Bloodied my .375 Ruger

[bcsteve]

We left for our annual moose hunt on October 18th, it gave us a few days to find a good camp spot and a bit of scouting before the opening on the 20th. I ended up walking the same trail I had found last year, lots of moose signs and several swamps and ponds. This year lots of blow downs across the trail prevented ATV's from driving too far in it so, on foot, I had the whole place to myself.

On the third day, I took the path of the main trail that led to one of the ponds. As I approached the pond I saw this small bull in the water on the far side. We saw each other at the same time. He started trotting away to the shore and in the tall grass. I had the VX3 already on 2.5 and quickly found the bull in the crosshair as I took a knee. Gave him a bit of a lead and fired. At the shot I saw him drop like a bag of hammer, never to budge again.

Upon closer examination, it looks like I gave him more lead than required at only about 75 yds and the 250gr TTSX hit him in the neck which explained the reaction at the shot. Straight through, obviously, and a smashed neck.

Not a huge test for the mighty .375 Ruger but I'll take it anyway. This short compact rifle was a pleasure to carry and felt lighter than it actually was.

 

[jables]

Congrats on the successful hunt and getting the 375 a little dirty. Gotta love BC moose hunting!

 

[savagelh]

great job. I love moose hunting. No pics of the rifle?

 

[bcsteve]

great job. I love moose hunting. No pics of the rifle?

I've shown my rifle a few times but sure, there it is again:

Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger;
McMillan Mark II Classic in GAP camo;
Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 in Ruger low rings;
Bedded and action smoothed by Guntech;
Barnes 250TTSX pushed by 83.5gr of H4350 @ 2750fps

 

[Eagleye]

Great work bcsteve! Sounds like you are pleased with your 375R.

You will relive your hunt every time moosemeat is on the menu, lol. Regards, Dave

 

[Drewspeed]

Congrats, looks like I need to move to BC soon.

 

[Dench]

Very nice.

 

[c-fbmi]

75 yd spine shot.......HHMMMMM........could'a done that with a 30-30, don't need a wannabe imposter elephant rifle for them shots...........

 

[bcsteve]

75 yd spine shot.......HHMMMMM........could'a done that with a 30-30, don't need an elephant rifle for them shots...........

I know! That was my first thought as well! A .30-30 or a .243 with ammo from Walmart would have done the same job.

 

[Boomer]

When we leave home we can't be sure what challenge we might face. While a lessor cartridge might have performed admirably, your .375 provides you with the confidence that you're prepared for any situation that fate decides to toss your way. Better to have a tad too much, than it is to have a tad too little.

 

[65cutlass]

Congrats on the yummy moose. I also agree with Boomer.

 

[c-fbmi]

AH Boomer, stop being so pragmatic...............he'd have got the same moose the same way with a 30-30 in his hands.............

 

[Bigfoot 870]

Well done!!!......................ah, maybe medium rare

 

[kyle700]

Nice animal, he should be tasty. Always nice to make that first kill with a new gun.

 

[bcsteve]

Anybody else get to use their .375 Ruger this season?

 

[Boomer]

AH Boomer, stop being so pragmatic...............he'd have got the same moose the same way with a 30-30 in his hands.............

But then how could I ?

 

[306coyoteclub]

Nice rifle..I like the stock

 

[regulate34]

Anybody else get to use their .375 Ruger this season?

I am running the same setup as you but with the rubber houge stock.

300g Sierra's over IMR4350

1 buck 2 black bear and a coyote this year

sure puts em down.

congrats on the moose and wicked rifle

 

[Suther]

and a coyote this year

sure puts em down.

LOL

That is all.

 

[Magellann]

Congrats on a nice moose.