.375 Ruger

[Omega]

]
I've never felt that way. I didn't get a .375 and hope to "learn to like it"

And see I was surprised by how offensive the recoil was and the fact I didn't like shooting the rifle.

No, I don't rattle off rounds like I do with a 223, but I see the .375 as a do all hunting rifle, and treat it as such. I shoot it every time I hit the range, from the bench and more often, form feild positions.

Honestly, if it was a few pounds lighter, I'd take it on my sheep hunt this year, since there are so many bloody grizz in this area...

I don't see the 375 as that versatile for NA not on the same level as the 30/06, 300 or 338 for instance. But that is a personal view point.
Since I shot all three of my grizzly with the .308 win I don't let worry about bears dictate my cartridge selection. Heck my favorite sheep gun is a 25/06!

 

[MTM]

Interesting thread, I guess everyone has their own recoil tolerance. It depends on what you're used to shooting. If you shoot big guns regularly the 375s are relative pussy cats. My lightweight 338 kicks as much as my H&H (8lbs 15 ozs) If you want to take advantage of the extra performance of the bigger bullets you'll have to practice, its the only way to go. One great little tip, P.A.S.T. Put one of these little things on and you can shoot any gun. I got one when I started fooling with the 460 WBY. Makes practice and load developement a piece of cake. With full 30-06 trajectory the H&H/Ruger are very versatile all around guns. Just put them in something you can be comfortable packing.

 

[Boomer]

The bottom line is that powerful rifles, regardless of caliber are not the place to learn marksmanship. Once the basics have been mastered and you develop a desire to shoot powerful rifles, it will become apparent that it is an acquired taste. A .375 H&H or Ruger is a good starting point, because most folks who have some shooting experience can adapt to them quickly. I for one find a hot loaded .45/70 Marlin difficult, while others do not. I found the Ruger #1 very manageable with hot .416 Rigby loads (350 gr X's at 2800) and was actually surprised that many disliked the combination. That different stock designs appeal to different people certainly indicates that body shape, if not size, plays a role, and the rifle must fit. My personal criteria when choosing a powerful rifle cartridge is that I must be able to shoot the rifle well from all field positions, otherwise it's too much for me. That doesn't mean you have to be able to fire 50 rounds prone in a single sitting, but you should be able to manage 3. One of the wonderful advantages of handloading is that you can load any cartridge to your comfort limit.

I've heard also that small guys can handle heavy recoil better than big guys. I'm not all that big, but I'm not all that small either, kinda medium sized I guess 6'3" and 225. I think anyone who is physically capable of playing contact sports would enjoy shooting a powerful rifle. There is nothing to fear, it's just recoil, and within limits can be pretty much ignored. Once you've reached your limit, take a break before shooting again. What's not to like?

 

[Omega]

rifles, it will become apparent that it is an acquired taste.

Yeah, I was told the same thing about cigars, caviar and scotch. I didn't figure I should have to work that hard to enjoy something.

That doesn't mean you have to be able to fire 50 rounds prone in a single sitting, but you should be able to manage 3.

OK I can agree with you on that - anyone can shoot something three times. For me the bar is a little higher and I like at least 20 rounds per sitting, but each to his own.

One of the wonderful advantages of handloading is that you can load any cartridge to your comfort limit.

This statement has never made any sense to me. A loaded down .375 is no longer the performance that you expect from a 375.

I think anyone who is physically capable of playing contact sports would enjoy shooting a powerful rifle.

You might think that. I help a lot of people set up rifles, load for a bunch more and help with sighting in and trouble shooting on a private range. Easily half the people are maxed out on recoil at the 30/06, 1 in 10 can shoot a 338 mag well. Size, shape or condition has noting to with it. They all want to shoot the 375 and the 416 just to say they did. The worst are the ones who claim recoil doesnt make them flinch but a dummy round slipped into the mix usually leaves them red faced.
The most durable shooter I've had out was a scrawny little 12 year old boy.

 

[Boomer]

Omega, I'm going to try real hard here not to be insulting, but its going to be a challenge.

Why would anyone want to fire 20 rounds of .375 from prone without taking a break between groups? I don't get that, no matter how slowly I read it. The type of shooting one does with a powerful rifle does not require shooting long strings. If you want to set a person up for failure, insisting they shoot round after round until the gun hurts them will do it. I can shoot 5 rounds prone, and for me that is distinctly enough. After I walk down to the target, mark my hits, I'm ready for another 5. I can keep that up all day, but so can anyone who is conditioned to shooting a powerful rifle.

As for down loading the .375, I doubt if much is lost in terminal performance on a big game animal by sending a 300 gr bullet out at 2200 fps instead of 2500. If the shooter is confident at that power level all is good.

I'm curious to know if you think that tough 12 year old will become recoil sensitive because he puts on 50 pounds of beef as he grows older. I tend to doubt it. Probably the reason he shoots well is because no one ever told him about recoil, so it didn't matter to him. On the other hand, he might not do so well as an adult from a position that does not let him move with the recoil, say like prone.

 

[Noel]

Omega, I'm going to try real hard here not to be insulting, but its going to be a challenge.

Why would anyone want to fire 20 rounds of .375 from prone without taking a break between groups? I don't get that, no matter how slowly I read it. The type of shooting one does with a powerful rifle does not require shooting long strings. If you want to set a person up for failure, insisting they shoot round after round until the gun hurts them will do it. I can shoot 5 rounds prone, and for me that is distinctly enough. After I walk down to the target, mark my hits, I'm ready for another 5. I can keep that up all day, but so can anyone who is conditioned to shooting a powerful rifle.

As for down loading the .375, I doubt if much is lost in terminal performance on a big game animal by sending a 300 gr bullet out at 2200 fps instead of 2500. If the shooter is confident at that power level all is good.

I'm curious to know if you think that tough 12 year old will become recoil sensitive because he puts on 50 pounds of beef as he grows older. I tend to doubt it. Probably the reason he shoots well is because no one ever told him about recoil, so it didn't matter to him. On the other hand, he might not do so well as an adult from a position that does not let him move with the recoil, say like prone.

This still haunts me to this day. Go back to when I was 13, I want to start hunting but have no one to mentor me withthe shooting part........pick up an old Milsurp 30-06 and a couple boxes of Winchester 180gr silvertips and proceed to beat the crap out of myself thinking it will make me stronger.
All it got me was a lovely case of the flinches, off the bench and it has occured when hunting too when I have too much time to take a shot.

I'd say take it easy, it's not a race.

 

[Curt]

Has anyone tried the new .375 Ruger, how does it shoot and how bad does it hurt?

My answer to your question is yes, I have tried the new .375 Ruger, it shoots great, accurate and powerful. It does not hurt..... me (much).
I was unsure if a .375 would be for me, as I am a little recoil sensitive, but it is just fine. Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Gatehouse]

]

I don't see the 375 as that versatile for NA not on the same level as the 30/06, 300 or 338 for instance. But that is a personal view point.

I'd say for hunting bigger animals, like moose, grizzly and elk, the 375 Ruger is as good an option as a 30-06. The trajectory of the 375 Ruger with many bullets is similar to a 30-06, and you have way more power. Anything over about a .270 is more than you need for deer, but of course a .375 will work, as will a 300 or 338.

Since I shot all three of my grizzly with the .308 win I don't let worry about bears dictate my cartridge selection. Heck my favorite sheep gun is a 25/06

Normally, I don't either, as I have seen grizzly killed nicely with smaller cartridges, but they were not in a bear attack situation, and really your brain is more important around bears than firepower.....But as I said, this area is full of grizz, and if a 30-06 trajectory will work on a sheep hunt (it will) then the 375 wouldn't be a bad option. As it is, I'll tale my favorite rifle, my 300WSM, which should be more than capable of getting a ram and keeping me safe.:

 

[MTM]

Just for some persective, I'm shooting my H&H and 378 tomorow. The 378 load is an even 40 grs. more powder with the same weight bullet. Recoil tolerance is what you're used to.

 

[Omega]

Omega, I'm going to try real hard here not to be insulting, but its going to be a challenge.

Why would anyone want to fire 20 rounds of .375 from prone without taking a break between groups? I don't get that, no matter how slowly I read it.

Ahh, this was a misunderstanding on my part, I thought you meant 3 rounds per trip to the range. My bad.

I'm curious to know if you think that tough 12 year old will become recoil sensitive because he puts on 50 pounds of beef as he grows older. I tend to doubt it. Probably the reason he shoots well is because no one ever told him about recoil, so it didn't matter to him. On the other hand, he might not do so well as an adult from a position that does not let him move with the recoil, say like prone.

Believe me he knew all about recoil as his father was yammering on and on about it.
The lad shot from kneeling and landed on his rear with every shot. Never bothered him at all, will it in the future? I don't know. I know I don't like recoil much as time goes on.

 

[Camp Cook]

"WOW" some people sure are internet Kings which is the only King I have read about in this thread by the way...

Yeah Boomer I understand your thinking...

This issue of smaller people being able to handle higher levels of recoil is an urban myth and anyone that believes it really doesn't have much shooting experience.

Smaller shoulders moving allows the body to absorb recoil better than a heavier shoulder is a load of crap it is all to do with conditioning (practicing shooting, building recoil tolerance) and the physical condition of the shooter nothing more nothing less.

No I am not going to put my shoulder up to a tree and fire a rifle to prove that it will hurt or not any moron knows that any action creates an opposite and equal reaction...

If you give a little guy say 5'6" 120lbs or a big guy at 300lbs 6'6" the same big rifle/cartridge heavy recoiling combo and neither has ever shot much both are going to have major issues with the recoil.

Ok I'll answer the question that was originally asked in this thread.

The 375 Ruger is an awesome rifle/cartridge combo that recoils almost exactly the same as a 375 H&H which is also an awesome rifle/cartridge combo, neither have the versatility of the 375 RUM the true undisputed King of the 375's which can be loaded up to fantastic velocities or down to the same performance levels as the Ruger/H&H...

For some the recoil will be more than they can handle and for others they will think "what was I worrying about"...

If I was a newbie to heavier recoiling rifle/cartridge combos I would settle for the Ruger or the H&H both are excellent rounds that will get the job done out to 250 yards which is further than most people should ever shoot anyways.

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread if you have issues with heavier recoil get yourself a Kick-Eez Magnum recoil pad made from Sorbathane these are the best recoil absorbing pads on the market today and will distribute, spread out the recoil so that even the hardest recoil rifle/cartridge combo's become extremely managable.

 

[Republic of Alberta]

The 375 Ruger is so good I would pay up to $3499.99 for one...but not a penny more.

 

[Demonical]

I couldn't remember what the Lott recoil was and I needed the info for myself, plus there's numbers for some calibers that I have, just for comparison. The numbers reflect the actual reloading data and rifle weights of my guns.

The .375H&H info is from www.ReloadersNewst.com. There are no loads published for the .375Ruger.

I use the Recoil Calculator at www.RealGuns.com.

The numbers don't lie; the recoil from a .30-06 to a .375H&H (and the Ruger would be pretty much identical) is double.

Even though the .45-70 has a lower number, then say the .375H&H, the recoil characteristics of the short Marlin M-1895 Guide Gun, create a "felt recoil" that is a lot worse, at least off the bench.
I will add that the Marlin M-1895XLR .45-70 is a way nicer rifle to shoot because of the longer barrel; 24" vs 18.5. I own one of each...
Also note that it is virtually the same as the .338WM, but when you compare the stock designs and recoil characteristics of the Marlin lever action versus any good bolt action, the .338WM is much nicer to shoot.




Some Recoil Numbers to Compare

Recoil: .30-06
Bullet Weight - grains -------- 165
Muzzle Velocity - ft./sec. ---- 2850
Powder Weight - grains ------58grs IMR-4350
Gun Weight - lbs. -----------7.5

Recoil = 23 ft.-lbs.
-----------------------------------------------------

Recoil: .338WM
Bullet Weight - grains -------- 225
Muzzle Velocity - ft./sec. ---- 2800
Powder Weight - grains ------67grs IMR-4350
Gun Weight - lbs. -----------7.5

Recoil = 38 ft.-lbs.
------------------------------------------------------

Recoil: .375H&H From www.ReloadersNest.com
Bullet Weight - grains -------- 300
Muzzle Velocity - ft./sec. ---- 2615
Powder Weight - grains ------73grs RL-15
Gun Weight - lbs. -----------8.5 (I assume that rifle weight)

Recoil = 47 ft.-lbs.
------------------------------------------------------

Recoil: .45-70Gov't
Bullet Weight - grains -------- 400
Muzzle Velocity - ft./sec. ---- 1695
Powder Weight - grains ------52.5grs H4895
Gun Weight - lbs. -----------7.5

Recoil = 36 ft.-lbs.
------------------------------------------------------

Recoil: .458 Lott
Bullet Weight - grains -------- 500
Muzzle Velocity - ft./sec. ---- 2235
Powder Weight - grains ------75.5grs H335
Gun Weight - lbs. -----------9.5

Recoil = 72 ft.-lbs.
------------------------------------------------------


It is my opinion that anybody that lives in and hunts in grizzly country would be well served with any of these cartridges: .35Whelen, .338WM, .375H&H(Ruger).

I have checked out the .375Rugers at various online sales outlets. I think it is a helluva bargain.

And I repeat this every time I think about it; the .375Ruger is going to make a lot of excellent vintage H&H's available over the next decade or so. And I think that is a very good thing!

 

[Westicle]

camp cook, sure your 375RUM may think it is better then the"KING" but cut the barrel downto 20-21" and then see how it performs

the ruger 375 is the "KING".... bar none

 

[Barracuda]

well there seems to be a new found interest in the .375 which i think is very good. should be plenty of bullet offering and such but Hornady have discontinued the 270g spitz which was a really good bullet and i just loaded up my last of them . Whats everyone else use?

 

[todbartell]

the bad thing about the pretend king 375 Ultra is you have to carry 2 extra guns to be able to handle all situations encountered by the 375 ruger! the real king maybe 4 guns if you want to include the 378 Wby.

the real point of the KING is to provide H&H ballistics from a shorter, lighter, cheaper rifle. long live the true king, the Ruger 375!

 

[Gatehouse]

The 375 RUM is withering and dying...NO, there is nothing wrong with the cartridge- But it doesn't have the same attributes of the 375 Ruger that make it so desirable, and it's not as fast as the 378 WBY (if you want to measure a cartridges worth via velocity)

The H&H has always been the King of the .375's but if the H&H was introduced today, alongside the Ruger, people would laugh at the H&H.

The 300WSM has taken over the 300 magnum arena (just as the 300WBY did to the 300H&H and the 300WM did to the 300WBY and the Ruger will do the same.

Other than nostalgia, the H&H has no advantages over the Ruger, and the RUM is only slightly faster- and the 378 beats the RUM in that capacity...The 375 RUM is a "also ran"

 

[Boomer]

The 375 RUM is withering and dying...NO, there is nothing wrong with the cartridge- But it doesn't have the same attributes of the 375 Ruger that make it so desirable, and it's not as fast as the 378 WBY (if you want to measure a cartridges worth via velocity)

The H&H has always been the King of the .375's but if the H&H was introduced today, alongside the Ruger, people would laugh at the H&H.

The 300WSM has taken over the 300 magnum arena (just as the 300WBY did to the 300H&H and the 300WM did to the 300WBY and the Ruger will do the same.

Other than nostalgia, the H&H has no advantages over the Ruger, and the RUM is only slightly faster- and the 378 beats the RUM in that capacity...The 375 RUM is a "also ran"

Hey, I thought we were pals!!??

 

[Boomer]

camp cook, sure your 375RUM may think it is better then the"KING" but cut the barrel downto 20-21" and then see how it performs

the ruger 375 is the "KING".... bar none

My 20" Ultra will drive a 300 gr TSX up to 2700 (measured), but I don't load it that hot. Normally loaded the 300 gr velocity is a shade over 2600.

 

[Boomer]

Looks to me like an Ultra can be as handy as the Ruger . . .