Loads
Any good .375 Ruger Loads? Looking for some good starter loads plus some lead free loads most likely using the 250 gr GMX.

The Gun
When did Ruger produce the 20" Stainless black syn. stock 375 Rugers and call them African? I thought all African models were 26" barrel blued with a wooden stock? After looking for a couple of months for a used Alaskan model Gallery of Guns came up with a three day sale price at my LGS was $648 they showed a original list price of $1279, I grabbed one up fast and I see all the ones they had are gone now. Cant tell from the pictures but the Hogue stock looks decent. The gun also comes with a break but I am not crazy on how it looks, but will shoot it some to see how I like it.

I used 80 gr Big Game with the 235 gr Speer and also the 260 gr Accubond and 78 gr of the same powder with the 300 gr Accubonds. Did some work as well with the 235 gr Speer and IMR 3031 which was decent. Trail Boss will make some nice low recoil practice loads.

Gerry

How fast did the 260 gr AB run?

In my 375 Ruger Guide Gun with the 20" barrel I have two loads that work well and are accurate:
1. 78.5grs. of RL17 with a 300gr. Nosler Accubond chronographed at 2590fps. averaged with a 1/2" 3-shot group at 100yds.

2. 73.0grs. of RL17 with a Woodleigh 350gr. PP chronographed average 2391fps. Just under an 1" 3-shot group at 100yds.
Both loads use Winchester Large Rifle Magnum Primer and bullets seated 3.385" COAL with a Lee factory crimp die used.

Actually the African in Ruger website is a blued 23" barrel length with walnut stock. Ruger made a special run for CDDN Sports with a limited run of Ruger African 23" stainless laminate stock in right and left hand models.
Ruger now replaced the Alaskan model with the Ruger Guide Gun which is the stainless 20", laminate stock with the muzzle break option.

So my 20" stainless with hogue syn stock is a Davidason special...

Then you must have the Alaskan model if it is a stainless 20"barrel with Hogue rubber stock. When Ruger produced the Alaskan it came in stainless or stainless with black coating action/barrel with Hogue rubber stock.

It ran 2750 fps from a 20" barrel, the 235 gr Speer clocked the same. I did go higher, Nosler says you can go to 82.5 gr but groups opened up. Don't have the gun anymore but it was amazingly accurate and the gun functioned great. I never did end up chronographing the 300 gr load but I expect it would have been in the 2600 fps range and also very accurate.

I use 76 gr. R15, 260 Accubond. It will stay inside an inch for 3 shots at approx. 2750 in my LH 20" stainless.
Good luck

Two of my friends use RL 15, one with the 260 gr Partition and the other with the 260 gr Accubond, no complaints from either of them. Same speed too.

Have several lbs. of RL15 & RL17 so looks like I am in good shape for reloading.


Dies are on the way so I just need brass now

Have several lbs. of RL15 & RL17 so looks like I am in good shape for reloading.


Dies are on the way so I just need brass now

I think you will be just fine with those two. Don't think I have ever heard of a Ruger 375 Ruger not being a shooter. Many of them seem to think they are varmint guns, it will be neat to see how it all works for you.

Anyone use IMR4350? I'm starting to workup a load for an AK grizzly hunt next year. Bullet suggestions? I'm hearing bad report on Hornady bullets & loaded ammo.

My coworker tried IMR 4350 in his 375 Ruger Guide Gun. It didn't do as good as Reloader RL17.We both found RL17 works good in our 375 Ruger Guide Guns. As far as bullets, we have loaded the 300gr. Nosler Accubonds with sub moa groups. We have both used that as our elk and deer load. I have a loaded the a Woodleigh 350gr. PP bullet with just under an inch at 100yds. This is a load for dangerous game and stuff that bites back. At the range for bear or dangerous game the Woodleigh 350gr.PP steps up the 375 up in class. Almost up with the 416 caliber class. Midway USA or Huntington Die Specialties sells Woodleigh bullet.
Good luck on your bear hunt and look forward to hear about the hunt!

Sent you a PM.

old willys,

I own a Ruger Hawkeye African, which has a 23" blued barreled action and wood (now McMillan) stock.

I have had great success with both Barnes 270 gr. TSX and 250 gr. TTSX bullets, on a variety of game from little springbok antelope to Sable, Asian Water buffalo, and African lion.
My load with the 270 gr. Barnes is 81.0 gr. of Big Game, with a MV of 2800 fps. The 250 gr. TTSX is ahead of 83.0 gr. of H414, which gives a MV of 2880 fps. This load could be pushed faster, but I stopped at 83 gr. because of great accuracy at that level.

Thanks Bighorn, I have not been able to get Big Game in two years and am running low but will keep that load for future use. I actually emailed RAMSHOT 3 times the past two years and they keep saying soon....
I do have do H414 I will try some.

I never used IMR 4350 but can't imagine why it wouldn't work. As for the bullet, without a doubt the 260 gr Accubond. I shot one grizzly with them and put one into my friends grizzly at last light right after he shot so it wouldn't make the bush. Killed a blackie with them too, one of my other buddies has also taken grizzly and black bear with them too.

I tried the H414 loading, because my supply of Big Game was running very low. I have no reason to believe it would not work equally well with the Barnes 270 gr. TSX bullet.
Right now, I have around 100 rounds loaded up with 270 gr. TSX's and the last of Big Game powder supply, so I am set to go for a long time.

Davidsons recently got a run of 20" stainless 375s in hogue stocks that were labeled as Africans. They look like the old Alaskans but the have muzzle breaks. I think they just took guide rifles and put them in hogue stocks. They are labeled as Africans though. I bought one on the sale last weekend.

RL 15 built up a good reputation for accuracy and decent velocity. Then RL 17 came around and folks were getting highest velocities ever heard and then ensued endless discussion of exceeding pressure, blah blah blah. But it can still be as accurate at RL 15 is.

I've personally pushed 270 grains over 2800 ft/s and 300 grains over 2600 ft/s with RL 17 with what may have been too high of pressure, but I don't really know. The bolt turn came just as easy as it did with midrange loads. I can say that RL 17 tends to be more accurate with fuller cases and RL 15 is still accurate with less than max loads.

my 2c on the brake is that it should be helpful for practice but; I would leave it off (install optional thread protector) for hunting. To much potential for hearing damage to yourself and anyone standing near. I dont care for the whole idea on a sporting rifle. Maybe a macho thing, just dont like them on general principle. I am sure there is a practical side for range use, load development and practice.

That 20" hogue seems like a very useful configuration regardless of the name. Should be a sweet handling 375.

H380 and a 250 grain Barnes TTSX at 2750 fps works well in my Alaskan. Flattop_Johnny from this site used H4350 in his rifle with very good results.