Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 30-375 ruger

I'm interested in trying my first wildcat and would like some feedback from someone who's actually built one of these. From the reamer drawings I've seen it has about 5-6 grains more capacity than a 300 win mag but the neck is even shorter, closer to 25 caliber so how much of the extra space is actually usable. Was thinking of shooting 180 grain tsx, out of about a 24 inch barrel. Anyone have an idea of the real world velocity?

Why only a 24inch bbl? Even my close range Dangerous Game rifle, 416 Rigby, carries a 25 and my hot rod 25-30's have always had 26-28 inches of tube. If you want mega speeds, give the powders some room to burn in.

I am also very intrigued by this particualr wildcat idea and hope you build one (WITH an approporiate barrel....) . It would be close if not identical to the old 30 NEWTON which was a great idea that came along before apporopriate powders allowed it to really shine.

Kwk1977,

My .375 has a 28" barrel. I have heard that long barrels get caught on brush. For about twenty-five years I actually have been looking to see it get caught on brush. It bumped something one time about 2" from the end.

I'd have no qualms about a 24 inch barrel. Concerning velocity you're going to find 300 Weatherby exterior ballistics, or thereabouts. The 30-375 Ruger has been on my back burner for several years, but I just can't see it getting high enough on my list of things to try to ever see the light of day in my safe.....

My experience as well. 25-28 inch barrels all over the world and no troubles with them, ever. Let them ponies RUN, Says me.

I like a 24" pipe and thats what i run on my 300 rum. I also get 3300+ fps with a 180gr bullet. I cant imagine running a tube any longer than 26" on a hunting rifle and preferably shorter.
I also cant see a reason to build a 30-375 ruger when the 300 ultra, 300 win mag are available.

I like a 24" pipe and thats what i run on my 300 rum. I also get 3300+ fps with a 180gr bullet. I cant imagine running a tube any longer than 26" on a hunting rifle and preferably shorter.
I also cant see a reason to build a 30-375 ruger when the 300 ultra, 300 win mag are available.

I'd be the last person to talk someone out of a wildcat,and understand the attraction of wanting to try something little different,even if it doesn't make "sense". This is all about fun and games.

But the cartridge already exists in factory form;they call it the 300 Dakota...so close hard to tell the difference.

Also, the 375 Ruger derives from a very old cartridge that predates the 300 H&H;your wildcat is actually a 30 Newton.

Hi Kwk 1977,
If you do this up right, you will have smoke rolling out of your ears. This Ruger is one tough case to work over.

1. You can only work it 0.050" at a draw, max., through the very best ground and polished dies.

2. You must put the new taper in before the shoulders.

3. You will gain any reasonable length, by forming down from the basics, but that entails $500+ worth of case forming dies.

3. You really do need to have a good long neck, so return to the top and read the first three over.

4. I played with an extra long 338, made from the full length Ruger basics, and then did a parallel case from my 338 RUMs. Would you believe that at the same 375 H&H length, these two are within 3 grs. of water to their respective case mouths, when formed through the same set of dies.?

5. So if you use a long enough action, you can make a 300 H&H on steroids, and have a good neck length, to boot. These cases will stretch, but they will also chamber slickly, in adverse, situations. I feel that such a wildcat made from the Ruger basics, is the equal of a similar one made from the 338 RUM. Remington must have added extra brass around the inside of it's case head, to support their rebated design.

6. The cheapest way to go is the old P-1917, made by Winchester or Remington. The fanciest is probably the C Z 550 American. And that's the long and short of it, IMO.

7. Lots of luck in pushing back the 375 Ruger's shoulders to make a longer neck, without first reforming to get your new tapers.

8. Ruger and Hornady have out wildcatted the wildcatters with these two new cartridges. And it is more of a legal thing, than the public knows. They had to make a case, for a case, which wouldn't chamber in any 40 Newton rifle.

9. The proprietary 40 Newton's patents, and copyrights, are still in effect, and are now owned by a little dear, named "Jennie". So the result is a Ruger, Hornady, joint project, that doesn't step on her petite little toes. Say Rick Jamison three times and then click your heels together! This takes you right back to the top of this missive, again. But now you know!