375 ruger for all around caliber?

James1873

James1873

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So I'm looking for one rifle for all my big game hunting. Came across a 375 ruger, is this a good caliber for closer range hunting? I'm more of a 200 yards or less kind of shooter. And I prefer open sights.

If not what's a better caliber?
 
If you have to ask, that would lead me to believe you're not familiar with it and it probably has quite a bit more power than you need and may be comfortable shooting.
If you're looking for an all around cartridge, start with a 30-06 or one of the 300 magnums.
 
Paw had one he bought second hand.
It was a stainless savage model 116 Alaskan "brush gun"
with a 20" bbl.
It weighed in at slightly over 7 1/2 pounds.
He had a 3-9x33 leupold compact scope on it and it shot well.
He succumbed to a very good offer from a guy from Kamloops bc he knew that fell in love with it.
He liked the gun but it wasn't practical to Ontario hunting applications in his opinion.
He's used the same Ruger m77 MKII all-weather zytel stocked .300 Win Mag for years.
 
I have a Mossberg Patriot Safari with iron sights in 375 Ruger. Yes, it will easily kill anything in North America. It's light, recoil is 2-3X 30-06 level. If you don't reload you will pay $70+/box of ammo and cannot load lower recoil ammo. Recoil is stiffer than the heavier CZ375H&H at the same power level.
 
I have almost exclusively hunted with my .375 Ruger for the past 3 years. It hits HARD , on both ends. I really don't need it, as you can only kill something dead. You can't kill something deader. BUT, the gun fits me like a glove, and I love the confidence it inspires when I pull the trigger. The trajectory is similar to the .30-06 so it can still reach out there and when you connect, even at 400 yards, a 300gr TSX sure puts the hurt on stuff.
 
sgt.rock said:
I have almost exclusively hunted with my .375 Ruger for the past 3 years. It hits HARD , on both ends. I really don't need it, as you can only kill something dead. You can't kill something deader. BUT, the gun fits me like a glove, and I love the confidence it inspires when I pull the trigger. The trajectory is similar to the .30-06 so it can still reach out there and when you connect, even at 400 yards, a 300gr TSX sure puts the hurt on stuff.
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Great assessment....... in spite of what some people say, a bigger magnum isn't going to turn a deer into hamburger...... I have shot whitetail with .243 up to .375 H&H...... surprisingly, the fast moving 243 at short range caused the most "damage"
 
I love my Ruger Alaskan and have been carrying it on my moose hunts ever since I got it and so far I've shot two bull with a total of two shots. That being said I would consider it way too much for an "all around" rifle. But don't let that stop you. :)
 
Mossberg Patriot is coming soon to my door as well in a .375 Ruger, Cannot wait to try it out. I'll take some pictures of the rifle and rounds when it comes in!
 
One thing to consider..........the type of scope you put on it. I (sheepishly admit) getting scope-eye due to a crappy uphill shooting angle at a wolf. My .375 currently wears a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36. The ocular bell is all metal. That will bring blood every time if you don't hold on well. I am tempted to switch out the scope to either My Bushnell 4200 or the Minox 2-10x40 as they both have that SUPER HANDY rubber ring on the end of the eye bell. Just that little rubber ring has save me 2 times from acquiring more "chick loving scars" on my face.
I think having a choice between Aluminum or rubber coming at your face quickly is a asset. Just a small thing that most people don't think about until they have spent the money on a scope that is less appropriate.
Also, if you pop for one of the 7lb rifles on the market, you will surely feel ALL the glorious recoil it can give. One of the reasons I really love my .375 is that is comes in a damn heavy gun, that although is a workout to carry long distances, it makes it feel like a .30-06 to shoot. I think my scoped/ammo loaded rifle weight is at least 10.5 lbs and maybe more. If you get a light gun, be prepared to drill out holes in the stock to fill with lead shot to help, or get a mercury recoil-reducer. If you buy this gun and develop a flinch , and you will if it is a hard recoiling light weight gun, your hunting results will suck. I wouldn't be using mine much if it was a lightweight.
 
It's a fantastic all around cartridge. In fact, it's probably THE best all around cartridge ever designed for big game hunting at regular distances ( 0-400 yards)

But it's also more power than most NA big game hunters need. If I wanted a 200-300 yard rifle I would probably look at a 338 Federal, as it basically is a 30-06 in a short action, and you can load it with a heavy thumper bullet or a lighter, flatter shooter. However, if I wasn't a handloader, I would probably just get a .308- assuming I wasn't hunting grizzlies.
 
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The 375 ruger is my only rifle now. I picked up an early ruger African in left hand earlier this year. Killed a black bear with it in may deader than dead, 250 gr gmx was less than impressive but that's a whole other story. Since then I have bedded and floated the rifle and switched to a 250 GR swift a frame. CCI 250 primer and 74 grains of varget give 2790fps in the 23 inch barrel. Recoil off the bench is lively but not intolerable. I've shot 60 off the bench in two afternoons at the range. Pick up a 308 after that and it feels like a 22. Most impressive is the accuracy. Second third and fourth shots land merely half an inch to the right in virtually the same hole at 100 yards. I have mine topped with a bushnell 6500 in 1.75x8 with six inches of eye relief. Eliminates the risk of a scoped eye and allows you to relax a bit and take the recoil.
 
I agree with the very generous eye relief requirements on a light 375. If you have any the budget go to the top end of the 1-8or10X optic offerings.
 
Ok thanks guys. I was looking at a ruger m77 in 375 ruger. He's asking $1000 which I think is a good price?

I don't handload but it would be just for hunting only, so a box of ammo a year is probably all of use.

Then again maybe it's not really worth the recoil, maybe I'll stick to 30-30 or 45-70
 
James1873 said:
Ok thanks guys. I was looking at a ruger m77 in 375 ruger. He's asking $1000 which I think is a good price?

I don't handload but it would be just for hunting only, so a box of ammo a year is probably all of use.

Then again maybe it's not really worth the recoil, maybe I'll stick to 30-30 or 45-70
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If the guy is local, ask him if you can fire a round or two out of it first, then you'll know.
 
Very fair price, and if you can handle a 45-70 you can handle the NEW KING. If you don't like it, you can sell it for the same price, so I would go for it and see if you like it.
 
I've been using a Ruger Alaskan 375 Ruger extensively for a few years, I think it's great. Truly awesome for moose. I have a VX III 4.5-14x40 on it that I really like. And it comes in handy for counting points at dark out here in BC
 
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