My Holland & Holland .275 H&H Magnum, serial number 179, was built in 1922 and wears a 25-inch barrel, a nice example of this caliber by one of the best makers in British gun making.
The .275 H&H Magnum was introduced by Holland & Holland in 1912, alongside the legendary .375 H&H Magnum, as a high-velocity, flat-shooting cartridge intended primarily for African antelope and Scottish red stag. It was formed from the new belted H&H case, shortened to 2½ inches and necked down for a roughly 7mm projectile (.287), creating one of the earliest true high-velocity 7mm magnums.
Original performance was remarkable for the period: the 175-grain load was listed at about 2,680 fps, while lighter bullets could approach 3,000 fps, giving hunters a combination of reach, relatively mild recoil, and excellent performance on thin-skinned game. In many ways, the .275 H&H was decades ahead of its time—delivering the concept and much of the performance we now associate with the modern 7mm magnums long before they became fashionable.
With its early 1922 manufacture, low serial number 179, and 25-inch barrel, this rifle represents not only a classic Holland & Holland sporting rifle, but an important chapter in the development of the high-velocity hunting rifle.
The .275 H&H Magnum was introduced by Holland & Holland in 1912, alongside the legendary .375 H&H Magnum, as a high-velocity, flat-shooting cartridge intended primarily for African antelope and Scottish red stag. It was formed from the new belted H&H case, shortened to 2½ inches and necked down for a roughly 7mm projectile (.287), creating one of the earliest true high-velocity 7mm magnums.
Original performance was remarkable for the period: the 175-grain load was listed at about 2,680 fps, while lighter bullets could approach 3,000 fps, giving hunters a combination of reach, relatively mild recoil, and excellent performance on thin-skinned game. In many ways, the .275 H&H was decades ahead of its time—delivering the concept and much of the performance we now associate with the modern 7mm magnums long before they became fashionable.
With its early 1922 manufacture, low serial number 179, and 25-inch barrel, this rifle represents not only a classic Holland & Holland sporting rifle, but an important chapter in the development of the high-velocity hunting rifle.
