Choosing the .375 That's Right For You
Apart from the deer/black bear-capable .375 Winchester, which I’m not going to discuss here, the slow .375s include the .376 Steyr and .375 Flanged.
In the past I have given short shrift to the .376 Steyr . It is a capable cartridge that propels a 270-grain bullet at 2,560 fps, but I saw no need for its existence. Designed by Hornady and Steyr as an ultimate extension of Jeff Cooper’s “scout rifle” concept, the .376 Steyr is not popular and probably won’t be, but I was wrong about it.
Its ballistics are hardly anemic, yet it’s a mild-mannered cartridge that can be housed in .30-06-length actions. It is perhaps at its best for bear and moose at close to medium ranges, but since as a .375 it’s street legal for African dangerous game, it makes an okay cartridge for buffalo (as long as you’re careful), and it’s great for lion and large plains game. Plus it has relatively low recoil, so pretty much anyone can handle it.
The .375 Flanged (“flanged” being the British word for “rimmed”) was introduced along with the .375 H&H but as a slightly downloaded version for use in double rifles and single-shots. It’s a standard offering from double-rifle makers, but ammo is available only from small, custom suppliers. Normally loaded with a 300-grain bullet at 2400 fps, the .375 Flanged is not the equal of the .375 H&H, but it’s close enough.