Ruger M77 African 35 Wheelen or Winchester M70 375H&H?

Ruger M77 African 35 Wheelen or Winchester M70 375 H&H

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dhughes66

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I am torn between getting a Ruger M77 African in 35 Wheelen or a Winchester model 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. Thought I would see what my fellow members would get. For background, I have a Ruger RSM in 375 H&H and a Remington 700 in 30-06 so I don't "need" either. I am covered for pretty much everything on the planet with those two. Haha. I really like the Ruger African rifles but I also do not have a Winchester M70 and would like to try one. What would you choose?
 
As an owner of both, I'd go with the Ruger African every day of the week.

I do see a compromise for you in the Ruger African .375 Ruger.

Picked one up for myself last fall and used it for cape buffalo and a giraffe this may.

Couldn't have been happier with the hunt or the results.
 
Winchester, no contest. I researched the 35 Whelan back aways and concluded that was little more than an unnecessary cult cartridge with mediocre at best availability. (If i were splitting the difference between .30-06 and .375 H&H i'd go for 9.3x62 over the Whelan, again no-contest.) I've heard plenty of poor things about Ruger safari guns post Mark II, most notably from Kevin Robertson, and the way they weight their chamberings so heavily in favor of their own experiments i find somehow almost narcissistic. I've heard nothing but good things about the European-made Model 70's meanwhile, one experienced reviewer i read recently proclaiming these Portuguese guns the best 70 Winchester has ever produced. The .375 H&H? A no brainer which for over a century has required zero explanation and zero defense. Much like the controlled-round-feed Model 70. The H&H is still the bar for other cartridges to try and meet. John Taylor had five rifles chambered thus, so two shouldn't seem excessive.
 
BradR504 said:
Since you don't have a "Both" option I voted for 35 Whelen since you have a 375 already, but the correct answer is get both of them.
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Win 70 375HH hands down. Great shooters and ammo availability world wide in a variety of weights.
 
I own several Hawkeyes, including a stainless in 375 Ruger (22” barrel, no sights). I also just picked up a Model 70 Alaskan in 375 H&H (barrel boss and sights like a pre-64).

The Ruger feels very robust. In my experience, the flat/matte finishes corrode and tarnish a lot easier than most finishes. I prefer the old polished finishes, they were better at shedding water. I tend to cerakote the dull finished M77s. Once I have the cerakoted and restocked into laid-up fiberglass, they are bomb-proof.

The M70 is much smoother and has a better trigger. More “refined” if you will. There just aren't as many options and variants available on the new rifle market.

Since you have a nice 375, I’d lean toward the 35 Whelen. It would be kinda matchy-matchy with your 375.
 
Gomer said:
I own several Hawkeyes, including a stainless in 375 Ruger (22” barrel, no sights). I also just picked up a Model 70 Alaskan in 375 H&H (barrel boss and sights like a pre-64).

The Ruger feels very robust. In my experience, the flat/matte finishes corrode and tarnish a lot easier than most finishes. I prefer the old polished finishes, they were better at shedding water. I tend to cerakote the dull finished M77s. Once I have the cerakoted and restocked into laid-up fiberglass, they are bomb-proof.

The M70 is much smoother and has a better trigger. More “refined” if you will. There just aren't as many options and variants available on the new rifle market.

Since you have a nice 375, I’d lean toward the 35 Whelen. It would be kinda matchy-matchy with your 375.
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Good point about the African triggers I lightens the pull to about 3lbs with an aftermarket spring. Accuracy improved Easy modification
 
dhughes66 said:
I am torn between getting a Ruger M77 African in 35 Wheelen or a Winchester model 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. Thought I would see what my fellow members would get. For background, I have a Ruger RSM in 375 H&H and a Remington 700 in 30-06 so I don't "need" either. I am covered for pretty much everything on the planet with those two. Haha. I really like the Ruger African rifles but I also do not have a Winchester M70 and would like to try one. What would you choose?
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You have a .375 so I voted .35 Whelen.....have my first .35 cal on order now, I cancelled a .375 order as I already own a .416....my thought, if it needed more than .35, well may as well use .416.

You have a lovely and "rare" .375 H&H the whelen will be a nice, light trim option.
 
dhughes66 said:
I am torn between getting a Ruger M77 African in 35 Wheelen or a Winchester model 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. Thought I would see what my fellow members would get. For background, I have a Ruger RSM in 375 H&H and a Remington 700 in 30-06 so I don't "need" either. I am covered for pretty much everything on the planet with those two. Haha. I really like the Ruger African rifles but I also do not have a Winchester M70 and would like to try one. What would you choose?
Click to expand...

I voted for .35 Whelen. I also have a Ruger M77 RSM in .375 H&H plus a Ruger M77 Mk II in .30-06. I also have a CZ 550 American in 9.3x62. Here's my .35 Whelen:


Stainless Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .35 Whelen tuned by Lone Star Armory of Pearland, Texas. Pillar bedded in factory synthetic stock. Extractor blackened. Trigger tuned to 3.5 lb pull. Bolt lugs lapped. Action polished. Extractor tuned.

1789861547197.png


1789861558409.png


1789861596209.png


1789861614718.png



Cheers! Bob F. :)
 
dhughes66 said:
I am torn between getting a Ruger M77 African in 35 Wheelen or a Winchester model 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. Thought I would see what my fellow members would get. For background, I have a Ruger RSM in 375 H&H and a Remington 700 in 30-06 so I don't "need" either. I am covered for pretty much everything on the planet with those two. Haha. I really like the Ruger African rifles but I also do not have a Winchester M70 and would like to try one. What would you choose?
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@dhughes66
Depends on what you want to hunt.
If'n DG ain't on the menu then a properly loaded Whelen leaves nothing to be desired and will take any soft skinned game that walks.
In a pinch I would have no problems taking on cape Buffalo with the Whelen were it legal.
Despite it being regarded as a brush cartridge the Whelen has the power and accuracy to take game out to 400 yards without an issue.
If you haven't used a Whelen you will be surprised and what it's capabilities will extend to.
Bob
 
The Answer is Neither!

Wait and see what the new Calibers are for the new Win 70 safari editions are! I’m sure one of those will fit better into the gap between your other 2 mentioned. (I would say get a 9.3x62 over a whelen if you ever plan to take it to africa)
 
wildwilderness said:
The Answer is Neither!

Wait and see what the new Calibers are for the new Win 70 safari editions are! I’m sure one of those will fit better into the gap between your other 2 mentioned. (I would say get a 9.3x62 over a whelen if you ever plan to take it to africa)
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Yeah I am very intrigued by this new limited edition Winchester M70! Looks really good and honestly pretty good for the money.
 
dhughes66 said:
Yeah I am very intrigued by this new limited edition Winchester M70! Looks really good and honestly pretty good for the money.
Click to expand...
@dhughes66
Hopefully it will be in 35 Whelen.
Don't listen to the naysayers about ammo the Whelen is a handloaders dream to get the best out of it.
225s at 2,900 fps for long range
310s at over 2,400 fps for up close and personal bone crunching power
250s at 2,700fps for basically most anything.
158gn @1,500fps for shits and giggles practice and small game.
What's not to love
Bob
 
“What’s not to love” was my 35 whelen conversion having the mysterious “head space” issue that multiple gunsmiths failed to fix. I would have FTF on maybe 20% of loads. Ended up having to jam bullets to trust it.

That said when it does work it is a thumper, and options to stretch it further.

My solution to the Whelen was to rebarrel it to a 9.3x62 and have never looked back. A lot more support than the Whelen especially in Africa :)
 
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