Reloading 375 Ruger - questions?

[Mad_Mikee]

I've done a quick search and have already read all the 375 Ruger reloading posts.

I just aquired a 375 Ruger alaskan and I'm just starting on my first set of loads for it.

I picked up a box of 300gr. Sierra Gamekings but had a real problem getting them seated correctly.
The rifle seems to have a short chamber and I found that I'd have to seat the bullets really deep in the cases for the bolt to even close on the loaded cartridges.

Im guessing I'll have to go with either a lighter bullet or one with a bit of a different shape.

I'd like to stay with a heavier bullet as I already shoot a 225gr. out of my 338wm and will be shoooting a 250gr. out of my 35 Whelen.

Has anyone tried loading the 300gr. Hornady Interlocks in a Ruger Alaskan?

I've also been looking at the 250gr. Sierra Gamekings and the 270gr. Hornady Interlocks as possible alternatives.

I'd like to try and stay away from the Nosler Accubombs (at least for now).

 

[dan belisle]

Try the 270's. Should work well in your Ruger. - dan

 

[wapitiwhacker]

The throat is fairly short, but the magazine length is even shorter. To have my rounds feed out of the magazine they have to be seated at least .006 shorter than the distance to the lands. Being a hunting rifle, I seat bullets to function out of the magazine. Using either 260 ABs or 300 ILs this length seats the base of the bullet well below the shoulder of the case. In a perfect world the magazine and the throat would be at least 1/8" longer.

 

[bam bam]

I am using the 300 grain Hornady boatail loaded to 3.310 " in the same gun with no difficulty. Also used the 300 tsx as well with no issues in the Ruger 375

 

[Boomer]

I've done some work with the .375 Ruger. While powders with 4350 burning rate perform well, the short cartridge length and deep seating depth of normal weight bullets favors high density powders.

The Hornady 270 gr factory load contains 81.5 grs of ball powder

With a 300 gr TSX backed by 79.5 grs of Win 760 produces 2500 fps
.........................................81.0 grs H-100V produces 2522 fps.

A small game load can be made with 16 grs of Unique under a 270-300 gr bullet, jacketed or cast for 1250 fps with 300 gr cast.

The 270 gr Hornady makes 2662 fps with 83 grs of H-100V.

We decided on 85.0 grs of H-100V under a 260 gr AB for 2700 as a go to load for this rifle which provided the combination of trajectory, accuracy and recoil the owner was looking for.

 

[Mad_Mikee]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll check at WSS this weekend to see what they have in stock for bullets.

The throat is fairly short, but the magazine length is even shorter. To have my rounds feed out of the magazine they have to be seated at least .006 shorter than the distance to the lands. Being a hunting rifle, I seat bullets to function out of the magazine. Using either 260 ABs or 300 ILs this length seats the base of the bullet well below the shoulder of the case. In a perfect world the magazine and the throat would be at least 1/8" longer.

That's kind of funny. I actually started with an OAL of about 1/8 shorter than the mag box. Unfortunately the bolt wouldnt even come close to closing on it.
I was pretty much sure the mag box would be my limiting factor but to my suprise it wasnt. Maybe it'll be a different story with a lighter or slightly different shapped bullet.

 

[bunny]

I use the Hornady 300 RN in my Alaskan with anywhere from 72 to 80 grain of H414 every load I try shoots under 1.5" 75 grains at about 2500 fps does 3/4" groups very consistently.

 

[iiijbird]

The gameking 300 is the most accurate bullet i have found so far in my alasken. Behind a stiff load of reloader 15. sub moa. Not my first choice but sure shoots good........ trying to get the 260 to shoot similar but haven't found the sweet load yet.
Curtis.

 

[wapitiwhacker]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll check at WSS this weekend to see what they have in stock for bullets.



That's kind of funny. I actually started with an OAL of about 1/8 shorter than the mag box. Unfortunately the bolt wouldnt even come close to closing on it.
I was pretty much sure the mag box would be my limiting factor but to my suprise it wasnt. Maybe it'll be a different story with a lighter or slightly different shapped bullet.

That is strange, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. I would just seat the bullet back to where it works with your action and chamber and then work up a load. I seat my 260 ABs down to the cannelure with a light crimp. That puts a good chunk of bullet down below the shoulder, and I have no problems with my loads at all. No one seems to be having any problems loading enough powder in to get desired results. Is there any published data anywhere for the SMK?

 

[todbartell]

my Alaskan has a 'normal' length throat, I load 260gr Accubonds & 250gr TTSX to just fit in the mag box and they chamber fine. H4350 is my powder of choice so far

 

[BigUglyMan]

Mikee, have you tried chambering any factory ammo in it? Seems to me that if the 300 Grain DGS/DGX chamber that a spitzer style bullet should with ease. What OAL are you seating to?

 

[Mad_Mikee]

I havent tried any factory ammo. I just went straight to handloads.

I picked up a box of 270gr. Hornadys and they seem to seat in the cases nicely. Definately better than the 300gr. Gamekings I started with.

I guess the 300gr Gameking is a bit too long. It seats so far into the cartridge that I cant see how I'd even come close to getting the right amount of powder in it.

Last night I loaded up 10 rounds of the 270gr. Hornadys with 81gr. of H4350 as a starting point. Im not overly concerned how it shoots as long as I can get my scope sighted in with them.

As far as OAL, I honestly havent checked. I first start but seating the bullet in far enough that it'll fix in the mag box. Then I tested to see if it would chamber in the rifle (using an empty cartridge with no primer in it). I continue to seat the bullet deeper until I can close the bolt on it. Then I seat two or three more bullets into empty cartridges just to make sure Im at a good starting point.

90% of my rifle collection consists of Remintons where I have to play a lot with bullet seating depth. With my other Ruger rifles, (lucky or whatever you want to call it), seating depth has never been an issue.