The Accurate Reloading Forums
And the chambering for Lipsey's exclusive Hawkeye African for 2019 is...
14 February 2019, 09:24
surefire7And the chambering for Lipsey's exclusive Hawkeye African for 2019 is...
My dealer just told me my (2) will be here next week.

I have (2) 275 Rigbys and (2) 6.5x55s.
There is an expression: two is one, and one is none. I prefer two!
15 February 2019, 16:46
steve505Mine is on the way
16 February 2019, 03:00
Star7I just ordered my 9.3.
What scopes do you folk plan on using?
16 February 2019, 10:42
surefire7quote:
Originally posted by Star7:
I just ordered my 9.3.
What scopes do you folk plan on using?
My all time favorite: Leupold 2.5-8 VX3i (or 3 or III).
17 February 2019, 00:19
Star7As it happens; the 2.5-8X is my favorite as well. thanks
17 February 2019, 03:32
ColoradoMattA fixed power Leupold 2.5x, 3x (now only available from Leupold’s custom shop), or the 4x would all suit me just fine. FWIW, NECG’s aperture sight that fits Ruger’s integral ring mounts is a great option for this type of rifle, as well.
Matt
FISH!!
Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
17 February 2019, 10:31
surefire7quote:
Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
A fixed power Leupold 2.5x, 3x (now only available from Leupold’s custom shop), or the 4x would all suit me just fine. FWIW, NECG’s aperture sight that fits Ruger’s integral ring mounts is a great option for this type of rifle, as well.
For me, if I wanted a smaller, lighter scope, instead of a 2.5x, 3x, or 4x fixed scope, I’d just as soon have a Leupold 1.5-5x VX3i. It’s both lighter & smaller than the 2.5-8, but has a wider power range than the above mentioned fixed powers combined.
Having said that, I still prefer the 2.5-8 on a medium bore. That 8 power can come in handy on some long shots, which are not unreasonable to expect, hunting with a medium. But that’s just me.
Totally agree with the NECG aperture sight for open sights.

17 February 2019, 10:55
cjfosterI bought a VX-5HD 2-10x42 last year that will go on mine with Alaska Arms QD rings. I may switch to an illuminated 1-5 later on.
17 February 2019, 23:49
Star7I have one of the leupold 3X of recent mfg. In the specs it was listed as 3.7X which confirmed my observation. I would use the fixed 4X to get the larger objective. I have one of the 1-5X 24mm illuminated. It is a fine scope but not quite svelte. It works well on my .375 but I think I want something slimmer on the Ruger.
thanks
18 February 2019, 03:41
ColoradoMattquote:
Originally posted by Star7:
I have one of the leupold 3X of recent mfg. In the specs it was listed as 3.7X which confirmed my observation. I would use the fixed 4X to get the larger objective. I have one of the 1-5X 24mm illuminated. It is a fine scope but not quite svelte. It works well on my .375 but I think I want something slimmer on the Ruger.
thanks
+2

Matt
FISH!!
Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
18 February 2019, 05:06
BaxterBquote:
Originally posted by Star7:
I have one of the leupold 3X of recent mfg. In the specs it was listed as 3.7X which confirmed my observation. I would use the fixed 4X to get the larger objective. I have one of the 1-5X 24mm illuminated. It is a fine scope but not quite svelte. It works well on my .375 but I think I want something slimmer on the Ruger.
thanks
George Hoenig used the 4x rimfire scope (parallax adjusted to 100 yds) on his 9.3 x 74 rifles.
21 February 2019, 03:25
AtkinsonIm with Colorado Matt, I like the 3x and 4X Leupold on a hunting rifle, and most of all I love my Leupold Alaskan 2.5X that I have on my pre 64 mod. 70, 270..the varibles are nice sights but I just never felt the need for more power than 4X..I do have a couple of 2x7x28, mostly because they have the same deminsion as the std. 4X Leupold..I also only use Leupolds as a rule with few exceptions over the years.
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
21 February 2019, 09:07
surefire7Tadahhh!
My two Ruger African 9.3x62s came in today. I picked them up from my dealer @ $1,000 each.
They are the ‘normal’ new Africans: blue bolt, black forend tip, sights, barrel band swivel, etc., just exactly like the 275 Rigby and 6.5x55 Swede. What was interesting to me, was the barrel contour. It was the same as the previous two, 275 & 6.5. Very thin. My other Ruger African, made a number of years ago in 9.3x62, had thicker barrels, and of course stainless bolt, no black forend tip, but they did have front and rear sights and barrel band swivels. I held up the barrels of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ Africans, and the difference is plain to see. I then weighed the new African 9.3 and my scales said 6lb. 15oz. This is the lightest Ruger rifle I have ever owned. The barrel is 24”, like the 275 & 6.5. My ‘old’ Africans have 23” barrels (but thicker) and the rifle weighs more. I think the 6lb. 15oz. new rifles come from thinner barrels and a bigger hole in the tube.
Anyway, I LOVE this new African 9.3!!
I’ll be interested in hearing what your new 9.3x62s weigh.
21 February 2019, 20:30
ColoradoMattHoly smokes, that’s light! Now that’s a stalking rifle!
21 February 2019, 20:50
surefire7quote:
Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
Holy smokes, that’s light! Now that’s a stalking rifle!

That weight did not include the scope rings. Perhaps after adding the rings/scope, it might weigh a pound more, depending on one’s choice of scope. Still, a nice light medium bore hunting rig for Africa!
Magazine holds four rounds.
22 February 2019, 07:07
Charles_HelmPicked mine up today and yes it is light. No worries though. Just wish Ruger would put a real recoil pad on these and use select wood...
22 February 2019, 10:29
surefire7quote:
Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
Picked mine up today and yes it is light. No worries though. Just wish Ruger would put a real recoil pad on these and use select wood...
Charles,
Have you weighed it on a scale yet?
22 February 2019, 16:05
Charles_HelmNot yet...if I can remember were I put that scale....?
25 February 2019, 21:10
ColoradoMattI would like one of these rifles, but it will be late summer before I can afford one. Anyone know if total production will be completedby then? Looks like I might have shuck out 2K for one, after the wheels of capitalism has done it’s thing.
Matt
FISH!!
Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
26 February 2019, 04:29
SFRanger7GPPicked up mine today and it is definitely light. Not sure which optic but I have a Swarovski Z3 and a Trijicon without rifles under them. While I was filling out the paperwork, a rep from Lipsey's called the shop and asked them to please take some more (of the Ruger 9.3's)
Safe shooting
LL
27 February 2019, 15:30
buckdeerI was pleased with the weight of my as well hope the next one is a 404 jefferies
27 February 2019, 20:20
416Tanzanquote:
hope the next one is a 404 jefferies
I don't think that Ruger will be doing either a 404 (or a 375 H&H eithrer) when they currently have such great cartridges in their 3.4" platform, like the 416 Ruger and 375 Ruger. Ruger has stayed away from long magnum actions for some time.
Now I would probably get a 416 Ruger Alaskan 20" SS laminate. Otherwise, I pray that the African is available in 416 Ruger when I get around to one.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+
"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.
27 February 2019, 23:25
surefire7quote:
Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
quote:
hope the next one is a 404 jefferies
I don't think that Ruger will be doing either a 404 (or a 375 H&H eithrer) when they currently have such great cartridges in their 3.4" platform, like the 416 Ruger and 375 Ruger. Ruger has stayed away from long magnum actions for some time.
...Otherwise, I pray that the African is available in 416 Ruger when I get around to one.
+1

I don’t care for the muzzle brake on the current 416 Ruger African offering from Ruger, but if they made this current ‘new’ African in 416 Ruger with no brake, blued bolt, etc., I’d buy two of them in a heartbeat.
And I hope that the previous rumor of a 35 Whelen comes to fruition some day!

27 February 2019, 23:51
ColoradoMattquote:
Originally posted by surefire7:
quote:
Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
quote:
hope the next one is a 404 jefferies
I don't think that Ruger will be doing either a 404 (or a 375 H&H eithrer) when they currently have such great cartridges in their 3.4" platform, like the 416 Ruger and 375 Ruger. Ruger has stayed away from long magnum actions for some time.
...Otherwise, I pray that the African is available in 416 Ruger when I get around to one.
+1

I don’t care for the muzzle brake on the current 416 Ruger African offering from Ruger, but if they made this current ‘new’ African in 416 Ruger with no brake, blued bolt, etc., I’d buy two of them in a heartbeat.
And I hope that the previous rumor of a 35 Whelen comes to fruition some day!
416- No brake, but at least 8 to 8.5lbs.
Matt
FISH!!
Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
28 February 2019, 03:43
surefire7quote:
Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
quote:
Originally posted by surefire7:
quote:
Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
quote:
hope the next one is a 404 jefferies
I don't think that Ruger will be doing either a 404 (or a 375 H&H eithrer) when they currently have such great cartridges in their 3.4" platform, like the 416 Ruger and 375 Ruger. Ruger has stayed away from long magnum actions for some time.
...Otherwise, I pray that the African is available in 416 Ruger when I get around to one.
+1

I don’t care for the muzzle brake on the current 416 Ruger African offering from Ruger, but if they made this current ‘new’ African in 416 Ruger with no brake, blued bolt, etc., I’d buy two of them in a heartbeat.
And I hope that the previous rumor of a 35 Whelen comes to fruition some day!
416- No brake, but at least 8 to 8.5lbs.
Amen to that!

416 Ruger in a 6lb. 15oz. rifle? Uh, no thanks...
I guess one could add weight in the right places to balance it out, but they could use the ‘older’ barrel contour like they did on the ‘old’ African in 9.3x62 ( or the contour on their current 416 African ).
28 February 2019, 07:19
Charles_HelmThanks to a friend I picked up a no-brake 416 Ruger off GunBroker at a good price recently...
28 February 2019, 18:32
416Tanzanquote:
Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
Thanks to a friend I picked up a no-brake 416 Ruger off GunBroker at a good price recently...

+-+-+-+-+-+-+
"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.