Input on your .375 Ruger rifles and loads, please

[RichD]

I've been looking at a second trip to Africa and have decided on a 375 Ruger caliber rifle, but have not narrowed to a specific mfr or model. Can you share info of your rifle like how you decided on your purchase, pros and cons, approximate price, did you buy new or used, etc? Also, scope choice and load info if you roll your own. Just really looking for input on 375 Ruger. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Ryan]

I own a Left=handed Ruger M77 African in it that I purchased in 2011 barely used on Gunbroker (Interesting story of how little it was previously used, another time). Not exactly sure of the price anymore but it was under a grand with a low end scope I took off of it. I improved it with a laminate stock from Accurate Innovations and topped it a Leupold VX-2 1-4X 24 mm scope. Not the high end scope of many, but it has worked great.
Why? Well I'm left handed and Ruger wisely made the rifle with their new cartridge in it in lefty, to improve sales I'm sure. The cartridge was making it's mark and I felt it was a good move. I dropped my giraffe in 2013 with it and then in 2021 used it for buffalo and four species of plains game. No issues with the rifle on those hunts or on the range.
I have zero regrets owning it but Hornady and Ruger have made things difficult lately with ammo and brass availability. When I first got it ammo was spotty but brass was readily available, so I got into loading my own. Now it's the other way around. I don't use it much now, so my brass is holding up, but finding new is problematic. Hopefully Hornady and others will start producing more. I used Barnes TSX in 270 grain for my giraffe and for buffalo and others moved up to Peregrine Bushmaster in 300 grain. My load for the Peregrine is 75 grains of H414'with a COAL of 3.160 inches. I don't have the Barnes load around anymore, but Barnes has good data online.

 

[7mmFan]

About 10 years ago I bought a ruger guide gun in 375 ruger. Stainless, laminate. I liked that it had a removeable muzzle break and that spacers could be added to the stock to adjust for length of pull. I also like the 20 inch barrel. It balances well. It currently sports a leupold VX-R 2-7-33 firedot in QD rings (don't remember the brand). Haven't taken it to the dark continent yet but it groups well with hornady factory ammo which is all I've put through it to date.
I bought mine new through an online retailer at the time. Solid rifle that I'm hanging onto in hopes that one of my kids may use it should we be able to make the trip back over to Africa and go after something bigger next time.

 

[USMA84DAB]

Model - Ruger Alaskan

Decided on purchase - 9 months out from my safari, I had just shot my scout scope mount loose on my 35WAI Mauser. I decided to try Guns.com and see what they had. Having been reading Boddington daily to prep/learn for the safari, I was aware of his praise for the .375 Ruger, so that was what I searched for. Lo & behold, they had one with a VX3, 2.5-8x32, so I snagged it.

Pros - Overmold stock soaks up recoil, 20" barrel is great for moving in brush, stainless is durable, everything I hit with it dies, just the right balance of weight for recoil absorption and carrying ease

Cons - The bolt knob was too small for me (right handed, but hopelessly left-handed for shooting - all my muscle memory is using right-handed rifles as a southpaw - therefore, I milled off the tiny knob, threaded the remaining shaft, and installed a larger knob - now I can grab it securely under pressure with my right hand and cycle the bolt with no concern that I will spaz under pressure and miss the knob or short-stroke the action


Price - $650

New or used - It was listed as used, but the scope shot loose in the first 20 rounds, and the bolt was pristine/un-darkened from being cycled. I believe either: the prior owner died before he could shoot it and the wife liquidated it, or the prior owner shot it once and never touched it again.

Scope choice - I went on safari with a VX-5, 1-5x20 with CDS and firedot reticle. Have since been able to upgrade by buying a VX6, 1-6x24 with CDS & firedot from Tarbe308 here on AH. However, I love the rifle so much, I bought a 2nd one. It has the black finish, and I have not altered the bolt knob yet. It sports a VX5, 3-15x44 CDS and firedot. This one is to stretch the legs of the cartridge.

Load - Something like 79.3 gr of W760, 270 grain projos (Hornday for MO hunting, Barnes TSX for Africa) - I am upstairs finishing my first cup of coffee and did not run to the basement to confirm the powder charge, so be cautious.

I am up to about 700 cases, so can use these rifles "for a while". However, Hornady has burned their "New, greatest, hottest cartridge since sliced bread" bridge with me. I will never buy into another new "wonder cartridge". The "we can't catch up with demand because of the scamdemic" is total BS. They only make their loaded ammo now and have just basically said F U to the reloaders. I will keep buying an occasional box or two of ammo to keep growing my casing herd. I LOVE the cartridge and rifle - VERY soured by Hornady's "production difficulties".

My safari write-up is here on AH if you wish to see the data points regarding how the rifle/cartridge fared against the critters.

 

[ryno111]

Another vote for the 375 Alaskan. Bought it last year before a bear hunt. About $1300 new. It's heavy duty, and I don't have to worry about the weather.
It pairs well with the Primary Arms 1-8 Compact: https://www.primaryarms.com/primary...uminated-acss-raptor-m8-meter-556-308-reticle

 

[Bandera]

Mine is a newer African in 375 Ruger.
I am left-handed, I wanted to controlled feed, so the Ruger checked the boxes.

Previously had one of the older model Africans with one cross bolt through the stock and no muzzle break.

The muzzle break does a great job of producing the recoil. The threaded barrel also allows me to shoot the rifle with a suppressor, currently the hybrid 46.
Why suppress a 375 Ruger? Recoil reduction. Noise reduction.
Scope I use on it is a Leopold VX5 2-10X42 with the fire dot.
For practicing I use a 270 grain bullet that I hand load. I use the cheapest 270 grain bullet I can find. For hunting I will use the 300 grain Hornady DGX load.

I did put a Hogue 1” thick brown recoil pad on the rifle.

Factory ammo is available in 270 grain and 300 grain loads.
My local gun store can order it by the case.
If it can be ordered by the case, there is not a shortage of ammo. There is a failure on the part of the local gun store to set up a proper supply chain.
Brass is hard to find right now.
Large Magnum primers are available
Powder is available.
Projectiles are available.

No complaints about the rifle from me.

 

[Neophyte]

No load data as I only shoot factory ammo.
I shoot left handed and favor a controlled round feed so I went with the Ruger Guide Gun. It’s currently at the gunsmith being put into a McMillan stock and having some accuracy enhancements done to it. I’m debating about a scope but thinking about something in the 2-10 range.

 

[Philip Glass]

I've been looking at a second trip to Africa and have decided on a 375 Ruger caliber rifle, but have not narrowed to a specific mfr or model. Can you share info of your rifle like how you decided on your purchase, pros and cons, approximate price, did you buy new or used, etc? Also, scope choice and load info if you roll your own. Just really looking for input on 375 Ruger. Thanks in advance for the help.

Rich,

I have a Ruger that a bought first and had Hill Country Rifles accurize and add a McMillan stock. It wears a Leupold VX6 2-12.
Later I had J Sip and Sons make me a custom .375 Ruger barrel for my Blaser R8. This one wears the Swarovski Z8 1.7-13x.
I have hunted extensively with both of these rifles. I prefer the Blaser but the Ruger is the economy choice.
I have Safari Arms custom load ammo for me and prefer Barnes TSX 300g for most everything.
Please don't skimp on scopes and watch my video before you make your final decision. Dont be a sheep!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I've owned a 375 Ruger Alaskan (stainless, laminated stock, 23 inch barrel) for over 10 years. I purchased about 300 rounds of various Hornady ammo (270 & 300 gr) and a few boxes of Hendershot's custom ammo loaded with 300 gr Swift A Frames. The 300 gr SAF have a velocity of ~2550 fps from the 23 inch barrel. This rifle is what prompted me to buy a Lead Sled!

A couple years ago, there was a good deal on Hornady Outfitter 250 gr GMX, so I bought a couple boxes of those. I now have a lifetime supply of ammo and brass. The 250 GMX shot several inches higher than the 300 gr stuff. Checking with my Magneto Speed chrony, the factory ammo was amazingly accurate and consistent. FPS=2801, SD=8.8, ES=24 for a 5 shot group.

If I were to purchase another 375 Ruger, it would be the African model.

I originally had a Leupold scope, 1-4X on my Ruger. I changed this out a few years ago when I came across a good deal on a used Leica Magnus 1-6.3, which has a luminated reticle.

 

[RichD]

Rich,

I have a Ruger that a bought first and had Hill Country Rifles accurize and add a McMillan stock. It wears a Leupold VX6 2-12.
Later I had J Sip and Sons make me a custom .375 Ruger barrel for my Blaser R8. This one wears the Swarovski Z8 1.7-13x.
I have hunted extensively with both of these rifles. I prefer the Blaser but the Ruger is the economy choice.
I have Safari Arms custom load ammo for me and prefer Barnes TSX 300g for most everything.
Please don't skimp on scopes and watch my video before you make your final decision. Dont be a sheep!

Thank you for a very well done, informative video on optics. I have been a Leupold fan for many years and have 2 scopes looking for a rifle. One is a Vari-X II in 2-7x and the other is a Vari-X III in 3.5-10x. I would be using the 375 primarily for plains game with a cape buffalo. My main mule deer and elk rifle in Colorado is a Weatherby 300 Wby with a Leupold VX-R 3-9x with Firedot. The Vari-X III was on the 300 until about 6 years ago. In Colorado we can hunt until 30 mins after sunset. At 29 mins and 52 seconds, 4 elk emerged from an aspen stand 250 yards below my position, the last one being a quite respectable bull. With low light, dark body, and black reticle I was not comfortable taking an ethical shot and passed it up. At first chance I replaced the VX III scope with the VX-R. I don't much like QD mounts either, so would use good quality fixed rings.

Based on the responses I've received to my inquiry, I think a Ruger rifle is the best for my purposee, so it's good to narrow that decision down.

Thanks for your input and concise video - it is very appreciated.

 

[Pablo]

I bought a Ruger African several years back in anticipation of the hunt I just took. I’m also a Leupold fan, but I was offered a Zeiss Conquest 3x9 in a “fire sale” so that’s what I topped it with. I was very happy with it’s performance using Hornady 270 grain cartridges. I killed 6 animals with 6 shots under 150 yards. All the PH’s at the camp were impressed also. They said would have no problem with it for Buffalo, which I didn’t take. Be aware that there is a bullet drop of nearly 4” at 200 yards even as fast as it is. Good luck to you!

 

[poco]

I wasn’t sure I wanted a 375Ruger over a 35 Whelen , but I found one @ a super discount, the guy had done extensive work to the stock on making it a ultra light mountain rig for elk & bear, about 6 1/2 lbs (unscoped) a large 4-14 scope, and loaded up some dangerous max load 275 gr with the help of a friend .
Well they created a dangerous kicking mule, and he didn’t mount the scope with any eye relief
And proceeded to nearly destroy his eye on the 1st shot and decided to sell it ASAP
I saw his initial fire sale and jumped on it, I completely reengineered the weight of the rifle by adding weight, a recoil pad , and ditched the super heavy reload rounds , adding a heavy 3-9 illumination scope with tally QD rings , with 80gr of H4350 behind 235 - 300gr its now a awesome 1- 1.5 moa rifle, @ 9.5 lbs, I killed my whitetail buck with it last year and bust water bottles out to 275 meters regularly year round
My 375Ruger will be my new travel rifle with nilgai, aoudad, elk , white tail hunts lined up for 2024 & Africa in 2025 .

 

[John Wasmuth]

…..

 

[RichD]

I wasn’t sure I wanted a 375Ruger over a 35 Whelen , but I found one @ a super discount, the guy had done extensive work to the stock on making it a ultra light mountain rig for elk & bear, about 6 1/2 lbs (unscoped) a large 4-14 scope, and loaded up some dangerous max load 275 gr with the help of a friend .
Well they created a dangerous kicking mule, and he didn’t mount the scope with any eye relief
And proceeded to nearly destroy his eye on the 1st shot and decided to sell it ASAP
I saw his initial fire sale and jumped on it, I completely reengineered the weight of the rifle by adding weight, a recoil pad , and ditched the super heavy reload rounds , adding a heavy 3-9 illumination scope with tally QD rings , with 80gr of H4350 behind 235 - 300gr its now a awesome 1- 1.5 moa rifle, @ 9.5 lbs, I killed my whitetail buck with it last year and bust water bottles out to 275 meters regularly year round
My 375Ruger will be my new travel rifle with nilgai, aoudad, elk , white tail hunts lined up for 2024 & Africa in 2025 .

Yup, I can relate to the eye hit. I'd been shooting Win 94 30-30 and 30-06 for years. My wife bought the 300 WBY for Christmas 1985. Early on I learned to brace up for recoil. A little blood was my initiation in 1986 and a good ribbing at elk camp that night.