45-70 vs 375 H&H

[Logan9885]

Im looking for a new barrel for my pro hunter. I have narrowed it down to either a 45-70 or 375 H&H. As far as what im going to use them for.....not a thing. LOL. Im just interested in larger calibers and have never owned either. I have a 416 rigby so recoil is not an issue. Just like to hear some info on either caliber. Thanks

[Greg Mercurio]

The .375 H&H is quite flexible for reloading with a wide range of bullets from cast to solids. Mild to wild. I just got a .45-70 so don't have a lot of experience with that caliber yet. But if you want to have a lot of fun with a medium caliber the .375 is a great choice. Have fun.

[Slamfire]

The 375 H&H is a lot flatter shooting than a 45/70. I think the 375 has a trajectory close to a 30-06.

[44 AMP]

With the right loads the .375 H&H will match the trajectory of the .30-06, and does it with a much heavier bullet.

Both are fine rounds, the .45-70 is going to be a little cheaper, and more common.

Bullet selection is greater for the .45-70, with a fair number of jacketed and wide variety of cast slugs available. The .375 has 3 basic bullet weights common, and only two of them are currently factory loaded.

I've been shooting various .45-70s going on 30 years, only got a .375H&H last year. For fun shooting, I'd pick the .45-70. If you want to get serious power, either will do, from the right rifle. The .375 is way easier to hit with at extended ranges.

[Clifford L. Hughes]

Logan985:

The 45-70 is good out to 100 yards; yes, I know that it will kill deer past 100 yards if you can hit them because of ins rainbow trajectory. My Siamese Masuer's 26 inch barrell will deliver 2000 ft. per second with 300 grain Sierra's. I never coronagraphed my Winchester Modle 70, 375 H&H but it knocks the devil out of the 300 yards gong. I'm not sure which has the most recoil. The 45-70 with 500 grain bullets bulks like a mule as does the 375 with 300 grain bullets. If you can manage a 416 you can manage a 45-70 or a 375.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I have & shoot both... though not the 375 H&H in a break action... my 45-70 15" hunter barrel for my Contender is very capable of 3 leaf clover shots on paper at 75 yards with a field rest... I wouldn't want to poo poo the 45-70 too much, I have an artical on loading for African dangerous game in a Guide gun, & it'll pack some puch, & shoot hunting groups out to 150-175 yards if loaded "right"

my 375 H&H is in a Browning stainless stalker, & I love both the cartridge & the rifle... I find I shoot 45-70 much much more than the 375 though

also building a custom rifle in .416 Rigby right now... I expect that to be a thumper... before starting the custom rifle project, I considered strongly a .416 Rigby Encore... but think I'll actually shoot the bolt action rifle more, as it's going to weigh between 11 & 12 lbs

[Kreyzhorse]

If you reload, you can do a lot with either one. Ammo seems to be easier to find for the 45-70. The .375 H&H is easier to shoot longer distances.

I'm a big fan of the 45-70 but you really can't go wrong with either one. If you are looking for recoil, the .375 has more. Both are really fun to shoot.

[smoakingun]

The 45-70 is good out to 100 yards; yes, I know that it will kill deer past 100 yards if you can hit them because of ins rainbow trajectory.

I'm gonna call bs on that one. the cartridge is capable of 2 moa or better. Lower muzzle velocity just means more come up. I use my 1895 out to 300 yards here at the home range, 405gr jsp, 1500fps, come up 4 moa from 100 to 200, 5 moa 200 to 300.

As to which cartridge, I am a fan of the 45-70, but .375 h&h in a rem 721 is on my want list

[TGReaper]

For me there is no comparison, so I sold my 45-70 This is only me but I get a lot more enjoyment out of my Win.Super Express .375 H&H.
A great deal of the enjoyment is from load development and shooting the results.
To this end I load bullets from 200 gr. to 300 gr. at velocities from 3000 f.p.s.
down to 2500 f.p.s.
Every thing from hunting to target shooting.
I have six other C.F.rifles but the .375 H&H is my favorite toy.
TGR

[darkgael]

I have both. Like them both. Energy-wise, though, there is really no comparison....the .375 H&H eclipses any of the hot loaded "Ruger Only" 45-70s by a substantial margin. As noted above, it also shoots flatter. The 45-70 is more economical to shoot whether one reloads or not. The question to answer is "Do I need/want that power?"
Both are flexible enough that the reloader can develop loads for just about any purpose.
The .375 will shoot cast bullets as well as the little 200 grain jacketed flat points developed for the .375 Winchester. (A 250 - 270 grain cast bullet over 35 grains of XMR 5744 is a nice load.)
Pete

[radom]

the .375 will kick the snot out our behind is all the 45-70 wont. Oh as a edit the .375 kicks like all get out vs a 45-70.

[mavracer]

If I had a 416 Rigby I'd have no use for a 375. A 45/70 with hard cast 405s at 1500 FPS is a lot of thump and out to 100 yards, and can do most of what a 416 can for pennys.

[44 AMP]

the .375 H&H eclipses any of the hot loaded "Ruger Only" 45-70s by a substantial margin.

Actually, I believe they are closer than you think, at max top end Ruger only .45-70 vs "regular .375 H&H for energy.

A quick look in a Nosler book showed me a 300gr .375 H&H doing in the 2400fps range, with one max load making 2600fps.

I have a load for my Ruger No.3 that pushes the 350gr Hornady at a measured 2200fps (and no, its not even pleasant to shoot). So, I would say that while the .375 does have the edge, its not a "substantial margin" of energy over the hottest Ruger .45-70 loads.

I recently obtained a Ruger No.1 in .375 H&H, and will be enjoying it come warmer weather. I fully expect it to be more pleasant to shoot than the hot loaded .45-70 in my No.3, as the No.3 doesn't even go 7lbs with a scope (2.5x post) and the No.1 tropical feels like it weighs 1,75 metric tons.

[Kreyzhorse]

I fully expect it to be more pleasant to shoot than the hot loaded .45-70 in my No.3, as the No.3 doesn't even go 7lbs with a scope (2.5x post) and the No.1 tropical feels like it weighs 1,75 metric tons.

I own a Ruger No. 1 45-70. My buddy owns a .375 H&H No. 1. While I've never pushed my No. 1 with any hot loads, I can tell you that the your .375No. 1 will be a lot more pleasant to shoot than a hot stoked 45-70 No. 3.

They are two very differently shooting and recoiling guns. The extra weight on the .375 really makes a difference. Both are great fun to shoot though.

Let us know how that .375 suits you when you take her out.

[sc928porsche]

Interesting choice.

[Deja vu]

the 45/70 will drop a lot more but with practice you can get really good at it. From a bench I can hit a paper plate at about 400 yards every time and at 500 yards most of the time with a 12 power scope. at 500 yards I put the bottom of the scope on the target and it seems to be really good with my current loads.

That said shooting off hand I keep my shots on deer under 150 yards, which is a long shot for where I live. Shooting from a bench and shooting off hand is 2 vary different things.

as far as killing power the 45/70 will kill much farther than you can accuratly shoot it. I would guess that a "well placed (see lucky)" shot at 3/4s a mile with a 45/70 would still kill a deer.