Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 416 Ruger Do I want one?

I have had my fill of medium bore rifles and now looking to expand into something bigger. The 416 Ruger caught my interest in a Guide Gun model that has a brake. I know next to nothing about the caliber just looking to skip over the 375 Ruger/H&H since I have a 9.3x62 since it is suppose to replicate the 375? So that leaves me a 416 or 458 win mag. Any suggestions.

I am having the same quandary as you. I have a 416 Ruger on loan but I already have a 9.3x62, 375 Ruger and a 458. But it is a great rifle and cartridge and almost perfect in my opinion for a serious bear hunter or guide.

How's the recoil with the brake? Do you have any issues finding components for it? Thanks.

The break on the 375 Ruger Guide Gun makes it pleasure and fun to shoot. I have not tried shooting it without the break. With the soft recoil pad and break rifle comes back on target fast with little muzzle rise. I would guess the 416 would be the same.

With the brake on it feels like maybe a 7 mag or heavy 30-06 load. Certainly not bad. And I found a few boxes of ammo locally and already had plenty of 416 bullets.

Hows the accuracy with the 416, seems the 375's shoot very well. 416 have any accuracy issues? Otherwise looks like I will end up getting one. Thanks.

I shot the one I have in three different stocks, including one of the old canoe paddle stocks and three shot groups were never over 1 1/4" @ 100 yards and usually under 1"

I can appreciate the dilemma. I have a couple of boxes of 416 Ruger brass that I purchased years ago, with the thought of buying or having one built. I still bounce the idea around, semi-frequently. Problem being, I have become very fond of the 375 Ruger cartridge, have a few rifles chambered in it; and a couple are my favorites. I also have a 416 Rem Mag, a 458 Win Mag, a few 375 H&H's, a few lesser bores; but my actual using rifles are 375 Ruger and 338 Win Mag. Of course, use has nothing to do with want or pleasure in having. My gun safe is a testament to that!
And to add to the convolution of the above; when mentally wrestling with the 416 issue, someone once mentioned to me, perhaps the 458 Win Mag is the perfect 416.

I think I'm going to go with the 416 Ruger in a Ruger Guide Gun. Think it will round out my battery.

I have been considering a 416 Ruger for a while now, as well. How about going with a Howa 1500 (24" barrel model) chambered in 375 Ruger and having Clearwater rebore, neck, and throat to the .416 caliber? This would keep costs and time down and allow me to go with a "standard" after-market Howa stock.

Better yet, why not find a 'donor' M70 magnum (7mm, 300 Win, etc) and rebarrel it to .416 Ruger? Benefits are a true CRF action, and plenty of choice in aftermarket stocks.

The above is the route I took for both my .375 Ruger and .416 Ruger.

A build would definitely be most satisfying but in terms of time and money, A Ruger Guide gun can be purchased for 900ish and have all the desirable features I want like the brake, CRF, strong action, with a stainless barrel. Hard to beat it for that price and the turn around time is instant. Not to mention Ruger designed the cartridge so might as well use their rifle as well to go with it?

If you are looking at a 416 and are asking for input, my two cents:

I'm partial to the 416 Remington, and prefer a worked over short barrel M70 Classic. But, if I didn't have so much 416 Rem stuff piled up as I do, and was starting from scratch with an out the box rifle, I'd likely go the factory M77 route if in need of a hard use 416. Big bang for the buck! It would never be a high-pinky refined rifle, but it fits the bill for a rough duty workhorse. So for the dollars spent, the M77 would be a good choice if you want a reliable 416 out the box.

Reality though, we likely do not need a 416 for anything. I personally enjoy a non-magnum 9.3x62 so much, that even if I were off tomorrow to shoot cape buffalo, I'd likely leave my 416 behind and take my 9.3 instead. I'm keeping my 416, but if it were gone, I doubt I'd replace it with another. I'd prefer to spend that money for more trigger time on the 9.3 and more trips to shoot big and large game. But, even that is a want and not a need. So if you want a 416, that guide gun should be a dandy!

Best

I had my .375 Ruger & .416 Ruger built on M70 actions well before I got my hands on my first 9.3x62. Like Gary stated, if they (.375 and .416) were gone, I doubt I'd replace them. For every time I've pulled the trigger on either the .375 or .416, I've pulled the trigger on the 9.3x62, 10 times.

I realize it won't get fired as much as the others therefore a build is harder to justify. Now if I win the lottery....hmmm? I intend to do a brown bear, cape buffalo, and water buffalo hunt down the road so looking for a cartridge that will handle all the above. I'm sure a 375 H&H would do fine but already owning the 9.3 and then understanding that in Africa the minimum is a .375 although they allow the 9.3 in some places? Maybe not the correct information?

Today, I resolved my dilemma, an interest, and a quandary. I purchased a 416 Ruger Alaskan. I have had brass for it for 5 years, so I guess this thread nudged me over the edge.
I really need to stay away from these forums!

Will love to see how you get it set up when I make it back to the valley this winter.
I have been playing "Barbie dolls" with mine and dressing it in a slimmed down Hogue, old canoe paddle stock, my son's McMillan and the factory wood "African" stock.

Phil,
When you get back to this thriving metropolis, you definitely need to stop by. I did make significant improvements on those two "custom" 375 Rugers. Think you will like the outcome. Also added a couple of more factory 20 inchers. I added a McMillan hunter stock to one 20" and I am Very fond of it, has been my moose rifle. My son got stationed at Wainwright and he latched onto the non-altered Alaskan for his 4-wheeler/hiking/bush rifle.
I will be adding a McMillan to this 416. And a likely a Meopta R2 1-6x24, 30mm straight tube; or a 1.1-4 of some flavor. The irons are pretty much barrel decorations for my eyes.
I hope, I do not become as fond of the 416 Rugers as I am of the 375 Rugers! If I do, I can see the 416 Rem and the 458 Win Mag finding new homes. Hell, I am already thinking of a 22" barreled 416 Ruger.
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Will love to see how you get it set up when I make it back to the valley this winter.
I have been playing "Barbie dolls" with mine and dressing it in a slimmed down Hogue, old canoe paddle stock, my son's McMillan and the factory wood "African" stock. [/quote]

Congrats on the 416 Ruger! I'm going to end up getting the Ruger Guide Model with removable compensator. This package looks like a winner for me.

Post back with some load data when you start loading it up?

Thanks, your thread renewed my interest in this cartridge. I went with the discontinued Alaskan. I plan to replace the stock with an aftermarket. But, I am becoming pretty hyped about this cartridge and just may use this rifle for this hunting season. I have never been to fond of the Hogue, but one can not make them any uglier from use; and by all accounts they are tough.
If I use it this year, I may just go with the factory Hornady 400gr DSX. The trajectory of this bullet does not limit me, since I hunt in tight areas. It also appears the DSX holds together pretty good at close range impacts. But, my preference at this time would be a 350 TSX. I will be starting at ground Zero as to loading and relying on others' experiences.
I did handle a Guide Model, and think that platform is a plus if one is giving thought to a muzzle brake. Which may not be a bad idea.
I am pretty sure that this will not be my only 416 Ruger.

I think those canoe paddle stocks are the toughest that there are. And if they were not a tad too long for my LOP, and if I could get a Decelerator Pad with appropriate LOP; I would have no hesitation about them on my Rugers. That is one tuff-ass stock and I have no issues with its looks.
The Hogue is a bit fat and maybe a tad too grippy for me. But, I do use them on 10/22's and when rainy I do appreciate them. I may see if the LOP can be cut to fit and Decelerator added to this one. The fat, I can live with but the grippy and being too long for me to shoulder quickly sucks for me. I have a growing collection of un-altered ones.
The McMillans in my LOP, I certainly like.
I also like the standard laminated ones (non-lop adjustable). I like the green color and checkering on the Guide Rifle.
Quiet frankly, due to the wait time and cost, I am looking for other avenues than just the McMillans. Hell, I can choke down the cost, but the wait time is what it is. Too bad no one picked up the Pacific Research / Rim Rock manufacturing. That stock I Really like.

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Will love to see how you get it set up when I make it back to the valley this winter.
I have been playing "Barbie dolls" with mine and dressing it in a slimmed down Hogue, old canoe paddle stock, my son's McMillan and the factory wood "African" stock. [/quote]

Here's my .416 Ruger and I'm very happy with it. Gary Goudy stocked it for me. As can be seen,it has no brake and it seems to me to recoil about like a lightweight, heavy loaded .375 H&H. I haven't shot anything with it yet so I guess I'll have to pay Phil a visit one of these days. It's the top rifle.

TT

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That is a very fine looking 416 as is the other rifle. Mine are Alaskan utility grades, as are all of my rifles. But, I certainly do appreciate the beauty of the fine blue, wood, and checkering!

ID: Regarding the "grippiness" of the Hogue over molded stock, after a week in the dust of Zimbabwe, it all but disappeared. What I really like about it is how the rubber deadened the sound of twigs scraping the stock when "hoovering" 40 yards from a herd of nyati looking for a hard bossed bull. The metal pillars are a plus. If you do not like the rubber coating, take it off with a block plane like Phil Shoemaker has illustrated on another thread.

I guess my question would be do I want a Rigby, or a Ruger?

I do agree that the sound deadening is a plus. I have replaced the Hogue's on my 2ea 375Rugers with fiberglass and the one on my son's. But, do have one in factory issue Hogue. My son began using this one as his hiking/4-wheeler rifle this year. His previous walk-about bush-rifle was a 45/70 guide rifle stainless and walnut with 430 to 460 grain hard cast bullets. He really likes the Marlin, but rifles take a pretty good beating under these conditions. And I suggested the Hogue stocked "spare", due to my opinion of at least theoretically higher reliability of the bolt over the lever and do not think the Alaskan would suffer from diminished looks or function.
Anyways with all that said, his use of the over molded kindled my interest in the stock; as this thread did my interest in the 416 Ruger. Long story short, I am going to see if the Hogue LOP can be reduced a 1/4" with a Decelerator added. If so, add a low powered scope and call it good enough for now.

I still have a NIB 416 Alaskan in the safe if anyone is looking for one. $799 + $25 to ship.

Yes it can be reduced. I called Hogue on this matter and they said they would reduce the LOP for $84.00. So it can be done.

TSQ, Im envious, those are two beautiful rifles.

ID: Look at the NECG receiver sight for Ruger 77 if you want to remove the scope for bear protection. Existing front sight is tall enough. A lot easier to dry out a bolt compared to a lever but lever is faster for multiple shots.

700xcr, Thanks for the info.

bobmn, I do like levers and have 45/70's in a SS and a blued model, both with the barrels cut to 20". I have packed the blued model a few miles, the stainless not so much. Both have ghost ring type sights. And several years ago, when the eyes were younger; I was pretty fond of packing them around when hiking.

But, I none-the-less feel more confident in the bolt. One reason is obviously familiarity. And the other is function due to the collection of vegetation debris finding its way into every possible place when pushing through brush. I have found no matter how much effort I put into protecting the actions from debris, it still finds its way to places it should not be. Alder/willow/spruce, leave/twig/bud bits, bark; fern pieces, grass seeds, etc/etc tend to wind up inside and in between areas of moving parts.

To me the bolt is easier to clean of debris. The water issue is about guaranteed daily during moose season; and is to be expected any day/anytime. I keep the barrel taped, remove the bolt and ammo, wipe down for the night and expect the same each day.

I have detachable mounts on pretty much all my rifles, even the slick barreled ones. But, have never removed a scope when hunting. I much prefer a low powered/wide field of view/ bold reticle scope to sights. Anything .338 and above, have either 1.1-4's, 1-6's, or 1.5-6's and I am comfortable with them in close cover.

I consider bear encounters every time I am outdoors. Likely not to happen nor end in an unfavorable way, but is a possible. I usually hunt/camp alone, so I try not to be paranoid but do give serious consideration. The differing of circumstances, skills, and opinions, as to the ability multiple shots and/or even an accurate single shot in a surprise close range and hostile encounter; I will leave to others to debate.