.375H&H Barrel length… what say you?

[Datchew]

This was discussed on a previous thread, but the thought of putting a suppressor on a rifle that may be used for dangerous game seems mildly ridiculous. It would be fine on some game farm settings in SA where you can ride around looking for the bull placed there for the client's shooting pleasure and hop down with one's surf rod at the ready. On a large, well managed ranch or any free range environment, no thank you. And rest assured, except perhaps in the first scenario, your PH's rifle won't be suppressed either.

Anything to 25" has never been a problem for me under actual field conditions. As @RedTag suggests, if you want to use a traditional belted magnum use the barrel length for which it was designed. A very workable alternative is to get a Blaser R8. Due to the short action and placement of the trigger group under the magazine, the standard 25 1/2" .375 barrel which delivers optimal ballistics for the round makes up into a rifle of the same length as a CZ with a 23" barrel.

I'll be sure to let you know if I survive the hunt with my dreaded can making my barrel an extra 3" over factory length.

I think the anti-suppressor case is more of aesthetics and fashion rather than practical function.

 

[Datchew]

That blaser would be really cool with a can on it honestly

Besides being cool, I'm starting to lean toward the camp that suspects that cans improve grouping.
I received the biggest surprise of almost 10 years of load development this week.

I put a 3-15x42 scope on my 22" 375h&h with a can and shot the drops out to 200 yards. (I do plan to go to 300 but ran out of time)

My 3 shot group at 200 yards was 11/16" and I have targets and a witness to prove it. I was astonished that a cartridge this large could stay that tight at distance.
This is more like what I'd expect from a 30 caliber hand load.

The 375 is swiftly becoming one of my favorite cartridges and suppressors really tame it to comfortably shoot off a bench.

I know I won't come close to this level of performance when shooting off sticks in the hunt this summer, but the repeatability and accuracy is highly confidence inspiring when you know that sticks and adrenaline are going to cost you about 1-2 moa of performance.

 

[Red Leg]

I'll be sure to let you know if I survive the hunt with my dreaded can making my barrel an extra 3" over factory length.

I think the anti-suppressor case is more of aesthetics and fashion rather than practical function.

I am sure you will be fine. You are hunting the Eastern Cape for a buffalo, and you have a PH that encourages the use of a suppressor on a DG rifle - two fairly unique things. I pray it doesn't happen, but should it, do let us know how the sight picture looks on an inbound buffalo over that thing on the muzzle. Have a great hunt.

I can honestly say neither cool nor badass, as someone else opines, are attributes that remotely interest me in a DG rifle. I truly believe it is an abysmal application for a suppressor. Of course, I am limited in my conclusions by actually having hunted buffalo as opposed to basing a rifle on a cool factor.

 

[Datchew]

I am sure you will be fine. You are hunting the Eastern Cape for a buffalo, and you have a PH that encourages the use of a suppressor on a DG rifle - two fairly unique things. I pray it doesn't happen, but should it, do let us know how the sight picture looks on an inbound buffalo over that thing on the muzzle. Have a great hunt.

I can honestly say neither cool nor badass are attributes that remotely interest me in a DG rifle. I truly believe it is an abysmal application for a suppressor. Of course, I am limited in my conclusions by actually having hunted buffalo as opposed to basing a rifle on a cool factor.

How magnanimous of you. Please pause while I genuflect in deference.

Here's a view at typical eye relief distance at 1x facing down the frightfully dangerous black Labrador

 

[fourfive8]

@Datchew, Good plan! You will thank you and everyone around you will thank you when you shoot. Suppressors provide some insurance against developing a flinch from noise in addition to some recoil reduction. Conversely, you couldn’t pay me to shoot or own a rifle with a brake. I’d almost guarantee the guardians of DG rifle fashion who criticize a “suppressor can” wouldn’t give a second thought about a zero to slim profile ported brake. A ported brake is almost certain to help develop a trigger jerking flinch along with damaging the hearing of those nearby, including the shooter.

Also, for sure practice cycling the bolt with authority and reloading the magazine while moving and under stress.

 

[Red Leg]

@Datchew, Good plan! You will thank you and everyone around you will thank you when you shoot. Suppressors provide some insurance against developing a flinch from noise in addition to some recoil reduction. Conversely, you couldn’t pay me to shoot or own a rifle with a brake. I’d almost guarantee the guardians of DG rifle fashion who criticize a “suppressor can” wouldn’t give a second thought about a ported brake. A ported brake is almost certain to help develop a trigger jerking flinch along with damaging the hearing of those nearby, including the shooter.

I won't have a brake on any firearm used in the vicinity of anyone else for any purpose. And as I noted a suppressor is great for smacking feral hogs around a feeder at midnight. I reserve exactly the same judgement with respect to a suppressor as I do a brake being used on dangerous game. I have listed my reasons. I am confident I am far from being in a minority. You seem to have experience and approve, you'll have to post photography of yours that are so equipped, and offer us the story of the hunt.

 

[Red Leg]

How magnanimous of you. Please pause while I genuflect in deference.

Here's a view at typical eye relief distance at 1x facing down the frightfully dangerous black Labrador

View attachment 678560

Looks perfect - should work out great. I urge you to bring the same rig to Zim.

 

[potatojudge]

Focus on balance and how the rifle points and carries. Hard to do without trimming a little and checking, then trimming again, and hoping you don't go too far.

The ballistics won't be different enough to matter, at least in the opinion of this pistol hunter.

 

[Safari Dave]

Not a .375 H&H, but...


A "can" turned my son's Sub MOA Tikka T3X into a 2+ MOA rifle.

You really, never know until you do it.


He had the barrel cut and threaded by the best gunsmith within 100 miles, and the accuracy suffered greatly.

When you change things with a good factory rifle, you, sometimes.,"roll the dice" and end up with "snake-eyes."

Accuracy depends on MANY different things.



I tend to leave "well-enough" alone...

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Hunt with it first to see how you like it.

I have a SAKO in .375 H&H and the barrel length is 24 3/8” it. Works great.

 

[Hooknbullet2]

Not a .375 H&H, but...


A "can" turned my son's Sub MOA Tikka T3X into a 2+ MOA rifle.

You really, never know until you do it.


He had the barrel cut and threaded by the best gunsmith within 100 miles, and the accuracy suffered greatly.

When you change things with a good factory rifle, you, sometimes.,"roll the dice" and end up with "snake-eyes."

Accuracy depends on MANY different things.



I tend to leave "well-enough" alone...

I have 3 Tikka rifles that have been cut and threaded. All were half MOA before and after. The issue with your son’s rifle maybe the Suppressor. I use ThunderBeast suppressors on my Tikka’s.

 

[Datchew]

I won't have a brake on any firearm used in the vicinity of anyone else for any purpose.

I'm also disinclined to be keen on muzzle brakes.
I would that they were controlled by law and suppressors were not.

 

[deewayne2003]

My dislike for suppressors on hunting rifles is that they make a well balanced rifle handle and point like a tractor axle.

My complete disdain for muzzle brakes is not only the noise but the complete disregard for others near by that is usually expressed by those who use them.

When guiding whitetail hunts if a client showed up with either a Kimber with a muzzle brake or any Browning BAR with BOSS on it…..
You know you’re in for some long days and more often than not long tracking job.

 

[Safari Dave]

IMO, if you need a muzzle break, you need to be shooting a much smaller cartridge...

 

[IvW]

Leave the barrel as is

 

[uplander01]

22-24 is ideal, no loss of performance at all with modern powders. I've gotten 2700fps out of a 22" barrel with 270gr barnes. Long barrels are no good in Africa.

 

[Luvthunt]

Difference between a brake and a suppressor?

 

[IvW]

How magnanimous of you. Please pause while I genuflect in deference.

Here's a view at typical eye relief distance at 1x facing down the frightfully dangerous black Labrador

View attachment 678560

So all the way up to where the thick crosshair ends is barrel and can??
Very strange.....
On all my scoped rifles I dont see the barrel......including my Wannabe actioned 338 Lapua with a 30 1/2 inch barrel and a can on the front.......and no it is not a hunting rifle just a fun gun.....

 

[Red Leg]

Difference between a brake and a suppressor?

A muzzle brake is universally loathed by every professional hunter in my experience. Anyone with the misfortune of having to share a neighboring shooting bench from one, quickly learns to loathe them as well. The poor trackers and game scouts don't get a vote. The brake reduces recoil by directing muzzle blast to the sides.

PHs and trackers count on their hearing as much as their eyes. Hosting clients using muzzle brakes puts that critical sense at risk. They will do it, because they are paid to put up with such abuse. But none will appreciate it.

 

[Wiley64]

A muzzle brake is universally loathed by every professional hunter in my experience. Anyone with the misfortune of having to share a neighboring shooting bench from one, quickly learns to loathe them as well. The poor trackers and game scouts don't get a vote. The brake reduces recoil by directing muzzle blast to the sides.

PHs and trackers count on their hearing as much as their eyes. Hosting clients using muzzle brakes puts that critical sense at risk. They will do it, because they are paid to put up with such abuse. But none will appreciate it.

Wish they made something that could reduce the report from large bore rifles so they could rely on their hearing in important moments during the hunt… maybe some day!