New Ruger African in .275 Rigby

[Gunwritr]

I have one of the Ruger Mannlicher M77 carbines in .275 and it shot the 175 grain Fed Round Nose Soft Points very well. For four 5-shot groups at 100 yards it averaged 1.6 inches. Muzzle velocity of this load came in at 2,242 fps measured with a LabRadar chronograph.

My best accuracy so far has been with a handload with 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and a heavy handload of RL22. This load is running at 2,530 fps and average for four 5-shot groups at 100 yards is .75 inch! Very happy.

Regarding heavy bullets, I have shot Berger 195 grain Elite Hunters without issue. They are running at 2,228 fps using RL22. I think I can get a bit more velocity and tighten groups a bit by playing with the load.

I have wood contact down the entire left side of my barrel and most factory loads string horizontally when the barrel gets hot. It heats up very fast shooting 5 shot groups. I might play with the barrel channel to see if that helps.


For those without a chronograph all the 139 and 140 grain factory loads (including Superformance) are all running right around 2,500 fps from my 18.5 inch carbine. Farthest I have shot it so far is 400 yards on 11x20 inch steel plates using the factory Hornady 140 grain Rigby load and had no issues connecting.


I have an old 4x32 Zeiss Conquest scope mounted in Alaska Arms QD rings.

 

[7x57Joe]

I have one of the Ruger Mannlicher M77 carbines in .275 and it shot the 175 grain Fed Round Nose Soft Points very well. For four 5-shot groups at 100 yards it averaged 1.6 inches. Muzzle velocity of this load came in at 2,242 fps measured with a LabRadar chronograph.

My best accuracy so far has been with a handload with 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and a heavy handload of RL22. This load is running at 2,530 fps and average for four 5-shot groups at 100 yards is .75 inch! Very happy.

Regarding heavy bullets, I have shot Berger 195 grain Elite Hunters without issue. They are running at 2,228 fps using RL22. I think I can get a bit more velocity and tighten groups a bit by playing with the load.

I have wood contact down the entire left side of my barrel and most factory loads string horizontally when the barrel gets hot. It heats up very fast shooting 5 shot groups. I might play with the barrel channel to see if that helps.


For those without a chronograph all the 139 and 140 grain factory loads (including Superformance) are all running right around 2,500 fps from my 18.5 inch carbine. Farthest I have shot it so far is 400 yards on 11x20 inch steel plates using the factory Hornady 140 grain Rigby load and had no issues connecting.


I have an old 4x32 Zeiss Conquest scope mounted in Alaska Arms QD rings.

Very informative Gunwritr, thanks for posting.

 

[Gunwritr]

I found it interesting that despite the low initial muzzle velocity the Berger 195s are supersonic past 1,300 yards due to their incredibly high BC. I think this would be an interesting bullet to play with out of a 24 inch barrel in this caliber......

 

[cagkt3]

I know i have at least one Ruger owners manual that spells this out.. I'll see if i can find it when i get home.

You are correct Bob - I found it in the manual for my .275 and my .30-06. I can post a pic tonight if anyone would like.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The Ruger website has the manuals and for both the MkII and Hawkeye, they state "snugly tightened". Isn't that helpful! The Hawkeye model does add in Part 4 d, the 95 inch pound torque.

M77 MKII manual: http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory.html

Hawkeye: https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/m77Hawkeye.pdf

 

[cagkt3]

The Ruger website has the manuals and for both the MkII and Hawkeye, they state "snugly tightened". Isn't that helpful! The Hawkeye model does add in Part 4 d, the 95 inch pound torque.

M77 MKII manual: http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory.html

View attachment 201478

Hawkeye: https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/m77Hawkeye.pdf

View attachment 201480

On point @375 Ruger Fan! Exactly what is in the manual for the .275

 

[CTDolan]

I think that, for a factory-produced firearm, the angled screw is a good concept as it assures a firmly bedded recoil lug. That said, though, the least bit loose and you will have problems (more so than with a standard, vertical draw on the lug).

 

[sestoppelman]

Well I still don't have one of these, and probably wont as once again my No.1 shined at the range today using those pretty, long 175gr Hornady round nose slugs and Re22. Last 4 shot group with a very hot barrel came in at about 5/8ths of an inch. 3 other groups were around an inch or so, this all at 100 yds. This is a very nice rifle indeed.

 

[cagkt3]

View attachment 201591 Well I still don't have one of these, and probably wont as once again my No.1 shined at the range today using those pretty, long 175gr Hornady round nose slugs and Re22. Last 4 shot group with a very hot barrel came in at about 5/8ths of an inch. 3 other groups were around an inch or so, this all at 100 yds. This is a very nice rifle indeed.View attachment 201588 View attachment 201589 View attachment 201590

Very nice, and a great looking rifle. Almost makes me want to trade....

 

[Gunwritr]

It seems this caliber really shines with RL22 from what everyone is posting!

 

[sestoppelman]

Re22 or Norma MRP, same powder I am told is great in a number of rounds. It and Re19 are my powders of choice for lots of stuff.

 

[gizmo]

A couple of points here,
1) Never really got excited over the 7x57's until I saw @ActionBob 's last weekend. What a cool rifle and wow did it preform even with cheap ammo. It drove a bullet completely through that animal even hitting several large bones, with cheap ammo none the less!
2) The accuracy problem I think could easily be solved by pillar and glass bedding the action and floating the barrel. Very easy project, I did it on my M77 243 and wow was well with it. Is a tack driving machine. You can get the pillar for the angled front bolt at midway for a couple of bucks. I'd almost bet money the M77 bedding kit would fit the little Rigby. Worst case scenario one or the other pillars may need to be cut down but I highly doubt it.
3) Way jealous of you who have this rifle and thanks to Bob it's going to cause me to have to smuggle another rifle into the house without the wife catching me in the near future. I really liked his in stainless.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

This article might have been posted before on this site, but it seems to me a "must read" for all the 275 Rigby owners and even us wanna-be owners.

"Karamoja" Bell's .275 Rigby
by Harry Selby - Wednesday, September 15, 2010

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/9/15/karamoja-bells-275-rigby/

 

[MS Hitman]

Finally was able to make a brief trip to the range today. I had to use my hammock for a rear bag on the bench, and at 50 yards using the Hornady 7 Mauser 139 grain ammo, I got a decent group, two of the three shots were touching. Will go back with some proper shooting bags and bench rest and see how she does at 100 yards.

 

[tarbe]

This article might have been posted before on this site, but it seems to me a "must read" for all the 275 Rigby owners and even us wanna-be owners.

"Karamoja" Bell's .275 Rigby
by Harry Selby - Wednesday, September 15, 2010

What a great story, and a really cool rifle.

I hate to think what hardship Mark Selby suffered to ever consider parting with such a storied rifle!

 

[Gunwritr]

Great article, thanks for posting

 

[ZG47]

Great article, thanks for posting

@375 Ruger Fan What he said!

 

[ActionBob]

Finally got the African model. Still liking the the little international model though... I like the function of a Stainless gun but not usually the look. However I think this one has a great look, something about it just works for me. What do you guys think?

 

[ActionBob]

For anyone still interested. This info was posted already but here it is again from the actual owners manual that came with the gun.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The little International model sure looks handy. When I was younger, I didn't think much of the Mannlicher or full stock look. It's grown on me and now I want one!