375 Ruger

[hoytcanon]

I have a whack of Ruger rifles, and in more than four decades of collecting, shooting and hunting with more than 300 of them, they have never let me down in a pinch or tough spot... and there have been a few.

I prefer nice walnut on my Blued rifles, but on stainless, I like something a little tougher, that can handle rougher use and more extreme weather, because that is when I use them. Laminate is a good option, you get the feel of wood with the durability of synthetic, plus some nice dense weight for mitigating a degree of recoil. Another inexpensive option are Bell & Carlson stocks, less rigid and not hand laid as are McMillan or Brown Precision etc... but also much cheaper and quite well made... I have many of both and they function equally well.

 

[CBeck]

I believe that turned out to be solid advice from @Red Leg.

Did you send out your stock to be refinished or did you do it yourself? If sent out, who to?

Also are you running after market 3 position safeties or am I reading something wrong? If so what maker?

Beautiful work by the way.

I have personally found the Ruger Hawkeye African to be a great rifle. Very thin and trim with great handling. No it’s not a Ruger RSM or a Rigby or ever will be. It is very similar in stock profile and handling characteristics to vintage Rigby’s and the Rigby Highland Stalker.

I refinished the stock myself. I’ve done quite a few over the years and I am about to start the 375 Hawkeye African in the photo above. I hate the muddy tinted polyurethane finish on them.

And no sir, not aftermarket safeties, all of my M77’s from the mkII boat paddle to both of these Ruger M77 Hawkeye Africans all have a three position lever safety

In other words… Rear position locks the bolt and the firing pin, middle position, unlocks the bolt, but keeps the firing pin locked and forward, is of course fire

 

[KuduKiller]

I have the African model. Cape Buffalo, croc, giraffe, warthog and others were put in the salt with this rifle. I had a Leupold Dangerous Game scope on it but put a vortex on before my croc hunt last year. I am taking it with me in June for my Hippo hunt. I’ve used Barnes TTSX as well as Hornady DGX and have been successful with both. I have ordered my ammo through Midway and Buffalo Bore. I love this rifle!