Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 375 ruger

I think these were a limited run...

Maybe just dreamed it, however. This is the stock they should have used on the Alaskan all along, IMO!!

Nice looking rig!

Dober

I see a lot of talk about RL-17, and my experience loading for the 375 Ruger was using RL-15. With 74 grains of RL-15 I was getting right at 2750, and a scary small groups.I also used a similar amount of powder for 260 grain Accubonds and Partitions, it shot all 3 veery well. But for some reason to me the 270 TSX seemed about like the perfect combination for that rifle. Only thing I ever killed with the 375 Ruger was a black bear and not a real big one.I used the factory 270 SP. The 375 Ruger sent that poor blackie to bear heaven with the quickness. Devastating killing ability!

I love that stock! Very slick rig and I am jealous they don't offer that for righties......

I have been told that there were 93 of these rifles made and shipped from the factory with this stock. The variation never appeared in a Ruger catalog.

One version of why the odd number of rifles and not appearing in a catalog is that a mistake was made when inletting the stock at the factory, and the wrong barrel channel was carved out. Rather than trash the 93 stocks, Ruger built the rifle as you see above.

Whatever the reason, I like the outcome! I really like how this rifle balances and how the stock feels...the only issue I have is the very thin recoil pad, and the stock is a bit short for me. I added a Limbsaver medium slip-on recoil pad right over the top of the existing factory pad and the LOP is perfect for me.

Manny

I shoulda bought that gun when it was available in the classifieds !! Now I've been waiting 4 months for a 375 Ruger to built on a M700, and I had the barrel and reamer.

BobinNH,

this is the first time i heard a righty want a lefty like rifle but honestly this is really a very good rifle. i like it really and proud to be lefty lol ...at least on the shooting side. lol

This one was a limited run also:

I took my new .375 Ruger to the range today. I had loaded up some RL-15, waiting for more data on rl-17 before trying that powder.



First I used Hornady factory 270 grain to get myself on the paper.

Then I started with my handloads. I was shooting 3 shot groups at 100 yards. This group was 72 grns. of rl-15, with a Barnes 235 grain TSX, WLMR primers, 3-shots at 100 yards. I was looking for a heavy 35 Whelan or light .338 mag. load range. This group measures .975". Three 3-shot groups averaged 1.15". No chrono data yet as I was looking for accuracy, the rest can come later. I think either load will do what I want of it.



Next load was 72 grains of rl-15 again, this time with the Barnes 270 grain TSX, WLMR primers. This measures group .535", three 3-shot groups averaged .68". None were over an inch.



I think my load development is done. Now I have to pull the bullets from the other powder combinations I had loaded.

The recoil was not bad, and much nicer to shoot off the sticks rather than from the bench. Counting the factory rounds to get on paper, I put 30 rounds through the rifle...and that was enough for today.

I will chrono. the loads and sight in on my next trip to the range.

Manny

Good shootin' Manny. Think I'll try some R-15 with some TSXs. Probably stop a tank with that.

I sure do like it as well Bob and it's perhaps one of the few lam's I'd ever buy.

You must have some clout with Ruger talk them into running some for us...grin

Dober

i did some rl-17 and 300 grain hornady development today. found a pretty good load at 82.5 grains and 2688 f/s. i think 82.5 grains behind the 300 grain bullet is as high as i'm going to go. the rest of my development: www.baitshopboyz.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19464&PN=1

i am really, really liking rl-17 in this chambering.

Phil,
The PP Woodleighs in 350 gr. are much tougher than the RN, the RN was specifically designed for herd shooting buffalo and at my request btw so that it would expend a big wide bullet that stopped on the off side skin every time and it does that with regularity..

The PP was Geoffs idea of a 350 gr. 375 bullet and in truth, I have to bow to his experience, it is a better bullet, but it sure isn't as pretty sticking out of the 375 case and remenisent of yesteryear!

I love the 350 gr. RN on elk, deer and most of the African plainsgame, and yes its awesome on herd shooting buffalo, but I use the PP for hunting the dagga boys. Its worlds better on that second and third follow up shot on buffalo as they depart to places unknown..

Here is a thread thats over at accuratereloading some folks have talked about the 375

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4711043/m/9451023911

Geez Dober I dunno anyone over at Ruger......but when I saw that little gun I tried swinging over to the port side which did not work real well as only half my brain works most of the time.....

That rifle just has lots of rugged good looks and practical appeal.....I suppose a guy could get an Alaskan and find out who makes that stock.....no?

Next range report with 375 Ruger and RL17. It was windy, 15 to 20 coming from 10 o'clock. This time I loaded up with some 260 gr Accubonds and the 270 gr TSX:

AB 260 RL17 80.0 3.350 2760
AB 260 RL17 81.0 3.350 2798
AB 260 RL17 82.0 3.350 2849

TSX 270 RL17 80.0 3.285 2692
TSX 270 RL17 81.0 3.285 2714
TSX 270 RL17 82.0 3.285 2753

There were a couple of promising groups, both from the TSX and the Accubonds



Guess I'll keep going up with 83,84 and 85 grains.

Very nice groups at 200 yards!

Chuck

Geez!
I hope my #1 can do that @ 100! Or should I say--"I hope I Can do that @ 100" Now, If I can just get some 17.

Nice shooting. Keep 'er comin', Dude!

Later...

Woods,

Nice shooting...and the fps is getting up there. At 3.285 COL on the TSX, you must be on the first groove towards the leading edge? Are you crimping?

Manny

Nope, no crimping, ~.003" bullet grip. And yes it is right in the middle of the last cannelure. Could crimp, but my experience with crimping is that it leads to a shorter and shorter case when you have to chamfer off the crimp. Maybe that is just with the Lee Factory Crimp though.