Big/dangerous game rifle

[Thanatos2203]

Considering a big game rifle to fill all current and future big game needs in all weather conditions. The target would be anything in the lower 48 plus an Alaska trip I am saving for. Additionally, there is a chance of going to Africa for my job.

.375 H&H keeps coming up in my research as the best round to fit this need. Take down power and general availability being the chief concerns. I realize its expensive, but this wouldn't be much of a range gun, just a purpose driven hunter. I'm also no stranger to recoil.

This got me to looking at the Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker with open sights and the Sako Kodiak. The Browning has a slightly longer barrel, synthetic stock, weighs about a pound less, and costs $800 less. The Sako has a laminate stock and carries one extra round. Both are obviously stainless with iron sights and detachable box magazines. I also looked at the CZ 550 Safari but it has too many hit or miss reviews and doesn't fit the stainless bill. Lastly I checked out the Winchester Safari Express which again isn't stainless and I would have to find second hand.

Question 1) Is it worth saving more for the Sako? For the cost of getting it to my FFL, I can buy the Browning, mounts, and a low power Leupold VX-3 while having money left over for ammo. Both rifles seem to be well liked and quality built. I read one negative review about the Sako magazine but that was it. I am willing to spend the money on the right gun, as quality only hurts once.

Question 2) What quick release mounting system would stand up to .375 H&H? The Leupold QR system is simple and attractive but I also read one report of the QRW system not standing up to this specific cartridge and the handles breaking off.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[Spyder]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=434152

[Seven_Duce]

I would try posting in the hunting and fishing section and also sending Fjold a pm

[Thanatos2203]

I would try posting in the hunting and fishing section and also sending Fjold a pm

I might try that, not getting too many bites over here.

[russ69]

Ruger African.

http://ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAfrican/models.html

[Manh3]

I personally would get the Sako Kodak with the sako aimpoint h1 mount with an h1 as the scope of choice in 2moa. It gives you a great fov and fast point of aim which would be very important in what you want to do. I could only imagine coming across a brown bear while hiking in thick brush.

[Coyotegunner]

I own several Brownings and Sakos.
These days for the cost difference,I would stick with the Browning or look for a Remington.
See if you can find a Browning with the BOSS on it.Get the closed BOSS also in case you use a guide that will not allow a brake.Some will not due to the blown ear drums.
I use Warne wing nut type QR on several applications including a hard kicking 338 Winchester.Percieved recoil is harder than my 458 or 375 was.The 375 a friend of 33 years shoots has killed many deer,elk,bears.It is a Ruger No 1.It recoils terrible just like my Ruger 77 did.
The Ruger 77 338WM was the worst of all of them,I personally owned.The Browning I use now is a p*ssycat compared to it.
I love the 338 WM.It is enough for anything in North America.Including Alaska.
Seems Africa has a minimum 375 in places.Minimum.Maybe that 458 the Spyder guy has would be good.
I used Leupold VX III 1-5s on the dangerous game rifles.FOV is enormous on those little scopes and I have never had one problem with them.
Bigger heavier scopes get the p*ss knocked out of them from heavy kickers.Like a Leupold Mark 4.They repaired it though in about 3 weeks.
If you get into a Swaro and they break?Mine took almost 9 months to get back from repair.
Try to have back up sights in case.

Google big5hq.Call Russ Canby in Oregon.He is a Africa Outfitter and usually has several large caliber guns.His and clients guns.
I have not spoke to him for awhile.He usually emails me hunts going on for Africa.

I have another contact who is a taxidermy dude in Reno.He is big with SCI.I can give you his email if you PM me.Finally got his big ole leopard last year.Yes it was a nice one.

FJOLD Frank will probably chime in here also.He goes often,I believe.

[duckman1]

The .375 is an excellent choice, it meets the minimum standard for a dangerous game caliber and can be loaded up or down depending on your need. All the guns you mentioned would be a good choice, if it was me I would want to hold, shoulder, cycle and maybe even shoot them prior to purchase.

[smle-man]

In my humble opinion the .375 is too much gun for North America except Kodiaks and too little gun for anything dangerous in Africa. There is very little in North America that won't fall to the mundane .30-06.

[Fjold]

In 375 H&H the stainless choices are limited as you've found out. The browning is too light in my opinion. 6.5 Lbs makes for a hard recoiling rifle. One of the advantages to a 375 H&H is that anyone can shoot it well, in a properly weighted rifle. My Model 70 weighs in at 9 lbs empty and that makes it comfortable to shoot, even off of the bench.

If I was looking for a stainless rifle for everything it would probably be the Ruger Guide Gun in stainless with a laminate stock chambered in 375 Ruger. It will get you 150 fps over the 375 H&H and using the 350 grain bullets for elephants, 300 grain bullets for buffalo, the big bears and Eland, etc. and 260 -270 grain bullets for the smaller elk, kudu, eland, etc. Using solids you can take the smallest game without any excess meat or cape damage. The 300 grain bullets can take anything on earth and the trajectory is similar to the 30.06 using 180 grain loads.

Savage also has a SS 375 Ruger but I don't know what kind of extraction it has.

For QD mounts I have Talley and Warne rings and both of them work great.

[Thanatos2203]

I want to thank everyone for your help an input so far. The general consensus from my further research seems to state that the Sako is pretty much perfect and the Browning is just slightly less accurate. I called up the Bass Pro shop in Rancho Cucamonga today and they carry the Kodiak for pretty much the same price Eurooptic has it for, but the Browning would have to be special order. Of course I got their "6 month to pay" email today which applies to catalogue and online orders, but the Kodiak isn't listed on their website conveniently. Might go in and try to handle it and another flavor of Browning on one of my days off.

While browsing Bass Pro's website I came across this somewhat devastating review of the Browning. Obviously one man's word isn't gospel but the commentary doesn't inspire confidence.

"I purchased 2 of these for a brown bear trip to Alaska. both were accurate. They were both in 375 H&H that Bass pro custom ordered for me. They are described by browning as " WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING DANGEROUS GAME THE RELIABILITY OF YOUR RIFLE SUDDENLY TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING". Both of these rifles had a serious flaw in that if you went to cycle the action very fast it would stick . The more force you put on the bolt the harder it would stick. This was with or without a round in the magazine. They both eject fine but if you put any kind of force on the bolt pushing it forward then it sticks to the point you can't push the bolt forward to feed another round. I have had both rifles actions polished by a local gunsmith and Browning. Neither has completely resolved the issue. I have a Sako Kodiak in 375 that does not do this (I loaned it to my son for the same trip). I also have a Winchester model 70 pre 64 super grade 375 that doesn't do this. t would not buy this rifle if intended for dangerous game. By the way I did shoot a brown bear. Hit it through the heart lung region and it still ran 50 yards. My bolt stuck while trying to slam the bolt forward for a second shot. Never got one off as could not slide the bolt forward. I have been fortunate to have numerous rifles by many different makers. I don't have a problem with the accuracy of these guns but the action has a flaw that does not make it a dangerous game gun as touted. Would not buy these again."

As far as caliber choice goes in the .375 H&H vs Ruger, most of what I read claimed that the Ruger ammo was harder to come by and less prolific. The options for H&H aren't grand to begin with so that leaves me with some concern. Seems like the H&H isn't lacking in take down and doesn't suffer from as sharp a recoil as say a .338 Win Mag. The Africa trip may be more of a wishful fantasy depending on how long I stay with this company, but the Alaska trip is more of my concern. In regards to the 30-06 I'd rather have more power than less. I already have a .308 and recently got rid of a .270 so I was hoping for something in a higher weight class. I have seen a lot of talk about the 30-06 being good for Alaskan bears because people often can't shoot .300 Win Mag, WSM, etc very well and could make their shots better with the smaller caliber. I don't want to sound arrogant or cocky, but this is not something I am worried about.


I've been looking at the Warne's and the Talley's and don't think I can really go wrong either way, just all depends on how much I am willing to shell out. Thank you for the recommendations.

Please keep all the comments and advice coming, I really appreciate the help.

[fishdude]

If you have the means, why not the original?

http://hollandandholland.com/gun-room/royal-double-rifle/

Lol, I just like looking at them, I'd love to visit one of their gun rooms.

[Thanatos2203]

If you have the means

And therein lies the problem lol.

[Manh3]

As for scopes, have you looked at Schimdt and benders 1.5-6X? The scope at its lowest setting can focus down to 5 yards, no parallax issue what's so ever. If the newer zenith model is too much look at the older west german built ones.

[atakacorp]

Sako Kodiak 85

http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/sako-model-85-kodiak-review/