New Ruger African in .275 Rigby

[sierraone]

So ..... what is wrong with that group? The 140 gr Remington is a little slow for bullet weight (designed with all those old Spanish military mausers in mind) but that is a superb MOA group and the bullet will kill any deer that ever walked.

On rough finished rings, coat the inside of the ring with a thin layer of liquid electricians tape. Guaranteed not to mar a scope.

Agree with you fully that one group is great, but we couldn't get any consistency. That was the best one out of 5 boxes of various 140 grain ammo. The next group may have had a 5 inch spread. That type of inconsistency is what I am concerned with. If my Nosler rounds ordered don't perform any better, I'll let my son disassemble it and check for the torque on the action screws and such. Since I don't reload, I have tried Nosler Trophy Grade and Safari Grade in different calibers in the past. And so far they have all been dead on. Hopefully after they arrive I can post 3 or 4 one inch or less groups!!! If so,that will be my go to 7 MM rounds for hunting!

 

[stug]

With a 1:8.75" twist I would definitely go 160gr or heavier.

 

[sestoppelman]

Firstly, get some 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and load them with Re22. If somewhere between 46 and 50 grs you don't find some joy, its the gun. Seriously, that combo will shoot in any 7mm. Now it sounds like the inconsistent shooting of the one above is probably due to the barrel channel having uneven places touching the barrel on the bottom and the sides. Make sure the forward action screw is TIGHT! First thing I do with any bolt rifle that has a pressure pad up front is remove it, unless the rifle shoots lights out right off. Otherwise its gone. But plan to totally free float the barrel anyway, almost all rifles shoot best if floated. If that doesn't cure the flyers, then glass bedding is the usual next step. Don't forget a brand new barrel sometimes needs a few boxes of bullets thru it to settle down. Don't worry too much about the barrel "break in" process. It cannot be proven on a specific barrel that it works, not possible. In theory I like the idea, and sometimes go to the trouble but usually I just shoot it. Now I have a No. 1 in this new .275 and it is shooting very well and No.1's have their own set of issues but barrel quality isn't one of them. A couple days ago I fired a half inch group with mine using Hornady 175 RN bullets and 48 grs of Re22. It shot good with all of that box but best with 48 grs. OAL was 3.1 inches, and I doubt Ruger cut short throats on the 77 when the No. 1 is at least standard for the round, so don't be afraid to try the heavies. Don't expect factory fodder to shoot that well, most wont do much better than 2-3 inches.

 

[Red Leg]

Agree with you fully that one group is great, but we couldn't get any consistency. That was the best one out of 5 boxes of various 140 grain ammo. The next group may have had a 5 inch spread. That type of inconsistency is what I am concerned with. If my Nosler rounds ordered don't perform any better, I'll let my son disassemble it and check for the torque on the action screws and such. Since I don't reload, I have tried Nosler Trophy Grade and Safari Grade in different calibers in the past. And so far they have all been dead on. Hopefully after they arrive I can post 3 or 4 one inch or less groups!!! If so,that will be my go to 7 MM rounds for hunting!

Help me understand partner. Does this particular load show inconsistencies as well, or just between loadings and manufacturers? Most of my rifles, regardless of cost or caliber, tend to be very finicky with factory loads. For instance my Blaser R8 shoots five Federal Woodleigh 300 gr hydro's into practically a single ragged hole. On the other hand, the same rifle shoots Federal Bear Claws into something one could charitably call a "pattern" rather than a group. On any rifle, I typically try half a dozen factory loads to find one the rifle truly loves. I then buy a bunch, ensuring they are the same lot number. The next run may shoot totally different.

 

[sierraone]

Help me understand partner. Does this particular load show inconsistencies as well, or just between loadings and manufacturers? Most of my rifles, regardless of cost or caliber, tend to be very finicky with factory loads. For instance my Blaser R8 shoots five Federal Woodleigh 300 gr hydro's into practically a single ragged hole. On the other hand, the same rifle shoots Federal Bear Claws into something one could charitably call a "pattern" rather than a group. On any rifle, I typically try half a dozen factory loads to find one the rifle truly loves. I then buy a bunch, ensuring they are the same lot number. The next run may shoot totally different.

Yes, so far nothing is consistent as far as tight groups go. That is why I am going to the Nosler once they arrive, because I have had good luck with them on other calibers. The Nosler Trophy Grade 130 grain shoots 1/2 inch groups in my M70 .264 Win Mag. I shot many different factory rounds through it for close to a year. Never getting tighter than 2 inches. A clerk at Mike's Outdoor in Pensacola (about three years ago) advised me to buy a box of the Nosler TG 130 grain because they were more suited to the twist rate in a M70 .264. And he was right. The first three rounds I shot were all cutting each other! That is mostly unheard of for me.And my son shoots a tighter group with it. Also shoot Nosler solids in my .404 J, although have never hunted with it. So from experience with the Nosler, I am going to try them on the .275 and see what happens...hopefully a lot more one inch or smaller groups! Will advise and post a couple of targets once this happens...hopefully next weekend!

 

[cagkt3]

Well I broke down and bought one...found one near Dallas. Probably paid a little premium for it, but got it in my head that I had to have one....

 

[greyfox]

Check the bedding, make sure the action screws are tight and
check that the barrel is not contacting the stock.

Also, if you take the action out of the stock you may see some tell tale signs of the action moving during recoil. You may end up bedding that one; Rugers are a little tricky since the recoil lug is angled.

 

[sierraone]

Thanks for all of the advice so far. The Nosler ammo should arrive on Wednesday and should be back on the range Friday to have another go at it!

 

[cagkt3]

I'll be following closely...

 

[sestoppelman]

I fired my No. 1 .275 again today with the load I mentioned above. 48, 48.5 and 49 grs of Re22 all at or under an inch at 100 yds with the 150 Ballistic Tips. 4 shot goups. Telling you guys, that combo is magic in a 7mm anything. Also shot another No. 1, a medium S in .30-06 and it put my 200 gr Partition hunting load into an inch as well. Love the No. 1's.

 

[ActionBob]

Got a scope on my little Ruger FS version in 275 Rigby. Went with a Cabela's 3-9x42 made in the US for them by Meopta, simple duplex reticle. Big reason I chose that is it was on the shelf and fit with the rings that came with the gun. I have a Trijicon 2-9x40 but saving it in case I actually finally come up with the African version gun this thread is about...

Still shooting the cheap but heavy for caliber Federal blue box 175 grain RN SP. They strung out a bit more than I would have liked but it is a short barrel, full stock, brand new yet and low end factory ammo.

Last weekend I made a plan to build a range in my back yard. I got up a temporary 100 yard target and today set one up at 200. I'm shooting off one of those wobbly 3 legged portable benches from Cabela's and have it set up on my back deck. I hope eventually to build a permanent shooting house on the back lawn with some concrete and a solid bench, maybe even a bit of roof. And I'm going to put in a 300 yard target and then after the corn is off a 500 right at the base of big enough hill in the back field. However for those I will have to get off the deck and move out onto the lawn about 7 yards... Or shoot out of my upstairs office window

 

[cagkt3]

Great stuff @ActionBob those pics make me miss Central MN!

 

[ActionBob]

Check the bedding, make sure the action screws are tight and
check that the barrel is not contacting the stock.

Also, if you take the action out of the stock you may see some tell tale signs of the action moving during recoil. You may end up bedding that one; Rugers are a little tricky since the recoil lug is angled.

I did not pull this gun apart, but did get about a half a turn on the angled screw. One really does need to check every gun.

 

[ActionBob]

Got a new range report with the little Ruger 275 Rigby

 

[sestoppelman]

Nice group!!

 

[Royal27]

Got a new range report with the little Ruger 275 Rigby

View attachment 201072

Was fun to watch !

 

[7x57Joe]

Very nice range report! Now, details man, details.

 

[Royal27]

Very nice range report! Now, details man, details.

@ActionBob can provide details, but I will post a picture of the target. I do have to say I'm rather disappointed in the three shot grouping. As we all know hunting rifles should group at under an inch. This one just didn't do it.

 

[sestoppelman]

So a Texas hunt?

 

[nztimb]

@ActionBob can provide details, but I will post a picture of the target. I do have to say I'm rather disappointed in the three shot grouping. As we all know hunting rifles should group at under an inch. This one just didn't do it.

]

But you havent quoted the distance to, and the speed of the target, so any dissapointment concerning the target spread may have to be tempered by the relevant, but missing details.