375 Ruger

[Sneakshot92]

Dad has a left handed Ruger Hawkeye African in 375 Ruger. With his handloads using a 275gr Herters bullet it flips deer OVER inside of 75yds. Works great on leftover halloween pumpkins too, especially if filled with water first!
After seeing this post I think i'm gonna put off getting a pistol for a few extra weeks...

 

[DocRock]

Put the Bushnell Nitro on there. More scope than I need, but at $199 from Camera Land (plus $58 rebate), I couldn’t pass it up. Plenty hefty now. Glad I stuck with the plastic stock, it will be plenty rigid.

 

[DocRock]

Finally got to shoot it! Not as hard kicking as I expected. 20 from the bench is probably enough but it didn’t feel any harder than my 30-06 180grs elk loads.

Made up 10 IMR 4831 (82.5 grs) and 10 IMR4350 (80 grs), both middle to upper middle range loads with the Hornady 270 Interlocks. Surprised me that the 4831 loads were a solid 100 FPS behind the 4350. 2,650 FPS average for IMR 4350 and 2,555 FPS for IMR 4831.

Took 6 to get sighted in 2” high at 50 yards. Then these are the following 14 at 100 yards. The two groups of two, centered about 3” high are the remaining IMR4350. The other 10 are the 4831. I think that IMR 4350 wants some exploring in this rifle.

 

[Legionnaire]

Good progress. I'm hoping to get mine to the range next week.

 

[Seamaster31]

My 375 rifles (both H&H and Ruger) have shown a definite liking for a powder with a burn rate similar to RL-15 with bullets of this weight. The slower powders did not work quite as well for me.

 

[LoonWulf]

My 375 rifles (both H&H and Ruger) have shown a definite liking for a powder with a burn rate similar to RL-15 with bullets of this weight. The slower powders did not work quite as well for me.

I shoot rl-17, and h4350 in mine.
I thought about trying rl-15, but I use 17 in a few other guns, so haven't tried it yet

 

[LoonWulf]

Finally got to shoot it! Not as hard kicking as I expected. 20 from the bench is probably enough but it didn’t feel any harder than my 30-06 180grs elk loads.

Made up 10 IMR 4831 (82.5 grs) and 10 IMR4350 (80 grs), both middle to upper middle range loads with the Hornady 270 Interlocks. Surprised me that the 4831 loads were a solid 100 FPS behind the 4350. 2,650 FPS average for IMR 4350 and 2,555 FPS for IMR 4831.

Took 6 to get sighted in 2” high at 50 yards. Then these are the following 14 at 100 yards. The two groups of two, centered about 3” high are the remaining IMR4350. The other 10 are the 4831. I think that IMR 4350 wants some exploring in this rifle.

View attachment 896584

Imr4350, 4451, and h4350 all seem to be right in the perfect burn range for the Ruger. I've tried a few slower, and 4895 works great for low recoil, and 2600ish fps, but the 4350 range is where it's at for performance.

 

[troy fairweather]

Has anyone tried trailboss, I would think even that would be deadly on beer.
hdy data show win 760 pushing the 270gr at 2700fps with the ruger. I believe there are a few high bc bullets out there now, I wonder what the ballistics are.

if I ever build a elk rifle again think it will be a 375h&h/ruger, over the 358 norma mag I did. Just wish I was able to use that rifle.

 

[Legionnaire]

I loaded up some Trail Boss loads under 235 grain Hot-Cores. Will report back when I have opportunity to shoot them. I have a few days off next week, and am planning a range trip.

 

[LoonWulf]

Has anyone tried trailboss, I would think even that would be deadly on beer.
hdy data show win 760 pushing the 270gr at 2700fps with the ruger. I believe there are a few high bc bullets out there now, I wonder what the ballistics are.

if I ever build a elk rifle again think it will be a 375h&h/ruger, over the 358 norma mag I did. Just wish I was able to use that rifle.

What I remember from my QL experimenting, you should've able to scratch 2500fps with the 350smk loaded out in a h&h length action.
I haven't gotten any to experiment with yet.

I loaded up some Trail Boss loads under 235 grain Hot-Cores. Will report back when I have opportunity to shoot them. I have a few days off next week, and am planning a range trip.

looking forward to that one. I can actually GET trailboss right now. If it works well I may buy some.

 

[Elkins45]

Has anyone tried trailboss, I would think even that would be deadly on beer.
hdy data show win 760 pushing the 270gr at 2700fps with the ruger. I believe there are a few high bc bullets out there now, I wonder what the ballistics are.

if I ever build a elk rifle again think it will be a 375h&h/ruger, over the 358 norma mag I did. Just wish I was able to use that rifle.

I bought some cheap surplus 50BMG powder from Barrett’s. I basically filled the case up to the neck and seated a cast NOE hollow point on it, then gritted my teeth and touched one off. It’s super inefficient shooting powder that slow in a case with such a big mouth so a lot of it only burns after it leaves the muzzle and only chronos around 1900 fps. It’s more than adequate for deer. Much more. And accuracy is much better than I was expecting. I thought such an inefficient load would have wide variations in velocity but it’s surprisingly consistent.

 

[DocRock]

Has anyone tried trailboss, I would think even that would be deadly on beer.
hdy data show win 760 pushing the 270gr at 2700fps with the ruger. I believe there are a few high bc bullets out there now, I wonder what the ballistics are.

if I ever build a elk rifle again think it will be a 375h&h/ruger, over the 358 norma mag I did. Just wish I was able to use that rifle.

While I appreciate the advice, I can assure you, I don't need any help killing beer! ;-)

My plan for reduced abuse loads is the Lyman 375499 (265 grs) over H4198 at about 1750 fps. Basically a 38-55 load. Should be a good slayer of hogs.

@LoonWulf - thanks for the info on IMR and H 4350. That's where I am going to explore. Felt good and was quite accurate.

 

[troy fairweather]

What I remember from my QL experimenting, you should've able to scratch 2500fps with the 350smk loaded out in a h&h length action.
I haven't gotten any to experiment with yet.



looking forward to that one. I can actually GET trailboss right now. If it works well I may buy some.

Is all the 375r data from a 20" barrel like the hornady book, think I remember hearing it could be up 200fps faster then the h&h?. I think the cutting edge bullets is .890 or close to .900, that should fly good but there like $2 a pop. Kinda makes me want a 30'' barrel build off a cz 550 magnum action. I so under how it would compare to a 375 cheytec of equivalent.

 

[troy fairweather]

While I appreciate the advice, I can assure you, I don't need any help killing beer! ;-)

My plan for reduced abuse loads is the Lyman 375499 (265 grs) over H4198 at about 1750 fps. Basically a 38-55 load. Should be a good slayer of hogs.

@LoonWulf - thanks for the info on IMR and H 4350. That's where I am going to explore. Felt good and was quite accurate.

Ya no need to load Not for deer, I was mentioning for longer range stuff. One of the things that appeal to me and 375s are they work well with cast bullets. The 375s have the weight to were it does not have to be going fast to kill well. The few deer I killed with a 375h&h I was surprised there was not much meat damage,

 

[troy fairweather]

I bought some cheap surplus 50BMG powder from Barrett’s. I basically filled the case up to the neck and seated a cast NOE hollow point on it, then gritted my teeth and touched one off. It’s super inefficient shooting powder that slow in a case with such a big mouth so a lot of it only burns after it leaves the muzzle and only chronos around 1900 fps. It’s more than adequate for deer. Much more. And accuracy is much better than I was expecting. I thought such an inefficient load would have wide variations in velocity but it’s surprisingly consistent.

I would not mind some 50bmg powder lol. I'd try it in the 6.5prc. Ya 1900 fps will takedown anything in the U.S. If not the world.

How do you like the noe mold have you shot any deer with that bullet.

 

[LoonWulf]

Is all the 375r data from a 20" barrel like the hornady book, think I remember hearing it could be up 200fps faster then the h&h?. I think the cutting edge bullets is .890 or close to .900, that should fly good but there like $2 a pop. Kinda makes me want a 30'' barrel build off a cz 550 magnum action. I so under how it would compare to a 375 cheytec of equivalent.

https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/375-ruger/

Nosler lists from a 26"
https://www.speer-ammo.com/download...s/Rifle/375_caliber_375_dia/375_Ruger_270.pdf
speer dosent say, but its on the fast side....

 

[Seamaster31]

For full power loads with a 300 grain bullet I like RL-15, RL-17, and IMR 4350 in the 375 Ruger. Dropping down a bit in weight to the 250 - 270 grain bullets the slightly faster powder (RL-15) has been my choice. In my experience IMR 4350 has worked a little better with the 300 grain bullets from the Ruger cartridge than it has with the 300 grain bullets in the H&H version.

For normal conditions or for hot weather I often do not load for the highest velocity in either version of the 375. Cutting just a tiny bit off the top of the velocity has always produced a little better accuracy
for me and it makes sense to me for the hot weather hunts.

 

[Elkins45]

I would not mind some 50bmg powder lol. I'd try it in the 6.5prc. Ya 1900 fps will takedown anything in the U.S. If not the world.

How do you like the noe mold have you shot any deer with that bullet.

It’s gone up a bit. I think I paid $48 for an eight pound jug and I picked it up in person so no shipping or hazmat. http://gibrass.com/gunpowder.html

I’ve only shot one deer with it, a big doe at about 50 yards. I hit a bit high so she ran maybe 25 yards before I heard her drop. I heard where she fell but even if I hadn’t tracking wouldn’t have been difficult. There was a blood trail you couldn’t miss. I also shoot this bullet in 375 Win and it’s as accurate as the rifle can be. I only have two .375 molds, the NOE and a plain base Lee that’s designed for 38-55. The NOE is more versatile because it has a gas check base, and because you can swap out the HP pins and cast it as a flat nosed solid.

 

[DocRock]

Very, very pleased with the cast load I pulled out of Lyman. 35 grs H4198, 265 grs Lyman 375499 from Montana Bullet Works, at .377" . They were a treat. By no means a powder puff, and I only had time to shoot 10 after a round of sporting clays with my 16 yo, but 40 from the bench wouldn't be horrible and at 100 yards they were an inch or so below where the scope was set with the Hornady 270s. That Lyman bullet will absolutely do for pigs, deer, black bear. I might want something more likely to expand for elk I think. And, they grouped well. Had the middle 3 shot group touching and the four shot group, including the cold and clean bore was only slightly more than 2"

 

[troy fairweather]

I think the lead load would be fine for elk, not much need for a .375 to expand.

 

[DocRock]

I think the lead load would be fine for elk, not much need for a .375 to expand.

Rationally, I agree. But I've killed three elk, each time with a 30-06 and 180s, all under 250 yards and every time, right before I squeezed the trigger, I thought "[curse word] that's a big animal! I wish I had a bigger gun" ;-) So, I'm sure you're right. But...

 

[LoonWulf]

Rationally, I agree. But I've killed three elk, each time with a 30-06 and 180s, all under 250 yards and every time, right before I squeezed the trigger, I thought "[curse word] that's a big animal! I wish I had a bigger gun" ;-) So, I'm sure you're right. But...

So far thats never been an issue for me....I plan on keeping it that way

 

[troy fairweather]

So far thats never been an issue for me....I plan on keeping it that way

Did you ever get one of those cows with your 375.

 

[LoonWulf]

Did you ever get one of those cows with your 375.

No, I finished building my .375 the weekend after the cow hunt. I shot my 6.5-284 for that last one.

 

[Legionnaire]

As promised in post #59 above, here is my range report on Trail Boss.

Firearm: Ruger Hawkeye African in a McMillan Hunter stock
Scope: Leupold VX-R 2-7x33 in low Leupold rings.
Cartridge: .375 Ruger
Brass: Hornady
Bullet: Speer 235 grain Hot-Core
Powder: Trail Boss
Primer: CCI 200

I ran a spread of Trail Boss … 23.0 to 27.5 grains. Unfortunately, it took me a couple of shots to get on paper at 50 yards, and I didn’t set my Labradar up on the 50 yard range, so I didn’t get velocities for my first four shots. Then I observed an anomaly: velocity went DOWN as the charges went UP over the remaining five shots!

25.0 grains = 2,231 fps
25.5 grains = 2,109 fps
26.0 grains = 2,035 fps
26.5 grains = read error
27.0 grains = (forgot to rearm the Labradar ... stupid)
27.5 grains = 2,015 fps

Open to theories as to why the velocity dropped, but it seems to me these data are useless. Recoil was mild for a 375 across the spread; felt to me like a .308 driving a 168 grain bullet. I might try again, but maybe not. If these data can be interpreted at all, it would seem there might be a node between 26.0 and 27.5 grains (only a 20 fps velocity spread). I might load up three each at 26.0, 26.5, and 27.0 and shoot for groups at 50 yards to test accuracy. Not worth shooting at 100, as POI with Trail Boss was more than a foot lower than full-power Varget loads.

I don’t really have a need to shoot super light loads in .375 Ruger, even though a 235 grain bullet at 2,000 fps would be a dandy deer round. If I do decide to try for a reduced load, I might try H4895 with a heavier bullet.