Picked up my 375 Ruger this evening and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not one of the elusive 20" sporter models from 2008 as I had previously thought. Instead, it is a lefty version of the matte/lam African currently/recently on Ruger's website!

I suppose the 20" sporter might be more rare/collectible, but all I wanted was a shooter. So, I am first grateful that the powers that be at Ruger allowed another run of the lefty matte laminates to be produced, and secondly plenty happy with the little extra velocity the 23" African barrel will offer.

Mine will wear the 2x7x32 Vortex Viper that currently resides on my lefty matte/lam Hawkeye 30-06. Vortex has a hell of a warranty, so we'll find out whether I need to use it here pretty soon.

My only quandary is whether to bed the action. The laminate stock "should" be stronger, but I don't want such a rare (for now) rifle to get damaged like the walnut African models are prone to doing.

And of course, pics on the way!

Oh, P.S. - Davidson's showed 18 of these in stock as of 5pm CST today...but they sure as hell weren't listed for the $676 I paid for mine.

Bedding the action is like carrying a pistol. If you have it and don't need it, everything is fine. If you don't have it and do need it, things aren't so good.

My plan, anyway...

Dennis

I called Ruger and asked if they would warranty the stock if it broke, They said they would if I did not modify it.

I then asked if they had any replacement LH laminate stocks they didn't so I bedded it.

Is your new LH rifle Matte Stainless? Does it have the nice open sights? Please post pics would like to see differences from the early LH SS 375 Rugers.

Interesting, looking forward to the pictures.

Here it is! I am going to put the scope on this weekends, but that post and big ol' front dot might just score a hog Saturday morning. 270gr Hornady Superformance connected to the pig bone should mean a good amount of sausage in the freezer.

Oooooh. Purdy.

That is nice, mine is a early 20" without the barrel swivel mount! Went to Davidsons and they have them priced right, other lefties better hurry.

I was wrong again. It is a 20" barrel with the African sight. I'll just shut up now....

Can you measure the length of the front end for me? I have a 20" barrel .338 RSM, and it has a standard-length stock -- which is too long in my opinion. Looking at your pictures, it strikes me that the stock length is properly applied (if on the wrong side ) rather than too long.

Might be just viewpoint, but seems that way.

Dennis

They sure are nice guns, those guys that were price gougeing must be ticked now that Ruger made another run Makes sense they would make more it seems like there was quite a demand for them, the guy that imported mine into Canada had a long waiting list and tried to buy as many as he could.

It's identical to my 30-06 except for the barrel, so it may just be the angle used for the pictures. From what you describe, mine is just as jacked up as yours.

OK...thanks. I do agree with you -- it's jacked up... .

Dennis

I'm a lefty and like Rugers too. Just bought a new LH .338 RCM for $500.00 Its not here yet. Any of you shooting the Matte finished blue gun? How is the finish?

TXpitdog

Sweet rifle! If I were one of you 'sinister' people, I would definitely be grabbing one of those. I liked the early ones but the barrel band really adds. That seems like a terrific price for that rifle as well.

Though I'm a .375 BERNIE fan, for a lefty I could definitely live with that (course my No.1H is an "ambi").

Oh yeah, I've put about 500 rounds through my No.1H (almost all heavy/max 300 gr loads) with its Viper 2-7 and have had zero problems. That is a phenonemal hunting scope, IMO.

Big Iron-

I searched and searched just last month for a deal on a LH RCM 338. Best I could do was $599. Plus S+H and a taste to my FFL and it was pretty spendy.

And I was pretty dissappointed when I opened the box and it was high lustre blued. Interested in what you actually recieve.

I also hopped on the bandwagon and snagged a LH 375 SS/Lam. And I may have gotten the new end of the 2nd run, cuz mine was cheaper than the above .338 RCM. Mine looks sweet with matching Zeiss 3-9 silver. This one also has the barrel band.

Hey Jesse,
It was a gun that was listed on GB the last few days. It's Matte finished. I thought it might be used because there was a picture of it out of the box on a rifle stand. The dealer said he took it into his inventory new earlier this year. It's a 20" barrel with sights.

I'm anxious to get it. I was looking at some express sights from New England Custom Gun and thinking I'm gonna set it up with some and give it a go as a hiking around rifle for pigs. Seems like it might be a good setup for that kinda stuff. Its good to make 'em bleed. We hunt in some rugged, hilly, thick stiff and once in a while they'll haul a** on ya even if they're hit good.

I bid $500 and got it for $540 shipped

I can't figure out how to post a picture here.

My Vortex Viper 2x7x32 worked so perfectly on my Hawkeye 30-06 that I was hesitant to take it off. I put a Nikon Monarch UCC 3x9x40 on the '06, and I'm excited about the Viper going on the 375, b/c I plan to load it down like a 375 Winchester just as much as I intend to crank it up to full power.

Really looking forward to trying some of the great bullets for the 375. Will probably test them on hogs during the off season.

I looked at the 2 X 7 Viper and thought it was heavy compared to
the 2 X 7 Redfield Revolution. How much does the Viper weigh?

Listed weight is 13 oz.

That's what I was thinking.

I must be strong! I don't need one of these since I have a LH 416 Rem Mag. Must keep repeating that to myself!

Keep it up.................................Awwwwww just go for it!