The 375 Ruger

[bcsteve]

Heads up to those considering this calibre. I understand the .375 Ruger was intended as an improvement over the .375 H&H. Certainly the numbers were bumped and the action shortened but considerably over a century's worth of data suggests no improvement was needed. The velocity was made higher where there was zero need for higher velocity and in fact, there are plenty of situations where an increase in velocity is not an improvement but a detriment. With the higher velocity came more kick. Maybe there are those who believe more recoil in a .375 offers an improvement, but i bet there ain't many. I'm thinking now of Kevin Robertson and a crew of other pros taking a .375 Ruger Hawkeye rifle through its paces in Africa. The verdict from these pros who shoot heavy rifles all year long? An absolutely ghastly rifle to shoot, so much recoil in the underweight gun with its thin buttpad they gave up the test. By which point the stock tang was cracked and they were running into problems with bullets in the bottom of the magazine having been jarred back in the cases, compressing loads. That said, there are plenty out there whom you will never convince that more isn't always better. We live in an age of reduced seasons and degraded hunting opportunities in most places. Hunters need something to do in their downtime and so one of the things we do is invent all sorts of new gear that there was never a need for.

The .375 Ruger has a 5% greater case capacity over the .375 H&H, so about 100-150fps difference. It's not a fire breathing dragon.

 

[Gatehouse]

Heads up to those considering this calibre. I understand the .375 Ruger was intended as an improvement over the .375 H&H.

It *IS* an improvement over the obsolete H&H.

It has a modern case design with more case capacity and will fit into virtually any standard (30-06) length action. Using a 20" barrel the Ruger will equal or better velocities from a H&H using a 24" barrel.

That's what Ruger/Hornady set out to do when they designed the cartridge and they achieved their goals and more.

 

[thewoodsrunner]

The .375 Ruger has a 5% greater case capacity over the .375 H&H, so about 100-150fps difference. It's not a fire breathing dragon.

No. That is a common misconception on this continent where anything over a 30 calibre is concerned. Safe to say most shooters don't "get" the .375's on this side of the pond. Some do.

It *IS* an improvement over the obsolete H&H.

Obsolete def: things that are antiquated, disused, or no longer functional. Tell that to all the vastly greater percentage of people using the H&H today as compared to the Ruger, finding it perfectly functional. Your statement couldn't be more literally false.

Hey, if you like the Ruger, use it. I wouldn't allow to blur reality.

 

[TimberWolf_3063]

I shot my first bear with a 180gr Accu-Tip in a .308 Norma Magnum, at a range of about 80 yds.
As I pulled the trigger, he turned to run and turned my perfect broadside shot into a in-the-left-ass-cheek-smash-the-liver-out-the-right-ribcage hot mess. Bullet went right through but didn't accomplish much...would have been a killshot if we'd waited, but he ran off.
Afterwards, we had the fun job of tracking a wounded bear in dense, boggy brush. And yes, their last thought on this Earth is "I'm taking you with me".
I looked for something more authorative specifically for bear. Mossberg Patriot in .375 is a beautiful gun and surprisingly soft-shooting. And, if I ever want to go to Africa, I can bring it.
My 2 cents, YMMV.

 

[Gatehouse]

Obsolete def: things that are antiquated, disused, or no longer functional. Tell that to all the vastly greater percentage of people using the H&H today as compared to the Ruger, finding it perfectly functional. Your statement couldn't be more literally false.

By your very own definition (antiquated) the H&H is indeed obsolete. It uses an antiquated case design. Length, belt and taper are all antiquated.

Just because a cartridge is obsolete, doesn't make it useless. I like some obsolete cartridges as well., like .303 British and .45 Colt. Some people like to shoot flintlocks too. Other people like to drive obsolete cars from bygone eras and that's what makes them happy.

 

[bcsteve]

No. That is a common misconception on this continent where anything over a 30 calibre is concerned. Safe to say most shooters don't "get" the .375's on this side of the pond. Some do.

"No" what? and what is the misconception? I have owned, reloaded and hunted with a .375 Ruger for over a decade and shot three moose with it. What am I not getting?

My point was all the negative things you said about the Ruger can be said about the H&H. They have very similar ballistic and recoil.

 

[todbartell]

The .375 Ruger has a 5% greater case capacity over the .375 H&H, so about 100-150fps difference. It's not a fire breathing dragon.

6% on the brass I've measured for h2O capacity, which using the John Barness 4:1 rule, you'll see velocity increase 1% for every 4% more case size (loaded to equal PSI) - so that makes the difference about 1.5% more velocity (approx 40 fps)

Quickload predictions for each when loaded to SAAMI length OAL @ 62,000 PSI with a 300gr Nosler Accubond, average velocity of the top six performing powders for velocity :

24" 375 HH ~ 2567 fps
20" 375 Ruger ~ 2525 fps
24" 375 Ruger ~ 2625 fps

375 Ruger does have more bore travel than the H&H due to the shorter cartridge length, so that helps some small gains

 

[MTM]

I think the gun matters as well. Don’t want a .375 Ruger in a Safari Express or number one Ruger. In a short barrelled carbine, perfect.

 

[bcsteve]

6% on the brass I've measured for h2O capacity, which using the John Barness 4:1 rule, you'll see velocity increase 1% for every 4% more case size (loaded to equal PSI) - so that makes the difference about 1.5% more velocity (approx 40 fps)

Quickload predictions for each when loaded to SAAMI length OAL @ 62,000 PSI with a 300gr Nosler Accubond, average velocity of the top six performing powders for velocity :

24" 375 HH ~ 2567 fps
20" 375 Ruger ~ 2525 fps
24" 375 Ruger ~ 2625 fps

375 Ruger does have more bore travel than the H&H due to the shorter cartridge length, so that helps some small gains

Exactly!

 

[Denver Steve]

6% on the brass I've measured for h2O capacity, which using the John Barness 4:1 rule, you'll see velocity increase 1% for every 4% more case size (loaded to equal PSI) - so that makes the difference about 1.5% more velocity (approx 40 fps)

Quickload predictions for each when loaded to SAAMI length OAL @ 62,000 PSI with a 300gr Nosler Accubond, average velocity of the top six performing powders for velocity :

24" 375 HH ~ 2567 fps
20" 375 Ruger ~ 2525 fps
24" 375 Ruger ~ 2625 fps

375 Ruger does have more bore travel than the H&H due to the shorter cartridge length, so that helps some small gains

Set "rules" like that don't exactly work. It has no account for the case design. The old slow tapered case and shoulder on the H&H compared to a fairly straight walled case with a 30° shoulder changes the powder burn characteristics, efficiency of burn and basically every aspect of internal ballistics. Which account to more than a simple 1% generic 4:1 rule. Comparing the same case design to the same case design, or scaling up a case, it holds more true. But not when you are comparing two things so vastly different in design.

The 375Ruger gets quite a bit more velocity than the H&H across all grain weights, and does it with a 3-4"~ shorter barrel. When comparing the two with the same length barrels, the difference is quite a bit.

I can easily get way more than 2525fps with a 300 grain bullet with my 23" 375 Ruger, with a range of different powders. I run the 350's at 2500fps with a 23" barrel. And the 375 Ruger only has .26" more barrel travel when comparing over all length, and the same length barrels.

Buy a 375 Ruger, and buy a 375H&H, and load a variety of bullets from the lightest to the heaviest with a bunch of different powders. Developing loads for each, and shooting hundred of rounds downrange, comparing recoil, velocity, accuracy potential, and quite literally everything between the two. Then you will realize there is a difference, and the 375 Ruger beats it on all accounts. Including how easy it is to load for and how inherently accurate it is. Just stating things others have said, or write about, is a whole different thing that doing the things yourself.

If you do have both, with how you are talking about them, I believe you do not, then that's your experience and I would like to hear more about it. But just stating irrelevant things and not knowing first hand, and arguing with people with the actual cartridges and their experiences with them is completely useless, as it holds no value.

 

[todbartell]

Must be the short fat powder column that burns more efficiently, or maybe the word is optimized

*edit, I see you did mention efficiency of burn!

Different diameter, but incredibly the 300 WSM & 300 H&H Magnum run neck and neck for velocity with roughly the same h2O capacity of their respective casings