Laniarius
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2017
- Messages
- 274
- Reaction score
- 333
- Location
- Toronto area, Canada
- Member of
- Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH)
- Hunted
- Ontario, Namibia, Alaska
Excellent thread. I enjoyed the whole thing, but this was the particular topic I was trying to understand: the potential for sticking in the heat with the 375 Ruger. Sounds like the reported problems were with the 416 Ruger and early on.Daga Boy I meant to add that the416Ruger was beset with extraction problems when it first came out. Hornady were trying to get the magical 2400fps with a 400 grain pill as were hand loaders. Though Hornady used a special mix of powder there was the odd problem with factory ammo. All reloads of the 416 Ruger I knew of had problems and could not get near the 2400fps without bolt lock up, smoke coming out of the action and similar nasty events. That is no longer a problem from what I hear so Hornady/Ruger must have changed something in the mix and reloaders backed off or found a new powder that does the trick. The reloaders I know settle for 2300fps.
I would appreciate if anyone else has insight to add on to this. Others have said "I've never had a problem", but that doesn't really answer it. From what I understand, sticky extraction in Africa heat is almost unheard of with the 375 H&H. Based on usage so far, have there been any instances of the 375 Ruger sticking in the heat? It might be only one in 10,000, but it could still be statistically way less reliable than the H&H. Of course there are lots of variables, I get that. From what I gather, a few who have commented here are bona fide PHs or have otherwise significant experience and talk to enough people to have a good "anecdotal" data set, an ear to the ground in the Africa. None of you have said anything about actual issues with the 375 Ruger, which is good. But, I would like to specifically ask: has anyone heard of actual problems with the 375 Ruger in real heat?
So you know where I'm coming from: never hunted in Africa but want to. I'm considering getting a 375 and want to get a few years of practice with it before going (i.e., can afford the rifle and shooting in the near term, but not the trip yet). I'm definitely a traditionalist, I love the 30-06, 1911s and revolvers (as opposed to polymer) etc., so the H&H has huge appeal. However, I'm also an unabashed Ruger fanboy. These two strong tendencies are at war in my soul when it comes to 375 Ruger vs. H&H.