The .375 Ruger is 13 y/o now. A look back at people's early opinions

[colorado]

The 375 Ruger, to me, in stainless / synthetic is a gun made for Alaska. Pretty rugged, plenty of power, CRF, and not expensive. All that being said, I have a Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby for about the same price (not CRF). Happy with that.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

The 375 Ruger, to me, in stainless / synthetic is a gun made for Alaska. Pretty rugged, plenty of power, CRF, and not expensive. All that being said, I have a Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby for about the same price (not CRF). Happy with that.

Controlled Round Feed, is not appreciated for the feed at all. It's the large, non-rotating, claw extractor.

I loved my Remingtons, but I don't think I'd take one for DG (no offense meant). A stuck case, and you're screwed because it will just pull a little chunk off. I had issues with my 700 Long Range in .300 RUM is why I say that. Of course, now you can have the M16 extractor added to the Remy bolt. Those XCR's are NICE rifles, and I don't blame you for being content where you are.

I think the .375 Ruger is just as much at home in Africa, as it is Alaska. The 20" version will cost you 66 fps, but still very viable. My 23" runs neck and neck with the .375 Roy. It also, is one of the only cartridges to come out in the last 50 years, that does something an existing cartridge could not do. It matched (and beat), the H&H, but does it in a standard long action.

 

[lwaters]

I also think it here to stay. It is just a better cartridge to handload than the 375 H&H.

.375 Ruger is here to stay.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

I also think it here to stay. It is just a better cartridge to handload than the 375 H&H.

Hornady should get off the nonexistent nuts of the Man Bun cartridges, and make a .264", .284", and .338 on the 375 Ruger case. My wildcat, which was just a 375R necked down using a .338 then .300 RCM die, and it would outrun my EX-FIL'S 300 Bee.

 

[Bonk]

I have a Ruger Alaskan 375 Ruger (23"). I like it as much and in some cases more than my other .365/.375 rifles.

 

[lwaters]

Hornady should get off the nonexistent nuts of the Man Bun cartridges, and make a .264", .284", and .338 on the 375 Ruger case. My wildcat, which was just a 375R necked down using a .338 then .300 RCM die, and it would outrun my EX-FIL'S 300 Bee.

Nosler has come close to doing exactly that. Hornady missed the boat. Look at how many 30 cal. short mags. there is. The 300RCM is the best for the reloader. No rebated rim.

 

[Captain Munro]

If I was going for bear in Alaska, the Ruger Guide Gun in 375 Ruger is an appealing choice for me. Not sure why, but I like the look of its matte stainless finish and the soft recoil pad(I have their scout rifle and think its awesome). Some might call it ugly and I get that.

 

[ldmay375]

Left to right:
375 Ruger, 30-06, 416 Ruger.
The outboard rifles are two of my favorites. Probably my most favorites above .338 caliber.

 

[ldmay375]

Not long after the 375 Ruger was available, I had a 20” re-barrelled with a Lilja barrel. It was suppose to finish at 23”, wound up 23.5”. I had another done at the same time for my son, it was suppose to be 22”, but also had the extra 1/2”.
Anyways, I became tired of waiting on mine. During the Excessive wait, I bought that 20” in the picture. The 23.5” gets a lot of safe time. Though it does shoot excellent. So does the factory 20” barrel. I had much rather carry the 20”.
The 20” factory 416 Ruger shoots excellent also.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

Not long after the 375 Ruger was available, I had a 20” re-barrelled with a Lilja barrel. It was suppose to finish at 23”, wound up 23.5”. I had another done at the same time for my son, it was suppose to be 22”, but also had the extra 1/2”.
Anyways, I became tired of waiting on mine. During the Excessive wait, I bought that 20” in the picture. The 23.5” gets a lot of safe time. Though it does shoot excellent. So does the factory 20” barrel. I had much rather carry the 20”.
The 20” factory 416 Ruger shoots excellent also.

What is the stock on the middle one? I love that look!

 

[ldmay375]

What is the stock on the middle one? I love that look!

The middle one is a Bell & Carlson, for Ruger “long action” with magnum barrel channel. It has the full length aluminum bedding block/frame. This Ruger stock is a recent addition to their product line.

The color is their Brown with Black webbing. Which as the lady told me when I ordered, it looks different than depicted on website. I like the color, I have some M70 stocks in this brown.

Edited: Brown with Black Webbing

 

[Viral_SIGness]

The middle one is a Bell & Carlson, for Ruger “long action” with magnum barrel channel. It has the full length aluminum bedding block/frame. This Ruger stock is a recent addition to their product line.

The color is their Brown with Black webbing. Which as the lady told me when I ordered, it looks different than depicted on website. I like the color, I have some M70 stocks in this brown.

Edited: Brown with Black Webbing

I thought it reassembled the B&C on my Rem 700 Long Range. I had no idea they did Ruger stocks. How does it feel recoil wise, compared to the Hogue? The Hogue feel like they were made just to tame these guns.

 

[ldmay375]

I thought it reassembled the B&C on my Rem 700 Long Range. I had no idea they did Ruger stocks. How does it feel recoil wise, compared to the Hogue? The Hogue feel like they were made just to tame these guns.

As to recoil, I cannot speak to that yet. I have not fired this rifle. This is a 30-06, so not going to be much recoil to judge by.
This rifle is/was a Guide Gun, that I purchased as used. It appears the previous owner had the muzzle brake threads cut-off and the barrel re-crowned. Unless they made a model that was not threaded.
The barrel contour appears identical to the 375 Ruger.

Edit:
the Bell & Carlson comes with a Decelerator pad installed
I have a few of their stocks on M70’s and a factory installed one on a CZ 458 Lott.

 

[Canucme007]

I find that 90% of "new" cartridges nearly duplicate some older cartridge. This has become especially true with newer propellants and better bullets. I've also seen a number of cases, the 45-70 for instance, where you'll see one tier of loads for older guns, another for leverguns and similar rifles, and then really hot loads for single shots and such with extremely strong actions. Skipping ahead to the 375 Ruger, it has a real nitch. 375 H&H performance in a shorter action and typically a much less expensive rifle. It's also comparable to the 416 Rem, but with no belt. In that recoil range, that's the competition unless you go with a wildcat. For the cost and flexibility, it's a great choice for Africa, especially if you are on a mixed bag hunt, and is also great for the North American big bears, bison, elk, moose, and even big hogs. Heck, look at the 9.3x62. I doubt ol' Otto never imagined it would still be so popular 100 years later.

 

[1dirthawker]

an update

i recently had the opportunity to shoot a brown bear on the alaskan peninsula with my 375 ruger and the 300gr bonded bullets (bonded dgx) i only recovered one from a 9' brown bear that my client shot and then it turned into a running gunfight. when i get some time i might post the story, anyway, the bullet was 88or90% intact, great wt retention and recovered on the far side of a pretty good bear. hornady had some problems with their previous dgx bullets, but the bonded version has clearly fixed that weak point.

 

[Newboomer]

After reading this post comparing 375 Ruger to HH, I have some questions: How do they compare recoil wise? Ruger less, same, or more, load for load? Ruger rifle weight compared to Win 70 Safari Express (about 10-11 lbs)? I've not handled or shot one but it seems quite interesting.

 

[ldmay375]

I think per cartridges their selves, it would be very little difference.

I have a 22” M70 stainless 375 H&H that is about 10 pounds 2 ounces and a 20” 375 Ruger that weighs about 1 pound less. Both have McMillan stocks, though different styles. I have another Ruger with a 23.5” custom barrel that weighs very close to the M70.

Bare rifles the 20” 375 Ruger, whether in a rubber Hogue, Bell & Carlson or H-S Precision is right at 8 pounds. The Hogue, if I recall correctly may be a couple of ounces heavier. I don’t recall bare rifle weights in the McMillans.
I have an early model blued / walnut 23” barrel that is slightly under 8 pounds, bare rifle.

It has been a long time ago since I have shot them one behind the other. I do not recall any noteworthy differences.

I am sure on paper there is a difference, the Ruger can use a little more powder and has a little more velocity potential.
In reality I feel little to no difference. Here in Alaska, for 375’s I use the Ruger version pretty much exclusively.

 

[ldmay375]

an update

i recently had the opportunity to shoot a brown bear on the alaskan peninsula with my 375 ruger and the 300gr bonded bullets (bonded dgx) i only recovered one from a 9' brown bear that my client shot and then it turned into a running gunfight. when i get some time i might post the story, anyway, the bullet was 88or90% intact, great wt retention and recovered on the far side of a pretty good bear. hornady had some problems with their previous dgx bullets, but the bonded version has clearly fixed that weak point.

Thanks for the update. I would love to hear the full story.

 

[Newboomer]

I think per cartridges their selves, it would be very little difference.

I have a 22” M70 stainless 375 H&H that is about 10 pounds 2 ounces and a 20” 375 Ruger that weighs about 1 pound less. Both have McMillan stocks, though different styles. I have another Ruger with a 23.5” custom barrel that weighs very close to the M70.

Bare rifles the 20” 375 Ruger, whether in a rubber Hogue, Bell & Carlson or H-S Precision is right at 8 pounds. The Hogue, if I recall correctly may be a couple of ounces heavier. I don’t recall bare rifle weights in the McMillans.
I have an early model blued / walnut 23” barrel that is slightly under 8 pounds, bare rifle.

It has been a long time ago since I have shot them one behind the other. I do not recall any noteworthy differences.

I am sure on paper there is a difference, the Ruger can use a little more powder and has a little more velocity potential.
In reality I feel little to no difference. Here in Alaska, for 375’s I use the Ruger version pretty much exclusively.

Thanks for the info. What are the chances of confusing Ruger and HH ammo? Ruger in an HH. I know Ruger is shorter but are other dimensions different enough to prevent slipping a Ruger round into an HH?

 

[ldmay375]

Thanks for the info. What are the chances of confusing Ruger and HH ammo? Ruger in an HH. I know Ruger is shorter but are other dimensions different enough to prevent slipping a Ruger round into an HH?

Just about zero. The Ruger not having the belt, the H&H being longer with more taper.

I just slid a 375 Ruger cartridge into and H&H chambered rifle. There was probably 3/4” of brass showing outside the receiver when the cartridge stopped.