle, it was planned as my all purpose North American rifle for brown bear/grizzly, Moose, Elk, bison, black bear and deer.
My only complaint with my Model 700 is with 3 rounds loaded in the mag, while it functioned fine, feeding wasn’t as smooth, so I typically carry it with 2 rounds in the mag plus one in the chamber as needed and feeding is butter smooth then. Also at about 8 lbs total weight with scope, It’s a lightweight rifle, really way too light for the caliber, recoiling far worse than the 10 lb 458 win mag, 416 Rem Mag and 416 Rigby rifles I’ve shot. I think a 10 lb rifle like one of the Remington 700 ABG would be better, far less felt recoil or any rifle weighing 10 lbs total. I will say I didn’t notice the recoil when shooting at an animal, only when practicing.
Those describing recoil of a 375 RUM must really indicate the weight and model of rifle because weight makes a huge difference and whether or not it has a muzzlebrake. With max loads, it’s very similar to a 378 Wby Mag, indistinguishable in recoil if both rifles have similar features and weight. I later had a KDF muzzlebrake installed so recoil is more like a 300 mag now but the muzzle blast and noise is something else. If I took it to Africa, I’d screw in the thread protector and hunt without a muzzle brake.
I’ve acquired about 400 rounds of both factory and handloads so haven’t paid much attention to ammo availability but seems like the Barnes 270 grain LRX is currently available and Remington 270 SP. I have two Cape buffalo hunts booked, one for 2024 and one in 2026, and was originally going to take the 375 RUM (which would be fine) but will be using a CZ 416 Rigby instead. I am considering taking the 375 RUM as a second rifle on the 2026 buffalo hunt and use on a 2nd buffalo.
Then again, things change. I was killing elk just as dead with a 7mm rem mag and we later relocated from Montana to Oklahoma and I caught the Africa hunting bug again and got the 416 Rigby so I’ve even contemplated selling the 375 RUM. Anyhow, I think it’s a great all purpose cartridge!
www.africahunting.com
