First safari rifle: lefty 375 Ruger

[Owen89]

To start, I'll say that this is my first post here and the quality of information found on this forum is top notch. The discourse I've come across is something that is very much lacking in life these days and it's refreshing.

It all seems to have started when I began reading my dad's collection of Safari books and it has me looking at getting a Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger as my first rifle of this size.

I don't have a trip booked for DG at the moment and but I do have plans for a plains game hunt (would be my first) to RSA in 2026, I plan to use my 30-06 on that hunt.

The 375 is more of a want purchase than need at the moment...but I'd like to take the time to get used to the rifle over a few seasons.

Ruger makes just about the only factory rifle for lefties with CRF that I can find and it just so happens to match a Ruger I already own in 30-06 (which is a plus for style reasons), but for ammo availability during trips I'd rather have a 375 H&H. The lefty Winchester M70s I see on GunBroker quickly get bid out of my budget however.

I have fired an H&H (it was 8.5lbs loaded out and I shot from the bench) and found the recoil to be quite manageable to my surprise, 270gr loads I believe. True to the slow "push" adage in my experience. Is the 375 Ruger recoil really a lot sharper as is frequently mentioned?

What other upgrades for the Ruger would be advised?

I plan to swap the trigger, recoil pad and perhaps add some weight to the stock to help it balance better/temper recoil. The Ruger feels a bit barrel heavy.

One upgrade I am not sure about is bedding the action. Will bedding help prevent damage to the stock? I have read some instances of cracked stocks in these rifles.

Thanks,
Owen in Houston

 

[USMA84DAB]

I do not find the .375 Ruger recoil to be too much - but I have had a .495 A-Square. Also, I have a Ruger Alaskan - having fired the Ruger Guide gun, the recoil that the synthetic stock of the Alaskan absorbs is noticeable over the laminate of the Guide gun. Don't be afraid to wear a "sissy" pad for long range sessions. I will fire 50 rounds in a range training session, but with the pad - much better than developing a flinch!!!!

Why swap a perfectly serviceable trigger - you are not building a sniper rifle - the more you modify the weapon, the more you invite Murphy in to cause malfunctions.

I have not bedded my Alaskan (either one). Have not seen a need to do so. Practice from field shooting positions and off sticks. You need "Minute of Gemsbok" or minute of impala - not MOA. Your PH is going to probably get you within 100 yards of your animal. My longest shot was a layered 253 yards on a blesbok on an open plain - no further stalking on him was possible. I could not get steady enough on the sticks, so I went to a tree branch. Since I had a CDS dial on my Leupold VX5HD 1-5x24, I dialed 250 and held dead on. Dropped him in his tracks. All other shots were 50-110 yards for my main quarry.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bill_D]

To start, I'll say that this is my first post here and the quality of information found on this forum is top notch. The discourse I've come across is something that is very much lacking in life these days and it's refreshing.

It all seems to have started when I began reading my dad's collection of Safari books and it has me looking at getting a Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger as my first rifle of this size.

I don't have a trip booked for DG at the moment and but I do have plans for a plains game hunt (would be my first) to RSA in 2026, I plan to use my 30-06 on that hunt.

The 375 is more of a want purchase than need at the moment...but I'd like to take the time to get used to the rifle over a few seasons.

Ruger makes just about the only factory rifle for lefties with CRF that I can find and it just so happens to match a Ruger I already own in 30-06 (which is a plus for style reasons), but for ammo availability during trips I'd rather have a 375 H&H. The lefty Winchester M70s I see on GunBroker quickly get bid out of my budget however.

I have fired an H&H (it was 8.5lbs loaded out and I shot from the bench) and found the recoil to be quite manageable to my surprise, 270gr loads I believe. True to the slow "push" adage in my experience. Is the 375 Ruger recoil really a lot sharper as is frequently mentioned?

What other upgrades for the Ruger would be advised?

I plan to swap the trigger, recoil pad and perhaps add some weight to the stock to help it balance better/temper recoil. The Ruger feels a bit barrel heavy.

One upgrade I am not sure about is bedding the action. Will bedding help prevent damage to the stock? I have read some instances of cracked stocks in these rifles.

Thanks,
Owen in Houston

Owen, I bought the same Ruger African 375 Left Hand for the same exact reasons as you several years ago. Good idea to buy it now, with left hand Winchesters and all CZ 550s out of production it’s only a matter of time before the Ruger is unavailable in Left hand as well.

I sent mine to pre64win.com and they did a full glass bed, installed a 1 inch red decelerator pad, stripped the factory clear coat and gave the stock a hand rubbed oil finish, its looks and shoots great, in terms of recoil factory ruger 300 grain loads are not bad unless off a bench in an awkward sight in position, by the time you scope these they have to be 9.5 pounds. Just added an Alaska Arms drop box floor plate and it now holds 4 rounds in the mag, great product and easy install. Run the bolt dirty or with some jewelers polish a few hundred times it will really sooth out.

I would NOT recommend replacing the trigger on this, especially for a DG rifle. I have 5 left hand m77 Hawkeyes and have worked them all over and put them through hard use. The Factory LC6 triggers on these are very simple and rugged, with a bit of polishing and maybe cutting one coil off the trigger spring or replacing it with a lighter trigger spring it’s pretty easy to get a clean 3 pound trigger.

I have messed around extensively with Timmny, trigger tech, and some other off brand trigger for left hand Hawkeyes that were all supposed to be “drop in”. The trigger tech was the only one that actually “worked” however the safety now worked off of a janky adjusting oblong rotating set screw type of assembly that could easily fall out of alignment and no longer work or render the gun unsafe or unshootable, instead of the factory solid machined pice. Timmny had a similar issue and drops the firing pin when slamming the bolt forward hard, needs some gunsmith work. Anyways just really don’t think the trade for a LOT of reliability is worth the benefit of a LITTLE better trigger in this circumstance.

Just my 2 cents that I have picked up working with these guns. Cheers!

 

[Hunt anything]

Even though your bolt will be on the wrong side ( all kidding aside) you will love the cartridge. I’ve shot a lot of game with my .375 Ruger Alaskan and never felt under gunned even when facing a pissed off cow elephant , I did have some seasoned back up though.
As far a recoil goes as mentioned the hogue stock absorbs a lot of the recoil but even wit a wood stock it should be manageable.
If you buy a .375 Ruger before your plainsgame hunt think about taking it , your outfitter may offer up a cow buffalo or an eland. Shooting 270gr 375 is a fairly flat shooter for a medium bore and will do Anything a 30-06 will do. Just top it off with quality glass. Of course this is my opinion only.

 

[Owen89]

Thanks for the input fellas.

I believe you may be correct in that adding an aftermarket trigger is not necessary. When I added a timmny trigger to my M77 in 30-06 it definitely helped in the accuracy department but the stock trigger is completely useable and maybe better should I get "buffalo fever" on my plains game hunt lol.

I did not have significant changes to safety function with the upgraded trigger (timmney) in my current rifle, only slight resistance in going from the middle (bolt open trigger blocked) to fully safe (bolt locked and striker blocked) I had it installed by a gunsmith, don't trust my still here for this kind of equipment. Removing weight from the pull will be an avenue I look into with the smith.

I'd love to take the 375 Ruger African on the hunt and it would open opportunities that may arise that I had not planned for. I had not considered this before.

The reassurance on the recoil is especially helpful. A pad may be useful for load development. In testing the 375 h&h I definitely felt like it wouldn't be an issue using in casual shooting but sustained work on the bench might be tiresome.

Is adding weight to the stock (with lead weights) another potentially unneeded change?

@Bill_D how's the balance of your setup? What scope do you have? I was thinking something like a VX3 1.5-5. I'm young so a heavier gun is not a huge deal to me. That Alaska Arms bottom metal is cool, and an option I was unaware of.

 

[Northern Shooter]

The main downside to the new M77 rifles in dangerous game cartridges is the low rifle weight for such calibers. Looking at the Ruger website the African comes in at 8.0lbs naked which is light even for a 375. I imagine the brake will help reduce that recoil (it does on my Guide Gun).

 

[CBeck]

Mine comes in at 9lbs 13oz with qd rings and scope. Only modification I made was stripping the finish and doing an oil finish. Most of the cracked stock reports were early models with one cross bolt and tight inletting around the tang.

 

[Owen89]

@CBeck What model scope and rings do you have on your Hawkeye African? 9lbs 13oz is about the weight I am looking for. I'd rather not use the muzzle brake.

I'd be interested to find the weight of the gun bare that way. Ruger's website feels somewhat vague with stating it as 8lbs even.

 

[Cheesehead]

Owen, I bought the same Ruger African 375 Left Hand for the same exact reasons as you several years ago. Good idea to buy it now, with left hand Winchesters and all CZ 550s out of production it’s only a matter of time before the Ruger is unavailable in Left hand as well.

I sent mine to pre64win.com and they did a full glass bed, installed a 1 inch red decelerator pad, stripped the factory clear coat and gave the stock a hand rubbed oil finish, its looks and shoots great, in terms of recoil factory ruger 300 grain loads are not bad unless off a bench in an awkward sight in position, by the time you scope these they have to be 9.5 pounds. Just added an Alaska Arms drop box floor plate and it now holds 4 rounds in the mag, great product and easy install. Run the bolt dirty or with some jewelers polish a few hundred times it will really sooth out.

I would NOT recommend replacing the trigger on this, especially for a DG rifle. I have 5 left hand m77 Hawkeyes and have worked them all over and put them through hard use. The Factory LC6 triggers on these are very simple and rugged, with a bit of polishing and maybe cutting one coil off the trigger spring or replacing it with a lighter trigger spring it’s pretty easy to get a clean 3 pound trigger.

I have messed around extensively with Timmny, trigger tech, and some other off brand trigger for left hand Hawkeyes that were all supposed to be “drop in”. The trigger tech was the only one that actually “worked” however the safety now worked off of a janky adjusting oblong rotating set screw type of assembly that could easily fall out of alignment and no longer work or render the gun unsafe or unshootable, instead of the factory solid machined pice. Timmny had a similar issue and drops the firing pin when slamming the bolt forward hard, needs some gunsmith work. Anyways just really don’t think the trade for a LOT of reliability is worth the benefit of a LITTLE better trigger in this circumstance.

Just my 2 cents that I have picked up working with these guns. Cheers!

I believe pictures of this rifle are required...

 

[Papa72]

I have the same .375 Ruger African (RH) and decided it would benefit from an epoxied wrist pin due to slender profile of the wood in the grip area. I have since decided to sell that rifle so didn’t do the mod.

 

[Bandera]

As others have stated, I also have the same rifle. If yours is a newer generation with two cross bolts you should have no issues.
My rifle weighs in at 10.1 pounds with factory rings and Leupold VX 5 2-10 30mm firedot scope.

Modifications:
Leave the trigger alone. For dangerous game, which is up close work the factory trigger will do the job just fine.

I did put a thicker recoil pad on mine. A one inch pad. It mounted up with no fitting required.

The Alaska Arms extra capacity floor plate can be a nice addition.
The Alaska Arms QD rings are well regarded. I have never had issue with the factory Ruger rings being repeatable.

I did opt to get a Murray leather cartridge belt. For a left handed shooter they work fine. I also like the strong hand reload with the rifle still shouldered. Some people like the week hand reload reaching under the rifle.
Well then I took a look at the Murray Leather rifle sling. So I had to get one of those. That sling is also highly recommended by people on this site.
I recently bought a second Hawkeye in 375 Ruger, a guide gun, That one may become a 416 Ruger or a 458 Win Mag.

 

[Beck]

To start, I'll say that this is my first post here and the quality of information found on this forum is top notch. The discourse I've come across is something that is very much lacking in life these days and it's refreshing.

It all seems to have started when I began reading my dad's collection of Safari books and it has me looking at getting a Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger as my first rifle of this size.

I don't have a trip booked for DG at the moment and but I do have plans for a plains game hunt (would be my first) to RSA in 2026, I plan to use my 30-06 on that hunt.

The 375 is more of a want purchase than need at the moment...but I'd like to take the time to get used to the rifle over a few seasons.

Ruger makes just about the only factory rifle for lefties with CRF that I can find and it just so happens to match a Ruger I already own in 30-06 (which is a plus for style reasons), but for ammo availability during trips I'd rather have a 375 H&H. The lefty Winchester M70s I see on GunBroker quickly get bid out of my budget however.

I have fired an H&H (it was 8.5lbs loaded out and I shot from the bench) and found the recoil to be quite manageable to my surprise, 270gr loads I believe. True to the slow "push" adage in my experience. Is the 375 Ruger recoil really a lot sharper as is frequently mentioned?

What other upgrades for the Ruger would be advised?

I plan to swap the trigger, recoil pad and perhaps add some weight to the stock to help it balance better/temper recoil. The Ruger feels a bit barrel heavy.

One upgrade I am not sure about is bedding the action. Will bedding help prevent damage to the stock? I have read some instances of cracked stocks in these rifles.

Thanks,
Owen in Houston

The Ruger hawkeye is a great choice. I took a Ruger African in .416 ruger on my first trip to Africa, killed a hippo and a buff in Moz. For the money the Rugers are very hard to beat - 3 position safety, controlled round feed, removable muzzle break, very accurate - you might look at the Alaskan model as well - I am very fond of mine.

 

[CBeck]

@CBeck What model scope and rings do you have on your Hawkeye African? 9lbs 13oz is about the weight I am looking for. I'd rather not use the muzzle brake.

I'd be interested to find the weight of the gun bare that way. Ruger's website feels somewhat vague with stating it as 8lbs even.

I have a Hawke 1-8 illuminated in Warne qd medium rings. No muzzle brake.

Weight without scope and rings is 8lb 4oz

I looked through quite a few to find one with good wood, and once I stripped the finish and redid with oil, I think it turned out pretty nice

 

[RLL]

To start, I'll say that this is my first post here and the quality of information found on this forum is top notch. The discourse I've come across is something that is very much lacking in life these days and it's refreshing.

It all seems to have started when I began reading my dad's collection of Safari books and it has me looking at getting a Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger as my first rifle of this size.

I don't have a trip booked for DG at the moment and but I do have plans for a plains game hunt (would be my first) to RSA in 2026, I plan to use my 30-06 on that hunt.

The 375 is more of a want purchase than need at the moment...but I'd like to take the time to get used to the rifle over a few seasons.

Ruger makes just about the only factory rifle for lefties with CRF that I can find and it just so happens to match a Ruger I already own in 30-06 (which is a plus for style reasons), but for ammo availability during trips I'd rather have a 375 H&H. The lefty Winchester M70s I see on GunBroker quickly get bid out of my budget however.

I have fired an H&H (it was 8.5lbs loaded out and I shot from the bench) and found the recoil to be quite manageable to my surprise, 270gr loads I believe. True to the slow "push" adage in my experience. Is the 375 Ruger recoil really a lot sharper as is frequently mentioned?

What other upgrades for the Ruger would be advised?

I plan to swap the trigger, recoil pad and perhaps add some weight to the stock to help it balance better/temper recoil. The Ruger feels a bit barrel heavy.

One upgrade I am not sure about is bedding the action. Will bedding help prevent damage to the stock? I have read some instances of cracked stocks in these rifles.

Thanks,
Owen in Houston

Hey man, I was in the same boat as you. I got a Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger and had no regrets.

I did add weight to the stock to balance the rifle better, kickeez recoil pad and extend LoP. Had a smith glass and pillar bed. Stock seems to be holding up well and I’ve put at least 300 rounds through it. Also cerakote all the metal to reduce the gloss shine of the bluing as a personal preference.

I’m local to Houston right now and would let you handle and shoot the rifle if you’d like. I may be willing to part with it…

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

A lefty 375 Ruger African is an excellent choice, as many others have already said. I've had my Alaskan model, RH version, with a 23 inch barrel and laminated stock for over 10 years and no issues at all. The only modification I have done is a lighter spring in the LC6 trigger. Easy job anyone can do and takes all of 10-15 minutes.

Reports or concern with broken stocks are usually from people shooting off of a too heavy lead sled. Buying the 375 Ruger did give me incentive to buying a Lead Sled, as it was a significant step up in recoil from my 338 WM. For load development, the lead sled is loaded with a 25 lb weight and it can slide on the top of the shooting bench.

https://erniethegunsmith.com/store/-023--Ruger-M77-Hawkeye-or-Any-LC-6-Hunter-Trigger-Spring---CLICK-PHOTO-FOR-DETAILS---p356433274

 

[Owen89]

I have a Hawke 1-8 illuminated in Warne qd medium rings. No muzzle brake.

Weight without scope and rings is 8lb 4oz

View attachment 663796

I looked through quite a few to find one with good wood, and once I stripped the finish and redid with oil, I think it turned out pretty nice

View attachment 663797

Beautiful looking rifle @CBeck the finish is very nice.
Thanks for speaking to the weight without optics

 

[Owen89]

Hey man, I was in the same boat as you. I got a Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger and had no regrets.

I did add weight to the stock to balance the rifle better, kickeez recoil pad and extend LoP. Had a smith glass and pillar bed. Stock seems to be holding up well and I’ve put at least 300 rounds through it. Also cerakote all the metal to reduce the gloss shine of the bluing as a personal preference.

I’m local to Houston right now and would let you handle and shoot the rifle if you’d like. I may be willing to part with it…

@RLL Thanks for that. I'd definitely be interested in handling the rifle and taking a few shots. I'll DM you