Nothing wrong with the .375 Ruger, in fact, I think it's a fine cartridge. Not sure if I corrected what you said there Gatehouse, but no, the .375 H&H and the .375 Ruger both propel 300gr bullets to 2645 fps and 2660 fps respectively from the same length barrel, 24", on the same amount of H4350 (0.8 grs difference in powder charge). It's the max performing load for both at a 300gr bullet. There's zero advantage to the Ruger, both are identical in performance with heavy bullets on the same amount of powder. There is a slight advantage with 270gr and lighter bullets to the Ruger, however, seeing as I only load 300gr and 350gr, it doesn't make a difference in my world but for some, it certainly would be a consideration.
The .375 Ruger is likely the (fractionally) better .375 for North America, as it performs a touch better with lighter bullet weights, and matches the H&H at heavier bullet weights. Now, that said, I'd still take the H&H for Africa (and I am doing so), as ammo DOES go missing by no fault of your own on trips that long, to such places, and I trust the feeding and extraction of the H&H far more for dangerous game use. It's designed for it, through and through. Also, as an absolute certainty, the true Magnum rifles chambered for the H&H are better guns, and allow far longer seating than any .375 Ruger, and I'm certain the H&H would run away from the Ruger given this situation with the true heavies- 350gr and 380gr bullets. The .375 Ruger would be severely handicapped using these dangerous game bullets, as it would eat up an absurd amount of case capacity, and require bullets to be excessively seated back into the case. Where as with the H&H, in a true Magnum action, you can seat out, in my RSM's case as I mentioned earlier, to almost 4" OAL. Even with 300gr bullets, and H4350, being able to seat out I am going way beyond the published 2645fps with very low pressure and not compressing loads. Frankly, the .375 Ruger wouldn't keep up in this case. It's faster with lighter bullets however.
Both have their purpose, the .375 H&H for big stuff, the .375 Ruger for North America likely (though it will kill just as well in Africa I'm sure). As for action length, never understood that, I'll take more room if I can get it! Never once short stroked in my life, and have trouble imagining how one would could do that, as no bolt action south of a .700 H&H is really that long. I don't notice a difference between cycling a LA and a MA.
