375 Ruger with Speer 270 grain BTSP Bullets

[shortstuf92]

I have a couple of rifles in 375 Ruger caliber and would like to get a little more use out of them. I would like to use them for whitetail hunting here in Northern Wisconsin yes I know it's way over kill. Has anybody used these bullets in a reduced load if so do you have load data and results? What's a good velocity range for these bullets? Both of my rifles have a lot of free bore the OAL with these bullets to the lands is 3.575" and my max. magazine length is 3.375 so the bullet is going to be jumping at least .200. Do all the rifles in 375 Ruger have this much free bore. I have tried other bullets and they all have to jump a long ways. I don't like a bullet to have jump that far what do you guys think? Any help would be great Thanks

 

[RL338]

Down here in Central WI , the 375 wouldn’t be overkill. I shot a lot of those 270 Speers out of my 375 Wby in the upper 2800’s with either N555 or Hybrid 100V. I haven’t used them on deer just paper and steel. For deer the Barnes 250gr TTSX would be a better choice at full speed.
I use the CEB 330gr MTH single feed for deer.
As far as overall length the 270s work well from mag box length for me.

 

[salmonchaser]

I’ve shot a couple of black tail deer with the 375HH. Years ago but as I recall I probably did so with 300 gr Partitions. What I recall most is they were dead, deader is of course better. No bullets recovered and you could eat right up to the hole.

 

[JD338]

I have a Nosler M21 in 375 H&H Mag. I shot a big doe with the Speer 270 gr SPBT at 2700 fps. It double lunged her and she went about 40 yards leaving a red carpet on top of the snow.
I've also used the Barnes 250 gr TTSX at 2800 fps and the Nosler 260 gr E-Tip at 2750 fps to take WT deer from 50 yards to 150 yds. My favorite is the 260 E-Tip.

JD338

 

[clearwater]

I find Hodgdon's starting load for a 300 grain Sierra Gameking bullet using Staball 6.5 very accurate. 53 Ft Lbs recoil in a 7 pound rifle. They have load data for a 270 grain Hornady. I would try the Staball 6.5 or the IMR 4350.

My favorite for a jacketed bullet is 250 grain Sierra Gameking. With 73 grains of IMR 4350 from Lyman's handbook. 2400+ fps . Much less recoil.

I also shoot a lot of cast. Here is a commercial cast bullet I like for cheap practice and small game, tho could be a deer bullet at black powder ranges. 13 grains of Unique. Subsonic. Green Dot, Titegroup and Trailboss powders also work. 375 H&H data works for Cast bullets.

 

[Blkram]

While I do not have the 375 Ruger, I have it's little brother, the 376 Steyr.
I have not taken game with the factory ammo with the 270 gr Interlock, or its 225 gr lighter load; I have shot both in my rifle (custom LH Ruger M77 Mk II), they do shoot pretty well. The 270 gr ammo produces groups of 0.625" at 100 yards, at 2507 fps out of the 21" barrel.
(The 225 gr load is not as accurate at 1.125" at 100 yards and approx. 2600 fps (factory spec; I did not chrony this ammo).

The 270 gr load will retain 1909 fps at 300 and 2185 ft lbs of energy, dropping 10.5" from a 200 yard zero. (Good enough for a legal follow up shot on a wounded bison if needed).

I did try the 250 gr Sierra SBT in it, and it produced groups of 1.250" at approx. 2754 fps (did not chrony this load) at 100 yards.

My hunting load is with the 260 gr AccuBond, and produces 0.535" groups at 100 yards at 2632 fps. It will retain 1938 fps and 2168 ft lbs of energy at 400 yards, where it drops 25.7" from its 200 yard zero. This load is a pussycat to shoot off the bench in my rifle that weighs 10 lbs 7 oz, scoped with a full magazine. (The LimbSaver pad helps too.) It has accounted for a bull bison at 100 yards and a bull elk at 200, to date.


Since that photo was taken, the rifle is now in a Wenig FS laminated stock, shown below.

And the scope has been upgraded to a S&B 1.5-6x42 with German #4 reticle.

 

[Guy Miner]

Am addicted to the 260 grain Nosler AccuBond for my 375 H&H. Shot three black bear with it some years ago, from 15' to 300 yards. Excellent performance at those very different ranges. Excellent accuracy as well. There are less expensive bullets that will of course do just fine.

One thing I like about the various 375's is that they're not absurdly over-powered for "normal" game. It's just a real nice size bullet for most hunting chores. I intend to use mine again sometime in the not too distant future for wild hogs. Not that it's at all necessary. Just because I haven't hunted with it in quite a while.

Regards, Guy

 

[JD338]

Guy,
I was asked to bring my 375 to a TX hog hunt next April. Just because....

JD338

 

[RL338]

One thing I like about the various 375's is that they're not absurdly over-powered for "normal" game. It's just a real nice size bullet for most hunting chores.

So true.

 

[salmonchaser]

I just loaded a box of 260 Accubonds /Rl 15 yesterday. A solid performer.