.375 Ruger ...comments?

[lgm270]

The .375 Ruger is kind of sweeping the .375 world  and bringing the .375" bore shooting to a broader group of hunters/shooters.

I am considering it and would enjoy hearing from those with experience  with it or who would otherwise care to discuss this  round.

[charles p]

Just what does it bring to the 375 world?  Never owned one.

[lgm270]

Just what does it bring to the 375 world?  Never owned one.

\\

It brings .375 power in a 30-06 length action that will equal traditional 375 H&H peformance in 20" barrels.  Savage, Ruger and Howa are chambering 18" and 20" rifles for this cartridge.    The savage carbine is 18", which in my view is a bit too short for magnum rounds. I don't want to be in the same county when someone fires that, but there must be a demand and a need. 

In a 23" barrel, the .375 Ruger can equal the .375 H&H improved.  2,900 fps with the 270 grain bullet and 2,650 with the 300 grain bullet.   

[bigswede]

I have the Alaskan model with the 20" matte stainless barrel, I swapped out the Hogue stock as I just don't care for them.  I topped it with a Leupold 1.5-5 Vari-xIII.  It makes a very nice rifle for packing around.  I shoot the Hornady 270 grain sp bullets at about 2600 fps+.  I have killed 2 bull elk with this rifle one was at 100 yds and the other was at 376.  I would recommend this or the H&H version to anybody.  The .375 caliber rifles kill very efficiently, and if people would get over there FEAR of thinking there is such a thing as being over gunned it would make an excellent deer cartridge. 

[lgm270]

I have the Alaskan model with the 20" matte stainless barrel, I swapped out the Hogue stock as I just don't care for them.  I topped it with a Leupold 1.5-5 Vari-xIII.  It makes a very nice rifle for packing around.  I shoot the Hornady 270 grain sp bullets at about 2600 fps+.  I have killed 2 bull elk with this rifle one was at 100 yds and the other was at 376.  I would recommend this or the H&H version to anybody.  The .375 caliber rifles kill very efficiently, and if people would get over there FEAR of thinking there is such a thing as being over gunned it would make an excellent deer cartridge.

I enjoyed your thoughtful and informative response.  You're obviously a skilled rifleman and  hunter and your insights are highly valued. 

I have no fear of being overgunned, and have used the .375 H&H, but the .375 Ruger is something new and appears to be gaining widespread acceptance.  My only concern is that there's only one manufacturer of brass, but a few hundred will last for a lifetime at my stage of life.    Like you I like the .375 for the decisive blow that it strikes.

[charles p]

Has anyone crammed it into a WSM case so it would fit into a Model Seven?

[bigswede]

lgm270,
     You are right about Hornady being the only one to make brass, but it is fairly easy to come by and not that expensive for such a large case.  I really doubt too, that Hornady would quit any time soon making it.  They have the 375 ruger, 416 ruger, and there has been enough interest in wildcatting this effecient case that they  offer it as basic brass also.  I have read that the 358/375 ruger is really impressive.  Wish I had the funds to make one of those, or better yet maybe Ruger will make it a standard chambering.

[Brithunter]

Have never seen one, in fact I doubt there is even one in the UK what with our stupid restrictive rules  , however I do wonder with such a case capacity why the short barrels?


The more I look at new production rifles the more I see short barrels. Am I missing something as it matters not what calibre of cartridge the rifle is chambered for they have darned short barrels. I rifles in 270 Win and 26-06 with 20" barrels what in the world?


Why bother with such cartridges then as you just strangling it's potential. You might as well have a smaller less powerful cartridge in the first place and save powder.


I would expect a case burning some 80 grains of powder to do it's best work with barrels of at least 23" and more.


Now if you really want short barrels why not get something like the old .375 Whelen. I very much doubt suitably loaded you would lose much velocity in a 20" barrel and not waste all that power and powder.


I wonder if folks would be so eager to waste powder so when it cost near $70 US per 1lb tub?


Personally my thoughts are once again the manufacturers are pushing these short barrels to increase their profit margins. Short barrels cost less to make, less material and less time to cut, hammer or swage rifling into the bore. Less time equals more profit especially if they can con the buyer into thinking it's a good idea.


Remember how they sold impressed chequering as the best thing? Folks fell for it too  .

[drdougrx]

I think the real beauty of the 375R is its compactness.  I have a Rem BDL in 375HH with a 24" barrel and the ruger is much handier to lug.

[bigswede]

Brithunter,
   Ruger does also there 375 in  a 23" barreled version as well.  I think the manufacturers and  a lot of shooters are starting to realize how handy a short barrel can be, and that velocity doesn't kill, so why pack around 3 or 4 extra inches of barrel if it doesn't accomplish anything?  The only real need for a longer barrel is in the large cased magnums to utilize all of that slow burning powder.

[Brithunter]

Ahhh how big a case does it need to be to be classed as a magnum?


Magnum the term after all was stolen from the wine industry and it simply is a larger bottle (vessel)  than standard.


The 375 Ruger is a large capacity case is it not?


 Reading a chaps load development and trials with his Howa 1500 so chambered he is using 80.0 grains behind the 260 grain Accubond for just shy of 2900fps. Now to me that is a LOT of powder. So if your going to have such a rifle surely one needs enough barrel length to utilise the powder or one might as well have the old 9.5x57 after all that is also known as the .375 RNE 2 1/4" which dates from 1908 BTW. This cartridge will perform in a carbine length barrel.


Now if this:-

and that velocity doesn't kill

 is the case then why do we need cartridges that provide high velocities? Why the search for ever higher velocities then?

[/size]so why pack around 3 or 4 extra inches of barrel if it doesn't accomplish anything?[/size]

Have you actually compared loads in the same cartridges for different length barrels?


I see this fad for short barrels here in the UK but that is mostly linked to the use of Sound Moderators which of course add extra weight and length to the rifle. I also see the same tired old reasons and have to laugh when someone extolls the virtue of their 25-06 with a 20" barrel when a 257 Roberts is likely giving better velocity for less powder. The people who are singing the praises of their short barrelled 25-06's for instance are either too daft or too embaressed to admit that they are wasting a lot of money with each shot. BTW powder costs over $65 US per pound tub here. It don't take many wasted 10 grains to make up another loaded round does it?


Once again I cannot see the reason for having a short barrel on a high performance large capacity case. I can only assume it's the macho thing so they can tell every one :-

I shoot a .375 Ruger

[bigswede]

Brithunter,
   Yes the 375 Ruger is a large capacity case, but also an efficient one.  But not XL capacity like the ultra mags or weatherbys.  You should speak for yourself not generalize when you say "we" are searching for higher velocities.  I am not.  I shoot medium size cartridges, .338 to .375, with medium size bullets to get middle of the road velocities.  Almost all of my rifles with there respective loads shoot between 2500 fps and 2800 on the high end.  With the majority being right around the 2600 fps mark.  And yes i have compared loads, the 23" version Ruger offers will on average shoot 200 fps faster than my 20 inch version, whats the point I say?  Generally speaking larger calibers, there are always exceptions of cousrse, lose less velocity for shorter barrels than smaller calibers.  Another thing you seem to lose sight of is that different powders have different burn rates.  Why not adjust powders to achieve the performance you want, if you need more speed from a shorter barrel.  What are all of these comparisons with the 25-06? This is a thread about the 375 Ruger.  And i'm sorry for powder being so expensive over there, is that due to high freight charges or that the citizens of your country let the government take away a lot of your gun rights?

[Brithunter]

Oh bugger an entire reply lost to cyberspace  .


Oh well here goes for attempt #2.


Sorry about the confusion but there are two discussions about the drawbacks of short barrels. One on the 25-06 here in the UK. Though the mention of sound Moderators would have explained that one but obviously not. The other here about the 375 Ruger.


Now despite your claims of not being interested in velocity well unless your at least 100 yards old your already caught up in it as previously anything over about 2100fps was considered High velocity. People like Brenneke, Newton and Ross were all striving for the 3,000+ fps mark and in doing so they dragged the mainstream along with them. The advent of slow burning powders meant velocities could be upped for the same pressure as previously lower velocities.


This is why loads for 150 grain bullets in the .30 Springfield (30-06) are now 200-300 fps faster than they were in 1906 at it's introduction despite it's larger case capacity than the 8mm Mauser which brought about it's development. The 8mm Mauser produced 2900 fps with a 154 grain bullet.


Now with your short barrel your handicapped regardless of the speed of powder you choose. Faster burning powders build pressure too fast so you can never really make up for the short tube. I switched to H-1380 powder in my 20" barrelled 270 Winchester which lost the fireball effect at the muzzle with normal 270 Winchester loads but it never replaced the velocity lost. I never understood why BSA offered the Stutzen with it's short barrel in 270 Winchester when 7x57 would have probably been a more sensible option. 


Now if one is not bothered by lost velocity and power all the time as you state here:-

And yes i have compared loads, the 23" version Ruger offers will on average shoot 200 fps faster than my 20 inch version, whats the point I say?[/size][size=78%]  [/size]

One has to wonder once more why buy a rifle so chambered in the first place when a more cost effective cartridge would do the same. Wildcat cartridges have been developed and justified the existence and development of that give only 150 fps over the parent let alone 200 fps. Cartridges like the 280 Ackley Improved for instance have proved popular enough for factory ammunition and brass and factory rifles to be offered chambered for them.


Just because you have a big cartridge does it mean one has to run it full house all the time. One can reduce the loads barrel length will not effect this but with a short barrel one can never achieve the full potential of the cartridge. Now if one really does not need all that power then why not use something which can really fill the need/ work without the waste?


Medium bores like the .36" (9.3mm) or .45" can be hugely satisfying and fun to shoot in fact to further improve the range of performance available in my .458 with it's 24" barrel had been toying with the idea as it has a proper magnum length magazine of a re-chamber to 450 Rigby:-











Cost of replacing the dies, brass and of course the re-chamber itself has kept the idea just that for now at least. The attraction of having a wider range of power available is still there however the costing means it will probably remain a dream plus of course the fact that it would not longer be standard.


Of course you may wonder the need for such a rifle to remain standard and in my case this is justified by the fact that not only do I shoot and hunt but I also collect rifles. Mainly British Sporting rifles in my case. The one shown is a Parker-Hale 1100M.

[bigswede]

Brithunter,
    You are obviously right about everything.  Have a nice day.

[45-70.gov]

mine is a ss howa
20 inch barrel
i like tho i havent had time to shoot it much
got everything to reload now  if i find the time
also got a 250gr lee mold to cast some cheap plinkers/deer/hog load


if  an elephanf should escape the zoo
i won't feel hadicapped with my nice short barrel

[Brithunter]

Brithunter,
    You are obviously right about everything.  Have a nice day.

Oh how I wish  .

[RevGeo]

With the .375 H&H on one end and the .378 Weatherby on the other, the .375 Ruger seems to be filling a much needed void.

[45-70.gov]

the  375 ruger  i thought was to duplicate the most popular 375 H&H


but do it with a 20 inch  barrel rather than 26
and to fit inside a ''normal'' size action


mine penatrated 16 jax,fla phone books  and tore #17
these books were still shrink wrapped and dense.......over 2 feet i think...didnt measure

[Brithunter]

Well another American friend is thinking of trying to get one. His problem is the growing kids seem to swallow all and any available funds but he is working on it. Seems he wants to try it on Bears. He is thinking about the Howa 1500 right now.

[45-70.gov]

my howa 1500 in  308win  has been my go to rifle for over a decade now


i am GLAD  my 375 ruger is a howa


spend the extra few dollars on the picatiny rail


mine wears 4 rings  just to be sure  on the 2-7 luopold

[lgm270]

my howa 1500 in  398 has been my go to rifle for over a decade now


i am GLAD  my 375 ruger is a howa


spend the extra few dollars on the picatiny rail


mine wears 4 rings  just to be sure  on the 2-7 luopold

\\\\\\



.398???

[rvtrav]

 
  Hello to all,
 
  I sure like my .375 ruger, the Ruger hawkeye african is a good looking gun, and just a few bucks more cost than the standard Hawkeye, due to the action being standard length.
 
 Loads were pretty easy to develop, components were reasonable, and readily accessible, the gun wasn't finicky about different loads and bullet wieghts. it also wasn't a bad 'kicker' like many large bores are reputed to be. the cartridge is a good performer, not hard on the shoulder, and easily could do dangerous game duty, as well as regular hunting service.
 
 The Hornady brass was in stock, not very much, and of excellent quality. as well as a wide variety of .375 bullets, I tried several makes and weights, all shot well in my gun. 
 
 here's a thread I started with some pics of the gun's performance and success
 http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,257460.0.html
 
 Thanks, Rvtrav
 
 

[lgm270]

  Hello to all,
 
  I sure like my .375 ruger, the Ruger hawkeye african is a good looking gun, and just a few bucks more cost than the standard Hawkeye, due to the action being standard length.
 
 Loads were pretty easy to develop, components were reasonable, and readily accessible, the gun wasn't finicky about different loads and bullet wieghts. it also wasn't a bad 'kicker' like many large bores are reputed to be. the cartridge is a good performer, not hard on the shoulder, and easily could do dangerous game duty, as well as regular hunting service.
 
 The Hornady brass was in stock, not very much, and of excellent quality. as well as a wide variety of .375 bullets, I tried several makes and weights, all shot well in my gun. 
 
 here's a thread I started with some pics of the gun's performance and success
 http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,257460.0.html
 
 Thanks, Rvtrav
 
 

Hello Rvtrav:

Thank you for your wonderful reply to this thread.  What a great hunting story and how  wonderful of you to share it.  You made my day. 

[Brithunter]

  Hello to all,
 
  I sure like my .375 ruger, the Ruger hawkeye african is a good looking gun, and just a few bucks more cost than the standard Hawkeye, due to the action being standard length.
 
 Loads were pretty easy to develop, components were reasonable, and readily accessible, the gun wasn't finicky about different loads and bullet wieghts. it also wasn't a bad 'kicker' like many large bores are reputed to be. the cartridge is a good performer, not hard on the shoulder, and easily could do dangerous game duty, as well as regular hunting service.
 
 The Hornady brass was in stock, not very much, and of excellent quality. as well as a wide variety of .375 bullets, I tried several makes and weights, all shot well in my gun. 
 
 here's a thread I started with some pics of the gun's performance and success
 http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,257460.0.html
 
 Thanks, Rvtrav
 
 

Now that was a really epic hunting trip............................ Congratulations indeed. Thank you for sharing the wonderful photos  [size=78%].[/size]

[rvtrav]

  Brithunter and Igm270,
 
 
   your welcome, I enjoyed the chance to share it, the trip was truly an opportunity of a lifetime, My most humble thankyou.
 
   As much as I love old classic calibers, in this case the direct cause for and comparison to the .375 Ruger- the .375 Holland&holland, everything in that chambering is almost double the cost of the Ruger rifles (even more so if pricing the Howa) due to the neccesity of the long action. components are similar in cost, performance is better (by about 200fps) in the ruger.
 
Also for the cost of the rifle one could buy the gun and have easily $700-$1500 left over for components/ loaded ammo for the Ruger VS the H&H.
 
  Rvtrav

[jcn59]

Brithunter,  there is nothing wrong with gun companies making good money.  None of us have to buy these short barreled blowtorches unless we want to.  Having said that I bought a .375 Ruger in a Howa for elk and (?).  I put a brake on the 20" barrel and keep velocities around 2600 fps.  I imagine it will do a nice job in the black timber where we hunt.   It's also quite accurate and not unpleasant to shoot at around 9# scoped.  You should try one.
 
Rvtrav, perhaps you could plan my next hunt.......

[rvtrav]

   Hello jcn59,
 
  I would love to, where have you considered trying for elk? my home state (Utah) has a fair population, and liberal permits, however success is....well hot and cold.
 
  areas that are excellent one year are devoid of elk the next and vise versa....
 
 Now Africa on the other hand........

[jcn59]

Thanks for the offer RV.  I hunt the Big Horns with family who live there.  They set up a nice tent camp & I'm the guest of honor, loosely speaking.  The camp usually hangs a couple elk every year but the top hunter has hunted there 30 years.  He does better than the rest of us together.   I really look forward to that hunt every year.

[Davy Crockett]

I've been looking into these as well. Seems some of the african models are getting cracked at the wrist(?) due to recoil. Was looking to see what other rifles would be an option. Would like to go ruger but might go with H&H. Don't really "need" a 375, but whats that got to do with it?

[Barstooler]

Mine (375 Ruger Hawkeye African with 1.75X 6 Lupold scope) always shoots right at 1.2 MOA regardless what I load in it.  Likes everything.  This is a typical 5-shot group.  Can normally keep 3 shots inside 1.0 MOA.
 
Have stuffed 300-400 rounds down the barrel and no sign of a stock crack.
 
Barstooler