- Location
- Kamloops, BC
The H&H has been deposed as king, when the Ruger took over. Long live the NEW KING!
Amen! I love how it looks in Alaskan, all blacked to.
The best 375?
- Thread starter Rumsun's Son
- Start date
Amen! I love how it looks in Alaskan, all blacked to.
Hardly redundant if you're gonna handload anyways. Yes/No?Factory ammo is for the weak, of course. But most wildcats these days are redundant, I'm afraid...
Having said that, I think your Ruger does offer some minor advantages over the one I have, providing the availability of brass and ammo. Factory ammo, cheaper dies, and nice factory rifles to mention a few.
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.375 Ruger BLAH, H&H BLAH, RUM BLAH. We have all been here before. You can't go wrong with any of them. All of them will push a 275 grain bullet faster than 2600 FPS. That equates to lots of energy of both ends of the rifle. Pick the one you like.
I've owned and hunted with most of them and I think the 375wby is the best all around in terms of velocity, recoil, and ease of reloading. The 375wby will shoot almost any powder and still produce reasonable accuracy with good velocity...Not so with the H&H.
I love the 375Ultra, but for some guys it may be too much of a good thing.
The 375 Ruger is an interesting concept, but doesn't offer anything more than the old H&H does. If someone wants a short rifle this may be it, though for short range work (why else are you buying a 20 inch barrel?) I'd choose the 416 Ruger over the 375.
I love the 375Ultra, but for some guys it may be too much of a good thing.
The 375 Ruger is an interesting concept, but doesn't offer anything more than the old H&H does. If someone wants a short rifle this may be it, though for short range work (why else are you buying a 20 inch barrel?) I'd choose the 416 Ruger over the 375.
I'd say it has the same recoil as a .375 H&H in a rifle the same weight, with the same stock design.
I haven't shot an African yet, but my Alaskan is accurate...Groups 260gr Accubonds and 270gr TSX under an inch at 100 yards, so it's not bad for a hunting rifle.
The recoil sounds daunting. What does the Alaskan kick like?
What does the Alaskan kick like?
I'd say it has the same recoil as a .375 H&H in a rifle the same weight, with the same stock design.
I haven't shot an African yet, but my Alaskan is accurate...Groups 260gr Accubonds and 270gr TSX under an inch at 100 yards, so it's not bad for a hunting rifle.
Last summer when comparing the 375 Alaskan alongside the 375 H&H, I'd say the Ruger had sharper and faster recoil.
Personally I didn't like the Hogue stock on the Ruger and having returned the Ruger to my Brother, I would like to see how it worked with a different handle. However he is making something else out of it because he likes his other 375s better....actually I think a 470 wildcat 0n the Ruger case.
Personally I didn't like the Hogue stock on the Ruger and having returned the Ruger to my Brother, I would like to see how it worked with a different handle. However he is making something else out of it because he likes his other 375s better....actually I think a 470 wildcat 0n the Ruger case.
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
Did he not also recieve the 2nd stock that Ruger sent out to all Purchasers(assuming he bought it new) because they were having defects with the original stocks.
Sorry, but I owned the rifle he is talking about and that bullet over 95.0 gr. RL22 went over 3100 fps chronographed numerous times as did a Ruger # 1 in the same chambering...actually the Ruger was somewhere around 3160 if I recall. The chronograph was accurate...a buddie's Oehler.....
Still say I don't believe it...
101grs RL22 - 260gr Accubonds only gives me 2940fps average velocity in my 26" barreled 375RUM unless your rifle has a 30" + barrel the smaller capacity of the 375H&H Improved will not produce those velocities.
103grs - RL 22 was an average of 3020fps and the top velocity I have ever recorded was 3054fps...
Just did a little checking on Noslers site they are now making 378 Weatherby ammo with 260gr Accubonds here is there little write up.
378 Weatherby
260gr AccuBond®
Part #37042
Velocity: 3100 fps
378 WBY 260gr Spitzer
Nope there is absolutely no way...
101grs RL22 - 260gr Accubonds only gives me 2940fps average velocity in my 26" barreled 375RUM unless your rifle has a 30" + barrel the smaller capacity of the 375H&H Improved will not produce those velocities.
103grs - RL 22 was an average of 3020fps and the top velocity I have ever recorded was 3054fps...
Just did a little checking on Noslers site they are now making 378 Weatherby ammo with 260gr Accubonds here is there little write up.
378 Weatherby
260gr AccuBond®
Part #37042
Velocity: 3100 fps
378 WBY 260gr Spitzer
Nope there is absolutely no way...
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- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
We should not make too much of recoil. Recoil from the .375 Ruger and the .375 H&H are similar if shot in rifles of similar weight. Some feel the recoil more if the rifle is stocked with a synthetic stock than in wood, and certainly differences in gun fit and body size and shape come into play, but anyone who can shoot a light weight .300 magnum effectively would have little trouble with a .375.
It was important to me to learn to shoot powerful rifles and develop some degree of proficiency with them. As a result I have been able to shoot .375's, .416's, and .458"s from all field positions including prone. My heavy .416 Rigby loads were certainly the hardest kicking of the group, but even with that I could manage 3 rounds prone, but 3 was enough. The .500 NE I did not have the opportunity to shoot prone, but had I needed to I could have managed for one or two shots in an emergency, but it would not have been enjoyable. The key to mastering powerful rifles though is not to beat yourself into jello with them. Fire a couple of rounds then take a break and don't go back to it until you feel ready. If you allow the rifle to hurt you, you will develop a flinch, and once there it is difficult to work through. You don't have to be a big guy to master these things, and often a small person can develop proficiency faster than a larger person. Anyone who can enjoy playing contact sports can learn to shoot powerful rifles if the desire is there to do so. These things are designed to be used by normal people. The most objectionable rifle I can ever remember shooting was a Mosin Nagant carbine, makes me wonder what the Russians had against their own troops.
The stock on the Ruger Alaskan is sort of a love it or hate it proposition. The stock material has a soft texture, the fore-end is longer than some like, and then there is that hooked pistol grip that doesn't seem to go with the lines of an otherwise classic stock. While I don't mind it, if I had one I would probably opt for a McMillan, if for no other reason than I could specify a slightly shorter length of pull. My pal who owns the rifle loves the factory stock. He spends much time on the water, so he doesn't want a slippery rifle if his hands are wet. For him the Alaskan is the perfect answer. When I got the 260 gr AB's going to the speed he wanted he found the recoil had become a bit much for him, so I backed off the load slightly and he is happier. He can shoot dime sized groups at a 100 yards with this rifle on demand.
It was important to me to learn to shoot powerful rifles and develop some degree of proficiency with them. As a result I have been able to shoot .375's, .416's, and .458"s from all field positions including prone. My heavy .416 Rigby loads were certainly the hardest kicking of the group, but even with that I could manage 3 rounds prone, but 3 was enough. The .500 NE I did not have the opportunity to shoot prone, but had I needed to I could have managed for one or two shots in an emergency, but it would not have been enjoyable. The key to mastering powerful rifles though is not to beat yourself into jello with them. Fire a couple of rounds then take a break and don't go back to it until you feel ready. If you allow the rifle to hurt you, you will develop a flinch, and once there it is difficult to work through. You don't have to be a big guy to master these things, and often a small person can develop proficiency faster than a larger person. Anyone who can enjoy playing contact sports can learn to shoot powerful rifles if the desire is there to do so. These things are designed to be used by normal people. The most objectionable rifle I can ever remember shooting was a Mosin Nagant carbine, makes me wonder what the Russians had against their own troops.
The stock on the Ruger Alaskan is sort of a love it or hate it proposition. The stock material has a soft texture, the fore-end is longer than some like, and then there is that hooked pistol grip that doesn't seem to go with the lines of an otherwise classic stock. While I don't mind it, if I had one I would probably opt for a McMillan, if for no other reason than I could specify a slightly shorter length of pull. My pal who owns the rifle loves the factory stock. He spends much time on the water, so he doesn't want a slippery rifle if his hands are wet. For him the Alaskan is the perfect answer. When I got the 260 gr AB's going to the speed he wanted he found the recoil had become a bit much for him, so I backed off the load slightly and he is happier. He can shoot dime sized groups at a 100 yards with this rifle on demand.
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The recoil should be similar to a 45/70 I presume. A shoulder strp on pad makes recoil very manageable. I will go for the .375 Ruger African and practice practice practice. I do have some doubts about the Africans accuracy. Should I have it bedded and floated etc? Im not aware of what the african is like. For Kudu or gemsbuck one shouldnt need the 300 grainers would they.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Many clients choose to take a single load for their .375's when they go to Africa, and that load is often built around a 300 gr TSX. This single load is suitable for everything from buffalo to dik-dik. If you chose a 260 gr AB and loaded it to the maximum velocity, I doubt if you could tell the difference in recoil from a 300 gr load unless you shot them alternately. Kudu and Zebra are notoriously tough.
I don't know why the Ruger African model would be less accurate than the Alaskan model, and the Ruger has a unique method of attaching the stock to the barreled action which should prevent failure. But I have had issues with wood stocks on powerful rifles, so if it was me, yes I would have the stock bedded first thing.
I don't know why the Ruger African model would be less accurate than the Alaskan model, and the Ruger has a unique method of attaching the stock to the barreled action which should prevent failure. But I have had issues with wood stocks on powerful rifles, so if it was me, yes I would have the stock bedded first thing.
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