375 Ruger vs 416 Ruger for an all-around rifle

[TOBY458]

It seems that the Ruger rifles are still readily available in these two calibers, but ammo is the opposite. Of course, just about all ammo in calibers above 375 is a bit harder to find than most, but the Ruger Calibers, especially the 416 are very hard to find these days.

 

[375Ruger416]

It seems that the Ruger rifles are still readily available in these two calibers, but ammo is the opposite. Of course, just about all ammo in calibers above 375 is a bit harder to find than most, but the Ruger Calibers, especially the 416 are very hard to find these days.

Yep, has been my experience as well. I was initially leaning towards the 375 Ruger, but eventually saw the light and ordered a Blaser R8 in 375 H&H! Ammo availability here in Canada is better for the H&H with a wider variety.

Have 2 boxes of Barnes 300 gr TSX waiting for my new rifle to arrive!

 

[375Ruger416]

Do have to say, I have been able to find 375 Ruger ammo - usually in Hornady DGX/DGS - but almost never see 416 Ruger online or in store. But then, this is what I’ve noticed for any caliber bigger than 375.

OP, what did you go with???? Close the loop and pics please…

 

[TOBY458]

Do have to say, I have been able to find 375 Ruger ammo - usually in Hornady DGX/DGS - but almost never see 416 Ruger online or in store. But then, this is what I’ve noticed for any caliber bigger than 375.

OP, what did you go with???? Close the loop and pics please…

It’s shame that none of the other big name ammo companies never picked these two calibers up. Barnes Vortex or Federal Premium with TSX and Swift Bullets would have been nice. I guess there’s just not enough sales in these calibers to justify it.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I wonder if the 416 Ruger will be the last of the "new" dangerous game cartridges brought to the market?

 

[Mark R]

I have a 416 Ruger Hawkey African and used it on a Cape Buffalo. It did the job well. However, if you want just one rifle to do it all, I think you'd be better off with the .375 Ruger. You don't give up much....At least nothing a buff will notice....but you will have a caliber that is better for plains game hunting. That said, why not a 375 H&H?

Actually Doug, there is a noticeable difference between a 375 and a 416 on buffalo. At least in my experience and mainly on Aussie water buffalo.
Cheers
Mark

 

[CoElkHunter]

It’s shame that none of the other big name ammo companies never picked these two calibers up. Barnes Vortex or Federal Premium with TSX and Swift Bullets would have been nice. I guess there’s just not enough sales in these calibers to justify it.

Well, the .375 and .416 Rugers are just a couple more of Hornady's long line of proprietary cartridges, along with the 6.5, 7mm and .300 PRCs. If Hornady doesn't keep manufacturing enough factory ammo and especially reloading brass, the cartridges tend to wither on the vine so to speak. That's what happened with the .300 and .338 Ruger Compact Magnums introduced in 2007. Ruger quit chambering their M77 in 2012 for those two cartridges and they're now almost obsolete. I think the PRCs are a great designed cartridge (based on the .375 Ruger case) but just as with other past Hornady proprietary cartridges, if they eventually move on to the next latest and greatest thing it's a moot point for someone looking for ammo for their rifle(s) ten years from now. We see that now and for at least the last three years trying to find .375/.416 Ruger reloading brass. I have a .375 Ruger and I think it and their .416 are probably the most efficient cartridges in their class, but most have to buy and shoot Hornady factory ammo just to get cases to reload with if you don't already have a cache of brass. I still may buy a .416 Ruger but after that I'm getting off the proprietary cartridge train towards potential obscurity and staying with cartridges/brass manufactured by SEVERAL brands and have been for many DECADES.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I wonder if the 416 Ruger will be the last of the "new" dangerous game cartridges brought to the market?

Probably, because the vast majority of the younger generation buying rifles seem to be much more interested in long distance shooting/hunting with flat shooting cartridges than with larger bored cartridges and especially African DG sized cartridges. The rifle and ammo manufacturers are focusing their efforts for profit on the former.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Probably, because the vast majority of the younger generation buying rifles seem to be much more interested in long distance shooting/hunting with flat shooting cartridges than with larger bored cartridges and especially African DG sized cartridges. The rifle and ammo manufacturers are focusing their efforts for profit on the former.

Youth these days need to get their priorities straight (I'm one of them!).

I was just thinking about this the other night but is there really any gap that a new DG cartridge could fill today that is not covered by an existing cartridge?

We have magnum length 375's (HH) and long action 375's (Ruger)

We have magnum length 416s (Rem/Rigby) and long action 416's (Ruger, Taylor)

We have magnum length 458s (Lott, Rigby) and long action 458s (WinMag)

We have magnum length 500s (505 Gibbs) and long action 500's (Jeffery).

I'm not sure what else is left, unless someone develops short action (.308 length) big bores? Long action .577 caliber in a bolt action? Long action .404? Not much left.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Youth these days need to get their priorities straight (I'm one of them!).

I was just thinking about this the other night but is there really any gap that a new DG cartridge could fill today that is not covered by an existing cartridge?

We have magnum length 375's (HH) and long action 375's (Ruger)

We have magnum length 416s (Rem/Rigby) and long action 416's (Ruger, Taylor)

We have magnum length 458s (Lott, Rigby) and long action 458s (WinMag)

We have magnum length 500s (505 Gibbs) and long action 500's (Jeffery).

I'm not sure what else is left, unless someone develops short action (.308 length) big bores? Long action .577 caliber in a bolt action? Long action .404? Not much left.

Under the thread title “Showcase your Dangerous Game hunting cartridges”, @michael458 posted a number of photos and explanations of shorter DG wildcat cartridges such as the B&M SA and B&M Super Short. Fascinating cartridges to me. Check it out.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I wonder if the 416 Ruger will be the last of the "new" dangerous game cartridges brought to the market?

Probably, because the vast majority of the younger generation buying rifles seem to be much more interested in long distance shooting/hunting with flat shooting cartridges than with larger bored cartridges and especially African DG sized cartridges. The rifle and ammo manufacturers are focusing their efforts for profit on the former.

Did anyone say, "416 Creedmoor?"

 

[TOBY458]

Did anyone say, "416 Creedmoor?"

That would be the only one you could find ammo for. lol!

 

[Bandera]

The 375 Ruger is in stock in a bunch of stores or can be ordered. My LGS ordered a case of Hornady DGX ended up being $79 a box. No you can not walk into academy sports or similar big box stores and buy it.
Ammo seek list the 375 Ruger
Safari Outdoor in J’Burg has it in stock.

The 416 Ruger is still harder to find, but it is out there.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Did anyone say, "416 Creedmoor?"

With long pointy Scenar bullets? I like it! LOL

 

[Northern Shooter]

Did anyone say, "416 Creedmoor?"

Oh god lol. I did however hear the Hornady guys mention the 338 PRC as a possibility on their podcast.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Oh god lol. I did however hear the Hornady guys mention the 338 PRC as a possibility on their podcast.

Anything "PRC" seems to attract attention and sell these days. I am wondering if a 338 PRC will essentially be a do-over for the 338 RCM. Perhaps instead of a short action design, as was the 338 RCM, a 338 PRC will be a bit longer for a long action.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Anything "PRC" seems to attract attention and sell these days. I am wondering if a 338 PRC will essentially be a do-over for the 338 RCM. Perhaps instead of a short action design, as was the 338 RCM, a 338 PRC will be a bit longer for a long action.

I'm guessing it will be the 300PRC opened up to .338. All the PRC's seem to utilize long, heavy for caliber bullets so I would expect 250gr+.

 

[ldmay375]

Maybe the .338 version will sell, with PRC tacked onto. Apparently necking the 375 Ruger to .338 was not on Ruger's sales plan.

I thought a 338 Ruger should give pretty much 340 WBY ballistics from their 3.4" action. I guess that hunting field was crowed enough with existing hunting cartridges.

But, the PRC tag and proper action might hit the current shooter / buyer market. I am sure way more cartridges sold there than in the hunter market.

 

[mark-hunter]

So I have to ask those who took a .375 to Africa for buffalo, am I being overly worried over something that may not happen in the next decade, and that if I get my lifetime chance to go to Africa, that 375 will take a Buffalo just as cleanly as a 416 given proper bullet and load selection?

Judging by my experience, it will. 375 worked well for last 100 years and for me. With all due respect to Darwin, I doubt of any rapid body armor evolution under skin of buffalo in my life time.

 

[colorado]

Of the two I would go with a 375 H&H lol