sometimes you just like the way a gun handles and looks

[grumpyvette]

many years ago I saw a nice detailed picture in an add in the back of the shotgun news for this sako 375 H&H carbine that looked something similar like this, but with far darker, almost black walnut wood and I decided I (NEEDED IT) badly, the cost was much higher than reason, would suggest be spent, but once a 4x Leopold scope was installed it served very well for many years as my second ELK rifle, loaded with 300 grain hornady bullets, over a stiff charge of WW760 powder (77 grains) and a federal 215 primer, its never failed to kill ELK VERY effectively.
this is probably not a cost effective combo , as the rifles expensive and you need to handload to afford the ammo,but its certainly very dependable, and kills ELK like THORS HAMMER in the thick timber at ranges under 200-250 yards, (most of the shots/KILLS Ive had were WELL UNDER)so IVE always loved hunting with it in the dark timber or snowy days
its 20" barrel limits the 300 grain bullets to about 2450fps but the ELK don,t seem to see the limitations that poses,Ive had a couple ELK looking at me in thick lodge pole timber and shots to the central chest, or shoulder as they spin to run, seem to do a good job
If I remember correctly one of the gun rag writers had a similar carbine in 30/06 sprg. (wooters maybe) and his worked really well also
Ive owned two, a 375 H&H and a 458 win, both with proper hand loads were consistent 1"-1.3" three shot group at 100 yards off a bench rest rifles
the 375 liked the 300 grain round nose hornady (no longer made) the 458 liked the 405 remingtons (hard to find)
both were damn good but heavy hunting rifles (youll appreciate the weight it reduces recoil)
I swapped to sako, remington, CZ and weatherby bolt guns in those calibers
and while I don,t regret swapping, to new rifles, in those calibers, I regret selling the ruger single shots as they were nice rifles.
Ive also found a custom single shot falling block rifle in 300 WBY very useful

http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=375 HqqqH&Weight=All&type=Rifle&Order=Powder&Source=

http://www.realguns.com/loads/375.htm

http://www.loaddata.com/members/search_detail.cfm?MetallicID=3774&caliber=.37&caliberid=19&header=.37 Caliber Reloading Data

 

[grumpyvette]

ever use a more powerful rifle just to see..
Have you ever use a more powerful rifle just to see, if the results improved?
example if you used a 270 win on deer or ELK and didn,t drop them in their tracks, you sure would not be the first guy to swap to a 300 mag or larger thinking it might get better results.
many guys go that route only to find that while it helps in some cases its generally the shot placement more than the caliber that determines the results.
I went from a 30/06 to 340 wby, and then a 375 H&H for a few seasons and those both worked exceptionally well, but the 458 win,ruger #1 and 45/70, lever action marlin, I tried just for an experiment showed no improvement at all over a 340 wby, and in the case of the 458 ruger #1 It weighed more, and both had less range, (not that that was much of a factor as I rarely see ELK past 150 yards in timber), Ive since dropped back to a 35 whelen , and 375H&H carbine on some hunts, finding its just not all that critical as long as you wait for a decent shot and place it well.
its been my experience that all the calibers from 270 up will kill an ELK effectively, and the 35 whelen and up sure get their attention,on bullet impact, to a far greater degree, but don,t kill all that much quicker with good hits, Ive seen ELK spin and run a few yards after taking good hits from a 270 win, and 6.5mm Swedish, that very similar shots from my 375H&H staggered, and dropped faster, but in all cases the ELK dies quickly, and didn,t cover more than a few dozen yards at most.
yeah ! I take alot of verbal abuse from some of my friends, if I unpack the 375H&H, or 458 win ruger #1, but I kid them about getting confused and bringing their squirrel rifles when they bring a 270 win or 257 roberts , so I guess it evens out.
btw the worst internal damage Ive ever seen dressing out an ELK was caused by a 300 wby shooting 165 grain bullets, it dropped an ELK at about 75 yard INSTANTLY, with a head on hit to the base of the throat, the insides poured out

IF YOUR WONDERING?,HOW DID THAT 458 Winchester DO ON ELK?
the 458 win FLATTENED the one ELK I shot on bullet IMPACT, range was about 140 yards, it did a great deal of damage and there was no doubt the 405 Remington bullet devastated the insides, but so does my 340 wby and my 375 H&H occasionally, and Ive seen a 300 wby almost look like it flipped an elk on bullet impact once and the same load in the same rifle, with similar shot placement, the next year hit an ELK that just staggered around for about 45 seconds before it dropped
id have zero problem using a 458 win all the time, but I don,t think its noticeably more effective on elk than a 35 whelen or 338 win is, when using the correct bullets and shot placement.
one of my freinds used a 45/70 with those same bullets at about 1800fpv vs the 2200fps the 458 throws them and it also does a good job.