375 Ruger

[Llama Bob]

Of course there are many more .375 H&Hs in circulation. The cartridge has a 100 year head start. Why would this even be brought into the discussion?

Because the number of guns (and the number that are actually shot and how much they're shot) determines whether it's worth it to bother making ammo and brass. Magnums already have a problem on this front, because they aren't shot much. Magnums with small rifle pools have a bigger problem.

This should be a fairly simple point. I suspect the people that keep arguing it simply don't want to admit that being in an uncommon caliber is a major downside because many, many calibers get dropped by the ammo makers. And specifically, if you go back and re-read, it's the downside OP wanted information on SINCE HE DOESN'T WANT TO RELOAD.

 

[MCMXI]

Most of us here have little doubt that the .375 Ruger is a good cartridge and basically a decent alternative to the .375 H&H, it wouldn't be my choice but I can certainly see the appeal. However, for those that think that the Ruger will eventually replace the H&H, why hasn't the 300 WSM replaced the .300 Win Mag? It's had 15 years to do it and yet .300 Win Mag rifle sales greatly outnumber 300 WSM sales. Even Ruger offers at least six models chambered in .300 Win Mag and none in 300 WSM. The .375 Ruger has had almost 10 years to make a significant dent in the .375 H&H market and yet it hasn't. When the 300 WSM was launched in 2001 there were many rifle companies in a mild panic trying to get rifles to market including all the big players. Not so for the .375 Ruger.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I think that both cartridges are equally effective for similar tasks. Thus, the choice of which should be made on the availability of rifles and the locale of projected use. I happen to have a nicely built and customized .375 H&H that began life as a Rem 700 XCR but would feel well served by nearly any .375 H&H or .375 Ruger currently available. As I have a Ruger 77 Hawkeye, a Ruger No. 1, a Win 70, a Rem 700 and a Sako 85 for hunting spanning a wide caliber range, I would feel well served by any of these rifles in the caliber appropriate for the hunt I was planning.

Parenthetically, I expect that .375 & .416 Ruger will be available for some years to come and brass for them will also be available. I will note that .260 Rem ammo is harder for me to find in any useful choices than either .375 H&H or .375 Ruger.

Harry

 

[Elkins45]

Most of us here have little doubt that the .375 Ruger is a good cartridge and basically a decent alternative to the .375 H&H, it wouldn't be my choice but I can certainly see the appeal. However, for those that think that the Ruger will eventually replace the H&H, why hasn't the 300 WSM replaced the .300 Win Mag? It's had 15 years to do it and yet .300 Win Mag rifle sales greatly outnumber 300 WSM sales. Even Ruger offers at least six models chambered in .300 Win Mag and none in 300 WSM. The .375 Ruger has had almost 10 years to make a significant dent in the .375 H&H market and yet it hasn't. When the 300 WSM was launched in 2001 there were many rifle companies in a mild panic trying to get rifles to market including all the big players. Not so for the .375 Ruger.

300 WSM didn't obsolete the 300WM because it didn't really offer all that much of an what someone saw as an advantage. Rifles weren't cheaper or much more handy. The Ruger offers a bit more of an advantage in that it gives a significantly cheaper option to someone wanting a rifle at that power level. It's also a little more handy because of the standard action, but since the WSM also offered a similar benefit it probably doesn't matter.

375 H&H wont be obsoleted by the Ruger just like the 30-06 wasn't pushed aside by the 308. That doesn't mean the 308 is a "junk" cartridge.

 

[HankB]

300 WSM didn't obsolete the 300WM because it didn't really offer all that much of an what someone saw as an advantage.

The 300 WSM also has competition in the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum and the .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Mag.

So . . . three new cartridges introduced by three major makers with nearly identical performance but just enough dimensional difference to not interchange . . . and a little less performance than the .300 Win Mag, which is already considered to be a "short" magnum.

What could possibly go wrong with these marketing plans?

 

[Dane17]

Just did a coastal brown bear hunt in SE Alaska. Was surprised to see 2 of the 3 guides had 375 ruger guide guns. Both with leupold 1-6x IR scopes. The third guide had a custom 375 H&H with irons.

Contrary to much of the Internet chatter, on the boat from which we hunted 375 ruger ammo was more available and in use than 375 H&H.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks for injecting a little reality into this discussion.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Well, I've skipped the last 50 or so posts as redundant and rhetoric.

Did I fail to mention that you can make "workable" though not perfect .375Ruger cases from .300winmag cases. Yeah, they have a funky "coke bottle" look but are within 2.5% case capacity and make usable cases. Just ask the 8pt buck that caught a 235gr Speer semi pt soft point from mine. Oh yeah, he can't cause he died forthwith. No sense in loosing a $1 piece of brass when you only need risk a range pickup.

Oh if I could have bought my .375 when a college freshman instead of a .30/06, when I WANTED a .270!
I could have saved THOUSANDS in pursuing the PERFECT ALL AROUND. catrtridge. The .375 comes mighty close. The .270 is a fine DEER cartridge. A little light for elk, moose and bear. The '06 comes closer, but it ain't a .375, either H&H or Ruger.

I predict the .375 will be around as long as the .375 H&H, less a century head start for the H &H. Both are good, but the .375Ruger has advantages. It's just the H&H "updated" for another century.
Mine ain't going anywhere I don't. It's a "keeper". It's been to Africa. BTDT. I probably never will. But Alaska is likely and possible.

 

[Dane17]

As I think about it my friend I hunted with didn't bring his own rifle (I did). Since there were only 2 of us the master guide lent him his 375 ruger and usually stayed on the boat. From this standpoint it probably is more likely a 375 ruger rifle will come in a more "lendable" rifle, ie cheaper(beater), smaller, shorter action....and may influence why they had them.

I never asked them so can't say for certain.

 

[Rodman579]

I like both 375 Ruger and 375 H&H. I live in Alaska and I can tell you from where I work that a lot more Ruger ammo is sold than H&H same goes for rifles. every place up here stocks both. I see a lot of used H&H rifles for sale as well. I don't own either anymore but I would take either. I personally do like the handier ruger rifle though.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I'd rather have .375 H&H since the shells are cheaper.