Jumare Jaeger
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- Jul 27, 2019
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The Browning specs say that the plain X-bolt .375 (not Alaskan, not Safari grade) weighs only 7 pounds. Even with a scope, isn't that too light for a .375?
Stock fit is a critical key as the caliber goes up.While l prefer 9 pounds for a .375 , there are some makers who make lighter rifles . It has something to do with Stock fit or shape , l would imagine
Great minds think alike , Bee Maa .Stock fit is a critical key as the caliber goes up.
Shooting technique also becomes more important.
With proper practice and fitted rifle, controlling a 7# 375 could be mastered.
That said, my 375 comes in at 10# and I'll deal with the shoulder strain of carrying the thing all day.
I’ve used my A Bolt in .338WM for deer and elk since I bought it used (like new) in the mid nineties. NO problems. Although I believe the X Bolt has a better/quicker magazine system. The A and X Bolts are push feed, so probably not a DG rifle. HOWEVER, I would have used my .338WM on a Buffalo LONG before I would have used a crossbow like was posted recently on a different thread. Just stupid me!My son and I own 3 ABolts and 2 XBolts ranging from 300wsm to 375h&h and all have perfomed flawlessly feeding and extracitng. Browning rifles are very well made and very accurate out of the box to boot
Yeah, like all of the many thousands of ‘64 till recently push feed Winchester M 70s and Weatherbys’ who have used a push feed system forever! I would/have prefer a CRF, but history is probably on the push feed action’s side.I'd imagine a lot of DG would have successfuly been taken using push feed rifles
Very Wise Post , Co Elk Hunter and it mirrors my sentiments as well. Just last night , l was reading an amazing article from Guns Magazine 1961 about a Gentleman named Frank Hibben who used a .300 Weatherby Magnum to devastating effect as his all purpose rifle in Africa. Here is the article , in case you wanna give it a glance.Yeah, like all of the many thousands of ‘64 till recently push feed Winchester M 70s and Weatherbys’ who have used a push feed system forever! I would/have prefer a CRF, but history is probably on the push feed action’s side.
Hoss,Very Wise Post , Co Elk Hunter and it mirrors my sentiments as well. Just last night , l was reading an amazing article from Guns Magazine 1961 about a Gentleman named Frank Hibben who used a .300 Weatherby Magnum to devastating effect as his all purpose rifle in Africa. Here is the article , in case you wanna give it a glance.
I have never been a big fan of Weatherby rifles , but this article does make me look at them with a bit more respect. Taking a Bull elephant with two shots is pretty impressive . Would l suddenly discard my Pre 64 Winchester Model 70 and my ZKK-602 , for a Weatherby ? Not by a long shot , no. But l have developed a small respect for them by coming across this article last night .
In regards to the pushfeed area , l would say that Pushfeeds may be OKAY for a client hunter , being backed by a professional. But for a PH , l would have to say that a pushfeed is a no no. Pushfeed fans will tell you that CRF fan boys greatly exaggerate the risks of pushfeed jamming. Well , yeah , Maybe. But l have no doubt from my observations that Pushfeeds CAN jam in the field and they have. An unfortunate example of this , was my 5th Favorite PH of All time , Ivan Carter. He got crushed to death by a Bull Elephant when his push feed .458 Winchester Model 70 failed to stop the bull with one shot and jammed during the second shot ( Source : Craig Doddington's writings ) . Even the biggest proponent of the .458 Winchester Model  70 push feed , the Late Great Finn Aagaard documented the phenomenon of the pushfeed Model 70s jamming unless you kept them super clean ( something desirable for all rifles , but often not possible in the African bush ) and documenting his Mauser actioned rifles as more reliable ( source : " Make mine Mauser " by Finn Aagaard .
Now , we do have guys like Harry Selby who used a pushfeed .458 Winchester Model 70 for two years while his .416 Rigby was being rebarrelled in London. But the only reason for that was simply because that pushfeed .458 happened to be the spare back up rifle and rent out big bore rifle of Selby's outfitters ( source : Man Magnum 2016 ) .
In contrast , take a look at what a CRF Winchester Model 70 can do. Wally Johnson used one pre war Winchester Model 70 in .375 HH Magnum from 1938 to the end of his ivory hunting and PH career , and the gun never malfunctioned , even after it fell into a lake and stayed there for a week. Other than when using faulty batches of Kynoch Ammo sometimes , the rifle never let Wally down for 40 plus years. That's impressive !
My believe it that a good pushfeed can make an adequate plains game rifle , but for anything that can bite , gore or step on you ? Not worth risking our lives .
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One of your favorite PHs, Ivan Carter, probably “short stroked” his push feed M70 under stress when attempting to fire another round at the elephant. If one doesn’t pull the bolt back COMPLETELY on a push feed, the magazine CAN partially load another round into the chamber, causing a “stoppage” , and in Mr. Carter’s case, DEATH!Very Wise Post , Co Elk Hunter and it mirrors my sentiments as well. Just last night , l was reading an amazing article from Guns Magazine 1961 about a Gentleman named Frank Hibben who used a .300 Weatherby Magnum to devastating effect as his all purpose rifle in Africa. Here is the article , in case you wanna give it a glance.
I have never been a big fan of Weatherby rifles , but this article does make me look at them with a bit more respect. Taking a Bull elephant with two shots is pretty impressive . Would l suddenly discard my Pre 64 Winchester Model 70 and my ZKK-602 , for a Weatherby ? Not by a long shot , no. But l have developed a small respect for them by coming across this article last night .
In regards to the pushfeed area , l would say that Pushfeeds may be OKAY for a client hunter , being backed by a professional. But for a PH , l would have to say that a pushfeed is a no no. Pushfeed fans will tell you that CRF fan boys greatly exaggerate the risks of pushfeed jamming. Well , yeah , Maybe. But l have no doubt from my observations that Pushfeeds CAN jam in the field and they have. An unfortunate example of this , was my 5th Favorite PH of All time , Ivan Carter. He got crushed to death by a Bull Elephant when his push feed .458 Winchester Model 70 failed to stop the bull with one shot and jammed during the second shot ( Source : Craig Doddington's writings ) . Even the biggest proponent of the .458 Winchester Model  70 push feed , the Late Great Finn Aagaard documented the phenomenon of the pushfeed Model 70s jamming unless you kept them super clean ( something desirable for all rifles , but often not possible in the African bush ) and documenting his Mauser actioned rifles as more reliable ( source : " Make mine Mauser " by Finn Aagaard .
Now , we do have guys like Harry Selby who used a pushfeed .458 Winchester Model 70 for two years while his .416 Rigby was being rebarrelled in London. But the only reason for that was simply because that pushfeed .458 happened to be the spare back up rifle and rent out big bore rifle of Selby's outfitters ( source : Man Magnum 2016 ) .
In contrast , take a look at what a CRF Winchester Model 70 can do. Wally Johnson used one pre war Winchester Model 70 in .375 HH Magnum from 1938 to the end of his ivory hunting and PH career , and the gun never malfunctioned , even after it fell into a lake and stayed there for a week. Other than when using faulty batches of Kynoch Ammo sometimes , the rifle never let Wally down for 40 plus years. That's impressive !
My believe it that a good pushfeed can make an adequate plains game rifle , but for anything that can bite , gore or step on you ? Not worth risking our lives .
View attachment 296123 View attachment 296124 View attachment 296125 View attachment 296126 View attachment 296127
One of your favorite PHs, Ivan Carter, probably “short stroked” his push feed M70 under stress when attempting to fire another round at the elephant. If one doesn’t pull the bolt back COMPLETELY on a push feed, the magazine CAN partially load another round into the chamber, causing a “stoppage” , and in Mr. Carter’s case, DEATH!
The Browning specs say that the plain X-bolt .375 (not Alaskan, not Safari grade) weighs only 7 pounds. Even with a scope, isn't that too light for a .375?
You took the words right out of my mouth , Bee Maa. The truth is , whenever l hear a guy wanting a .375 HH Magnum or larger caliber , l immediately think " Okay , he has SOMETHING dangerous planned on his menu " .Easy guys, take it easy.
Let's not turn this into a CRF vs Push-Feed DG fist fight.
The OP was asking about shooting a 7# 375, not necessarily for DG.
If it hasn't been said already, Welcome to AH and as you can see we are a passionate bunch.
BTW - If the real question is should you buy a 7# 375...the answer is YES!
It's easier to add weight to a light rifle than lighten up a heavy one.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.