375 Ruger

[Flfiremedic]

I'm still looking at 375s...like the Rugers, but a quick look at Midway shows only 4 loadings as being offered. Especially for those in the industry...is it done? I really don't want to be regulated to hand loading, and occasional runs of factory offerings.

 

[Grumulkin]

If the 375 Ruger becomes more popular, it's likely that more choices will become available. That said, the 375 Ruger has no meaningful ballistical superiority to the 375 H&H Magnum and the later would give you more choices.

 

[Tract Optics]

375 Ruger is still growing and will continue to grow. Hornady has very low retails on 'big bore' ammo and its tougher for others to match their price points. They command the market for this specific factory ammo, let alone the development.
That being said, when it comes to the big'ger' bores, handloading is a nice way to really perfect your rifles abilities....let alone save some good money let alone heaqdaches with trying to find factory ammo. Even Hornady doesn't run everything all your long.

 

[Elkins45]

I shot a whitetail doe with a 375 Ruger last fall...with a cast lead bullet going 1900 fps. Can't do that with either cartridge without reloading.

There is such an advantage to the 375 Ruger over the H&H because of compatibility with standard actions that it is quite likely to survive. The H&H just has the advantage of having been on the market for so long that there is a good supply of ammo in the pipeline. I don't see that too many people use one all that frequently here on the mainland.

How much ammo do you think you will need?

 

[Huntolive]

Hey Elkins, how was the meat on that white tail? Blood shot worse than a 180 grn. 300 WM or not?

I like the Ruger Guide rifle alot, but wish it came in H+H.

Seems like hand loading becomes a must.

Down to the following rifle choices, and advice is appreciated:

375 Ruger Alaskan Guide

Win. M 70 Safari Exp. 375 H+H

 

[AKMtnRunner]

The choice boils down to if you prefer the rifles that are chambered for the 375 Ruger and ammo availability. The 375 Ruger offers 375 H&H ballistics from a rifle that is about 40" long overall and are well under $1000 since their actions are the same as the popular chamberings. And some folks have a good source of ammo or reload.

 

[silicosys4]

I'm still looking at 375s...like the Rugers, but a quick look at Midway shows only 4 loadings as being offered. Especially for those in the industry...is it done? I really don't want to be regulated to hand loading, and occasional runs of factory offerings.

If you have your .375 H&H's chamber reamed to .375 wthby, then the differences between them is nill except action length....Same ballistics, but the .375 Wthby can still fire the .375 H&H, and will fire form your H&H cases to Weatherby's chamber.

 

[Huntolive]

I saw a CZ 550 Safari used in local gun shop with a 1X4 leupold mounted for $850 (before haggling).

So that is now in my decision mix btwn:
Win. M 70 Safari Exprs. 375 HH $1200 out the door
Ruger 375 Alaskan Guide $935 out the door
CZ 550 Safari used w/ scope $850 out the door

Thoughts?

I am not an experienced hand loader, but have access to equipment and experienced supervision, and plan to hand load eventually.

 

[Dane17]

I own a 375 ruger Alaskan. I don't reload. You are limited in ammo.

Nevertheless I am very happy with the firearm. It's durable, versatile, accurate, portable, relatively inexpensive and capable of taking all game in North America (and arguably Africa although a little light for elephant).

My only criticism of the round beyond availability is that the case design does not lend itself to feeding as easily as the h and h.

Thus far I have only taken Florida hogs (obviously devastating) with it but it's coming with me to Alaska for fall brown bear this year.

 

[jmr40]

So that is now in my decision mix btwn:
Win. M 70 Safari Exprs. 375 HH $1200 out the door
Ruger 375 Alaskan Guide $935 out the door
CZ 550 Safari used w/ scope $850 out the door

Thoughts?

If you really want to scratch the 375 itch the CZ with a scope is clearly the best buy. If money were no object then the Winchester would probably be my pick for Africa. I'd have to seriously think about the Ruger for North America, especially Alaska.

 

[bannockburn]

Huntolive

I'm with jmr40 that the CZ 550 Safari, with a scope, as being the best buy out of the three rifles.

 

[Tract Optics]

I just picked up a CZ550 in 416 w/ synthetic stock from CZ direct. with the good guy price I payed 1350. If you have a line on a CZ550 in 375H&H for $850 with a Leupy 1-4x... buy it If you don't, let us know...I'll probably be first to call them.

 

[Elkins45]

Hey Elkins, how was the meat on that white tail? Blood shot worse than a 180 grn. 300 WM or not?

Hole going in, slightly bigger hole going out. No meat loss at all, but that big flat nosed bullet smashed up her innards perry well. There was a blood trail you could have followed from a helicopter for the 50 feet or so she ran through the brush.

 

[zb338]

Just remember that the H&H is used all over the world
and has been for a long, long time. You can buy ammo
just about anywhere you go. The .375 H&H will be here
long after you and I are dead and gone.

Zeke

 

[Predator55]

Nothing wrong with a CZ, good quality rifle. I too like the Ruger Alaskan rifle but until it's offered in a H&H I will not buy. Until 375 Ruger becomes popular and will have a long life I won't own it.

 

[Llama Bob]

.375 Ruger is a junk cartridge. There is no point in shortening the action on a gun that's going to have to be heavy anyways. Removing the case taper to get back powder space is a downgrade.

For a world-wide hunting cartridge, ammo availability matters. That's why .30-06 and .375 H&H rule the roost.

Just say no to bad cartridges trying to be the "hot new thing" to replace existing good cartridges.

 

[jmr40]

375 Ruger is a junk cartridge. There is no point in shortening the action on a gun that's going to have to be heavy anyways. Removing the case taper to get back powder space is a downgrade.

No one is shortening an action. The 375 H&h and 300 H&H require magnum length actions that very few even make anymore. In order to make those fit in most common rifles requires a standard action to be heavily modified.

The 375 Ruger is to the 375 H&H exactly as the 300 WM is to the 300 H&H. They both offer more speed and performance from standard and less expensive rifles. The 300 WM has all but killed off the 300 H&H. I don't know if the 375 Ruger will or not. There simply isn't enough demand for anything above 30 caliber to make a huge dent in sales either way. But there isn't anything wrong with the 375 Ruger.

 

[Huntolive]

I called local shop w/ the CZ 550 today, guy said someone put it on layaway.

My mind says go with the H+H due to ammo ( I have also heard that re-loading 375 Ruger is much more challenging and less consistent that 375 H+H please confirm or deny with explanation)

My heart says I want the Ruger 375 Guide Rifle.

The truth is I really don't need either at present, as I recently re-acquired 300 Browning 300 WM.

Perhaps I'll slow down, as some have suggested, and give it a year or 2 to see what happens w/ 375 Ruger ammo and see if a great deal on a used Ruger 375 or a nice H+H falls in my lap; I will keep my eyes open.

That will allow me to invest in better glass for my long-range ambitions that I can carry out all I need to in North Am. w/ the 300WM. Also, given the political winds, if I am gonna buy another rifle the timing would suggest semi-auto from a relative value investment standpoint.

Llama Bob, u seem quick to label things "junk calibers" I've seen you say the same of others: granted 308 and 375 HH are more traditional, but that dosn't necessarily make 6.5 grendel or 375 Ruger "junk".

Sincere Thanks to All, but I wonder what the original OP is thinking on this, havn't heard from him since he started this thread

 

[CraigC]

The Ruger is a great cartridge that does everything the H&H does in a lighter, shorter rifle. It is here to stay. As far as longevity, a couple hundred rounds of brass should last a lifetime. If you want to help ensure its future, don't wait, buy it.

What you REALLY need to look at are the rifles. I have a CZ in .416Rigby and it's a great rifle but no way would I want to lug around that much beef for the .375. The Ruger can be as much as 2lbs lighter and that is a huge difference. Here's my CZ .416 next to a 20" Ruger .338RCM. The .375 would just be a standard long action.

CZ .416 - 10.5lbs w/1.5-5x
Ruger .270 - 8.4lbs w/2.5-8x
Ruger .338RCM - 7.1lbs with receiver sight

All three above are stocked in walnut so the Ruger .375 is going to fall somewhere around 8-8.5lbs with scope.

 

[Dane17]

Good point Craigc. A couple hundred rounds of 375 ruger is potentially a lifetime's was worth.

I don't know where the term "junk" cartridge comes form. I can say I have successfully hunted and killed in South Africa a cape buffalo with a 375 h&h rifle. Nevertheless when I went looking for a similar rifle I purchased what I felt to be an equal or superior firearm in the form of a 375 ruger. I don't reload, but I say in all practicality if you can afford to hunt big game you generally don't care about cost per round.

Decide what is best for you, but people like myself that are familiar with both are increasingly leaning towards 375 ruger.

In the end either round will serve you well. Keep an open mind and research big or dangerous game forums where you may get more practical insight.

 

[GooseGestapo]

No problem with loading the .375Ruger.
A LOT of the early rifles were custom built with chambers that aren't just exactly same as Rugers chambers.
I'm using Hornady dies, and mostly Hornady brass. No problems.

Use IMR or H4350 or RL15 and you won't have any problems.
Another source of confusion is that data in
Hornady manual is for a 20"bbl. The 23" bbl of my gun is somewhat faster. It's about 100fps faster than a .375H&H. I however, only load to where accuracy peaks. This is close to matching .375 H&H With a 3" shorter barrel.
A darling load is the 225gr Hornady PtSpt over 77.0gr of RL15. Gets 2,900fps and 3-shot clover leafs. Sufficient for any thing in N.America except Costal Brown bears, Modest recoil.
Think .30/06 150gr trajectory, 12ga field load recoil. Drop to 75.0gr RL15 with 235gr Speer Spt, or 250gr Sierra BtSpt. 2,800fps (like 180gr '06 w/12ga slug recoil) or 270gr w/72.5gr RL15 for 2,700fps. Duplicates .H&H factory load. All the above group within 1.5" of each other at 100yds. (Mine is sighted ~2"high at 100yds. =200yd zero, 8"low @300.)

Substitute 82.0gr of IMR 4350 w/270gr Hornady bullet, you get 2,750fps and .750 moa accurate sledge hammer. I've got some 300gr Noslers and Sierra's, but haven't done anything with them. Everything I've seen says use 80.0gr of 4350 (either) for 2,600fps.
Good for anything that breaths air!

According to others, my rifles previous owner used it to take Cape Buffalo, and other African plains game with it circa 2010. I "rescued" it from bargain bin. I found a lot of ancient dusty boxes of bullets CHEAP. Bought some reasonable price factory ammo for brass, also some new unprimed brass. Now have lifetime supply of components.
Definitely one of my "keeper" rifles.

 

[HankB]

The 375 H&h and 300 H&H require magnum length actions that very few even make anymore.

I didn't realize that Winchester, Remington, Browning, CZ, and Weatherby quit making rifles in .375 H&H.

Oh, wait . . . they didn't.

And let's see . . . how many manufacturers beside Ruger make .375 Ruger rifles? (insert sound of crickets)

From a pure ballistic standpoint, the .375 Ruger offers good performance; nothing to criticize there. However, IMHO having an action 1/2" or so shorter offers advantages that are largely in the imagination of some gun writers. Availability - should you go to Africa or elsewhere and your ammo not arrive with your gun - will almost certainly be a problem. For that reason alone, I'd stick with the .375 H&H - if large caliber ammo is available at all, it will likely be for the old H&H cartridge.

Win. M 70 Safari Exprs. 375 HH $1200 out the door
Ruger 375 Alaskan Guide $935 out the door
CZ 550 Safari used w/ scope $850 out the door

Thoughts?

Of the the M70 or the CZ, whichever one fit me better - came to my shoulder naturally and was on target without squirming around - is the one I'd buy. (BTW, that 1x-4x Leupold scope on the CZ? Eye relief varies quite a bit as you zoom from 1x to 4x - be aware of that, it may be an issue.)

I've taken hippo, lion, a couple of Cape buffalo and other game with my .375 H&H - with today's bullets, it's better than it was in the olden days when it won accolades from legions of African big game hunters.

 

[AKMtnRunner]

In regards to the 375 Ruger vs 375 H&H, there's probably no better example of the answer depending on non-cartridge differences. Both are essentially the same performance.

The big difference is how you'll get your ammo and what kind of rifle you prefer. If you're headed to Africa, the extra $$ for a typical H&H is nothing and the accessibility of the ammo down there is meaningful. BUT, if Alaska type hunting is the goal, that's a horse of a different color. I'm not aware of too many H&H options with stainless steel, and the lighter and shorter 375 Ruger rifles like the Ruger Guide Gun (40" overall length) will be much handier. Great for moving through the thick alders and if you'd like to be able to maneuver it inside a tent in bear country.

The fact that from a 40" affordable and tough rifle can deliver 3,000 ft-lbs of energy with 270 grains at 300 yards, is pretty awesome. If someone believes that's not useful and will fade away, that's their opinion, but I would (and have) bet money that it won't.

 

[CraigC]

For the folks who say the H&H is better in case you arrive in Africa without your ammo, are you just repeating what you've heard or is it based on actual 1st or 2nd hand experience? Do you know what ammo is available in Africa? How often to folks arrive in Africa with their rifle but without ammo? Are you really going to suffer with a 2-3lb heavier rifle due to the minuscule chance that you'll be separated from your ammo? Fact is, LOTS of folks go to Africa to hunt with guns chambered in cartridges not readily available and they don't worry about it.

However, IMHO having an action 1/2" or so shorter offers advantages that are largely in the imagination of some gun writers.

Oh really??? That 2-3lb difference I noted was just imagined by gunwriters? It didn't actually come off my scale?

The H&H is a great, historical cartridge but unfortunately, is often chambered in rifles much heavier than they need to be.

 

[HankB]

For the folks who say the H&H is better in case you arrive in Africa without your ammo, are you just repeating what you've heard or is it based on actual 1st or 2nd hand experience?

After my last African hunt, it actually happened to my PH's next client, who was arriving at the airport as I was leaving; he had his carry on bag and his gun case arrived intact, but his checked bag - containing his ammo - didn't. I left my unused ammo behind with the PH - as do many clients - so if he had a .30/06 and a .375 H&H, he was still in business. Some proprietary round and he'd be out of luck.

Oh really??? That 2-3lb difference I noted was just imagined by gunwriters? It didn't actually come off my scale?

You're confusing rifles with actions - unless you can name a bolt action rifle that is 2-3 pounds heavier due to a half inch of additional action length?