Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger No. 3 in .375 Win

The deer rifle and big bore crowds suggested that I pose my questions here, so here it goes:

Any of you using them for deer?

I have found one in a Ruger #3 wearing a Leopold Rifleman 3x9x50 for $700.

Gun is in great condition. Should I pass on it at that price or get it? Thanks,

Jon

Buy the rifle and sell the scope.

Sell the rings to. No one needs rings tall enough for a 3x9x50 on Ruger number 3. That scope would look like crapola on a Ruger 3 IMO.

And change the barrel for a 25-35. That's what I'm doing, but probably not what you had in mind.

More details to follow.

Steve

Thanks guys...just not familar with the round and its use as a deer round.

Think of it as a high pressure version of the .38-55. It runs the same bullet 300-400 fps faster.

Unless you know what it is and have the bug pretty bad for one, I'd probably steer you away from it. I wouldn't recommend it at all for the non reloader. Ammo is getting fairly scarce. Even brass takes a while to find at times. One of these days there won't be any more made. If you do buy it, pick up 4-5 bags of 50 and set about 3 of those aside for a rainy day.

Tom

I have a #3 in 375win , mine has a long throat. I like it in the rimmed cartridge. I've thoughts of switching it to something else.

It is a hoot to shoot.

Do you deer hunt with it? how is the recoil...thanks

It kills deer just fine. I have used it in handgun form in both contender and encore platforms and have it in an encore carbine barrel as well. Last deer that fell to the encore pistol was about 150 yards and hit the dirt where he stood. I think it kills as well as a lot of other larger calibers and it is easy to shoot. I had a #3 back in the 70's that I regret selling but that gun with the curved plastic butt plate did kick a bit harder that my encore carbine. I shot a lot of 38-55 level loads in it. Funny thing is the deer just did not notice the difference and died just as quick.

With 38-55 load level it's a pussycat, load them up, and there is some recoil . Shot lot's of cast bullets from my number 3.

If sourcing brass is an issue you can fire form 30-30 brass. Just watch the top loads . 30-30 brass is thinner then .375 Win Brass. Fireformed 30-30 brass may not handle the pressure of top .375 Win loads. Probably more of a concern if you were using fireformed brass in a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336.

As with most larger calibers cast bullets are a very viable option.

Flyer

I really like the round. Found some RN cast bullets that my #3 particularly likes + factory fodder. I've even explored rebarreling a Rem 788 30-30 to 375W providing a 3 round mag capacity.

Awesome cartridge and a great rifle. Ebay is the place for the scope and mounts.

I've got a mauser that was retubed with a #3 barrel in 375 win. I love it. I also read an article a few years ago in a bear hunting magazine by a Larry Lightner where he stated he was planning a Savage bolt gun in the cartridge, but I've not ben able to find anywhere if he did it or not.

Savage actually made a handful of 99's chambered in 375 Winchester but I believe they're priced in the $k catagory.

The 788 can be found in 30-30 and since the 375 case is derived from a 30-30 the magazine & bolt face should work just fine

Tell me this wouldn't make a dandy deep woods, soggy boggy bottom, gully/gulch gun!!!



This would have to qualify for the rifle looney thread over in hunting rifles.