375 ruger question

[mrgaf]

Looking for some advice....
I have a chance to pick up a lefty Ruger laminate stainless sporter Hawkeye in 375 Ruger. Sports a 23" barrel and is NIB. Been hearing some talk bout it splitting the tang on the african model. Has Ruger corrected this ( if true)? WhAt are your thoughts on this rifle? Shot one while I was in Alaska and really like it (was the Alaskan/Hogue model). Unfortunately Ruger does not offer it in lefty and the sporter was discontinued a whole back, thus the reason for my concern. As always any and all advice is appreciated.......

 

[Titleist]

I am one of the folks that had a split stock on my African. I don't think you will have any problem if you bed the recoil lug so that you have a very tiny amount of room between the rear of the tang and the stock. On my split stock the rear of the tang touched the wood, and I did not bed the recoil lug before shooting it. The wood in the recoil lug recess compressed a bit and allowed the action to settle to the point that the tang acted like a wedge.
Ruger sent me a nice new stock, but I put it in the closet and bought a HS Precision stock with an aluminum bedding block for hunting. I like the rifle, and the .375 Ruger cartridge.

 

[cornbush]

I have the right handed version of the gun you are looking at , I have had no issues at all.
Wish I could find out how many right handed models were made though.
As a side note I had mine out this weekend and the accuracy is impressive, 100 yards, less than 3/4 inch groups, one group was 3 shots into two holes :shock: , it shoots better than any rifle i own. Shooting from the bench is not exactly fun with this gun, but with some effort you can control the flinches and see what the gun is capable of.

 

[mike-c]

Greetings,

Better get it while you can. I have the Alaskan version with the 20 inch barrel, and the 23 inch barrel will give you the added velocity. Further, there is nothing wrong with the stainless gun, and I have camo painted mine which only helps in the field. The only gun I have with a laminated stock is a Ruger #1 chambered in 416 RCM, and I like it. Also, it is a great caliber to take to Alaska.

Mike 8)

 

[mcknight77]

The laminated stock should be less prone to splitting.

 

[RJ556]

What Titleist said. I recently bought a new Ruger African in 9.3x62mm. It came from the factory, relieved behind the tang. I bedded the recoil lug and have not had nor do I expect any stock splitting problems.

 

[mrgaf]

Thanks for all the advice. Was just about ready to jump on it when I decided to check the availability of ammo here in Hawaii. Nada, none at all and no one is willing to order it. I could reload for it but question if that would be worth upgrading from my 300 win mag stainless left Hawkeye. Decisions decisions......

 

[Footedshaft]

I also have the right handed model and it has become my go to rifle this year. I glass bedded it and added a recoil pad and have had no problems. I took this 6 ft blackie on father's day morning and just returned from a successful caribou hunt with my son. This thing is a keeper...

 

[Titleist]

... the availability of ammo here in Hawaii. Nada, none at all and no one is willing to order it. ...

Cabelas, Midway and Natchez all have it in stock. My local Cabelas store keeps it on the shelf. Hornady Dangerous Game is the only factory ammo of which I am aware. I load my own and would suggest that most would benefit from lighter loads for practice. The cost of factory ammo for bigger rifles is fairly high, but handloading makes the cost much more tolerable.

 

[txpitdog]

I have had no problems with my laminate Alaskan. As it was said to when I asked the same question, you are unlikely to have problems with the laminate stock...but if you do, where are you going to get another lefty laminate stock? I'd probably just slap a McMillan on if mine broke, but I haven't heard of anyone having problems with the laminate.

Even though I have the Alaskan and two 378 Weatherby's, somehow this 23" sporter laminate fills a niche I know I can't live without.

 

[mrgaf]

I also have the right handed model and it has become my go to rifle this year. I glass bedded it and added a recoil pad and have had no problems. I took this 6 ft blackie on father's day morning and just returned from a successful caribou hunt with my son. This thing is a keeper...

Good Golly Miss Molly :shock: ..... CONGRATULATIONS! Where in God's last frontier where you. Alaska is truly beautiful but what a site your location was..... Only those who have walked the Alaskan hills and valleys can appreciate the effort that goes into any hunt, successful or not (tussix (spelling) aint the easiest thing to walk on, rite :lol: ). I just pulled the trigger on the 375 laminate sporter, 23" lefty. Can;t get ammo here in Hawaii but found out that Bud's will ship some for a reasonable price. Will roll my own sometime this winter...... By the way, where did you get your Bu? Found out the migration south started around the 29th close to the White Mountains (Brooks Range?). Harvest was pretty good according to the amount of trailers sporting the racks! Again, congrats!

 

[Footedshaft]

Thanks,
I was hunting in unit 16b for the bear and the Bou were both taken off the Maclaren River. It was my 10 year olds first bou and his 2nd big game animal(black bear last year). Weather was awful and packed my bou 1.5 miles and my sons .5 mile out across the tundra and you're right, nothing easy about walking in that stuff...but the memories with my son are priceless!
Back to the 375, rolling your own is the way to go. I settled on Barnes 250 gr. ttsx and RL17 for a muzzle velocity of 2900 fps. Others are having great success with the 260 gr Accubonds as well. With the high bc's and the extra velocity from the 23 inch barrel you can reach out touch something with a big thumper!
Hope you enjoy yours as much...

 

[Titleist]

I could get the Barnes to shoot OK (not great but plenty good enough), and naturally the loads that I have chronographed were a fair bit slower than their manual lists. Mine likes mid-level charges of RL 15 and 300 grain Partitions.

 

[txpitdog]

71.5gr Reloader 15 and 300gr Sierra Game Kings are accurate in my rifle. Haven't tweaked them further as they work good enough as is. This load is about 2gr under max.