quote:

Originally posted by Gatehouse:
...Hornady lists the 270 gr load as 2840fps.

Not with the stubby little 20" barrel of the Alaskan!

I am tempted to rebarrel my 20" Alaskan to .395 Ruger Max with no shorter than 23".

quote:

Originally posted by Demonical:
Gatehouse isn't the .375 Ruger about 50 fps faster then the .375 H&H; like it's not much is it?
This is sorta like the .416 Rem vs .416 Rigby isn't it?

What is the difference in the cartridge oal?

100-150 fps .. more like the 458 win vs lott comparison...

.300 shorter... or about a MILE

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:

quote:

Originally posted by Gatehouse:
...Hornady lists the 270 gr load as 2840fps.

Not with the stubby little 20" barrel of the Alaskan!

I am tempted to rebarrel my 20" Alaskan to .395 Ruger Max with no shorter than 23".

What are you gettign from the 20" Barrel and the factory ammo?

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
Gates...How are you liking that Hogue stock? I'm still on the bubble deciding between the Alaska or Africa Hawkeye Models. Not that it makes much difference....no-one can get me a rifle of either kind yet.

Cheers,
Chris

If you want, I can send you my rifle to try out for a bit, after I get done playing around wiht it for awhile. It will be a month or so, though.

That Gatehouse is a good guy!!!

I have not chronographed the 20" barrel. My local range is closed down, temporarily.

There is an unfired .375 Ruger African that somebody traded in for sale for $699 and they have the NIB stainless/syn Alaskan and matte/walnut African for about $810 at: www.whittakerguns.com

I just chronoed the factory 270gr ammo at about 2520 fps...Not too impressive, really. Considering I had a ligth charge of H4350 that pushed a300 gr bullet at 2400!

quote:

Originally posted by Gatehouse:
I just chronoed the factory 270gr ammo at about 2520 fps...Not too impressive, really. Considering I had a ligth charge of H4350 that pushed a300 gr bullet at 2400!

Shockingly slow for the factory load.

In the 23" African I got an average for 10 shots each as follows with the factory loads:

300-grainer RNSP: 2657.5 fps
270-grainer SSP: 2782.1 fps

It was 77 degrees F.

I am tempted to think my chrono is hoped. It got bashed recently and has been giving some weird reads...

Gates, maybe its because of the dramatic increase in the Canadian fps conversion rate lately???

Hey, you rock btw! I'd totally love to get a look at your Ruger before making a final decision on which model to get (whenever we get a few more in the country!)...but having you send yours to me is going above the call of duty my friend. I will be going to Kamloops once or twice in the next few months...maybe I can arrange to meet you somewhere between there and your place, or maybe I can swing an extra day or two on the trip and come all the way out to see you? If that suits, I will be in touch. Again, thanks very much for the kind offer!

ps: you have no idea how tempting it would be photograph your 375 in some kind of compromising position! A chance at payback like that would be tough to turn down!

Cheers,
Chris

A short range report:

Took the 375 Alaskan down to the range (previously I was shooting at my house which doesn't have a very steady bench yet)

I took 3 shots at 100 using the open iron sights. They are at the bottom of the target.

Then I attached the 1.5-5 Vari X III scope, and, after a few sighting and zeroing shots, shot a group. It looked about an inch, pretty good for windage, so I just clicked up a bit more for a 2" high at 100 zero. And shot 3 more rounds.



Then I set up a target at 50 yards, filled the magazine and chamber with 4 rounds, and shot offhand, rapid fire.



The first gorup on the top looked decent for rapid fire, and hell, it was fun, so I did it again, although not as good a group this time.

The Ruger worked pretty fast but compared to my custom 300WSM, the action is as rough as sandpaper! Maybe a few more action cycles are in order to smooth this out abit!!

I somewhat wonder if this is just the finish, and it needs to wear down a bit for smooth operation.

Overall, I am pleased. the rifle certianly shows good accuracy potential, and it will run fast if you want it to, as well.

Velocities varied form a high of 2560fps to a low of 2370...Oddly, my 300WSM that usually runs about 2900-2950fps with a 180gr bullet was also slow today, coming in at 2640-2860. Hmmm...

I think it's time for a new chrono. After all, I shot this one but only winged it- didn't kill it. And its taken a few beatings. May be time for anew one...

Canuck, if you are going to be in my area, for sure we can just meet, but if either of us need to drive for awhile, it's probably better (financially) to just ship it for $20 Expresspost...

And, yes- I did contemplate the ramifications of allowing you access to my property and what sort of photos it may appear in...

Gatehouse

I just bought a 375 Ruger alaskin here in Sask yesterday.Can you pass on a source for factory ammo here in Canada?

Ty

stealth,

If you don't mind me asking, where did you pick it up? The big guys like Wholesale are still telling me they don't have any.

Cheers,
Canuck

I got mine through todbartell who also got me the rifle. At the big industry show in Edmonton last winter, he talked to his Ruger rep about wanting a rifle and ammo.

SO when the first 2 showed up in Canada, I got one of them, and the ammo.

He has ordered more, but has no idea when it will arrive. I have dies now, and 100 pc of brass, so I am good for a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by stealth308win:
Gatehouse

I just bought a 375 Ruger alaskin here in Sask yesterday.Can you pass on a source for factory ammo here in Canada?

Ty

Hey Gates,

I have PM'd todbartell on HBC and thats what he told me....does not know when he might get more. Hopefully he'll remember my interest and let me know when he's got more coming.

Cheers,
Chris

FYI
Here is a place to order ammo in the States don't know if they ship to Canada:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/42205-55800-2866.html

And check out this auction:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=74815312

Canuck

I talk to him all the time, he is my private purveyor of goods these days...Good prices, for the most part. Can't comepte with WSS in everything, of course, but if I order somethign it is there in a coupel of days, usually.

Anyways, I am prett sure he knows you are still int he market for one. I belive he has ordered another rifle, and I know he has ordered ammo.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatehouse:
The Ruger worked pretty fast but compared to my custom 300WSM, the action is as rough as sandpaper! Maybe a few more action cycles are in order to smooth this out abit!!

I somewhat wonder if this is just the finish, and it needs to wear down a bit for smooth operation.

Did you disassemble, clean and lubricate the rifle?

I needed to disassemble the bolt, trigger assembly and safety to clean and remove the dry coating from the factor. I used a good lube on the parts and the improvement was dramatic. Just from this, the trigger greatly improved and the action became slick.

IIRC, Ruger recommends this done as part of the initial cleaning/lubrication.

GVA

Canuck

Prairie gun traders in Avonlea. The guys name is Darren and is pretty good to deal with. He tells me in a few weeks he is to have some factory ammo.I think he mentioned that along with the Alaskin I have.... Three Africans come into canada with it.I wish he had a African but I'm not complaining.

TY

quote:

Originally posted by GaryVA:

quote:

Originally posted by Gatehouse:
The Ruger worked pretty fast but compared to my custom 300WSM, the action is as rough as sandpaper! Maybe a few more action cycles are in order to smooth this out abit!!

I somewhat wonder if this is just the finish, and it needs to wear down a bit for smooth operation.

Did you disassemble, clean and lubricate the rifle?

I needed to disassemble the bolt, trigger assembly and safety to clean and remove the dry coating from the factor. I used a good lube on the parts and the improvement was dramatic. Just from this, the trigger greatly improved and the action became slick.

IIRC, Ruger recommends this done as part of the initial cleaning/lubrication.

GVA

I didn't dissasemble the trigger or bolt, but I did remove it form the stock, clean it up, clean the exterior of the bolt and lube it, and clean the bore, of course.

I didn't see anything in the directions reccomending dissasembling the bolt or trigger, I woudl imagine they woudl prefer peopel DID not do the trigger, actually!

I think the manual said to remove packing grease, etc, which I did, wiht some rubbing alcohol.

However, I'll give it a go, migth as well. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks TY. I assume they are all accounted for (else you would have an African version, right?), but I shot them an e-mail inquiry regardless. Can't leave any stones unturned in my quest!

Cheers,
Canuck