.375 Ruger???

[taylorce1]

I'm sending off a 7mm Rem Mag to be rebarreled into a .375 Ruger and was just wanting opinions on this cartridge and the rifles you guys are using it in. This will be my first .375 bore rifle, and I really wanted a .375 H&H but didn't want to spend the money to have my action modified for the longer cartridge. I'm going with a #4 coutour barrel 24" long on a M70 action, the barrel is a few inches longer than the Ruger Alaskan, and an inch longer than the African model.

What can I expect? Besides extra recoil! :grin:

 

[Big Squeeze]

If you scroll down in this section to the topic "M1500 Howa .375 Ruger" a topic started by me on Jan. 3rd, that will tell you my story!!..........The .375 Ruger is a honey of a cartridge!! Even Craig Boddington, a well known writer and 375 H&H lover, in one of his articles, admitted that the .375 Ruger is a better cartridge!! He grudgingly admitted it, but nevertheless did so!!!............Using 270 gr. Hornady factory ammo, my chrono results averaged 2706 fps. But that was from my 20" (soon to be sold to my neighbor) Ruger Alaskan!! Three shot groupings averaged 1.20".......You can expect around a 15 to 30 fps. increase for every inch of increased barrel length. So! 4" longer should get you 60 to 120 fps. more than my 20" did. But only your chrony will know for sure!!..........Basically, the 375 Ruger does for that caliber what the WSM`s do for the 270, 30 and 325 calibers; shorten the actions, maintain and in some cases increase the ballistic performance, while making available shorter, lighter and more compact rifles!.....Because the 375 Ruger has more powder capacity and given the same barrel length, the .375 Ruger ballistically exceeds the 375 H&H, but equals the 24" 375 H&H from a 20" tube such as my Alaskan and soon to acquire Howa M1500..............Recoil from the bench is certainly stout but not vicious. Mounted on my Alaskan now is the 3x9 Elite 4200 with its 3.3" of eye relief that I switch back & forth with another rifle. I had no problems, no facial re-arranging or a black eye!................With some reloading experimentation, I don`t see any reason why consistent groupings of 1" or less cannot be achieved with the right powder/bullet combo that is best for an individual rifle using the .375 Ruger!!.............It is simply, an outstanding cartridge!!

 

[taylorce1]

Recoil from the bench is certainly stout but not vicious. Mounted on my Alaskan now is the 3x9 Elite 4200 with its 3.3" of eye relief that I switch back & forth with another rifle. I had no problems, no facial re-arranging or a black eye!

I haven't decided what scope to go with yet but it will probably get a Leupold. I've been thinking a 1.5-5 or 1.75-6 VX-III, I have the latter on my .35 Whelen and love it. I like the eye box on the Leupold's a lot. I'm having the factory sights transferd from the Win barrel to the new one so I can retain the factory irons, unless the front and rear sight are too short to be used with the scope bases, then I'll have to go with something new.

 

[Big Squeeze]

I will definetly go with a lower powered variable when the Howa comes in! Although it can be used, a 3x9 on a .375 is too much magnification either on the low end or the high end, especially for any hunting purposes!............A nice 1.25x or 1.5x to 5x variable with a good FOV would best suite the .375 Ruger! Not only did I get the .375 Ruger for an `09 or `10 African trip, but it also makes for the ideal big bison, moose and big bear cartridge too!! :wink:

 

[AKBear]

I was thinking about rebarreling to .375 Ruger with my Winchester Classic Stainless 30.06 as well. I really like the Ruger Alaskan in stainless but would prefer a 23" barrel - everything else is perfect on it! I like the added ballistics of the longer barrels.

With the Model 70's being manufactured once again beginning this summer, I would love to see Winchester make an Extreme Weather Stainless "Alaskan" version of their own in a .375 Ruger or even H&H, all with iron sights - A .338 Winchester Magnum version would be great too! :grin:

What is going to really kick of the .375 Ruger are other ammunition makers cranking out some variety. A factory loaded Nosler Partition, Accubonds, Barnes TSX, Bear Claw etc.....

I've got the caliber on my "wish list", it's just a matter of time to see what Winchester does with the new M70's and more importantly, who will make high performance ammo other than just Hornady for the new Ruger caliber.

I would opt for a Leupold 1.75x6 Vari III for the optics on a .375 Ruger.

For your rebarrel job, what barrel manufacture did you decide to go with?

 

[Big Squeeze]

AKBear!!!.................................The velocity difference between a 20" vs. a 23" barrel in a .375 Ruger would be about 45 to 90 fps., a very small percentage and would make no difference in the field or on any quarry!................Before you re-barrel your `06, consider the Howa M1500 in the .375 Ruger stainless 20" which will be available in June. MSRP for viewing on line only in the `08 Legacy Sports catalog, is about $739 or $749!..............You`ll probably spend close to that to re-barrel and re-bed your `06 anyway! That way you`ll have 2 rifles not just one!!.............Just a little thought! But! If you really need to have the 375 Ruger in the M70? Go for it!

 

[taylorce1]

AKBear,

Where in CO are you? Sent you a PM with the details on the barrel I went with.

 

[JD338]

Sounds like a nice rifle you are going to have made. The 375 Ruger is pretty impressive. The 260 gr and new 300 gr AB's should give you some range.
Not sure what you will be using the rifle for or the terrain you are hunting, nut the Leupold 1.75x6 should cover almost everything you would want to hunt.

JD338

 

[taylorce1]

Not sure what you will be using the rifle for or the terrain you are hunting, nut the Leupold 1.75x6 should cover almost everything you would want to hunt.

JD338

I'm not sure either, but I'll be prepared for most anything I guess. It will be a long time until I can afford a DG hunt in either AK or Africa. I'm really just doing this because I don't like my 7mm Mag. I'd probably been ahead to sell the rifle and just buy a Ruger, but I'm kind of attached to the rifle.

Here is a before picture, and hopefully some after pictures and range reports in 4-6 months.

 

[6ppcar]

What about the feed rails and magazine? will they work, something to consider.

 

[taylorce1]

What about the feed rails and magazine? will they work, something to consider.

Pretty much you can put the .375 Ruger in a the 7mm Rem action without any mods to the magazine and the feed rails. This is what the smith has told me unlike converting the standad length action for the 06 to the Ruger. That is the reason I decided to use this action, the orginal owner who gave me this rifle might be a little upset that it isn't a 7mm anymore if he finds out. He loves the 7mm Rem and thought I needed one but I could never warm up to this cartridge.

 

[Big Squeeze]

By the looks of your pic and if you wind up re-chambering that rifle in the 375 Ruger, no doubt it will sure be a pretty one!!!

 

[bullet]

I would have to agree with Big Squeeze on that being a very nice looking rifle and the 375 Ruger is going to be a great cartridge for what it was intended for if people will just try it. Of course if you hunters will use it and start getting results that will help sells. Add to that the fact that a major rifle as well as ammo company are pushing it with an affordable rifle and factory ammo is a plus.

 

[JD338]

and to add to bullet's comments,

there are a lot of bullet offerings from several manufactures. I think the 375 Ruger is going to be around for a long time.

JD338

 

[Big Squeeze]

+++++++.............IMO, not only will the 375 Ruger be around for a very long time, but I believe that other rifle manufacturers in the future will chamber for it as well. The Howa M1500 is a beginning example..............Is it June yet????? That`s when my M1500 comes in!!!

 

[taylorce1]

Well I hope it is a pretty one, never did care too much for ugly rifles. :grin: The rifle has already been shipped to the smith, he got the reamer in last Friday to do the job. Said I should be getting the rifle back in 12-16 weeks. I need to refinish the stock when it comes back as it has some honest hunting dings and if I really like the rifle next winter I'll send the stock off for a nice 22-24 lpi checkering job.

 

[taylorce1]

Just a quick update found out today my rifle should be shipped back to me by the end of the week. Not too bad of a turn around a little better than two weeks on the whole project. He quoted me 12-16 weeks but I'm not going to complain.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Just a quick update found out today my rifle should be shipped back to me by the end of the week. Not too bad of a turn around a little better than two weeks on the whole project. He quoted me 12-16 weeks but I'm not going to complain.

....................................................................It looks like you`ll have your new .375 Ruger (rechambered) before I`ll get my Howa M1500

 

[FOTIS]

Just a quick update found out today my rifle should be shipped back to me by the end of the week. Not too bad of a turn around a little better than two weeks on the whole project. He quoted me 12-16 weeks but I'm not going to complain.

....................................................................It looks like you`ll have your new .375 Ruger (rechambered) before I`ll get my Howa M1500

Awesome....give us a report

 

[taylorce1]

Just a quick update found out today my rifle should be shipped back to me by the end of the week. Not too bad of a turn around a little better than two weeks on the whole project. He quoted me 12-16 weeks but I'm not going to complain.

....................................................................It looks like you`ll have your new .375 Ruger (rechambered) before I`ll get my Howa M1500

Awesome....give us a report

Not much to report yet, but the rifle shipped yesterday back to me. I expect I'll have it on Friday, but I won't get to shoot it until the following weekend. I have to "Play Army" this weekend with my Reserve unit, so no fun at the range for me.

I'll probably have to buy some factory ammunition to try as finding new or even once fired brass has been difficult. I figure I'll sight it in at 50 yds with the iron sights first as I wait for the new scope to come in. I've decided to go with a 1.75-6 VX-III on this rifle, I have it on my Whelen and love that scope. I thought about the 1.5-5 power but I just like the looks of the other scope better.

I at least hope to post some fresh gun porn this weekend.