Thoughts on "entry level" .375 H&H

[Arac]

I've been looking for a .375 for a few weeks now and would like your input on what you view as an entry level, or basic, serviceable .375 H&H rifle. I don't mean "least expensive" - I am looking for something that is reliable above all else, but not fancy with extras.

I live in a place that has one local gun shop, so for the most part it is buying sight unseen.

I had initially thought a new Winchester Safari Express, or maybe Alaskan, would be a good way to go. However, since joining this forum I have seen numerous posts indicating that the quality of new M70 rifles is hit and miss. I have read of potential feeding issues too.

The other options are:

Brno ZKK-602. I have a line on a used one, but understand (again from this forum) that I may need to upgrade the safety, bed the stock to help prevent cracking and possibly upgrade the trigger as well.

Sako AV or similar older version. These seem to pop up quite regularly. I recently read on this forum that these older Sako rifles can have their bolt "seize up". I can't find what this exactly means, or is caused by.

The odd pre-64 M70 or Browning Safari comes up for sale. The former are usually a bit beat up with extra holes or collector grade rifles and I am familiar with the latter having potential salt stock issues.

All of the above are available for a similar amount up here - between US$1100 (for older Sako) and US$1800 for the rest.

What would you get and what would you do to get it up to a satisfactory level? Thanks for your time!

Here is my last .375 H&H, a Remington BDL Custom C Grade. This and a Ruger No.1 are the only two I have owned:

 

[deewayne2003]

Either get the BRNO knowing you will have to put money into it like I did.

Or buy a Winchester New Haven off of gunbroker.

 

[MontanaPat]

I would buy a Win M70 Safari Express, if you can find a used New Haven gun great (I sold mine recently on AH) but I would have no hesitation buying a new Portugal made Safari Express if you can find one. I think the quality issues are in the minority, you only hear about the ones with some slight issue but nothing about the hundreds that are fine out of the box. I own a couple of other Portugal made M70's in other calibers and they have been great guns right out of the box.

 

[IvW]

Remington.......NO.....
BRNO ZKK or CZ(Spend some money) sorted.....

 

[Moody808]

I have a Portugal made Mod 70 safari express in 375 h&h and have no issues with the quality.

 

[dogcat1]

Winchester Model 70 in CRF action.
Remington is fine and shoots fine, but you will likely find the Model 70 a bit more of a true DGR.

 

[Arac]

Thanks all - I sold that Remington some time ago. I also had one of the original Remington Safari Classic in .416 RM. Sold that one too.

 

[LimbNoMo]

Get a Winchester 70. Alaskan or Safari.

 

[Arac]

Get a Winchester 70. Alaskan or Safari.

Both are readily available here - but not locally. Which do you prefer and why? My knee-jerk reaction is that the Safari looks like it has better sights and a barrel band, which I prefer.

 

[Alistair]

I had a 2013 vintage Win 70 Safari Express which was perfectly acceptable. It worked fine, quality was ok, the fake blueing stuff they use is a bit meh, the wood was solid, but uninspiring. Standard US brand rifle stuff, basically. Cheaply made, but generally reliable and decent value.

I didn't have to do anything to it in order to have a rifle I trusted, which is probably not the case if you buy a BRNO.

The Safari Express seemed more 'proper' to me for a DG calibre than the Alaskan, but they're functionally pretty similar, so buy what you like I guess. The Safari Express is a little more front weighted with the heavier barrel profile, which I personally liked. I think it has double recoil lugs as well, for whatever value you place on that feature.

The Sako is probably better made than the modern Win 70, but it's not a rifle I have experience with or know much about, so I cannot comment.

 

[Hooked Now]

Not mine, but this one on GB is a good price for a CZ 550 today. Ticks a lot of boxes.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1138217968

 

[Arac]

I am in Canada, so my options are greatly limited in comparison to my brothers and sisters south of the border.

 

[Hooked Now]

I am in Canada, so my options are greatly limited in comparison to my brothers and sisters south of the border.

Ugh. Sorry. I bought a CZ 550 for my first .375 H&H and have been happy so far. A little bit of work and tweaks and some help from Tim at Matrix on the bolt. Another member here posted a very helpful set of instructions on how to do some basic work smoothing things out. That plus cycling the bolt about 1000 times and I'm very pleased. So +1 for the CZ if you can get your hands on one. And the B&C stock is a nice replacement if your CZ has that awful hogback stock like mine did.

 

[RR 314]

Not mine, but this one on GB is a good price for a CZ 550 today. Ticks a lot of boxes.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1138217968

Hate the stock—especially with a scope, but straight stocked CZs pop up from time to time for around the same price.

 

[RR 314]

Ugh. Sorry. I bought a CZ 550 for my first .375 H&H and have been happy so far. A little bit of work and tweaks and some help from Tim at Matrix on the bolt. Another member here posted a very helpful set of instructions on how to do some basic work smoothing things out. That plus cycling the bolt about 1000 times and I'm very pleased. So +1 for the CZ if you can get your hands on one. And the B&C stock is a nice replacement if your CZ has that awful hogback stock like mine did.

Haaaaaa. I should’ve read your subsequent post before chiming in. . Completely agree!

 

[DaddyFlip]

I am in Canada, so my options are greatly limited in comparison to my brothers and sisters south of the border.

What do you mean by 'entry level' and what are your buying options? Personally, for an entry level piece, I wouldn't buy anything that needed gunsmith work done to make it serviceable. And I don't think CRF is a must-have in a 375.

My entry level 375 is a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker II with 26" barrel off GI. It didn't come with a magazine (got one from Midwest Gunworks), I had to strip and paint the stock (it was BROWN), then put on the scope (used) and mounts (new) I wanted. I've got less than $1.5k in the whole rig. There are A-Bolts and an X-Bolt on GI right now for ~$1k. No, it's not CRF, but it's 3-lug with 60-degree bolt throw. If you happen to go this way, get the "two" (II) version with the non-rotating bolt shroud.

I also bought a new Portugal Model 70 Safari Express in 416Rem Mag. I like it a lot, but in my opinion, you can forget using it as an open sight gun. The stock configuration out of the box makes it a scope gun. If I BURY my face into the cheekpiece I can just about line up the sights, but then you're asking for headaches, even with 375 I think. I thought I read or heard somewhere that the hit or miss quality out of BACO Portugal was in the past. Good luck!

 

[Safari Dave]

I would consider a post-64 Winchester Model 70.

IME, they work just fine and are quality rifles.



(As do most other "push feed" rifles like all Remington Model 700's, Weatherby's, and Tikkas also, the Sako 85's, and all Browning's made after 1974)




I think you could say the renowned Blaser R8 would also be considered "push feed."

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

SAKO

 

[Beck]

I'd look for a Sako 85

 

[Safari Dave]

I think I was wrong about the Sako 85 being a push feed.