The best 375?

Naw, the rest of my rifles I can group around an inch or so, and my .22 at 40 yards I can get into almost one hole.

I don't reckon it's the rifle, because basically I'm just a big sissy. My groups start out well at the beginning of the day, but as my shoulder gets beat up, they get progressively worse. I actually had my buddy shoot the last group of the day the last time at the range, and he had two rounds touching, so it's definitely my crappy shooting.

I don't have a lead sled or anything like that, and the bench that I use at the range makes me lean waaaaaaay into the rifle... It kicks that crap out of me, suffice to say. Shooting her off-hand is a pleasure though.
 
Last edited:
I don't have a lead sled or anything like that, and the bench that I use at the range makes me lean waaaaaaay into the rifle... It kicks that crap out of me, suffice to say. Shooting her off-hand is a pleasure though.
For my 375 I pile the bags up higher to sit up straighter and use one of those sissy shoulder pads.

It helps alot!


.
 
The H&H and Ruger have trajectories similar to the 30-06. It's relatively easy to make hits at 400+ yards with a 30-06 if you know how to shoot, so I'm not so sure the "rainbow" comment is valid.

maybe you are confused with the 375 Winchester?;)

Don't be thinking to hard the comments valid... :p
 
The .375 Ruger Alaskan is the first .375 to get my attention. I REALLY like those rifles and the cartridge is very versatile no different from the H&H, I just like the Ruger better. RUM will probably be the only one of the trio to fade out. IMHO.
 
Naw, the rest of my rifles I can group around an inch or so, and my .22 at 40 yards I can get into almost one hole.

I don't reckon it's the rifle, because basically I'm just a big sissy. My groups start out well at the beginning of the day, but as my shoulder gets beat up, they get progressively worse. I actually had my buddy shoot the last group of the day the last time at the range, and he had two rounds touching, so it's definitely my crappy shooting.

I don't have a lead sled or anything like that, and the bench that I use at the range makes me lean waaaaaaay into the rifle... It kicks that crap out of me, suffice to say. Shooting her off-hand is a pleasure though.

Handling recoil has nothing to do with being a sissy.

Once you let a rifle upset your nervous system there is very little that you can do to change your how your subconscious mind will react.
Your brain remembers that it does not like that rifle and then you have a problem.
The trick is not letting that happen in the first place.

While sitting at the bench turn your back and have your buddy load the rifle for you alternating between empty and live rounds....I think that will illuminate your problem. Once you have determined that you have developed a flinch stop doing this exercise as it will melt your head.

If I were you I would only shoot the rifle a few times each time you go to the range.
If this is your first "big gun" reduce the load substantially...As low as you can get it.
This will allow you to shoot the rifle more times before you start to get uncomfortable.

If you don't do something to change your approach you will never master the rifle.

I have taught a few people to shoot large rifles.
If I could impress one thing it is that you need to take your time and develop this skill slowly and carefully.

You can't rush the process.
 
Get a PAST pad. Got one when I got my first 460, now I use it for everything from 338 up. You can shoopt any rifle without hurting your shoulder. Won't help rattleing your head but no arm damage. Sit up high at the bench.
 
Don't use flooding?;)
Handling recoil has nothing to do with being a sissy.

Once you let a rifle upset your nervous system there is very little that you can do to change your how your subconscious mind will react.
Your brain remembers that it does not like that rifle and then you have a problem.
The trick is not letting that happen in the first place.

While sitting at the bench turn your back and have your buddy load the rifle for you alternating between empty and live rounds....I think that will illuminate your problem. Once you have determined that you have developed a flinch stop doing this exercise as it will melt your head.

If I were you I would only shoot the rifle a few times each time you go to the range.
If this is your first "big gun" reduce the load substantially...As low as you can get it.
This will allow you to shoot the rifle more times before you start to get uncomfortable.

If you don't do something to change your approach you will never master the rifle.

I have taught a few people to shoot large rifles.
If I could impress one thing it is that you need to take your time and develop this skill slowly and carefully.

You can't rush the process.
 
The rest of the story

Show my a few different targets with that same group and I will be impressed....Wide view please!

You're right X-fan the rest of the paper is not quite as impressive. When I started out I was actually less than impressed. I first tried the iron sights at 50 yds with factory 300s. I strung 3 shots almost completely vertical in a 3" line. My Marlin 1895 will shoot an inch at 50 yds with irons, so that was my first disappointment. After mounting and boresighting the scope I punched a hole within a half inch of center at 25 yds. Happy with that I moved out to 100 yds. The first shot had perfect elevation but was 3" right, second one was right underneath the first,....3" underneath. WTF? Was it me? There was a variable breeze blowing but adjusted for windage, and let fly a third shot. Perfect elevation, and 2" left. #4 was again 3" low. Now, I'm bummed. POS or what? Sat down, scratched my head, and went over the scope, mounts, and action screws. The screws fore and aft of the trigger guard were not what I would call loose, but they both snugged up when tested. Next two shots went into 3/8", 3" low. A tweak to both windage and elevation resulted in the group in the photo above. No, I haven't done it ten targets in a row, but I'm very optimistic this rifle will be a shooter.

Fairly confident in what the rifle was doing at 100 yds. I switched out to 200. 4 shots went into 1.5 MOA, not nearly as impressive, but by this time I had put over 30 rounds of 375 or 45/70 downrange. (Note to self,.... bring lighter recoiling rifle to spell off the 375 with:redface:). I was pretty beat up, so I decided to call 'er quits for the day.

To quote Paul Harvey (RIP) "And now you know the REST of the story,....."

:cheers:
 
I bought my wife a past recoil pad. Its the super thin one designed for the ladies. It attached to the bra strap so they can wear it all the day on the shoulder....

When I bought my 375 Ruger I was also shooting a 300 RUM at the time. I decided to give that little past pad a try. I figured slipping on a bra at the range was a good way to get my ass kicked so I just slipped under my t shirt. I put 40 rounds of 300 RUM that afternoon down range and almost as much with my 375 Ruger. It was all bench work with load work,sighting in scopes,etc... I will be honest that little "sissy pad" as the guy shooting the .270 was calling it really made that a fun day. No problems at all with the recoil and its so thin that it really doesn't impede your shooting as much as those big pads....
 
I did allot of shooting with my 375 Ruger out to 350 yards this past year getting ready for Mule deer and I must say I was very impressed with the groups I was getting from my "short" range thumper. Mine really likes the 260 grain Accubond and IMR 4350...I have always thought of the 375's as a short range caliber but after playing with the 375 Ruger I have really come to appreciate the versatility of the 375's in all configurations...
 
I did allot of shooting with my 375 Ruger out to 350 yards this past year getting ready for Mule deer and I must say I was very impressed with the groups I was getting from my "short" range thumper. Mine really likes the 260 grain Accubond and IMR 4350...I have always thought of the 375's as a short range caliber but after playing with the 375 Ruger I have really come to appreciate the versatility of the 375's in all configurations...

The 375's are not just short range cartridges. As I said before, they have trajectories similar to 30-06, which is easy to hit with at longish ranges.

:)
 
Back
Top Bottom