Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What happened to the 338/375 Ruger?

Just curious as it is gone from Smokelore and no one ever mentions it..... Seems like a very plausible upgrade....

W

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...k_Rick_Bin_Questions_About_t#Post1948586

Found it but could not delete post.... Thanks

W

I remember reading all about it then it sort of died off. It has been four years since Rick built it. Maybe a PM to Rick requesting an update on his rifle is in order. I too would like to hear what has been accomplished with it as well as any new information Rick can share.

Probably not enough demand for it to make it viable.

I asked Rick about it a while back and IIRC he said he hadn't had much time to devote to the project. I would love to borrow his reamer and build one of my own, personally...

Mickey Coleman said he no longer had the reamer.

Back in the early 1900's, the very similar 33 Newton never did get off the ground. I'm not sure if Newton ever did chamber a rifle for it. Ninety years later, it seems the 338/ 375 has achieved only marginally greater success. Perhaps everyone realized that the 338 Winchester already had it covered! GD

GD,

Someone, at some point, must have chambered a .33 Newton... 'Cuz I have a set of dies for it...

BTW... I also have .375 Newton dies...

What powder capacity would the 338/375 Ruger have ?

How much of an increase or decrease in powder capacity would it have wrt the .338Win or the .340Wby ? .338RUM ?

Still very curious ...

I don't know for sure, but would be that it'd have about the same capacity of the .340. Wouldn't it?

It's a heck of a nice elk and big bruin round I'd be for betting.

Dober

I'm thinking along those same lines. Not lookin for Benchrest accuracy, Just a nice rig to have handy, when Mr.Griz comes sniffin around my moose.

Great minds tink alike, n Fools seldom differ ...

Each and every big 33 I've ever worked with has shot incredibly well. I mean balls out scarry accurate!

Dober

That parallels my experience, hence my call sign

Some were off the rack ordinary, and some more refined,
but all put em where I pointed em.

I'm too much of a wimp to punch lots of groups though!

The 338/375 Ruger has been done by quite a few guys. It has almost identical case capacity to the 338 Dakota. Dakota's rim diameter would require enlarging a standard magnum bolt face. The Ruger case is the standard magnum diameter and the brass is less expensive than the Dakota's.

I have considered this wildcat ever since the 375 Ruger came out. I talked to Ben at Hornady I asked about the feasibility of making a 338/375 Ruger. Ben said there would be enough neck remaining after necking down and there wouldn't be a need for any form dies. The two pc hornady FL/seating die would run $165. Pacific Tool and Die can make the reamer for approx $140.

I made a documents file with some comments from others that have been shooting this cartride. Here are two:

"I'm in the early stages of testing a 338/375 Ruger. Weapon is an unmodified Sendero in 300WM rebarreled with a 27 inch, 1-9.0 twist, 1.250-.825 taper Satern barrel.

Here is a current list of data fired, I'll update every few days as I shoot.

All initial 225 Accubond loads use 215M primers and OAL set at 3.510 to use magazine.

nosler 225 accubond

RL-22, 85.5gr, 3146 fps (close to max in my weapon)

IMR 7828, 83.5gr, 3067 fps (low pressure compared to RL22 load)

H4831SC, 82.5gr, 3021 fps (primers slightly flat)

Still have Hybrid100V and few others to test.

300 sierra matchking OAL changed to 3.650, still 215M primer

IMR 7828, 75.0gr, 2623 fps (initial 300 gr load, would like to make 2700 fps before overpressure)"

--------------
"I just finished my 338-375 ruger rifle. And have been quite impressed. Using a Howa 1500 action with a 26" 1:8 twist lawton barrel. My load work up is 93 gr. Vihta Vouri N570. Hornady 250 hollow point boat tail. Its chrono speed was 3120. Minimal pressure signs were seen."

Az - Thx for the info !

Please keep the updates coming

I really like the ruger case design and think the 33 would be a good adaptation on a rem action. It leaves room in the mag to play with seating depths and set those long pointy 33's out a bit.

Bb

My only reservation with this case conversion is the short neck.

I'm thinking more of using a CRF action, perhaps just a rechamber on a .338Win

Any new info on the 338/375 Ruger ?
PTG is making me a reamer. I will be rechambering a Stainless Ruger barrel to start with. It does surprise me that this round hasn't taken off more than it has. It will do to the 338 Win Mag what I've always wanted. A 300 gr bullet to 2600 fps from a 24" barrel . And probably 2700 fps with a 28" .
General Alaskan big game rifle that can also be chucked up in a dedicated long range rifle. I'm buying the reamer so that all my chambers are identicle. I had. 3" more freebore made into the reamer than the 338 RCM has. So that I can maximize my case capacity if I find a magnum length action I will be able to load to a 3.6" oal. And I can always load to the max mag box length with a standard length. 3.34+" oal. When I used to shoot the 300 gr Barnes Originals in the Win Mag I had to seat the bullets too deep because they would jam into the lands as the ogive was pretty long on that bullet.
Anyway, I'm pretty excited about the project and getting a 338 rifle back to work. As I live in the Interior now. The rifle will probably mostly kill caribou. I'm going to put a Muscle Brake on it and an SWFA SS 3-9�42 scope on the 24" barreled rifle. Sight in for 200 yards and I'll be pretty good to 300 yards then I can range and dial or use the mil quad reticle. Also the 24" barrel should give the velocity to use the 250 gr Scenar out to 1 k.
I have a Zytel canoe paddle stock to start with but plan to put a Boyd's JRS Classic stock on the 24"
I remember when Ross Seyfreid did an article or more on the 330 Dakota and at the time I thought about reaming out one of my 338 s but never did. Now with the 375 Ruger brass available it looks like I can get the velocity I want without having to go with extreme case forming, ala 338 RUM 2.5 . Or an expensive magnum length reciever to build a 340 Weatherby.

You are in wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy over your head and now would be a good time to stop.

For conversation every L/A 700 ever made,is "Magnum" length. Hint.

Really enjoyed the Throating Geometry Tutorial!..................

Muscle Brake sounds painful.