Winchester Model 70 Alaskan vs Safari Express

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MCMXI said:
I made that point many months back that the Alaskan really wasn't much of an "all-weather" rifle compared to others that use stainless and synthetic, but it upset more than a few folks. Along the same lines of what companies should be doing … Kimber needs to offer a guide gun in .375 H&H and .458 Lott with typical Kimber elegance, a much nicer stock like the one on the Talkeetna, and no muzzle brake to deafen anyone within 50 feet. Add in an 84L guide gun with iron sights in .35 Whelen and you'd have two really good rifles that I would buy in a heartbeat.

Here's a video of my Talkeetna feeding empty cases. Not an essential feature but it shows how well the 8400 Mag feeds which is an essential feature when something has the intention of stomping you into oblivion or using your head as a hat.

Click to expand...

M y M70 will feed empties as well...
 
Seamaster31 said:
I guess it depends on where you are going to use it. In Africa the classic blued steel with walnut stock of the SE will get more nods of approval from the local fellows there that admire the European rifles. In wet locations the other model makes more sense. I carry a SE chambered in 375 H&H most days in Africa.
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You might be thinking of the Extreme Weather SS, which I would prefer except for that it only goes up to .338 Win Mag and does not have open sights. The Alaskan is also blued and walnut. Thanks.
 
jmr40 said:
It seems they have it backwards. The longer barrel and stock designed for scope use they have on the Alaskan seems better suited for the versatility of longish shots on plains game in Africa. It just "LOOKS" like the traditional African rifles used in the 1920's-1950's. I'd think a shorter handier rifle with a stock designed for irons would be a better option for Alaskan hunting. Which is on the African. And a SS Synthetic option would make a lot of sense in Alaska. If they made the Extreme Weather in 375 it would be my top pick. They do make it in 338 and for Alaska I might well go that route.

I actually prefer the Winchester rifle most of the time. But if going to Africa or Alaska and needed something bigger than 338 I'd go pick one of the Rugers in 375 or 416 Ruger.

https://ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAfrican/specSheets/37186.html

Probably this one

https://ruger.com/products/guideGun/models.html
Click to expand...

I agree about it seeming backwards with the barrel length; also, it seems to me that a stainless, synthetic would be better for Alaska or Africa, both; unfortunately the Extreme Weather SS does not have open sights.

I do like the Rugers, except for the muzzle brake and the fact that they make it in .375 Ruger vs .375 H&H.
 
MCMXI said:
Those Winchester rifles are tanks at 8-1/2 to 9lb just for the rifle, but given your choice, I'd pick the Winchester Safari Express with the 24" barrel over the Alaskan for aesthetics if nothing else, but also for the shorter barrel. I certainly wouldn't pick any of the Ruger offerings which to my eye look hideous with those blocky receivers.

With .375 H&H you can have your cake and eat it too and there's no need to suffer an ugly rifle if you don't want to. I think the real sleeper in .375 H&H Mag is the Kimber Talkeetna that ships with what is basically a custom barrel, holds four rounds in the magazine compared to three for Winchester and Ruger, and with a 3-9x40mm scope, stainless steel rings and 1" leather sling weighs in at a measly 9 lb. By the way, 9lb is where the Safari Express starts, and many who hunt regularly in Africa say that the entire rig needs to be under 10lb if you're going to carry it all day.

View attachment 837555
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I hadn't heard of the Kimber Talkeetna. That looks awesome but it is quite a bit more expensive and maybe almost too light in terms of recoil absorption (though I've never fired either). Thanks.
 
Alaskan Ironworker said:
I like the extra weight of the alaskan (for the recoil), and I carry it all day for days and days in a row. A difference of a pound on something that weighs 9 or 10 pounds is a moot argument unless you are somehow handicapped. Most women have carried an extra 10 pounds for 9 months at a time and survived lol. Also, the alaskan comes in classic blue with walnut stock as well.
Click to expand...
Actually, the Safari Express is 1/2 lb heavier than the Alaskan. You might be thinking of the Extreme Weather SS, which is lighter. Thanks.
 
Riomouse911 said:
Another thought..., a CZ 550 in .375 H&H to go kinda retro-classic?

Just ssyin’....
Click to expand...
Originally, I was looking at the CZ 550, but I saw a review that pointed out that the bolt handle is a bit smallish compared to most. Unfortunately, I don't know any gun store in my area that stock either, but I can imagine being frustrated if the bolt handle were to slip out of my hands, especially with gloves. Otherwise, I would prefer the CZ, I think.
 
LRDGCO said:
Alaskan. I love the looks of the SE. But the Alaskan seems more versatile.

Oh, and I hate you. I'll be looking at 375 H&H rifles for a week now. And I have no use for one. Which is depressing.
Click to expand...
I have no use for one either, honestly, unless the zoo breaks or I somehow come into a large sum of money.
 
cdb1 said:
I’d take the Safari because I’m a sucker for barrel mounted sling swivels.
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Is this for aesthetic reasons, support hand safety, wearing a big hat or ducking through heavy foliage? All valid reasons, I suppose. Thanks.
 
H&Hhunter said:
Winchester has really dropped the ball on the .375. They need to start building an “extreme” version in stainless and synthetic like they used to.
Click to expand...
I agree. I wish they made a .375 H&H kind of like the Extreme Weather SS, but with open sights and maybe as heavy as the Alaskan (heavier than the Extreme Weather SS). Thanks.
 
MCMXI said:
I made that point many months back that the Alaskan really wasn't much of an "all-weather" rifle compared to others that use stainless and synthetic, but it upset more than a few folks. Along the same lines of what companies should be doing … Kimber needs to offer a guide gun in .375 H&H and .458 Lott with typical Kimber elegance, a much nicer stock like the one on the Talkeetna, and no muzzle brake to deafen anyone within 50 feet. Add in an 84L guide gun with iron sights in .35 Whelen and you'd have two really good rifles that I would buy in a heartbeat.

Here's a video of my Talkeetna feeding empty cases. Not an essential feature but it shows how well the 8400 Mag feeds which is an essential feature when something has the intention of stomping you into oblivion or using your head as a hat.

Click to expand...

I agree: stainless, synthetic, open sights and no muzzle brake. Thanks.
 
laea7777 said:
I agree. I wish they made a .375 H&H kind of like the Extreme Weather SS, but with open sights and maybe as heavy as the Alaskan (heavier than the Extreme Weather SS). Thanks.
Click to expand...
Just like the old classic stainless but with the modern stock and lighter barrel contour.
 
laea7777 said:
Originally, I was looking at the CZ 550, but I saw a review that pointed out that the bolt handle is a bit smallish compared to most. Unfortunately, I don't know any gun store in my area that stock either, but I can imagine being frustrated if the bolt handle were to slip out of my hands, especially with gloves. Otherwise, I would prefer the CZ, I think.
Click to expand...

I just compared the bolt knob sizes of my 550 American against a Rem 721 and 700, Win 70, a Spanish Mauser M1916 and a Weatherby mkV. No micrometer was pulled out, just the ol’ eyeball test.

The CZ bolt knob is visually smaller than the others with the exception of the 700. Those two are about the same size. The 70 bolt is a good deal larger, and my 70 bolt is not perfectly round (sort of straightens a bit towards the bolt handle semi-teardrop ish) and is checkered to boot. If slippery gloves may be an issue then I can see where the smaller, globe-like bolt knob of the 550 may cause you problems.

Good luck with your quest!
 
Greetings
We have a CZ 550 in 375 H&H. Bought it used for $500 and it was not used very much. WE do not have any "dangerous game" in east ILLInois (lots of rank dangerous lib-comys) but it is a fine rifle to carry about through river bottoms and woods edges stalking those vicious ground hogs and racoons. I do hope to see a cougar someday with it in my hands.
So far the bolt knob has not caused me any issues. I shoot a lot of military bolt rifles and they all seen to be just fine to me.
Our CZ has never failed to load any of my 270-340 grain cast slugs. Why on earth do I need a rifle that will load empties ?
Mike in Peru
 
I referenced the extra weight of the Alaskan vs. the previous post referencing the weight of the Kimber Talkeetna. By the way, Talkeetna is a town populated largely by hippies/liberals/or otherwise eccentric people that has actually elected a cat as their mayor. No joke. Makes an odd name for a rifle if you ask me.
 
Alaskan Ironworker said:
A dangerous game rifle (.375 h&h) in an automatic or bolt model with no controlled feed? No thanks.
Click to expand...

Depends on the situation I suppose. I'm not hunting anything that can (or at least is likely to) hunt me back without a second shooter. Who hopefully is better than I am.
In that situation I see little reason to not use a reliable semi auto.

Pushfeed vs CF is one of those arguments that are (imo) personal preference. I've seen crfs jam solid when the bolt misses the rim of the case, has a magazine or feed lip issue/coal issues.
I've alwo seen push feeds with mags that would spew rounds into the bolt race if you shook them right, or wouldn't let them out, small extractors that would quit, and again coal/feed rail issues.
What the bolts doing with the butt end of the case doesn't matter much to me compared to the other issues that are possible.

End of the day you should KNOW if your rifles reliable or not, and it your still determined to use it know how to keep it running.
And yes some of my projects are less than reliable at this point, mostly I need to go back and raise the bottom metal some to get the DMs in the right place. None are guns that absolutely NEED to function tho, and I'm lazy, so it hasn't happened yet.

Again just my personal opinion.

Another thought..... With as versatile as the .375s are, dangerous game stopping is probably what they do LEAST we'll, compared to a specialized cartridge rifle.. . . Well that and long, long, range. ...
 
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