Any 375 Ruger shooters here?

[gerry]

Here is a picture of mine, it shoots very well (when I do my part :wink: ) with 80 gr Ramshot Big Game and a 260 Gr AccuBond. I may try the new 250 gr Barnes TTSX coming out this year but would love to try the 375 cal E Tip when Nosler starts bringing those out.

Would love to see your guns and hear what loads are working for you.

 

[DrMike]

It is a great cartridge. The only one I shot was scary accurate. Two loads in particular worked very well (78.5 grains IMR 4007 SSC, F215 and Barnes 270 grain TSX, and the other 79.0 grains of H380, F215 and 270 grain Barnes TSX). Fellow insisted on using Barnes, but they did shoot.

 

[gerry]

I should have added in my first post I have yet to hear of any of the 20" Alaskan models that did not shoot well. I never thought I would own such a gun but it was such an attractive package I couldn't resist.

 

[DrMike]

These are handsome rifles, to be certain. You'll have to let us know how yours shoots. I would anticipate that you'll be very pleased with the rifle.

 

[jmad_81]

The 260 AB is one heck of a bullet! These came out of a bull elk @ 250 yards. First shot was down hill and quartering away. Hit him just in front of the ham, and was under the hide on the far side shoulder. Second shot was right through both front shoulders and found under the hide on the far side. The second shot was not really needed, but I wanted him on the ground as we were hunting steep country and he was already a ways down the hill. Both these bullets retained about 70%, and had VERY LITTLE meat damage. Believe at the time I was using 74 gr IMR 4895 and 215 primers.

This Buck was my first blood on this rifle. Taken at about 170 yards with the same load as the above elk.

This spike was taken with the 260 AB over 81.5 gr Big Game, and Fed 215s. Was walking through the woods cow calling trying to find my buddy, and after a cow call I heard a bunch of crashing and hooves on the ground. I looked up and a lone spike was running right at me! at 30 yards I let him have it, it was almost self defence! Bullet entered right in front of the near shoulder and exited the center of the off shoulder. I've never seen anything crash to the ground like that!

Your is a very nice looking rig! I love the stock. What do yo have on it for optics?

I just got some pillars ordered for mine so I can get it pillar bedded, and hopefully fix the crack in the stock. My goal is to get it back up and running for bear season this spring. I would love to smack a good black bear with it.

I have shot the 270 TSX a few times, but not enough to get a good load with them. I'm really happy with the 260 AB. So far IMR 4895, and Big game have been the best powders for my gun.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Bought a new 375 Ruger Alaskan back in `08. My primary go to powders for it are RL15 and H4350. From its 20" barrel, a 225 gr Horn SP @ 3016 fps and a 270 gr Horn SP @ 2808 fps (MAX loading) were realized. With my more accurate handloadings, moas and less.

For more info on this excellent cartridge visit............"gunblast.com"......Then click ..."archives".... and then speed scroll down to 2/6/07 and read Jeff Quinn`s article on the 375 Ruger African. Also included are about 20 chronographed loadings, some of which I have worked up and duplicated, which included that 2808 fps result.

The shorter, handier and highly manuverable Alaskan, with the same and more power than a longer barreled 375 H&H, is certainly a plus. Not a pretty rifle, but is very functional and is an extremely durable go anywhere rifle.

 

[SJB358]

I don't have one yet, but it is on the wish list for sure!

Awesome pics of your rifle Gerry and great pics of the elk and deer Jake! Awesome cartridge! Scotty

 

[woods]

I made a 375 Ruger out of a Winchester 264 win mag. I has a 24" Pac-Nor 3 groove barrel, Knoxx recoil reducing stock and a Bushnell 6500 Elite 1.25x8x32

Some pics (originally it had a 6x42 IOR on it)

I wanted to use RL17 from the start so I started low and worked up (please if you use this data start low and work up also):

Bullet Weight Powder Charge OAL Velocity

TSX 270 RL17 74.0 3.285 2552
TSX 270 RL17 74.5 3.285 2564
TSX 270 RL17 75.0 3.285 2578
TSX 270 RL17 75.5 3.285 2564
TSX 270 RL17 76.0 3.285 2572

TSX 270 RL17 77.0 3.285 2573
TSX 270 RL17 78.0 3.285 2621
TSX 270 RL17 79.0 3.285 2643

AB 260 RL17 80.0 3.350 2760
AB 260 RL17 81.0 3.350 2798
AB 260 RL17 82.0 3.350 2849
TSX 270 RL17 80.0 3.285 2692
TSX 270 RL17 81.0 3.285 2714
TSX 270 RL17 82.0 3.285 2753

AB 260 RL17 82.5 3.350 2859
AB 260 RL17 83.0 3.350 2872
AB 260 RL17 83.5 3.350 2896
AB 260 RL17 84.0 3.350 2916

AB 260 RL17 84.5 3.350 2938
AB 260 RL17 85.0 3.350 2941
AB 260 RL17 85.5 3.350 2956
AB 260 RL17 86.0 3.350 2978

AB 260 RL17 86.5 3.350 2996

TSX 270 RL17 82.5 3.285 2772
TSX 270 RL17 83.0 3.285 2766
TSX 270 RL17 83.5 3.285 2830
TSX 270 RL17 84.0 3.285 2941


This is a pic of the case heads of the 86.5 gr load showing no pressure signs and they have been reloaded so they still hold primers

Decided that enough was enough when I hit 3000 fps with the 260 gr AccuBond and recoil was becoming substantial :shock: so I am loading the 270 gr TSX with 84 grains and it is shooting good

Switched to the 6500 scope because it has a 6" eye relief and takes all the worry away about my forehead getting in the way when the scope comes back :roll: but I had to get a picatinny rail in order to get it far enough forward

But with the weight of the #5 contour barrel and the Knoxx stock it is a pleasure to shoot (for a 375 that is) about like an unbraked 338 win mag.

 

[SJB358]

Great looking rifle Woods, and some really good load work! Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Jake,

It is always fascinating to see bullet performance; and pictures of the successful conclusion of a hunt are always fun and instructive.

Woods,

That is some fine shooting. Great looking rifle, also. Did you do the conversion yourself?

 

[woods]

A gunsmith in Salt Lake did the work. I got the stock and mounted the scope. Did make all the decisions on the rifle, standard reamer.

A 375 Ruger is an excellent choice for conversion from any win mag

 

[DrMike]

I do love those Winchesters! I've got two on the go right now (338 Federal and 9.3 X 64). Barrels are in. I just need to get going.

 

[jmad_81]

I'm going to have to try some of the RL-17. Woods, that is some impressive shooting!

Thanks Mike & Scotty. I love shooting things with it, but don't care to much for intensive load development. I buddy lets me borrow his lead sled so that makes it way nicer. Off the sticks its not near as bad. That buck I shot from the prone position, didn't feel a thing!

 

[JD338]

Nice!

JD338

 

[gerry]

Jmad_81,
Nice animals I hope to go for elk and mulies soon myself, your African model sure is a handsome gun, your scope a VX III 2-5-8 X36? I have an older Leupold Vari x II 2-7x33 on my gun, it works well like Leupolds usually do. My good hunting buddy uses the 260 gr AccuBond as well and has recovered 2 bullets, one from a good black bear and one from a mountain goat, the bullets performed well. I put one into a grizz that a friend shot to make sure it didn't get up since it was almost dark and we didn't want to chase it into the bush, thats it for me so far. Hopefully I can get a tag this year and find a nice grizzly of my own. I have done a bit of work with the 270 gr TSX still working on that load though. The 80 gr Big Game/260 gr AB load clocks in the 2750-2775 fps range, at 81 gr the groups started to open up

Woods,
That is a very nice gun you have there you must be quite happy with it. Your Busnell scope intrigues me, a good match for a 375 Ruger.

Nice guns and loads so far hopefully we see some more :grin:

 

[jmad_81]

Yes it is topped with a VX-III 2.5-8x36. Great scope, My wife bought it for me for my birthday a few years ago. Great wife as well!