Just picked up my new Ruger Alaskan in 416 Ruger today. Fit and finish ( as much as possible for molded rubber ) is good; it has the nice new matte gray coating, instead of just bead blasted stainless. No reflection problems, I hope.

Action is smooth and everything functions as it should. Safety is a little small if you hunted cold country with gloves on, but in Africa with thin leather gloves or bare hands I believe it will be fine. Trigger is a tad heavy but crisp and clean breaking.

Put an original steel K3 Weaver on it, with the duplex wires. This has functioned flawlessly for about a 1000 rounds of 250 gr. 350 Rem Mag, and 500 12 ga. rifled slugs. Will see how it holds up to the 416 Ruger recoil. Want to try both the factory 400's and load up some 350 gr. Barnes TSX for a little more range. I do have another FXII-2.5 Leupold coming if it doesn't work out.



Weight is exactly 9# even (empty). Another 6-8 ounces for 3 rounds and a sling should make it one easily handled rifle. The recoil pad is very thick and cushy, and I think it is even softer than a LimbSaver. Will get to try it out in Africa this year, and hopefully in Alaska next.

That big heavy-duty sight is nice, and comes to point like we were made for each other. The large white front bead is easy to see, even at sundown this evening. Excuse the fuzzy picture; hard to get it all in focus.



Ammo should be available soon from Midway, and I will call Hornady Monday and see if I can beg a box or two early. Maybe at Reno SCI if nothing else. I can't wait to light it up!

Congrats!
Jealous!
Can't wait for the range report.

Congratulations, beautiful rifle.

Oscar

Congrats!! Hope to see one in Alaska before long, so it can take a ride home with me.

Blank: So it's real after all! Can't wait to hear a detailed range report.
I couldn't help but notice the flag in the background; sorry for your loss.

Bill: Thanks, your observation and comment is appreciated. It is for my Dad, who has been gone for about 10 years now. He was my fishing and bird hunting partner. Never got into rifles, he just never understood why anyone would work so hard at big game hunting

He always wanted to go to Austrailia, but kept putting it off until it was too late. He made me promise not to put off and regret not doing something I really wanted, so my first trip to Africa was by myself but dedicated to him.

Hope to have some ammo and a complete range report on the Ruger before I go to Reno SCI.

Nice looking rifle! I have the 416 Rem.

Very nice !
Only question now is when will ammo be avaialable ?
...tj3006

What is the average retail for a 416 in the Alaskan model? I was thinking of the 375 necked up and it eventually appeared. Don't suppose the opposite will happen down to 358. That would be good for most of my hunting. I could sell the 9.3X74! Packy

Blank,

I am still waiting for mine. My gun guy is closed for another week yet to do inventory/tax/BATFE crap so I won't be able to get it until he re-opens. Yours and mine are the only two that I have seen so far. Who knows when more will be coming, thats why I hit the "buy it now" icon. Packy, I paid 809.99 shipped for mine which was a super deal if you ask me..as most of the 375 Ruger Alaskans are more than that. I just got the 2009 Hornady catalog yesterday and they are listing the 416 ammo as new and available so it should not be long. I just need the brass anyhow, as I load all my own ammo...and I have lots of 375 Ruger brass to use if I must. I will take both the 375 Ruger and 416 Ruger Alaskans out at the same time for their "maiden voyage" to see what the recoil difference might be.

I think that Sportsman's Safari should have one left. They listed on GunBroker again following your auction. They emailed me after you bought yours, and said they had one left in stock. I bought mine here in town from my gun store for $825. I'd rather give them the money anyway. Didn't have a problem getting it from their supplier in 4 days.

Some people don't like the Hogue stocks, but I do like the "stickiness" of it when my hands are sweaty, wet, or cold. Same for their handgun grips. Just what you get used to, I guess. Love the olive green one on my Ruger 10/22.

I practice with mine about 3 days a week, a lot of times while watching hunting shows. Proper grip, target acquisition, safety off, and sometimes even live fire if I am out in the shop. If it is getting caught up in your clothes, check your mounting form to your shoulder - shouldn't drag if you're doing it right...

The way I fixed my process was to build my 10/22 just like my big game and DG guns, with the Hogue replacement stock. That way practice is consistant. Below is my "walk around/ground squirrel" buddy. Same general LOP and everything, with 1.75x5X scope. Not bad for $69, and it doesn't get hunt at all riding around in the truck.

Blank,

I agree that the Hogue stocks are just a matter of what you like/dislike. I think they are just fine on this type rifle and my 375 Ruger Alaskan shoulders just fine for me, although I have not fired it yet. I also agree that its great if you can order thru a local dealer and get it quickly. When I do buy on-line I make sure to reward my gun guy when he does the transfer for me.

Really like the dull grey finish on the stainless. Any idea what it is or how it's done?

RG

I have no idea, but plan to talk with the Ruger boys at Reno SCI in two weeks. It really is a good looking metal.

I had talked to Hornady this week and she indicated they were shipping ammo out. My Natchez catalog today had it listed, so I bought 4 boxes at $52 per box. Will load up some 350 grain Barnes once I get a few empty cases and post a full report.

YA BOY ... Cool .. The 375 Ruger is great ... but for me the 416 Ruger will be the ticket ... With 300 gr TSX it will pretty much shoot like a 375 but will kill like a 416 .......... Can,t wait .. Have you pulled it out of the stock yet ... Does it have a 2nd recoil lug ???????????? .. 52 $ a box ... Thats great . WOW ..... Congratulations ...

I wonder how fast the 300 gr TSX will go out of the 20" barrel ?????? Wouldn,t that be cool if they will do 2900 fps like they will out of the Rem Mag ...

Does anyone know if Ruger plans to offer this chambering to left-handed shooters?

George

Can someone please tell us how the 416 shoots. How accurate is it? Does it feed and eject well? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Can someone please tell us how the 416 shoots. How accurate is it? Does it feed and eject well? Thanks.

Please

For those that want to know...the 416 Ruger is a tad heavier than the 375 Ruger in the Alaskan models. I compared them tonight. The 375 barrel is tapered some, while the 416 is the same dimension right to the end of the barrel (after it tapers down a bit from the chamber dimension). The weight of the 416 is 8-1/4lbs vs 7-7/8lbs for the 375. Both point and shoulder very well I must say. Once I get some 416 ammo I will shoot both for the first time. Ruger and Hornady have some winners here.

same weight as the win model 70 in 416 remmag ... with a scope and sling, 9.5 .. prefect weight.. the first 416 taylor i built was about that weight, and trivial recoil

Woodrow: Got mine all fixed up, and shot today. The weight is 9lbs 7 oz all up. Made a new post for range results. Oh yeah, MidSouth still had their ammo for $52.33/box.

Blank,

Got my ammo today. 1 box of DGX and 1 box of DGS so this weekend will be the testing. I will be scoping it with a Leupold 1.75x6, which I feel is about perfect for this cartridge/rifle combo. I see yours is very accurate. I am quite hopeful mine shoots as good. I think I'll shoot my 375 Ruger Alaskan at the same time for a good comparison. That one will get a Leupold 2.5x8 which is also a good one for that cartridge.

Woody

Nice set ups!
And good scope choices with those leupolds.
I think the 1.75X6 is a fine scope. I don't have and yet , but I have 2 of the 2.5X8s.
I think that is about the best genersl purpose scope you can get for arpund 400.00.
I have a couple VX2 2X7s also and they are also very good.
I love the way the 1X4 and 1.5X5 look when mounted , but I lost an Elk a couple years back cause I could not make out the hornes in the low lkight, with my 1X4.
Can't be sure but I think I could have nailed him with a larger objective.
...tj3006