Howa .375 Rugers

WhelanLad

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Hey lads.

id suppose you guys have Howas over there? and if so you will know they put out a .375 Ruger

(link here - https://www.usedguns.com.au/Product.aspx?p=86064 )

My questions are broad, from the performance of the cartridge to the downloaded compatibilities and to which it would be 'like'..


I have questions also regarding the Felt Recoil of such Banger round, The Howas arnt really known to be light and with aid of a decelerator pad , would it be considered similar to the .375HH in Woodstock?

If one was to download a Big Banger .375 Ruger, what is it likely to be compared with in performance wise?

will the 375 HH Recoil less because of Case design?

it appears the Howa hasn't a great long barrel either?

I have read the long 375 king thread but I didn't get much of what I was chasing out of it.


is one better off with a 338win mag or ever popular 300 win mag? even so not loaded Hot, on the min side of reload data spec.


Hope that makes some sense.

cheers
WL
 
I had the first Howa 1500 that I could find and it is an awesome rifle.
It is now my Son's toy as we made a swap and he is taking it on an Elk hunt in a day or so.
Quality of workmanship is excellent, as is accuracy from the 20" barrel.
It has a Hogue stock similar to the original Ruger Alaskan and maybe I am an exception but I like it.

As for reduced recoil loads, I have never tried to make any.
I have owned three rifles chambered in 375 Ruger, two Rugers and the Howa,but all were bought with the intention of using the full power ability of the Ruger cartridge and yes it does have more than the H&H.

In closing I'll just say if you want a very nice and smooth functioning rifle chambered in 375 Ruger, you need look no further than the Howa 1500.
I would buy it again in a heartbeat...probably will.
 
To be honest downloading any 375 is something I have never tried.
I just acquired another 375 H&H to go along with my first and swapped away my 375 Ruger/ Howa to my Son.
Without knowing any details I would have to think that downloading a 375 would relegate it to the performance level of a 35 Whelen or a 9.3 X 62...would it not ?
 
Sounds like you are recoil sensitive. If so, do what I did to my Savage 116 in 375 Ruger, put a muzzle break on it. Feels like a 308. And I am loading near max levels. Great gun for bear. Just need to see one when I have both the gun and my tag.
 
You bet it is !
Actually a sleeper for the money, well put together, well balanced and superbly accurate, whats not to like ?

Kevan could you describe the differences between the Weatherby and Howa in the 375's please.

I am unlikely to find both in a store.
I recently visited both cabellas and WWS in Nanaimo, neither had a Howa.

I like the idea of a 20" barrel on the 375 ruger Howa


thanks
 
My Sako 85 Kodiak .375 H&H Magnum has a 21-1/4" (540 mm) barrel. I get reduced muzzle speeds due to the short barrel length - about 100 fps less compared to a standard 24" barrel. I load 300gr Woodleigh RN or protected point bullets at a mild 2300 fps and don't find the recoil to be unpleasant at all. :p

The Hornady Reloading manual lists 300gr bullet maximum loads for the .375 at 2500 fps from a 24" barrel Remington 700.

For comparision, I have a custom Remington 798 .350 Remington Magnum with a 24" barrel that I load with 310gr bullets at 2500 fps, or 250gr bullets at 2750 fps. Also a Ruger No.1 9.3x74R that I load with 285gr bullets at 2450 fps. The Ruger No.1 recoil is a bit sharper because of its relative light weight.

SAKO%2085%20-%201_zpsoheagjqy.jpg

Sako 85 Kodiak with Leupold VX-2 Ultralight 3-9x33mm scope
 
Sounds like you are recoil sensitive. If so, do what I did to my Savage 116 in 375 Ruger, put a muzzle break on it. Feels like a 308. And I am loading near max levels. Great gun for bear. Just need to see one when I have both the gun and my tag.

Are you referring to me concerning recoil sensitivity, if so you have the wrong guy big time.
First off it's muzzle brake, not break and only a pansy would do that to a 375.
But hey, if it works for you then have at 'er.
 
Are you referring to me concerning recoil sensitivity, if so you have the wrong guy big time.
First off it's muzzle brake, not break and only a pansy would do that to a 375.
But hey, if it works for you then have at 'er.

Kevan, I think he was referring to the OP.

I'm with you on the muzzle brake subject.
 
Kevan could you describe the differences between the Weatherby and Howa in the 375's please.

I am unlikely to find both in a store.
I recently visited both cabellas and WWS in Nanaimo, neither had a Howa.

I like the idea of a 20" barrel on the 375 ruger Howa


thanks

I did not see either one at a store, a chap I met at our local range was busy working with a brand new Vanguard 375 preparing for a hunting trip and my 375 Ruger / Howa was a special order out of Prophet River that Clay brought in for me.
The Vanguard 375 is or was very little different visually than any other model, finish and quality remain the same and it has a longer thinner barrel than the shorter Howa.
The Howa wears their version of the Hogue stock, a sort of rubbery feel to it but I liked it because it seems like its durable as heck.
I think the finish on the Howa is called that Cerakote ? Maybe I'm wrong.
If I had to choose between the two, for me it would be the Howa because it feels like a handier rifle to pack and between my Son and I load testing it the thing is a tackdriver, thats why he took it away from me !
However, if all I could get my hands on were the Vanguard I would walk away with it and not look back.
The chap I saw at the range was making groups with initial load work that any 375 shooter would be proud of.... Seriously..
 
Kevan could you describe the differences between the Weatherby and Howa in the 375's please.

I am unlikely to find both in a store.
I recently visited both cabellas and WWS in Nanaimo, neither had a Howa.

I like the idea of a 20" barrel on the 375 ruger Howa


































thanks


I hope this comes through, the rifle against the back of the chair is the 375 Ruger, one in the foreground is an Alpine in 6.5 Creedmoor, my Son now has both.
 
I did not see either one at a store, a chap I met at our local range was busy working with a brand new Vanguard 375 preparing for a hunting trip and my 375 Ruger / Howa was a special order out of Prophet River that Clay brought in for me.
The Vanguard 375 is or was very little different visually than any other model, finish and quality remain the same and it has a longer thinner barrel than the shorter Howa.
The Howa wears their version of the Hogue stock, a sort of rubbery feel to it but I liked it because it seems like its durable as heck.
I think the finish on the Howa is called that Cerakote ? Maybe I'm wrong.
If I had to choose between the two, for me it would be the Howa because it feels like a handier rifle to pack and between my Son and I load testing it the thing is a tackdriver, thats why he took it away from me !
However, if all I could get my hands on were the Vanguard I would walk away with it and not look back.
The chap I saw at the range was making groups with initial load work that any 375 shooter would be proud of.... Seriously..

Does the Hogue stock sound and feel solid compared to other factory synthetic stocks?
Looks like a real decent recoil pad too.
How is the bedding?

thanks for the photos

thanks...
 
Last edited:
Does the Hogue stock sound and feel solid compared to other factory synthetic stocks?
Looks like a real decent recoil pad too.
How is the bedding?

thanks for the photos

thanks...

Sorry about being too generous with the pictures.
The stock seems more solid to me and it has its own plate that is between action and stock.
Lots of recoil pad and the stock itself feels chunkier especially in the forearm but as I said some may not like it, I did.
And as you can see the barrel itself has a thicker contour since it is shorter..
 
Are you referring to me concerning recoil sensitivity, if so you have the wrong guy big time.
First off it's muzzle brake, not break and only a pansy would do that to a 375.
But hey, if it works for you then have at 'er.


Id imagine he is talking to the OP mate.... that's me.

an he's right

WL
 
I bet a heavy .338 wm would suit you well Whelenlad

250's at the book minimum would be right up your 35 whelen loving alley.
 
Don't you already have a .35 Whelen? Although I shouldn't talk, I have a custom stainless .35 Whelen but I've been using my .375 Ruger Alaskan on my last two moose. :)
 
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