Marlin 375

[Damonk1384]

Any opinions on using a Marlin 375 lever in Africa? I’ve only seen, so far in articles, bolt action rifles being used for the hunt. Newbie here.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I have no experience with the 375 but would love to own one someday. I have been to Africa once. I took two Marlin lever actions and was 10/10 on shots and animals, up to buffalo. I'm going again next year and it will be more levers. I may make it a Savage 99 this time.

 

[Damonk1384]

10/10. That’s a good score and a positive report. Thanks for the reply

 

[BeeMaa]

I have no experience with the 375 but would love to own one someday. I have been to Africa once. I took two Marlin lever actions and was 10/10 on shots and animals, up to buffalo. I'm going again next year and it will be more levers. I may make it a Savage 99 this time.

Savage 99 is a good platform for a lever rifle because of the rotary magazine and being able to use spitzer shaped bullets. The traditional tubular magazine of a lever gun precludes this, but it doesn't mean it's not suitable for hunting Africa.

@Damonk1384 - Now for the Marlin 375. It's chambered for the 375WIN that normally features a 200 grain flat nose bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps for an energy of 2149 lb-ft. Comparing that to a 375H&H shooting a 300 grain spitzer bullet at 2500 fps that gives 4163 lb-ft. The difference is dramatic and I haven't even started with the 375WBY, 378WBY 375RUM...etc.

Does this mean you can't hunt Africa with a 375WIN, the short answer is you absolutely can. However you will be limiting yourself in the types of shots and effective range you can take game. I know in Namibia there is a minimum energy for hunting Cape Buffalo at 3982 lb-ft (5400 Joules) and the 375WIN is woefully short of that. However, if you are confident in your rig, I'm sure you can take several PG out to at least 100 yards.

Unfortunately it's much easier to find fault with the 375WIN than the good in it. Low pressures, low bullet weight and the ballistics of a brick makes other choices much easier. I know I will be burned at the stake by the lever action community and everyone that knows someone who shot an Elephant with a lever rifle, but the lever action has pressure limitations that other actions do not. This allows better ballistic performance for any given bore size, like a 45-70 trying to compete with a 458WM...it's not even close.

The lever rifle is an effective tool for hunting, but it has limitations. If you understand them and stay inside that box, you will be fine. IMO - if you already have a 7mm or .30 caliber bolt action hunting rifle in your possession, take it hunting in Africa and save the money you would have spent on a Marlin 375 on additional animals.

 

[Finprof]

I have a Marlin 336 in 38/55, which is basically the same cartridge. I bought it for lever action silhouette but now it is my deer rifle once Maryland allowed straight walled rifle cartridges for shotgun areas. Several midwestern states have done the same. I would not use it on elk or anything else that size although some of the members of Marlinowners.com use it for elk in dark timber.

 

[IvW]

Nice pig gun.....

 

[freefall]

I oncet looked at a Marlin .375 at a gun show. The rifle was cheap enough but ammo seems to made of unobtanium. I was thinking of it for a deer rifle in Iowa, but decided if I do go I'll just take my .444.
Actually, a .444 might do you better in Africa, since you don't own the gun already. (such of a deal I could make you...)

 

[Finprof]

A 444 would be much better for Africa or for elk or moose than a 38/55 or 375 Winchester. The 444 is in the same class as a 45/70.

 

[booker]

Never shot one of those, but would love to. Now I do have and love the Marlin 336 Express in the .338 Marlin Express cartridge. Shoots like a dream! Has been on multiple Africa trips and tends to be the gun used by everyone. She have taken beast ranging from Springbok to Giraffe.

 

[93marlin]

A 444 would be much better for Africa or for elk or moose than a 38/55 or 375 Winchester. The 444 is in the same class as a 45/70.

The only problem with the 444 is the availability of heavy enough constructed bullets. MOST aren't made for much more than deer, black bear and hogs.

 

[IvW]

Pig guns.....

 

[ZG47]

I once owned a Winchester Model 94 XTR in .375 Winchester. It was a nice bush rifle but in open country had a maximum practical range of 150 metres. That was fine for my use, especially after I removed the side mount and had a Williams FP sight fitted by a gunsmith. The Marlin has a better ejection arrangement, a more comfortable stock, and can easily take a scope in QD ring mounts BUT the chambering is essentially a .35 Remington equivalent. Work within that envelope and you will be fine.

 

[AustinM]

The 375 will do plenty of good on plains game with well placed shots, within reasonable limits. I have a 45-90 on a Marlin 1895 that I would not be scared to use on anything, with a proper load. I also, have a 510 Kodiak Express being built that will be on par with factory 500 nitro loads out of a Marlin 1895. The levergun platform will perform in any area it is put into, within its limitations, as all rifles have limits. The Marlin platform can far exceed what Mr. Marlin originally intended and do so safely.

The 375 works best with the longer 38-55 brass; please look into Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore writings on it, which was recommended to him by Mic McPherson. I say pickup whatever rifle you want and work within its limits, which is really not that limited to begin with. The 38-55 is alot of fun to shoot at longer ranges, I've hit most of my marks out to 500 yards with it in Raton, NM at Whittington.

I look forward to seeing your decision on what to do!

 

[BeeMaa]

@Damonk1384 - What rifles do you currently own?

 

[ZG47]

The 375 works best with the longer 38-55 brass; please look into Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore writings on it, which was recommended to him by Mic McPherson.

If you were taking a .375 Winchester rifle to Africa with 38-55 stamped brass you would probably need to have the original chambering details lined through and have the barrel restamped as a 38-55. One possibility would be to have it restamped as 38-55 for nitro.

 

[Jeff505]

The only problem with the 444 is the availability of heavy enough constructed bullets. MOST aren't made for much more than deer, black bear and hogs.

The original Standard factory round used a 240 grain FN pistol bullet, Hornady’s lever revolution made a better round both for impact and trajectory. Buffalo Bore has well constructed rounds that bring the cartridge to what it always should have been. You can’t go wrong with a 336, as your eyes get older you might need to change the buckhorn sight to a peep or ghost ring.

 

[krish]

Modern 50-110 built with newer model 71's can be loaded to over 5000 ft/lb. The actions are strong enough to take 55000 psi.
Krish

 

[curtism1234]

It would work in a pinch at 100 yards, but I wouldn't travel 1/2 way across the world with it. Maybe as a 2nd rifle if that is your next most powerful and only if you really really like your gun.

Imo, the best lever platform for a scoped rifle is a new Browning BLR. Excellent hammer to use with a scope. 308 win, 358 win, or 300wsm would be my choice.

 

[93marlin]

Modern 50-110 built with newer model 71's can be loaded to over 5000 ft/lb. The actions are strong enough to take 55000 psi.
Krish

That would be the best choice! Providing plenty of full power practice beforehand. Recoil with that combination can be intimidating for someone not accustomed to it.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Any opinions on using a Marlin 375 lever in Africa? I’ve only seen, so far in articles, bolt action rifles being used for the hunt. Newbie here.

@Damonk1384
I don't think Marlin made a 375 mate. I know Winchester mad the 375 big bore lever action. It is a beefed up 38-55 that throws a 255gn flat nose projectile at about 2,000fps. It wouldn't be a good choice for Africa unless ranges are less than 100 yards and only on the smaller Plains game.
Now the 375H&H is a different thing that is suitable for all African game.
Bob