Converting a Ruger African in .375 ruger to a .416 Ruger

Seamac

Seamac

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Hi This is my first time starting a thread and I was hoping to get some advice on coverting my .375 Ruger African to a .416 Ruger. I know that changing the barrel is not an issue for a gunsmith but what else would need to be done to the action ( Feed ramps etc)? also I have heard that the reason ruger has not offered a factory version is the stocks keep breaking, so I was wondering if using a McMillian stock would solve this problem. I already know that Ruger offers the Alaskan in this caliber But I prefer the handling of the African as I find it fits me better, hence the reason my Alaskan is in the EE. Any advice or insight would be appreciated, thanks.
 
My suggestion would be to talk to one of our contributing gunsmiths as they would be very helpful.
Please keep us posted as I want to wildcat my 375 Alaskan... :)
 
Properly cross bolted and bedded, you'd be fine even in the walnut stock. If you're hunting for a .416" blank I have two Shilens sitting here in a reasonable hunting contour looking for a home (for a double I'm building, that grew to .475). The iron sights could be unsoldered off the African barrel and used again provided they're not doing something silly on the African like epoxy'ing. No changes will be needed in the action, as I understand it, the .375 and .416 Rugers both are identical minus the bullet diameter (somebody will correct me if wrong).
 
There shouldn't be anything complicated about it at all.

The barrel would simply have to be swapped, as a .416 bullet would obviously not fit down a .375 diameter barrel. So a new barrel is needed, and likely not cheap.

Bolt face is the same, and I believe they use the same actions, not sure on mag length though.

In the end though it is likely that it would be simpler and cheaper to just sell your .375, and buy the .416. The barrel will probably cost $3-400 dollars, and then labour to install it.
 
Thanks Ardent, send me a PM about the barrels please. I heard the walnut stocks were cracking at the wrist with the .416 thats why I was thinking about changing the stock out.
 
Mlehtovaara, I don't want an alaskan as I already have one in 375 and I don't like the fit of it and I prefer the 23" barrel as I said in my original post is why the Alaskan is on the EE. Thanks for the other info though.
 
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Seamac said:
Thanks what are the names of these gunsmiths? I was alsowondering if the Laminated stock that came with the 23" Bbl Alaskan would work?
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Bill Leeper who posts on here as Leeper and Guntech both do excellent work .

With regard to your African, I had one for a while and one thing that confused me was the fact that Ruger chose to use only one cross-bolt in the stock on the African when they chose to use two in the lighter-recoiling Ruger Gunsite Scout in 308. I'm certain in the Scout it was to strengthen the stock because of the detachable mag, but why not do it in the African ??
Just my thoughts...
 
Kevan said:
Bill Leeper who posts on here as Leeper and Guntech both do excellent work .

With regard to your African, I had one for a while and one thing that confused me was the fact that Ruger chose to use only one cross-bolt in the stock on the African when they chose to use two in the lighter-recoiling Ruger Gunsite Scout in 308. I'm certain in the Scout it was to strengthen the stock because of the detachable mag, but why not do it in the African ??
Just my thoughts...
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Thanks for the names Kevan, this is looking more and more like a interesting project.
I spoke with clay at Prophet river this morning and found out where I can get some other parts and he confirmed that it should just require swpping the barrel and then deciding what stock to use.
He also confirmed that during testing that Ruger had problems with the standard stocks cracking at the wrist, so I think a laminated stock may be the way to go.
 
Seamac said:
He also confirmed that during testing that Ruger had problems with the standard stocks cracking at the wrist, so I think a laminated stock may be the way to go.
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I wonder why that is, given many much heavier recoiling chamberings can be found in wood stocks. Is it some design flaw in the Hawkeye action that focuses recoil in a small area?

What about reboring and rechambering the barrel? IIRC Bevan King used to do that...or was it Ron Smith?
 
1899 said:
I wonder why that is, given many much heavier recoiling chamberings can be found in wood stocks. Is it some design flaw in the Hawkeye action that focuses recoil in a small area?

What about reboring and rechambering the barrel? IIRC Bevan King used to do that...or was it Ron Smith?
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I wanted to ask the Gunsmiths about reboring and rechambering as in is there enough metal there and how will that affect the balance and handling. As for the stock I googled 416 conversion for the Ruger and another guy was converting a left handed african and I believe he had his rebored, it was also mentioned that properly bedding the action and an extra cross bolt would allow the factory stock to handle the recoil. Unfortunately there was no follow up on if that worked or not though.
 
PM sent Seamac regarding a .416 blank. Rebores are great, if you can find somebody to do them anymore, for guns with integral sight ribs, tapered octagon barrels, or other contours hard to replicate. For a standard barrel like the African's however, it's going to be a lot less hassle to start with a contoured blank. guntech has done quite a few rifles for me, he's my favourite smith and does fantastic work.
 
Ardent said:
PM sent Seamac regarding a .416 blank. Rebores are great, if you can find somebody to do them anymore, for guns with integral sight ribs, tapered octagon barrels, or other contours hard to replicate. For a standard barrel like the African's however, it's going to be a lot less hassle to start with a contoured blank. guntech has done quite a few rifles for me, he's my favourite smith and does fantastic work.
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Thanks I am leaaning that way as it seems to be the best plan. can you PM me Gun tech's contact info?
 
I had one a ruger mk11 done a few years, with a 22" barrel,I used a boyds laminate and it held up fine when beeded.good luck
 
BigUglyMan said:
I'm looking forward to see how it turns out for you. Now change your sig line. I beat you to it by about 8 years. :D
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Hi Big Ugly Man, are you using that new math because I signed up here in May 2010 which would indicate that you beat me here by 6 years not 8. As for the Sig line 13th Warrior is one of my favorite movies so the sig line stays, sorry.
 
This is just a suggestion... but you might be further ahead just buying another Ruger African in .416 and selling your .375 to cover part of the cost... here is a link to a Ruger African .416 for $909;


http://ca.wholesalesports.com/storefront/firearms/bolt-action-rifles/m77-hawkeye-dangerous-game/prod240435.html
 
hoytcanon said:
This is just a suggestion... but you might be further ahead just buying another Ruger African in .416 and selling your .375 to cover part of the cost... here is a link to a Ruger African .416 for $909;


http://ca.wholesalesports.com/store...es/m77-hawkeye-dangerous-game/prod240435.html
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What's with the bold everywhere?

According to Ruger's website they don't make such a beast:

http://www.ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeAfrican/models.html

I suspect some Wholesale employee put the option there, though it likely doesn't exist.
 
Ardent is correct Ruger doesn't make an African in 416 which is why I'm looking to convert mine. The employees at Wholesale who do the website make a lot of mistakes as I have discovered over the years. this is further evedenced by the matte stainless finish in the ad, it is an alaskan i suspect that someone got confused with.
 
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