Any Issues with 375 H&H Belted Mag in quality Double Rifle?

[SCmackey]

I have read about potential issues with ejectors and with accuracy because of head spacing off of the belt. Yet, there are a number of quality offerings of this combination, as well as 416 rigby by Heym. Would appreciate thoughts from the forum. Thanks

 

[Canadaboy]

In a good quality rifle ejection works well. I have a Heym 88b and the ejectors are great. On a non ejector it would be an issue but a good quality ejector works well, Westley Richard’s figured it out a long time ago. Of course ejectors for rimmed cases are simpler, and theoretically more foolproof. As far as accuracy goes there are no issues.

My only issue is one that I never see mentioned by anyone else, perhaps because I am very very picky about the tiny details of how my rifles fit and function. My one dislike is that due to the spring loaded detente on the ejectors you have to push the rounds into the chamber, you can’t just put the tip in, drop it in and slam the breech shut like you can on a rimned round or a shotgun.

If I were a PH looking for a stopping rifle I would insist on a rimmed cartridge, but as a client hunter I don’t think it’s an insurmountable problem and the easy availability of ammo and components is a real bonus.

These are just my personal thoughts. I do admit that my double rifle experience is limited. I have a 9.3x74R and a .375 H&H, both ejector guns. I am awaiting import of a Krieghoff 500-416 NE non-ejector.

 

[One Day...]

I would not be too worried about head spacing or accuracy, SCmackey, but there is no escaping the fact that the spring-loaded detents that secure the belted rimless cases in the ejectors or extractors are more complex and delicate, hence more prone to failure, than ejectors or extractors designed for rimmed cases. It is just mechanics 101.

It is a fact that they do work most of the times, and many users may never experience any failure to extract / eject, but it is also a fact that they sometimes fail, even in the highest quality rifles. How lucky do you feel?

A good alternative to the .375 H&H in a double, if the purpose is to get more ballistic flexibility than the .470 or .500 offer, is to consider the modern 500/.416 which duplicates the performance of the .416 Rigby.

In the end, because the .375 should NOT be used as a "stopper" caliber (it lacks power for the purpose), hence the consequence of a failure to extract / eject is likely just annoyance -- as opposed to failure to reload in time to stop a charge; and because a client user is backed by a PH with more serious artillery when hunting DG, I would not necessarily pass on a .375 H&H double, but this would be with the specific understanding that I do not rely on it as a "stopper".


EDIT: as I read Canadaboy's input after posting my response (I was typing when he posted), I observe a similarity of concepts... My own experience with doubles was with 9.3x74 in Europe, then .450 #2 and .470, but I am off the doubles bandwagon (recently resold my Krieghoff .470) and have become a Blaser R8 only gunner. My second shot (whether it be with my .375 H&H or .458 Lott barrel) is very darn near as fast, as I am reloaded by the time I come down from recoil, and my third and fourth shots are light years faster... Beside, I gained infinitely more R8 practice in just a few years than I did in 30 years of doubles ownership...

 

[SCmackey]

Thanks for info. I have a V-C 500 NE Dbl and 458 LOTT LARM mag rifle, so this would not be a stopper. Was intrigued by a very nice looking used double I saw. Thanks for the input!