Sako Brown Bear or Grey Wolf in 375 H and H

Britt Beck · Apr 20, 2018

I need some help or persuasion. Both rifles feel great. Brown bear has open sights compared to the grey wolf. Which is an advantage. Couple hundred dollars difference in the two. Does anyone have any experience between the two. Appreciate any input. Thank you.

Britt Beck · Apr 20, 2018

Britt Beck said:
I need some help or persuasion. Both rifles feel great. Brown bear has open sights compared to the grey wolf. Which is an advantage. Couple hundred dollars difference in the two. Does anyone have any experience between the two. Appreciate any input. Thank you.

Sorry this will be mostly for plains game for now.

BenKK · Apr 20, 2018

I had the Kodiak .375H&H, which is pretty-much the same as the Brown Bear. It was awesome on plainsgame!

Britt Beck · Apr 20, 2018

Ben thank you for your input. I greatly appreciate it.

ve7poi · Apr 20, 2018

I have a brown bear in 500jeffery love it

Britt Beck · Apr 20, 2018

Thank you ve7poi. Appreciate your input. I do a lot of hunting and long distance shooting but when it comes to the larger bores and never hunted Africa until this sept. I'm kinda at a loss. Thanks again.

Dr Ray · Apr 20, 2018

The only difference is on barrel length and the Brown Bear has a short barrel. If your shooting is going to be in scrub or forest I suggest the Brown Bear otherwise I’d go for the wolf.
The muzzle blast is fairly “full on” from the short barrel. A local I know wants to put a muzzle brake on his Brown Bear in 375 H&H but I really suggest not to.
I have 4 Sakos and hopefully will have 6 reasonably soon.
Decide based on hunting location f

Britt Beck · Apr 21, 2018

Dr Ray. It will be in the Limpopo region. Ph said shots between 50 to 250. I was wondering how big of a difference would be with the shorter barrel with the muzzle blast. I thank you kindly for your input.

Britt Beck · Apr 21, 2018

I have one other question. I know there are better options but I won a Steiner 2.5 x 10 x 42 at an SCI banquet. That is the glass I was going to put on it. What do you guys think.?

BenKK · Apr 21, 2018

I have a different opinion to Dr Ray about the muzzle blast, in that I don’t think it is an issue at all.

BenKK · Apr 21, 2018

I used a Swarovski Z3 3-9x36. So I think your scope will be fine.

Dr Ray · Apr 21, 2018

Britt Beck said:
Dr Ray. It will be in the Limpopo region. Ph said shots between 50 to 250. I was wondering how big of a difference would be with the shorter barrel with the muzzle blast. I thank you kindly for your input.

The Brown Bear is very good and especially in quick snap shooting. I just hate the muzzle blast. The recoil is tolerable but the same in both so the difference really would be in the velocity of the bullet. If the target can distinguish I’d be amazed!
Overall in your case I’d go for the Brown Bear.
That’s just my opinion of course.
If you want a stainless steel barrel I’d suggest the kodiak.

Ray B · Apr 21, 2018

The 375 H&H with 250 gr bullets is a great rifle for large game out to 300+ yards. I prefer a 24" barrel for open country situations and a scope in the 2.5-10 would be fine- most likely I'd set it at 6 and forget it. My preference on bullets is the old Bitterroots, but they are in short supply so I'd recommend one of the other jacketed bonded lead core bullets. But the 375H&H so equipped is one of the few "optimum" rifle/cartridges in existence.

Dr Ray · Apr 21, 2018

Britt Beck said:
I have one other question. I know there are better options but I won a Steiner 2.5 x 10 x 42 at an SCI banquet. That is the glass I was going to put on it. What do you guys think.?

I suggest the Swarovski 3-9x36. If eye relief is a bit of a worry for you then get a Leupold.
Around my local area I get questioned as to why I like Swarovski as many don’t for some reason. Any reasons given are vague I might add.
I find the quality of Swarovski optics is just great.
Honestly on a 375 I really think the choice could go to z6. Objective lens greater than Swarovski’s 36 I think is irrelevant. My opinion only I might add.

Shootist43 · Apr 21, 2018

Other Steiner products that I've used were "top drawer" in my opinion, maybe not as good as some but plenty good enough. I'm getting ready to mount a scope on a 375 H&H that I recently acquired. Being curious like you I asked IvW for his recommendation. His reply was to use a scope appropriate for the hunting conditions you expect to encounter. For the distances you mentioned, your Steiner should be just fine although I'd recommend using QD mounts and rings. Later on, funds permitting you might consider purchasing a scope for more up close and quick shooting in the 1.5-5x range. Take both scopes with you and you'd be set for either situation.

Britt Beck · Apr 21, 2018

Dr Ray said:
I suggest the Swarovski 3-9x36. If eye relief is a bit of a worry for you then get a Leupold.
Around my local area I get questioned as to why I like Swarovski as many don’t for some reason. Any reasons given are vague I might add.
I find the quality of Swarovski optics is just great.
Honestly on a 375 I really think the choice could go to z6. Objective lens greater than Swarovski’s 36 I think is irrelevant. My opinion only I might add.

Dr Ray. Thank you. I might just change. I'm a big Swarovski fan as well. My binocs and spotting scope are all Swarovski and IMO they glass can't be beat. Again thank you my friend.

Britt Beck · Apr 21, 2018

Shootist43 said:
Other Steiner products that I've used were "top drawer" in my opinion, maybe not as good as some but plenty good enough. I'm getting ready to mount a scope on a 375 H&H that I recently acquired. Being curious like you I asked IvW for his recommendation. His reply was to use a scope appropriate for the hunting conditions you expect to encounter. For the distances you mentioned, your Steiner should be just fine although I'd recommend using QD mounts and rings. Later on, funds permitting you might consider purchasing a scope for more up close and quick shooting in the 1.5-5x range. Take both scopes with you and you'd be set for either situation.

Being a newbie to Africa that makes a lot of sense. I greatly appreciate your advice my friend. Any certain brand of QD mounts and rings your recommend?

Britt Beck · Apr 21, 2018

BenKK said:
I have a different opinion to Dr Ray about the muzzle blast, in that I don’t think it is an issue at all.

I'm leaning to the brown bear mostly because of the sites so later on if I get a chance to hunt Something that might fight back it would be a great benefit to have. Again my friend thanks for your input.

Shootist43 · Apr 21, 2018

IvW recommended Warne over Talley so that is what I bought. IvW actually has two 375 H&H rifles, one is equipped with the low power and the other with a higher variable powered scope. I have two 375(s) as well so that is what I'm going to do. IvW further recommended getting a scope with a lighted dot for the quicker shots when needed. That made sense to me so I am on the lookout for one. But in the meantime I'm just going to install a Nikon 3-9x40 with BDC that I happen to have on hand. My other 375 is already equipped with a 1.5-5 Leupold. The idea of taking two scopes to Africa has often been mentioned on AH. Since we can only bring one rifle of any given caliber to Africa taking two different "types" of scopes seems like the right thing to do.

Britt Beck · Apr 21, 2018

Shootist43 said:
IvW recommended Warne over Talley so that is what I bought. IvW actually has two 375 H&H rifles, one is equipped with the low power and the other with a higher variable powered scope. I have two 375(s) as well so that is what I'm going to do. IvW further recommended getting a scope with a lighted dot for the quicker shots when needed. That made sense to me so I am on the lookout for one. But in the meantime I'm just going to install a Nikon 3-9x40 with BDC that I happen to have on hand. My other 375 is already equipped with a 1.5-5 Leupold. The idea of taking two scopes to Africa has often been mentioned on AH. Since we can only bring one rifle of any given caliber to Africa taking two different "types" of scopes seems like the right thing to do.

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