I'm having a Ruger #1 rebarreled to .375H&H Ackley and I was wondering if any of you esteemed big bore fans have any experience with it.

I have several other Ackley calibers and I'm really fond of them. There seems to be a wealth of information about other Ackley calibers, but not the .375 H&H Ackley.

Thanks
-Mr Mike

Mike,
I have a 375 H&H Ackley Improved and on a Winchester Enfield action with a Douglas barrel. I have a Zeiss 1.5x6x42 scope with Talley QD rings and NECG three folding leaf express sights on the rifle. I am currently testing loads for the GS Custom bullets in the 270 grain FN Solid. My load so far uses the following:
Primer: Federal 215
Powder: IMR 4350
Weight: 87.5
Velocity: 2901fps verage with 7fps deviation
Accuracy so far is just over a MOA

When I took it to Africa last year I used 300 grain Fail Safe bullets and the following loading:
Primer: Federal 215
Powder: IMR4350
Weight: 85 gr.
Velocity: 2750fps @85 Degrees F
Accuracy was right at a MOA. This load is no longer working in the rifle. The rifle was new and had less than 100 rounds through it when the load was developed.

I took the rifle to Africa to shoot an Eland but was carrying my 338 Imperial Magnum {338/404) the day I saw the Eland. I ended up shoot a Zebra with it and the Fail Safe did the job very well.

There are several other 375 H&H Ackley Improved rifles that have been mentioned in the forum and hopefully some other members will provide additional information.

Good luck and good hunting,
Steve

[This message has been edited by Santala (edited 06-03-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Santala (edited 06-03-2001).]

Steve, thanks for all the information. It sounds like you've really got the .375H&H AI figured out. This is going to be my first foray into the big bore stuff and I'm really looking forward to it.

I haven't had any experience with the Fail Safe bullets or the GS Custom bullets, I'll have to look into them for this project.

I look forward to hearing from any of the other forum members who have had experience with the .375 H&H AI as well.

Thanks again
-Mr Mike

Mr Mike,
I recently had my Winchester Mod#70 Classic Super Express in .375H&H re-chambered to the Ackley Improved version. I have been fireforming H&H cases but have not worked up any AI loads just yet. It has not adversly affected the velocity or the accuracy of the H&H loads shot from the AI chamber which pleases me.As soon as I have some AI data, I'll post it. With the #1, the cartridge OAL is not limited by magazine size...you should get pretty impresive performance.

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

[This message has been edited by Phil R (edited 06-03-2001).]

Thanks Phil, I'll post my results as well.

Why did you decide to have your rifle rechambered to the Ackley version?

-Mr Mike

Mr Mike,
A while back, I had my .375 barrel cut back to 22" and an Answer Products brake installed. I have since regretted shortening the barrel and losing some velocity. Sooo..I figured if I rechamber to the AI version, I would get some velocity back while preserving the opportunity to use .375 H&H ammo.

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

Thanks for responding Steve... what was the barrel length BEFORE cropping? I am having mine cut to 26", but I noticed that most of the "dangerous game" rifles chambered in .375 H&H are 22-24". On a Ruger #1, a 26" barrel is still shorter overall than a standard bolt action rifle because of the length of the action.

I ran into a fellow at the range who also had the Answer Products brake on his .375... how do you like yours? Did it really reduce the recoil compared to without? Did you also get their recoil pad with the brake?

Thanks again
-Mr Mike

Mr Mike,
Phil, not Steve. My .375 barrel was 24" before being shortened. One of the nice things about the Ruger #1's is that a 26" barrel is like a 22" barrel on a bolt action.I would not shorten the 26" #1 barrel.

I have Answer Products brakes on several rifles and the reduction in recoil is impressive. My .375 doesn't even lift off the front rest with full loads. I have thread protectors for my Answer Products equipped rifles as I don't use the brakes while hunting.

No I don't have the Answer Products recoil pad. They are kinda klunky looking and if I reduce recoil any further, I might not even notice that the gun went off!

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

Phil, I'm so sorry, gotting old REALLY sucks, sometimes I even forget where I am!...

Thanks for responding, I have three of my rifles with brakes on them, but they aren't Answer brakes. So far I'm real happy with them. One of the reasons I went with the brakes I did was because of the manufactors claim that the muzzle blast was NOT increased like with other brakes. That claim is true, at least for my rifles.

When I saw the .375 at the range the other day with the Answer brake on it I was surprised at how quiet it was as well. I was thinking that when I get my .375 back I would send it to Answer Products to have them install their version, your endorsement just sealed that notion.

Thanks again Phil and I'm really sorry about refering to you as Steve.
-Mr Mike

Mr Mike,
Before sending your rifle to Answer Products, be sure to call and talk to Sam Johnson, the owner. He's an interesting guy...he'll try and sell you the store but he is fun to talk with. His web address is www.answerrifles.com.
Good luck, Stev..or is it Phil? I'm getting old too.

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI