Range Day with the new Improved .375 Ruger Alaskan

Gatehouse

Gatehouse

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The other day I was pleased to find my .375 Ruger in arrive in the mail. I bought a McSwirly stock for it and after about 5 months, it showed up. Without shooting it, I sent it directly to Guntech, who did a great bedding job on it for me...

Here it is with the 1.5-5x20 Vari X III installed (pre bedding)

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I had a free day today, so I packed up some gear and went to the range. It was pretty darn windy, and gusting frequently, but I was already there, so what the hell...:)

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I popped the 2.5-8x36 Vari X III off my Ruger 7mm Rem Mag, and popped it on the 375 for now.

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Primary task today was to work up a load for my upcoming grizzly bear hunt, using the 270gr TSX bullet, but first I had to rezero the rifle, so I bore sighted it then got it on paper at 25 then 100....

I started a load work up, starting at 79gr of H4350 and going to 83.5gr

(Top left group)

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Once again, working up a load with TSX bullets was a pleasure. 6 different powder charges went into a group just over 1.5" at 100 yards.

I figured I would try a group with the max reccomended charge of 83.5gr, which gave me a .60 group with an average velocity of 2730fps.

Hunting load was done;)

Next I wanted a practice load, so I chose the 270gr Hornady Interlock

Working up from 78gr H 4350 to 82.5, the group was opening up at 82.5 and so I backed down and took another shot with 81gr, which cut the first 81gr bullet hole, so I figured I was close enough there, too..

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I briefly thought about dicking around with it for better accuracy, but decided against it. All I am going to do with that load is shoot milk jugs and bang 8" gongs from 25 yards out to 400 yards with it, I don't care if they all land in the same hole.;)

I tried out the 260gr Accubond load that had shot so well when the Hogue Stock was installed, and it did pretty much a repeat performance of the original groups:

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I had some Hornady RN 300gr Bullets, but it was getting late and I'd ended up shooting about 45 rounds from the .375 so my shoulder was starting to ache a bit and I dont' even know what I'd use the RN for, anyway... I think they were left over from my previous .375 or maybe my buddys .375 I used to load for... :p

I hope to try out some 300gr Accubonds when they become available, I bet they shoot Cruise Misslies and would be great moose medicine out from close up to way out there..:cheers:
 
Looks great Clarke. I expect the grizzlies are in trouble!

A while back I had Dennis bed my Norma in the Legend when it arrived. Same thing, it shot as well as before. Guntech is good people and a fine smith!
 
Ok so am I understanding this correct:

You are going to hunt grizz with a 357 calibre (which is the same as handgun but a heavier bullet?)

if that is true it seems odd that I am told by locals you can not get a carry permit for anything smaller than 44 mag.....which would seem to me would not matter if it was in rifle or not....is this just a preference....just trying to gain a bearing...
 
recoveringunut said:
Ok so am I understanding this correct:

You are going to hunt grizz with a 357 calibre (which is the same as handgun but a heavier bullet?)

if that is true it seems odd that I am told by locals you can not get a carry permit for anything smaller than 44 mag.....which would seem to me would not matter if it was in rifle or not....is this just a preference....just trying to gain a bearing...
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.375 ruger alaskan ain't no .357 mag. im sure he will be fine if he brings his dad.
 
A loading bench at the range!!! I always thought that would be the way to go. Nice work and nice looking rifle. I like the sand color with the stainless barrel. Do you think the stock and bedding job added to the overall accuracy of the rifle? It was plenty accurate enough before the upgrade.
 
RickF said:
Looks great Clarke. I expect the grizzlies are in trouble!

A while back I had Dennis bed my Norma in the Legend when it arrived. Same thing, it shot as well as before. Guntech is good people and a fine smith!
Click to expand...

The bedding and new stock sure seemed to improve the 270 TSX accuracy- I didn't try that bullet out much previously, but I did look at one target form before, and it was about 1.5". No horrible, not as good.:)


todbartell said:
will the 270 tsx perform on a 250 yard lung shot?
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I hope to get much closer, as half the fun in hunting dangerous game is getting within 100-150 yards or closer, but I dont' see why it wouldn't perform at 250 yards?

Curt said:
A loading bench at the range!!! I always thought that would be the way to go. Nice work and nice looking rifle. I like the sand color with the stainless barrel. Do you think the stock and bedding job added to the overall accuracy of the rifle? It was plenty accurate enough before the upgrade.
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It increased the accuracy with the TSX I think. About the same with the AB. I didn't buy the McSwirly for accuracy though, I bought it for ergonomics.

Curt said:
What is your COAL? When I shoot the 84 grains H4350 I routinely get 2712 FPS. This is a well compressed load.
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I never measured the COAL. When I start working up a load, I seat the bullets so they will have a bit of clearance in the magazine box, and then adjust seating depth if I need to. These bullets arent' any where near "kissing" the lands. The powder is compressed, for sure.

Here is a picture.

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Gatehouse said:
I hope to get much closer, as half the fun in hunting dangerous game is getting within 100-150 yards or closer, but I dont' see why it wouldn't perform at 250 yards?
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just curious since 1899 had expansion issues when he tested them last year. :) maybe they're designed for cape buffalo and rhino?
 
225gr TSX performed on my moose this past fall, at just over 250yds...sack-o-potatoes he was...Although I did hit him a little high...

I would shoot any bear with my load, and it doesn't have the energy that the 270gr .375 does...
 
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todbartell said:
just curious since 1899 had expansion issues when he tested them last year. :) maybe they're designed for cape buffalo and rhino?
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I started a thread on AR about the 270gr TSX. I am sure lots of guys have used it and the 300 in Africa on smaller game than buffalo. We will see what they say.



chuck nelson said:
Gate, what are the colour percentages in that stock?

Thanks.
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90& tan 10% black. If I did it again I might have gone 85% tan, 10% black, 5% white
 
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