I am interested in getting any feedback you may have on use of the 375 Ruger Magnum on Cape Buffalo. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Blood Pumper:
I am interested in getting any feedback you may have on use of the 375 Ruger Magnum on Cape Buffalo. Thanks!

The 375 Ruger shoots the exact same .375" bullets as the .375 H&H. Enough said.

Basically, all of the collected experience of the 375H&H applies to the 375 Ruger. That is alot. There is probably more written on the 375 and buffalo on this site and the rest of the internet than any other bullet size.

What does the 375 Ruger bring to the game?
Well, other things being equal, you should be able to handload the 375Ruger 25-30 fps faster than the H&H because of a marginally larger case capacity. (At velocity levels of 2500-2800fps, such an increase will disappear between margins of error in chronographs and variance between rifles.)

What else does the Ruger bring?
It can be found in some relatively solid, inexpensive, controlled-feed hunting rifles like the Ruger Alaskan, Ruger African and Ruger Guide gun models. A little tinkering can usually turn those into MOA shooters. The new triggers are on the heavy side but clean and appropriate for a heavy Dangerous Game calibre. I've got one as a platform for a 500AccRel Nyati. I am quite happy with it.

If someone wants a short rifle, the Alaskan provides 20" models. For 23" models there is the African. For NorthAmerica I can't think of a more balanced cartridge design. Very very nice. I would say the same for Africa except that I'm partial to the 416Rigby. That feels more like an ultimate African cartridge in the palm of my hand. The only downside for a 375 Ruger or custom-loaded 416 is the supposed problem in replacing ammunition. I've never had a problem losing ammunition, and I don't let fear dictate my calibre or bullet choice. I prefer shooting my own loads in my own rifles.

Finally, and most importantly, the 375 Ruger is legal for buffalo in some places (like Tanzania) where lesser calibres of 9.3 or 338 are not legal. The 375 Ruger would make a great plains game rifle with plenty of reach for impala or eland, and be legal minimum for buffalo. I don't say "adequate" for buffalo anymore because I actually feel that most shoulder-held rifles need to be viewed as inadequate. It is only the hunter who makes a rifle 'adequate' through practice and judgement in calling the first shot. Then again for followup, I personally want more than a 375. That makes the 375 an ideal 'light' rifle for Africa since it is also legal for buffalo.

The .375 Ruger is a capable round for all African DG. I used Hornady factory solids on a buff, they performed fine. My PH, who has culled & hunted many elephants over the years, uses the .375R as his carry gun in Moz.

Thanks for your feedback. I like the concept of the short magnum case but appreciate the feedback from those with actual experience.

I'll throw another variable into the mix - that being the rifle's action length.

The 375 & 416 Ruger cartridges were designed to properly function in the traditional standard action length having a 3.4" magazine length. The 375 H&H cartridge was designed to properly function in the traditional standard long, aka: standard magnum, length action having a 3.6" magazine length.

Modern actions have lengthened the magazine length of each BR basically 0.015" to 0.050" in internal length. Not much but it does allow each cartridge to be handloaded slightly longer than their CIP/SAAMI cartridge specification.

Also, each cartridge can be chambered in the next the next size up action length - the 375 Ruger in the standard long action with 3.6"+ magazine length and the .375 H&H in the magnum action length (such as the longer CZ 550 Magnum action with it's 3.8"+ magazine length) which will allow each to be loaded to their maximum reloading potential as each has gained an additional 0.200" magazine length.

So as long as the cartridges are compared apples to apples it's a toss up between the two with the Ruger case always having a slightly greater gross case capacity.

Rimless and with a good looking shoulder design

375 Ruger looks solid

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Originally posted by ted thorn:
Rimless and with a good looking shoulder design

375 Ruger looks solid

Yes it does.

It is the balistic twin of a 375 H&H no more, no less....some folks have spit hairs as the Ruger can conjur up 25 or 50 FPS they say, but not on my chronograph..The 375 Ruger is and excellent well designed round and fully capable of killing Cape Buffalo..

The only problem with the 375 ruger is it has no history!

quote:

Originally posted by oddsix:
The only problem with the 375 ruger is it has no history!

Personally I couldn't care less about a the history of a cartridge
I want something that works well and both 375 Ruger and 375 H&H do that.
They perform very similar and any differences in performance is at best minute and nothing to care about
If any, I think the 375 Ruger is more powder efficient.
I prefer the 375 Ruger because of lack of belt and that it can be used in a standard action.

History and a 5 dollar bill just MIGHT get you a cup of fancy coffee at Starbucks.

What IS history and what is it good for except to learn from and use it to develop better "things"

The 375/416 Ruger cartridge has history going back to the 404 J, 375 cal and ALL the iterations that came after the 375 H&H in the form of the myriad wildcats it spawned. Everybody and their cousins did wildcats of ALL calibers, including thee 375 cal, based on that case.

The only reason we don't have a ton of variations is...no gun maker/ammo maker/component maker... is going to chamber for an oddball that hasn't been proven and even then, very seldom. I only counted 7 .375 cal cartridges in the Hornady 8th Ed, including the Ruger.

If you want the full story go to CH4D and count all the reloading dies for all the cartridges based on that belted case and all the wildcat .375 cals based on that case, the 404 J and all the other big and little cases we have the privilege of playing with.

Ain't no thang wrong with EITHER...pick your poison and get after it. Humans have a penchant for having to "prove" their choices then continually and continuously defend it afterwards...just be glad you HAVE a choice and make one.

to be clear, the 375 ruger is the same as the 375 weathery.. slightly larger than the hh

n that case would it similarly benefit from a 26" barrel?