Those are some nice suggestions. In our particular circumstances they don't fit. We don't own a shotgun and aren't planning to get one. We do have a 243, but it is a right-handed stock. My wife does have a 270 Win leftie. It is a light Tikka, so the best light practice may be dry firing. Least expensive, too, and it can be done within city limits. But it is quite artificial practice, unless one really concentrates on 'click and target picture'.

Here is something that I received from RAmshot powders that deals with Accurate 5744 and potential mild loads for a 375 Ruger:

"Caliber: - .375 Ruger. - Barrel length: - 24”
Powder: - Accurate – 5744®.
Reduced loads:
Bullet weight: 200 - 230 grains.

Low load: 40.0 grains ( 2075 – 2175 Ft/p/sec)
Mid range load: 48.0 grains ( 2350 – 2450 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 57.0 grains (2800 – 2900 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 250-260 grains.

Low load: 37.0 grains (1900 – 2000 Ft/p/sec)
Mid range load: 45.5 grains (2200 – 2300 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 53.5 grains ( 2500 – 2600 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 300 grains.

Low load: 35.0 grains (1800 – 1900 Ft/p/sec)
Mid range load: 43.0 grains (2075 – 2175 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 51.0 grains (2400 – 2500 Ft/p/sec)."

The information is very helpful for our goals. For example, with a 200 grain bullet it looks like a load around 40-41-42 grains of Acc5744 will produce a nice practice load.

For a 235 grain load, it looks like a max load of 5744 would produce 2600 fps.

For a 250 grain bullet, like the 250TTSX, Hodgdon suggests 65 grains H4895 would produce 2600fps in the 375H&H. One can extrapolate from that and expect that somewhere between 65 up to maybe 70 grains of H4895 would produce 2600fps in the slightly larger capacity 375 Ruger with a 20" barrel. As long as loads are kept significantly above 50 grains H4895, there should be no problem at the low end and something from 60 grains to 70 grains should find an accurate node. For 2700fps in a 20" barrel with a 250 TTSX, something around 80-81 grains of H4350 could be tried, or else 79-81 grains of Rel-17.

Why use a .375"?

Here is a snipet from Elmer Keith 1982:

quote:

"Leslie Simson, who hunted Africa for years and filled many museum groups of African game, used a .577 double for lion and all the big stuff, and for plains game he recommended a rifle of .35 caliber throwing a 275-grain bullet at 2500 feet per second (fps) and if any change is required, then add bullet weight rather than velocity. After a lifetime of hunting from the Arctic to Africa, I concur with his findings 100 percent.

I stopped booking anyone for elk unless they used a rifle throwing at least a 250-grain bullet and not less than .33 caliber in the rifle, as I was getting pretty tired of trailing wounded elk. "

It would seem that smaller calibre, especially 24 to 30, have gained their reputations from expanding up to about 35-50 calibre. Of course, that expansion wasn't guaranteed and a .375 starts out minimally adequate from the get go.

A 250 grain .375" at a modest 2600fps is close enough to Keith and Simson's advice.

Tanz

I'll share with you my experience with my 110lb 5'8" wife and her battery.
She killed her first antelope with my 270win and loved it. She didn't appreciate my 375H&H on the range. She did appreciate whacking a bushbuck with the 375 because it whacks visibly hard. That changed every thing.

She then bought a 338WM in a Ruger #1 which she enjoyed shooting with. That was followed by a 416Rigby Ruger #1. This is now her favourite, she has shot up to 18 rounds a day in our local big bore competition and it is the gun of choice when we go hunting anything from impala upwards.

This was followed by a custom 500NE on a Ruger #1 action, this beast weighs in at 8lbs, only.
This gun does have a good stock design but is still a lively beast. She has fired 6 shots in a row on a buff hunt and 8 shots in the big bore competition and settled at 18th place out of 80 against time and bolts and double guns.

She never shoots the 500 for fun, she'll only double check my zero on the gun for her.

She regularly benches the 416 and I am met with verbal abuse If I offer to help with the 416.

I am sure that your wife is going to have a lot of fun with a 375 Ruger.

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
Here is a snipet from Elmer Keith 1982:
"Leslie Simson ... used a .577 double for lion ...

Wow

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
Why use a .375"?
A 250 grain .375" at a modest 2600fps is close enough to Keith and Simson's advice.

+1 for using the 375HH as a "one-gun" for all North American game, including the big-bears.

For my 375 Ruger Ruger Alaskan rifle I use the 250 grain Barnes TTSX bullet with 74 grains of Vihtavouri N150.
This gives me 2677 fps.
It shoots 1" groups at 100 meters.

I have replaced the original recoil pad with one from Limbsaver.
The recoil push, but it doesn't smack you, and it is no problem to shoot many shots from the bench.
I had 30-06 rifles that smacked me harder.
When shotting sitting and standing, it is a real joy to shoot.
Should not be a problem for women and teenagers at all if the stock fits and they hold the gun properly.

The load I use now shows no sign to be at the maximum.
I had no more space in the case for more powder because how deep I had to set the bullet to make it function well in my rifle.
I might try some N140 later on and see if I gain anything.

quote:

Originally posted by Norwegianwoods:
...
I might try some N140 later on and see if I gain anything.

Have you tried Varget or RL-15?

quote:

Originally posted by tanks:

quote:

Originally posted by Norwegianwoods:
...
I might try some N140 later on and see if I gain anything.

Have you tried Varget or RL-15?

I have been considering to try Varget.
I will see what I will do when it is time to do some more reloading for the 375 Ruger again.

I'm happy to get to work with this calibre with my wife.

The 375 Ruger strikes me as one of the top three new commercial chamberings, if not the best, in the last 14 years.

I have loaded the 250 grs TTSX to more than 3050 fps in the 20" Alaskan.. No pressure issues. No loose pockets after 4 reloadings so far..
I use Norma 203B for that bullet.
For the 300 grs bullets then Norma URP is unbeatable... gives 2700 fps with all the 300 grainers I have tried and sub moa accuracy...

I should imagine a bullet like this or even the AB which has a slightly better G1 BC and which could be started at nearly the same speed would retain some excellent downrange punch and momentum in this and/or the H&H. Such setups become viable long range hunting rounds and would be excellent western state elk gear.

quote:

Originally posted by bluefish:
I should imagine a bullet like this or even the AB which has a slightly better G1 BC and which could be started at nearly the same speed would retain some excellent downrange punch and momentum in this and/or the H&H. Such setups become viable long range hunting rounds and would be excellent western state elk gear.

That is what I am hoping for my fall Wyoming Elk hunt coming up. I was shooting for 2800fps for the 375H&H (24" barrel).

Tanks,

You should be able to do that velocity, though first checking that it is appropriately accurate.

For those on the 375 threads over the past couple of weeks, some have asked about availability of brass.

Good news: Midway just got in a shipment of Hornady brass in 375 Ruger, so one does not need to buy Hornady Basic Brass, resize, trim 1/6" inch or so.

http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...-375-ruger-box-of-50

One thing I find interesting is considering how much the 375R is touted ammo and brass seems to be an issue. Yet, I can find 375 H&H easily.

Hmm.

quote:

Originally posted by bluefish:
One thing I find interesting is considering how much the 375R is touted ammo and brass seems to be an issue. Yet, I can find 375 H&H easily.

Hmm.

Hmm?

That's called establishing oneself during the great ammunition panic attacks of 2008--2016.