Back story: A few of my hunting friends are heading to Africa this spring. I really wanted to join, but a baby on the way and a new house this last summer means I can't go. However, I do plan on going the next time around for plains game and, if circumstances allow it, cape buffalo.
So I've been passively looking at rifles for the purpose. First thought was the CZ 550, but after using a friend’s in both .375 H&H and .416 Rigby they just feel gigantic on me. I'm 6' and about 200 lbs with a medium frame. I'd say I'm a pretty average sized shooter and that CZ felt huge. LOP seemed longer than the stated 13.75" (I prefer 13.25" anyways) and the rifle felt chunky, long (why do you need a 25" barrel on a .375?) and heavy. The weight is welcome in a .416 and up, but a medium bore really doesn't require a 9 lb+ rifle to mitigate recoil, it's just not that bad.
So I fondled a Model 70 Safari, which felt much more refined than the 550. Bolt throw felt better and the barrel is an inch shorter. LOP is still 13.75" which I find too long, but it felt like it fit better than the 550. Still, the rifle is 9lbs unscoped. That is great in a .458, but in a .375 that is going to pull double duty as a North American big game rifle it is just too heavy and in a medium bore the weight just isn't necessary for recoil reduction.
I then thought about a RSM in .375 H&H. I love Rugers and the RSM is a much nicer rifle IMO than the model 70 and the 550 (god I love the quarter rib, it just looks so right.) However, again it's a big, heavy rifle.
Another friend has a .416 Ruger in an Alaskan. I liked this rifle. Sights were great, the rifle was relatively light and compact. Recoil was stout, but not unmanageable. I'm a sucker for walnut and blued wood though, especially so on a rifle that will one day see Africa.
So I started to passively look for a Ruger African. Surfing CGN I found a post about Prairie Gun Traders and looked at their website and sure enough they had a Ruger African in .375 Ruger in stock for $899. Although it's tough buying when not being able to see it in person I figured I could always sell it if it didn't fit me so I pulled the trigger.
First impressions: I really think this rifle fills a niche. It's an African style rifle with Walnut, blued steel, great iron sights and a barrel mounted sling stud. However, it's not 9 + lbs, nor is it long, chunky or clumsy. It feels like any other rifle Ruger makes. Smooth bolt throw, slim in the stock (which I like) LOP at 13.5". Out of the box it just felt right to me. Certainly more so than the bigger competitors.
Brass and dies were found in stock at my local gun store. Granted my local gun store is Prophet River.
I loaded up some 270 grain Hornady SPs. I've only shot 5 rounds to test function. It performed great, obviously more rounds are needed to make sure it cycles flawlessly in all conditions with different bullet styles. Recoil is stout, certainly more so than an 11 lb scoped CZ 550 in .375 H&H. It is manageable and I still maintain that a 9lb rifle really is not needed until you get into the big bores. I'll have to update with a real range report.
Here it is beside my .300 H&H:
What is the CGN consensus on the Ruger African? Do you think it should be more heavily built like its competitors? This rifle with a scope, sling and 4 rounds will weigh in the same range as the other safari rifles bare.
So I've been passively looking at rifles for the purpose. First thought was the CZ 550, but after using a friend’s in both .375 H&H and .416 Rigby they just feel gigantic on me. I'm 6' and about 200 lbs with a medium frame. I'd say I'm a pretty average sized shooter and that CZ felt huge. LOP seemed longer than the stated 13.75" (I prefer 13.25" anyways) and the rifle felt chunky, long (why do you need a 25" barrel on a .375?) and heavy. The weight is welcome in a .416 and up, but a medium bore really doesn't require a 9 lb+ rifle to mitigate recoil, it's just not that bad.
So I fondled a Model 70 Safari, which felt much more refined than the 550. Bolt throw felt better and the barrel is an inch shorter. LOP is still 13.75" which I find too long, but it felt like it fit better than the 550. Still, the rifle is 9lbs unscoped. That is great in a .458, but in a .375 that is going to pull double duty as a North American big game rifle it is just too heavy and in a medium bore the weight just isn't necessary for recoil reduction.
I then thought about a RSM in .375 H&H. I love Rugers and the RSM is a much nicer rifle IMO than the model 70 and the 550 (god I love the quarter rib, it just looks so right.) However, again it's a big, heavy rifle.
Another friend has a .416 Ruger in an Alaskan. I liked this rifle. Sights were great, the rifle was relatively light and compact. Recoil was stout, but not unmanageable. I'm a sucker for walnut and blued wood though, especially so on a rifle that will one day see Africa.
So I started to passively look for a Ruger African. Surfing CGN I found a post about Prairie Gun Traders and looked at their website and sure enough they had a Ruger African in .375 Ruger in stock for $899. Although it's tough buying when not being able to see it in person I figured I could always sell it if it didn't fit me so I pulled the trigger.
First impressions: I really think this rifle fills a niche. It's an African style rifle with Walnut, blued steel, great iron sights and a barrel mounted sling stud. However, it's not 9 + lbs, nor is it long, chunky or clumsy. It feels like any other rifle Ruger makes. Smooth bolt throw, slim in the stock (which I like) LOP at 13.5". Out of the box it just felt right to me. Certainly more so than the bigger competitors.
Brass and dies were found in stock at my local gun store. Granted my local gun store is Prophet River.
I loaded up some 270 grain Hornady SPs. I've only shot 5 rounds to test function. It performed great, obviously more rounds are needed to make sure it cycles flawlessly in all conditions with different bullet styles. Recoil is stout, certainly more so than an 11 lb scoped CZ 550 in .375 H&H. It is manageable and I still maintain that a 9lb rifle really is not needed until you get into the big bores. I'll have to update with a real range report.
Here it is beside my .300 H&H:
What is the CGN consensus on the Ruger African? Do you think it should be more heavily built like its competitors? This rifle with a scope, sling and 4 rounds will weigh in the same range as the other safari rifles bare.
