Finally got to the range yesterday with my son's Lt. handed 375 Ruger. I had to lengthen his length of pull to 14.25 and I had a re-bed job done on the action before it's first shot. I hope that newguy will get time to post the target I sent him, I'm still not computer savy enough to post pics, after barrel break-in here's the range results.

Hornady brass, F215 primers, R-15 powder used, 270 grain Swift bullet used, Oehler chrono, outside temps 60 degrees, shots were taken at 100 yds.

My first load was a winner:
75 grains of R-15, 270 grain Swift bullet, 2800 fps velocity SD 12, first four shots .300 MOA I pulled the fifth shot high 1.475

No pressure signs. I did try the 300 grain Swifts the rifle liked R-19 (83 grans 2580 fps, sub MOA) over the R-15 loads I tried. My goal is not to push the limits of the 375 Ruger capacity, I just want 375 H&H power in Ruger 375 package.

Recoil was moderate off the bench, rifle weighs 8 lb 2 oz without scope and guite balanced between the hands. I did scope the rifle for shooting this particular group with 2.5x8 VXIII Leupold.

That is great news. I have been seriously looking at that rife for a year or so. I have shouldered the African and the Alaskan. The African wins hands down for balance and fit for me.

Nice shooting. I had heard there were issues with the factory stocks cracking. Hopefully that won't happen with yours since you bed it.

Thanks for sharing your results.

Are you not at the 375 H&H nominal velocity already with the 300 gr. Swifts? Isn't the nominal velocity 2550 fps?

And the 270 gr. bullet would then be about 2700 fps. Seems that at 2800 fps, you are over the limit already.

Was that 0.3 MOA with open sights? That is spooky accurate.

Will,
As I mentioned above I put a 2.5x8 Leupold on for the bench work, although the rifle will sport a 1.5x5 Leupold in the near future. Your right about the 375 nominal velocities, I am going to take the 300 grain loads and go up another two to three grains of powder to see how long accuracy stays consistent. As far as the 270 grain load I am where I want to be, for elk season this is the load.
I am getting my rifle back from Danny Pederson this week, 375 Ruger on M70 action weight should be around 7.5 lbs.

Posting for computer-challenged dirklawyer:

I'd say that's a shooter!

I have a .375 Ruger African also. I have had it about 4 months. I love it. So far I have not done any alterations to it. The gun is totally stock except for the 2x7x33 VX-II Leupld scope. It is an extremely accurate rifle and balances well in the hand. I have only had it on the range but hunting here in Oregon this year and we'll see how she works. I use the Hornady .270 grain, ammo so far. I have some concerns about the stock, but so far it is still tight. More to follow.

Jim,
The stock longevity was my only concern with this rifle, so that is why I had the re-bed done first.

Dirk,

Thanks for the advice. I thought about having it glass bedded, but it is so darn accurate I hate to screw with it. I'm still thinking it over. Is it best to bedd it now, or wait and see how it does this hunting season? If if I wait and it cracks then I will look at different stock options. On the other hand if I do some preventative work now it may not even be an issue. Just some of the thoought rolling around in my scary little head.

Best to all.

I didn't bed my African, but had seriously good results during it's break-in trip to the range. I loaded some light H4350 loads behind 300gr NPTs. The results were right at 1MOA.

Can't wait to do some load development!

By the way, I scoped mine using the factory rings with a 1.5x5 Burris Signature Safari with illum reticle. The rifle wears that scope perfectly and it makes a great package.

May invest in a McMillan for it one of these days.

Whats the update Dirk, et al;?

As I mentioned in my post in the Reloading forum I was hoping for some advise regarding experience with this rifle.

Anybody put together some loads with lighter bullets for plinking or otherwise?

Scott,
I have shot some 250 grain Swift bullets on the lighter side, it seems as though R-15 is the king when it comes to the lighter bullets (270's and down). The new Nosler reloading manual seems to agree.
Even for the 300 grainers it shot well and I believe it would shoot even more accurate with this powder with the heavier bullets but I am downloading the cartridge to 375 H&H velocities with the 300 grainers (2550 fps). Downloading this cartridge to these velocities IMR 4350 seems to shine because of the 98-100% case capacity the powder used.
I have not tried out a lot of different powders, limited to IMR 4895, Varget, R-15, R-19, IMR 4350, and IMR 4064.
Let me know what you find out with your experiences with it.

Wiil do Dirk. I pressed about 50 rounds yesterday and will test as soon as weather permits. Raining this morning, might not want to take the new baby out in the wet!

Nice group! One flyer -- And it's easy to see that you pulled it. Makes perfect sense. Four shots dead-ass on target. You got hammered four times.

And so on the fifth shot, having been beat to death, Flinch City! Not at all unusual. *S*

I'm pissed!

I suspect that most of us get quite a bit of enjoyment out of developing loads for new rifles. For me a lot of the fun of "playing" with rifles is the trying different loads to find performance and the adjustment of the rifle itself, i.e.,aftermarket triggers, bedding the action, aftermarket stocks and on and on. I have found that after the rifle is tuned up I loose interest in the gun and it stays in the gun rack.


Per advise given here and elsewhere I used R-15 with some Barnes bullets and my 375 African drives tacks. To make matters worse the trigger on the African at least seems useable if not better and after about 75 rounds down the pipe, at least half heavy loads, there are no stock issues. (although I suspect that I'll bed it in the near future out of boredom if nothing else.

Nuts, now what do I do with the rest of my summer?

quote:

Nuts, now what do I do with the rest of my summer?

Just an idle thought,

You could pack your new 375 Ruger in a case and fly to New Zealand or Australia and go hunting. I'll have mine up and running in another 2 weeks or so, and then "watch out the deer" 6 weeks off work and oh so many deer to hunt.

Cheers,
The Kiwi.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:
I'm pissed!

I suspect that most of us get quite a bit of enjoyment out of developing loads for new rifles. For me a lot of the fun of "playing" with rifles is the trying different loads to find performance and the adjustment of the rifle itself, i.e.,aftermarket triggers, bedding the action, aftermarket stocks and on and on. I have found that after the rifle is tuned up I loose interest in the gun and it stays in the gun rack.


Per advise given here and elsewhere I used R-15 with some Barnes bullets and my 375 African drives tacks. To make matters worse the trigger on the African at least seems useable if not better and after about 75 rounds down the pipe, at least half heavy loads, there are no stock issues. (although I suspect that I'll bed it in the near future out of boredom if nothing else.

Nuts, now what do I do with the rest of my summer?

....