Building a 375 H&H, looking for a specific setup

Maliclipse

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Apr 11, 2017
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Argyle, TX
Hi,

Anyone know where I can get a long action right hand, magnum bolt face, integral lug, integral rail, with CRF?

I think my only option would be a defiant ga hunter. This build will be for a hippo hunt coming up in March 2021. I called defiant and they told me the dude who makes their CRF bolts is moving his shop and they have not ETA on when they can get more CRF in house.

Thanks!!
 
I would say that a Zermatt (Bighorn) TL3 is a pretty close fit. As a R700 clone, it has tons of aftermarket support. It fits your criteria in every regard except the integral rail. If you properly torque the rail and use locktight, it will not move on you at all. In the alternative, there are a few ring companies that make one-piece rings that thread directly into the receiver eliminating the need for a rail. I am not aware of any other alternative rifles that meet all of your criteria.

The folks over at Zermatt are super cool to work with and can get you an action in hand relatively quickly. I just purchased the exact setup you are describing for my Africa hunt, and I should be getting it in about 10 weeks from my order date. I have seen a lot of actions go down in competitions, but the TL3s seem to be tanks and run even when super dirty (the mechanical ejector is a nice touch).
 
You might have an easier time if you look at chambering in the 375 Ruger given the shorter case length. The claim is that the Ruger will exceed the performance of the H&H but I thnk the advantage of the Ruger is in the case length and a rimless case. The rimless case is probably a personal preference. The shorter case length may make it easier to find a candidate action.

I built a 375 Ruger about the time they first came out and I have used it for black bear hunting and the two bears I have taken were impressed with the round.

Another completely different route than going with a custom action would be to go with a Zastava commercial 98 chambered in 375 H&H from the factory, rifle cost under $1,000 off of gunbroker. The Mauser 98 has one of the best track records in Africa on dangerous animals, they just work. To squeeze as much accuracy out of the Zastava you could rebarrel it with a custom barrel, that would probably provide you with adequate accuracy. For hunting appications, unless the ranges exceed 500 yards, the accuracy difference between a full custom rifle built off a modern action and a 98 built by a gunsmith who does a lot of 98's (my recommendation would be Jim Kobe of Bloomington MN) would be moot. Half MOA is not needed when shooting off of sticks as the sticks may be the limiting factor.

Understand, I am a little biased towards 98's for hunting, I do almost all of my hunting with 98's that I have built off either Zastavas or FN commercial actions, about the only modification I do to the action is install a 3 position swing safety (think Win Mod 70 safety) I prefer to have the safety lock the firing pin instead of the firing pin. I usually use cut rifled barrels, although I am building a 9.3 x 62 on an FN action and went with a McGowan barrel (button rifled) as it would have taken longer than I wanted to wait to get a cut-rifled in 9.3 mm. The Zastavas have been imported and sold under Interarms MarkX, Remington 798, Charles Daly 98's, and now under their own name all of them are fine for hunting.

I realize you are probably fixed on a modern custom action and there is nothing wrong with that, I just thought I would bring to mind a few different twists to a potential solution. Many ways to skin the cat.

wade
 
Its basically an american mauser and in 375 ruger like wade touched on instead of h&h
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The only thing it wont have is a proper integral "rail" as rugers have direct mount rings.

I did a quick search for anything thats offered in h&h and for new offerings its looking like winchesters, weatherby, cz and browning. The winchester is the one I would trust most out of those but thats because its closest to the ruger lol
 
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It has been about 6 years since I was last in Africa, but getting ammo can be a challenge outside the norms like 375 H&H, 9.3x62, 416 Rigby, 458 Win Mag, 458 Lott and 470 Nitro.
 
Appreciate the suggestions. The reason for the 375 H&H is the availability of ammo. You fly out to africa with custom ammo there is a good chance it'll get lost or stolen. Its happened before. 375 H&H is very common out there. I like the idea of getting a dakota or old winchester to build custom.
 
What’s your budget? I know of a shop that has a Don Allen era Dakota for sale. Gun shoots very well as is, it shot 3-shots groups around a 1/2” at 100yds with the 300gr Game Kings. PM me if you want more info.
 
I think the Mausingfield will work! I don't need the rail because they make rings that go right into the rail mounting groves. I'll call them to see if anyone has ever built a H&H out of one.
 
I think the Mausingfield will work! I don't need the rail because they make rings that go right into the rail mounting groves. I'll call them to see if anyone has ever built a H&H out of one.

Maliclipse - Any update on this build? I'm starting my research on a LH .375 H&H and was running into the same issue -- started out at Defiance but found that they're not manufacturing CRF, and then stumbled onto this thread. Curious to know if you went with the Mausingfield action, and how it turned out.