What to buy???

[chiefdale]

Thank you for all the post. I am leaning towards a RSM/ Ruger No 1 and an older browning. Still searching around. Here is a question guys. What is the real benefit or a quarter rib and controlled feed?

 

[chiefdale]

Anyone have a ZKK or any experience?

CZ 550 or older ZKK 602 in 375 H&H with a good scope fitted to QD mounts @ around 9 pounds would be my choice. It still is the King of the medium bores and the most useful rifle and caliber you can take to Afrika. It may be a little bit over gunned for some species, ideal for most and slightly undergunned for perhaps elephant only. As a client it would be the most sensible choice as it has been for 105 years.

 

[gizmo]

CZ 550 American safari in 375 H&H would be my first choice. 2nd would be the RSM.

 

[gizmo]

I loooove my CZ 375

 

[ActionBob]

If there is one thing Africa will do to you is make you spend more money as you plan your return!
As already said by the guys above, if you find a RSM in that price range in good shape, buy it. I do believe that the RSM in 416 Rigby is about as perfect weight for caliber that you can find in a production(past production). I think my 375 RSM is a bit on the heavy side for a 375 but it is wonderful to shoot as is the 416.
If you can't get the RSM, try the CZ and the M70 and decide which fits you better and go with it.
Cheers,
Cody

Hmm Its a tough call. I own both the M70 in 375 and the Ruger in 416 Rigby and they both make me smile when i pull the trigger. I originally put a deposit on a CZ550 in 375H&H but didn't get that new gun feeling so went back and changed to the M70 haven regretted it once. The M70 is well built, balances and is not overly heavy it also shoots too with Sub 3/4 inch 3 shot groups at 100m. On the CZ if you want a gun to tinker and up grade/semi customise (I mean the work that AHR do is phenomenal) then CZ is for you.

The Ruger is awesome- it wears a semi custom Circassian walnut stock and shoulders nicely. Its probably a tad barrel heavy but not enough to warrant cutting and re-crowning. I think the weight is suited to the calibre but would be heavy for a 375.

I don't think you'd go wrong with either my advice is by the rifle that fits you the best.

Cheers
TW

Cody is right on the money, I own several RSM's in 375 H&H (only 1 so far), 416 Rigby (3), 458 Lott (2) and my favorite customized in 505 Gibbs... As well as most of the Express little brothers to the RSM. In my opinion, that gun must have been designed around the 416 Rigby caliber as it is as near perfect as a production rifle can get. To comfortably (a relative term shoot the 505 Gibbs, I added a Murry leather cartridge holder to the stock and filled with 6 loaded rounds, it adds enough weight to the gun. A mercury tube or that Mule recoil reducer both in the stock and the smaller one in the fore end might be ideal, but can't get myself to cut into that beautiful wood.

To me the M 70 Winchester goes the other way... I have 375 H&H and a 416 Rem Mag. The 416 is a pleasure to carry, the 375 is a pleasure to shoot. As near as I can tell, the only real difference in the way they are manufactured is the 416 has a bigger hole cut through the same barrel blank, thus it is lighter and a bit light on the barrel end.

I've also got a CZ in 505 Gibbs but it is the top of the line model and is not only beautiful to look at, but it really shoots well, came standard with the mercury recoil reducer and that stock design and length of pull is so good for me that it is easy to shoot for the caliber. I've got smaller caliber CZ and Winchester and lots of Rugers. love them all for various reasons. And I have friends who have CZ's in 375 H&H who love them... Thing is with a new CZ, you have options to go cheap or bling it up. On the low end, it is very well within your budget, on the high end it blows well past... And ultimately you may want the AHR upgrade... You can get lucky with CZ and get one that feeds well... And you might get one that needs work. Then you can send it back to CZ or spring for the highly touted AHR upgrade. The CZ has the greatest magazine capacity.

A Winchester is pretty much a known thing they seem to come out consistent. And has the smallest mag capacity.

A good RSM is a thing of beauty and great function, and they don't make them anymore so limited quantity might make for a better investment... I love them all, but the RSM holds a special spot in my heart

 

[ActionBob]

Thank you for all the post. I am leaning towards a RSM/ Ruger No 1 and an older browning. Still searching around. Here is a question guys. What is the real benefit or a quarter rib and controlled feed?

The quarter rib is somewhat unique and on the RSM's it was machined from a single block of steel so is integral.. .It is a great platform for the rear sight. And to many, eye appealing. Beyond that, maybe someone else can chime in.

What is bad about it is the bell on a scope will hit it if mounted too low.. And the scope should be mounted low so you can control recoil..... It works great with a DG type scope that does not have a bell. Such as many of the models in 1-4 to 1-8 magnification.

 

[IvW]

Anyone have a ZKK or any experience?

I own 4 rifles with ZKK actions.

243 Win ZKK 601 standard, classic stock, with pop up peep site in the receiver
375 H&H ZKK 602 standard, classic stock, with pop up peep site in the receiver.
375 H&H ZKK 602, classic stock, custom barrel, with pop up peep site in the receiver.
500 JEFF ZKK 602, custom. No pop up peep site.

Set triggers have all been removed and replaced.
I have never had any issues with any of these rifles and have used the 375 H&H and 500 JEFF extensively as back-up rifles.

Rigby have used these actions on many of their rifle, they are strong and very reliable.

 

[Dr Ray]

Looking forward to the report! What .375 did you shoot over there? With $1500 you can look at quite a few options. I'd start with Winchester model 70 and CZ

I agree with the choice.

 

[Firebird]

The benefit to controlled feed-since you asked is that the round is less likely to misalign or get jarred or jammed by excited hunters with sweaty palms and shaky fingers. The controlled feed bolt catches the rim of the case between the bolt face and the extractor and guides it smoothly into place, then retracts and flings the spent brass free and clear. Thus a controlled round rifle should be less accident prone, more fail than a push feed rifle. This becomes paramount if you are hunting anything dangerous, which is what the .375 is all about. I was recently looking at rifles by a number of manufacturers and was amazed by how sloppy the push feed bolts were in at least two of the major manufacturers -not a real confidence builder! I guess the takeaway is that you cannot afford to go cheap with a dangerous game rifle.
I wish you could have watched when my nephew using my old 7mm-08 remington (push feed) shot at a good Wyoming mulie a couple years ago. He missed the first shot and the buck came running towards us. He was now excited and probably short stroked the bolt, but in the mayhem managed to jam the spent case then in his enthusiasm to get the next cartridge into the chamber, somehow dropped it from the rifle onto the snow. Not calmly I pulled a cartridge from my pocket and helped him get it into play and he killed his first buck at about 300 yards. -Not dangerous mind you, just excited. That gun has never hiccupped on me but the new guy sure made it burp! I'm not sure how important controlled round feed really is or not but I would stack the odds in my favor rather than wish for insurance after the fact.

 

[Ray B]

The benefit that I see with controlled feed vs push feed doesn't have to do with how it feeds. My issue is how it extracts. the Mauser type extractor slides down (relative to the cartridge) into the rim groove whereas the push feed goes behind the cartridge until the cartridge is chambered and then as the bolt finishes its final twist, the extractor is pushed against its spring and slides over the rim and into the groove. the pop-over extractor is not a fail-safe system. If the cartridge rim is slightly thick or a bit of landscape happens to be in the groove or the bolt handle is not turned completely down and the extractor not allowed sufficient opportunity to pop into place, the cartridge will remain in the chamber.
The second shortcoming of the pushfeed extractor (I'm referencing the Rem 700, though others may also fit) is that it has about 1/3 less grip area on the rim as does the Mauser style extractor. If the cartridge is of a mind to stick in the chamber after firing, there is much less rim for the extractor to grab to convince it to exit the chamber.
As noted above there are concerns regarding the sureness of feeding provided by the controlled feed action, but the shortcomings of the extraction process should also be considered.

 

[SETH RINGER]

Vote whole heartedly for the .375 H&H. Platform will be more of a personal choice but I would recommend taking a 2ND mortgage and getting into a Blaser R8!!

 

[TTundra]

My .02 cents are to get a hold of as many as you can from the various models provided in this thread and hold, fondle, shoulder, dry fire, etc. Sure, you can always customize, but take time visiting shops and if any fellow members live close, they can possibly lend some time for you.
I travel to SHOT show every year for work and always make time to sneak away to get my hands on as many prospects as possible. Very fortunate for that.

It may take longer than you would like this way, but the more rifle handled, the better decision you'll make.

 

[ActionBob]

Vote whole heartedly for the .375 H&H. Platform will be more of a personal choice but I would recommend taking a 2ND mortgage and getting into a Blaser R8!!

No no no! Don't buy one of those do it all guns..... Then you only get to buy extra barrels and never get to enjoy the purchasing of many different guns for all sorts of reasons Oh And you would only need one small safe as well..... You will miss all the challenges of sneaking in and hiding new gun safes in creative locations, not to mention a new barrel under your jacket is no where near as challenging as whole new guns...

I admit I was tempted by an R8 a couple years before my first trip to Africa... Fortunately wiser men talked me out of it... And then as providence would have it.. The day I showed up with my first new addition for my Africa trip, the wife at the time came home with 2 brand new frying pans! So I headed back to buy two more new guns the very next day

 

[SETH RINGER]

My .02 cents are to get a hold of as many as you can from the various models provided in this thread and hold, fondle, shoulder, dry fire, etc. Sure, you can always customize, but take time visiting shops and if any fellow members live close, they can possibly lend some time for you.
I travel to SHOT show every year for work and always make time to sneak away to get my hands on as many prospects as possible. Very fortunate for that.

It may take longer than you would like this way, but the more rifle handled, the better decision you'll make.

THIS ADVISE IS WORTH AT LEAST A NICKLE!!

 

[cagkt3]

No no no! Don't buy one of those do it all guns..... Then you only get to buy extra barrels and never get to enjoy the purchasing of many different guns for all sorts of reasons Oh And you would only need one small safe as well..... You will miss all the challenges of sneaking in and hiding new gun safes in creative locations, not to mention a new barrel under your jacket is no where near as challenging as whole new guns...

I admit I was tempted by an R8 a couple years before my first trip to Africa... Fortunately wiser men talked me out of it... And then as providence would have it.. The day I showed up with my first new addition for my Africa trip, the wife at the time came home with 2 brand new frying pans! So I headed back to buy two more new guns the very next day

you cannot be more right @ActionBob sneaking guns in the safe is one of my favorite pastimes!

 

[Spooksar]

I have 2 375 H&H one a CZ 550 the other a Winchester like them both thou the CZ is a bit heavier. Also have 2 Ruger RSM one a 458 Lott the other a 416 Rigby. The Rigby was brutal for me to shoot till I added a recoil reducer.

 

[IvW]

With regard to push feed actions vs controlled feed.

Main problem as mentioned is extraction not feeding. If you decide on a push feed action make very sure it will extract and EJECT an unfired round! I had a Rem M700 classic in 375 H&H apart from the rifle being too light for the caliber it would never eject a unfired round! The small spring fitted plunger was only strong enough to eject empty cases and not unfired/misfired rounds. Got rid of that rifle pretty fast.

Since then I have only used Brno ZKK actioned DG rifles and have never had any issues.

 

[Shootist43]

The concept of controlled feed is well over a hundred years old, in fact more like 125. Too date there is none better. Push feed rifles are much cheaper to manufacture and work most of the time but not always. DG rifles need to work all the time. Enough said.

 

[Ernie Shipman]

My 2 rand's worth:
I have hunted Africa 2x & own a gun shop (I am NOT trying to sell you anything, just advice here):
You have LOTS of great options. CZ, Win 70 Safari, Ruger in 375 Ruger, etc. On the new side, for slightly more, Sako makes the Grizzly in 375 H&H. I own one & LOVE it. GREAT sights, solid platform, accurate, trim, strong action, etc... @ $1750ish. One word of advice, there are some lightweight 375's out there, I personally, would steer clear. Would be too much recoil for me.

 

[chiefdale]

UPDATE: Fellas, thank you all for the advice. I ended up finding a sweet Ruger Mark II RSM 375. Beautiful quarter rib with express sights. Brand new and got a steal for it. I will post pictures once my FFL receives.

Now part 2:

What kind of scope to put on this bad boy? 800-1000 dollar range. Thoughts... ? Looking at Lecia, Leopold etc....