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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles
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260rem
.375 member


Reged: 16/04/06
Posts: 757
Loc: NSW Australia
Short barrel on a 375H&H?
      #70907 - 06/02/07 07:40 PM

I'm thinking about cutting the barrel on my 375H&H down from 24" to 20" to make it more handy in the thick cover that I'm spending more and more time in.

I plan on loading 350gr Woodleigh's for Buff and Bulls and stick to the 220gr pills for deer.

I'm not sure at the loss of velocity if its not to great then I will do it, but if I cant get around 4000ft/lbs from the 350gr pills then I will leave it as it is.

Has anyone had a short barrel on a 375H&H or tried something like this?

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One shot is all you need.

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27506
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: 260rem]
      #70922 - 07/02/07 03:39 AM

I'd expect 25fps to 30fps per inch. Neither game will know the difference of 100 to 130fps.
; The muzzle blast will be substancially increased, btw. It will effect the general handling and may even cause excessive muzzle flip - only one way to find out. I generaly cannot find any problem of handling in any bush, with a 22" barrel.

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Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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500grains
.416 member


Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: DarylS]
      #70924 - 07/02/07 03:50 AM

I have a 19 inch and a 20 inch .375. Muzzle blast and muzzle flip are fine. Velocity loss is not significant. IMO you are better off having a handy rifle than an extra 100 fps.

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NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: 500grains]
      #71025 - 08/02/07 08:06 PM

I had a 20" SAKO 375 H&H, I liked it, my brother has it now as I replaced it with a Blaser Tracker barrel [19 3/4"] in 375.

I like a short 375 quite a bit. I have shot both of those rifles to 300 yards and they shoot as good as longer bbled 375's I have shot.

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260rem
.375 member


Reged: 16/04/06
Posts: 757
Loc: NSW Australia
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: NE450No2]
      #71026 - 08/02/07 08:42 PM

I might call the smith tommorow then, I like short barrel rifles as I spend more time snap shooting moving game.
I just didn't know if I would loose too much speed with so little barrel and so much powder.

Say has anyone tried the 350gr Taipan FMJ? I would like to try them on some bulls.

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One shot is all you need.

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escard
.300 member


Reged: 24/01/07
Posts: 158
Loc: austria-europe
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: 260rem]
      #71027 - 08/02/07 09:29 PM

I once had a .416 Remington 24"-barrel chopped to about 21". That rifle lost velocity with a specific loading (350 grs Barnes-X) by 100 fps. That rifle (Rem-Safari) had a much better balance, the rifle also didnīt go with the muzzle into the sky as with the longer original-barrel-length (so it didnīt go out of the target nearly at all) but it pushed harder back on the shoulder....
If I would have the same rifle again I would chop the barrel again surely....

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Con
.333 member


Reged: 24/05/04
Posts: 261
Loc: Victoria
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: escard]
      #71030 - 08/02/07 11:12 PM

260rem,
I hunt some thick Sambar country with a 26" barrel on an 8mmRemMag and its no problem ... I'd be careful in assuming cutting from 24" to 20" will make the rifle "handier". In my opinion, handiness comes from perfect balance ... not overall length. I'd be tempted to cut it to 22" and try it before taking another 2" off. Each cut will cost $50. You get it wrong and you'll regret it, and start adding weight to finetune the balance again.
Handiest 375H&H I had wore a 22" barrel in a heavy Remington magnum contour ... the Remington sporter contour suited a 24" length. At least that's how it felt to me.
Cheers...
Con

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260rem
.375 member


Reged: 16/04/06
Posts: 757
Loc: NSW Australia
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: Con]
      #71102 - 09/02/07 09:30 PM

I have trouble with the open sights getting in the way of the scope and blurring the picture, I have medium mounts at the moment but I would rather have low ones on for snap shooting.
If I have them removed then I'm left with the screw holes so I want to cut the barrel off behind the front sight and plug the rear sight holes.

I would also like to set this up like my model seven which is my favourite rifle, if I trim to 20" then it will only be 3" longer then it and not that much heaver and almost as handy.

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One shot is all you need.

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hoppdoc
.400 member


Reged: 02/03/06
Posts: 1791
Loc: Southeastern USA
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: 260rem]
      #71105 - 10/02/07 12:48 AM

I shoot a 416 Rem by Gentry with a 20" barrel.Handles great and I luv it. Really loud though--

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An armed man is a citizen of his country, an unarmed man just a subject.

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Yogi000
.333 member


Reged: 02/03/06
Posts: 265
Loc: New York, USA
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: hoppdoc]
      #71131 - 10/02/07 09:43 AM

Getting a 20 inch double.

A "Carbine Double" is what Jason Simpkins calls them, some call them Bush Guns or Stopper Guns.

I do know that the other 20-21 inch barrels on my other guns shoot out to 300 yards if that is what I need them to do, although certainly the top reasons for a 20 inch double have far more to do with quick shots, carry, heavy brush and cover shooting... but then yea it can still perform out to longer distances without sacrificing too much.

Yet as stated above it is much more about BALANCE of the gun. If it balances well at 20 inches then that is a double plus in my opinion.

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Con
.333 member


Reged: 24/05/04
Posts: 261
Loc: Victoria
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: 260rem]
      #71200 - 11/02/07 08:27 AM

260Rem,
I'm sure a 'smith could plug the fore and aft holes and make it look like they never existed. For me ... a 20" 375H&H is verging potentially on the loudish ... and noise causes me to flinch way more than recoil.
Cheers...
Con

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260rem
.375 member


Reged: 16/04/06
Posts: 757
Loc: NSW Australia
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: Con]
      #71225 - 11/02/07 02:32 PM

I thought about that but I like short handy rifles, now that I know that it wont affect it too much in the velocity department I'm going to have a good look at it and make a decision.

I doubt that it would remove much weight but with a set of low rings and an overall length of only 42&1/2" it would be a very handy outfit.

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One shot is all you need.

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Bill_Cooley
.300 member


Reged: 14/12/06
Posts: 197
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: 260rem]
      #71284 - 12/02/07 06:11 AM

I had a Sako carbine in 375 and it was verey handy. I thought it was about the best set up for heavy cover when hunting Elk. I think you will like a short bbl 375.
Bill

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DUGABOY1
.400 member


Reged: 02/02/03
Posts: 1340
Loc: TEXAS USA
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: 260rem]
      #71520 - 15/02/07 04:05 AM

I have a friend who is a PH in Botswana, and he has a Mod 70 bolt rifle chambered for 458 Win Mag, housed in a Macmillan synthetic stock. It is eqipt with good open sights, and has a 20" medium weight barrel. He had this rifle made for going into the Tsaro bush for wouned Buffalo. The recoil is horrendous, but that thing handles like a dream in the tight stuff. His staff calls this rifle "THE BLACK BITCH", but when they need to crawl into the tight places with a big bull, they always grab the BLACK BITCH, and leave their full length rifles behind.
I think you will like the short barreled 375H&H, and for it's special purpose, will be just right, IMO! I would dearly love to have an 18" barreled double rifle, with good express sights,and chambered for brass 12 bore, hard cast bullet rounds, for just such use!

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..........Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY1, and MacD37 founding member of DRSS www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com
"If I die today, I have had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"

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bruised
.224 member


Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 8
Loc: Western Washington
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: DUGABOY1]
      #72150 - 21/02/07 05:03 PM

I've been thinking the same thing. I've enjoyed my Ruger #1 .375 as a brush gun, though it has a 24" barrel, there is no action length, so it's 40 1/2" long overall. I'm currently building a stainless steel .375 H & H "scout" rifle based on a Montana 1999 bolt action. It will feature a 19" or 20" barrel and long eye relief forward mounted scope, hopefully about 7-8 lbs. I need a lightweight all purpose rifle for wandering the Alaskan outback and I think this will fit the bill for me. 30 f.p.s. per inch seems a small price to pay for handiness....I'm hoping to mitigate that somewhat by careful handloading with a chronograph to compare different powders, etc.

Todd

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Boomer
.300 member


Reged: 13/04/05
Posts: 144
Loc: The Hudson Bay Coast, Canada
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: bruised]
      #72647 - 27/02/07 10:52 PM

I know of several .375 H&H's which have been cut down to 20", and most report a total velocity loss of only 50 fps. The .375 bore seems quite forgiving, and my 20" .375 Ultra is similar in this respect. You will not need any voodoo reloading procedures, or be overly concerned about powder burn rates. Just use good handloading procedures, and use the powder which is the most efficient for your bullet weight, typically H-4895, W-760 and R-15, etc.

Bruised -

You might like this:



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bruised
.224 member


Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 8
Loc: Western Washington
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: Boomer]
      #72759 - 28/02/07 04:07 PM

Boomer;

That's pretty much what I have in mind. Who did the barrel work? I've been trying to decide between a light tube and a fluted heavier barrel. Apparently you only lose 4 oz. or so with the fluting, but gain stiffness. The net weight gain would be on the order of 12 oz. for the heavier fluted contour. Is that a Ruger #1 quarter rib? What's your all-up weight?


Todd

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Boomer
.300 member


Reged: 13/04/05
Posts: 144
Loc: The Hudson Bay Coast, Canada
Re: Short barrel on a 375H&H? [Re: bruised]
      #73462 - 09/03/07 10:14 AM

The work on my rifle was done by a Canadian gunsmith, but there is no magic in my rifle, and the features could be produced by any good gunsmith down your way. I got a deal on the barrel, and if I was to do it again, I would choose an unfluted barrel that wasn't quite so whippy. The quarter rib was made by the gunsmith from a piece of stainless stock, and inletted for the Talley rings. Prior to finishing the front sight and with the factory wood stock cut down to 13.5", the rifle weighed only 7.5 pounds. The McMillan stock has increased the weight to just over 9.

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