.375H&H Barrel length… what say you?

[Philip Glass]

For hunting Africa I like a shorter barrel. You lose something like 25/fps per inch. What would that matter on 100 yd shots on big game?
Whether scrunching through the Jesse in Zim or navigating the nasty willows in Alaska a shorter barrel is welcomed!

 

[Jack Stevens]

For hunting Africa I like a shorter barrel. You lose something like 25/fps per inch. What would that matter on 100 yd shots on big game?
Whether scrunching through the Jesse in Zim or navigating the nasty willows in Alaska a shorter barrel is welcomed!

To me, it’s a matrix of several factors.

The two I start with are: 1) the primary hunting environment (open terrain requiring long shots versus short shots in thick timber or brushy/bushy areas), and 2) what’s being hunted (midwest deer v. DG in Zim or Mozambique).

I look at my hunting rifles of different calibers and barrel lengths like golf clubs in a golf bag. I pick the one that’s most suitable for the “shot.” …. And if you have enough of rifles, there definitely will be some overlap.

 

[KJE81]

Very nice and classy .375. Congrats!

Thank you, very happy with it.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

How magnanimous of you. Please pause while I genuflect in deference.

Here's a view at typical eye relief distance at 1x facing down the frightfully dangerous black Labrador

View attachment 678560

That can looks quite obtrusive to me. I would not want to have to look around it if a buffalo was coming at me.

 

[dchamp]

If it shoots well, leave it alone. If not then adjust your load or find some different ammo that it does shoot well. If you must have a suppressor on it then rebarrel it or better yet build a new rifle.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

For me barrel length depends more on how the gun balances. Fit and balance are the most important factors, especially shooting at moving targets (e.g. pissed off buffalo). I don't waste time at the range shooting my thumper gun. I'll get it sighted and then any further "practice" entertainment is done with my 30-06. So a can is unnecessary. Both my guns have 24" barrels and sling swivels in the stocks. When I'm going through heavy cover, the gun is in my hand not on my shoulder. Rifle with long barrel is no handicap. And for my 404 the extra weight is welcome. It has enough muzzle jump with 24" #5 profile barrel. I can't imagine what it would be like cut down to 20"! Point like a shit and kick like hell. What's to like?

 

[Bandera]

I have a 23” 375 Ruger African and the 20” guide gun.
My Hybrid 46DT weighs 14.1 oz and is 7.61 inches long. Not a big deal.
If you are going to shoot it suppressed the 20” is the way to go.
The 23”barrel suppressed feels a bit unwieldy to me hunt with other than in a blind.

Unsuppressed I can’t tell much difference in the handling between the two in hunting scenarios. It s not like your shooting skeet, or 3 Gunning with the rifle.

Suppressed unsuppressed it doesn’t really matter what the others think. It is your preference, do what works for you. Same for a muzzle break.

Lastly shooting under 150 yards I don’t see where the barrel length matters.

At 100 yards the 20” barrel is moving at 2240 fps & carrying 3342 ft lbs of energy.
At 100 yards the 23” barrel is moving at 2311 fps & carrying 3558 ft lbs of energy.

Bullet drop @ 150 yards with a 20” barrel is about 1.76” with a 23” barrel about 1.62”

If you like the look then cut the barrel.
It is your rifle, make it yours.

 

[deewayne2003]

New stock just came in, Bell & Carlson with custom LOP; while not a true drop in its already made a world of difference in fitting me.

Before

After

 

[Jack Stevens]

New stock just came in, Bell & Carlson with custom LOP; while not a true drop in its already made a world of difference in fitting me.

Before
View attachment 680798

After
View attachment 680799

It should feel better as far as felt-recoil since the B&C doesn’t have that Euro ‘hog-back’ profile. What recoil pad is that?

 

[deewayne2003]

It should feel better as far as felt-recoil since the B&C doesn’t have that Euro ‘hog-back’ profile. What recoil pad is that?

Pachmayer Decelerator

 

[skydiver386]

I'll take that old stock and give it a good home if you don't need it anymore.

 

[deewayne2003]

I'll take that old stock and give it a good home if you don't need it anymore.

LOL, your the third person to make that offer.... the other two offered to buy it.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Not a .375 H&H, but...


A "can" turned my son's Sub MOA Tikka T3X into a 2+ MOA rifle.

You really, never know until you do it.


He had the barrel cut and threaded by the best gunsmith within 100 miles, and the accuracy suffered greatly.

When you change things with a good factory rifle, you, sometimes.,"roll the dice" and end up with "snake-eyes."

Accuracy depends on MANY different things.



I tend to leave "well-enough" alone...

sorry to hear that but for the gun to shoot that poorly after the can was installed it would have to be the can causing the issue or "the best gunsmith within 100 miles" made a mistake, it can happen to the best. have you tried shooting it without the can? did you contact the can mfg?

 

[BJH65]

New stock just came in, Bell & Carlson with custom LOP; while not a true drop in its already made a world of difference in fitting me.

Before
View attachment 680798

After
View attachment 680799

Nice! I think their olive green with black spiderweb color looks great on a safari rifle.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I had my CZ550 458 win mag barrel cut form 25 inches to 20 inches the loss in velocity was right at 100 fps but the gun handles great with the shorter barrel, I find I like to carry mine in front of the trigger guard, would love to put a can on it due to hearing loss also but I will not.

 

[Philip Glass]

To me, it’s a matrix of several factors.

The two I start with are: 1) the primary hunting environment (open terrain requiring long shots versus short shots in thick timber or brushy/bushy areas), and 2) what’s being hunted (midwest deer v. DG in Zim or Mozambique).

I look at my hunting rifles of different calibers and barrel lengths like golf clubs in a golf bag. I pick the one that’s most suitable for the “shot.” …. And if you have enough of rifles, there definitely will be some overlap.

I agree.

 

[549]

I finally recieved my custom M98 in .375 H&H yesterday after more then 14 months waiting and must say that I really like the proportions that comes from the rather long barrel, 65 cm or about 25½ inches. I realize that it being somewhat unwieldy in the bush is the price I have to pay for that, but still very happy with my choice.

View attachment 680533

That's purtyful!

 

[deewayne2003]

I agree.

I would agree also, all factors considered, I went with 23”

I’ll be doing a write up shortly in the Gun Smithing section.

I’ll say this - Tipton Burns did excellent work and is a very honest man that restored my faith in gunsmiths.

 

[Datchew]

I would agree also, all factors considered, I went with 23”
View attachment 727495

I’ll be doing a write up shortly in the Gun Smithing section.

I’ll say this - Tipton Burns did excellent work and is a very honest man that restored my faith in gunsmiths.

I've talked to him in person multiple times as I'm local and he's done 3 barrels for me. He's legit.

 

[deewayne2003]

I've talked to him in person multiple times as I'm local and he's done 3 barrels for me. He's legit.

Yes sir, he certainly is and if you want the list of work he did….

Thread '.375H&H BRNO - A positive gunsmith experience'

Nov 18, 2025

I had a .375H&H BRNO 602 that I wanted to be an all around “Swiss Army knife” of a rifle and went down the rabbit hole of starting a thread on barrel length(see thread for before pictures).

Well it’s done - 23”

Barrel cut to 23”
Recessed crown
NECG full replacement front sight with silver bead
AHR Trigger & 3 Position safety
Lap lugs
Polished bolt raceway/ General action smoothing
Polish feed ramp
NECG barrel band sling swivel
Fill bolt handle
Black...

• deewayne2003
• Replies: 31
• Forum: Gunsmithing

• 
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I shot it off sticks this weekend and I can tell it’s accurate but will have to get on a bench to prove it.

I also took chronograph readings with both factory and hand loads before taking 2” off the barrel and will check it again with the same loads and report true velocity effect.