I just received a .416 Ruger Alaskan (stainless with the sticky rubber stock ).

I took it to the range today with a 1.5-5x Leupold on it with Warne QD mounts. After figuring out that I was turning the windage the wrong way... dumb!... I got it to shoot 2" groups at 100 yards in 25 mph gusts (target down wind). Iron sights were pretty darn usable and regulated to p.o.a. at 25 yards.

Dang, does that rifle have some recoil. I was also shooting my new Searcy .450 N.E. and it was a pansy compared to the Ruger, but at 8.5#'s with the scope, I should've figured it was going to let me know I shot it.

The trigger on it is amazingly good, maybe 3.5 lbs from the factory and had no creep. The action was a little rough to begin with, but working it 100 times or so, smoothed it out considerably.

All in all, for the price and performance, I think it was a good buy for a back up rifle that you don't mind getting wet or dinging up some. I do look forward to loading up some plinking loads, though. The Hornady DGS's that I was shooting loosen teeth!

After a while, I actually forgot how ugly the stock was and got comfortable with the feel. I think I'm not going to change it... Kind of like dating a fat woman or riding a moped. Both can be fun, but you don't want anyone to see you do it.

Thanks for the report Judge, I was wondering what the recoil of the 416 Ruger Alaskan was like. I have shot a 375 ruger that my buddy Dave has, and its not bad at all.
I really like the price and workhorse style of the stainless (ugly) rifles. But after your report I will stick with the 375 as I hate hard kickers

I've found a little lead shot and epoxy in the front and rear of the Hogue stock sure allows it (or maybe me) handle recoil better. While not a 416Ruger my wildcat allows a 400 to leave the barrel up to 2371 and at my normal hunting load of 2250 it is a pleasure. I added maybe .75-1# total.

Judge , ; Does yours have the band sling swvl stud ??... I need to get one of these .....

I have a Ruger No. 1 in .458 Win. Mag. Leupold fixed 4x. I got too close to the eyepiece once on the bench. That only happens one time!

Rubber end cup on the eyepiece and plastic frame shooting glasses sort of saved the bacon, but it's still like being kicked in the head.

I have found that when shooting big bores its a good thing to get into a mind set that you can dominate it. Thatway the recoil seems to go away for me. If you are nervous of it, then it dominates you

quote:

Originally posted by gumboot458:
Judge , ; Does yours have the band sling swvl stud ??... I need to get one of these .....

I was aware that the "new" ones had a barrel band. I called around, looked at GunBroker, etc., and finally found a new one at Davidson's Gallery of Guns and was able to buy it wholesale through a business partner of mine who has an FFL (cost me $800 and a hamburger).

As to the recoil I mentioned, I realize that I was using a sissy pad for the .450 N.E. and didn't have it on with the Ruger. When the wind died down yesterday evening, I went back to the range and shot it five more times for a group after moving the scope over a couple of inches. Recoil was quite tolerable with the aid and the gun shot 5 DGS into 1.6 inches, center to center at 100 meters. I left it about 1" high at that range so 150 yards will be a chip shot. I'll bet the gun will shoot an inch with handloads. I think the Barnes TSX in 350 grains would be an effective buffalo killer at almost 2500 fps out of the little barrel.

I've got some DGX on order and they should arrive next week. I hope they shoot to the same point of impact and expect that they will.

My only gripe about the gun is one that I've always had about Ruger 77's and thats the little safety. I wish it had a bigger "wing". I'll get used to it (and do like the center position for unloading), but if it were twice the size, I wouldn't complain.

As to scopes, I just got a Pentax 2-5x Whitetail Classic. It is compact, light and as clear as my Leupolds. It has a camo dip on it and looks kind of cool with stainless and the Warne s/s QD rings. I may trade and put the Leupold 1.5-5x on a .375 H&H Model 70 I have that's getting new express sights?

Anyone care to speculate how one of these Alaskans would handle the 458WM. Calculations on another post seems to indicate actual 458 power levels (2100fps) should equall actual 416(2400fps) recoil in same weight gun. More or less....

Seems like the next logical offering to me, or am I missing something? Not pimping the WM, no way, but just thinking, this might make sense, be useful, etc ... ???

Using the recoil calculator on handloads.com

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

416 Ruger Alaskan weighing 7.75 lbs shooting a 400g bullet at 2400 assuming a charge of 75g of powder gives:

Recoil 64.92 ft/lbs
Velocity 23.23 fps

A CZ 550 in 416 Rigby weighing 9.25 lbs with a 400g bullet at 2400 fps assuming a powder charge of 100g of powder gives:

63.37 ft/lbs
21.0 fps

So the Ruger will come back faster (which is actually a big factor in felt recoil) than the heavier CZ 416 Rigby but overall recoil is about the same.

A Ruger Alaskan in 458 Win Mag assuming the same weight gun shooting a 500g bullet at 2100 fps using 70g of powder as the charge gives:

recoil 72.33 ft/lbs
velocity 24.52 fps (ouch! ouch!)

For comparsion my 500 Jeffery in a 11.25lb rifle shooting a 570g bullet at 2250 fps gives:

recoil 80.88 ft/lbs
velocity 21.52

Hope this helps,

Chuck

Recoil is in the same "ouch ouch" ball park, 65 vs 72. Rounded of call it 70, for both right?

It sounds like the 375 is more practical choice for North American hunting (IMHO), but if a 416 alaskan is offered, seems the 458 could be as well?

There are some practical reloading options, for both 416 or 458, for use in N America.

Absolutely fourbore, if you load the 416 Ruger "down to" 404 Jeffery velocities the numbers get much better even in a 7.75 lb gun

recoil 51.29
energy 20.65

Much better, it will still make an impression on anything you hit with it.

Chuck

Instead of having to add lead shot to tame recoil I wish this was offered with a longer barrel like the African version. That way the added weight could do some good ballistically. I for one have always thought the primary consideration when picking a rifle is shootability as opposed to carriability. I'm seeing these as being designed for guides to carry and hopefully never need to shoot — but always ready — just in case. If the Ruger Alaskan was offered with a 24" barrel I would already own one.

I was loading some 458 WM's @ 2200 FPS (charge 74 gr of 2230) with a 500 gr bullet in a 8lb Browning safari grade and that was a BIG ouch (off the bench for about 15 rounds).
Curious as to what that calculates to in recoil and recoil velocity?
Not to "one up" anyone but that 45 year old recoil pad has about as much cushion left in it as a brick!
As we speak, this gun is having a mercury tube installed and a Pachymer decelerator and being glassed in and pillar bedded. Getting a little make over!

EZ

As I have written in previous posts, I have had my 416 Ruger for about a year now and absolutely love it. It shoots very good, is 1-1.5" groups with both the DGS and DGX, and I do not find the recoil unpleasant at all with the soft pad it comes with. I put a lot of rounds thru it getting ready for my Zim hunt, and received dies several weeks back to load 350 grain TSX's. When the weather here gets better, I will get out to the range for serious load work up, but may go blow some off just to see what they do in test media.

On Saturday at Reno, I asked Craig Boddington if he had shot Steve Hornady's 416 Ruger very much and his smile and comment greatly amused my partner, "its pretty light and recoils a lot".
That says a lot between the lines!

It does pack around great in the jess and with the new models having a barrel band, would carry even lower. I have not barked my knuckle on my old sytle (yet), but like to keep a pretty firm grip on the stock. With sweaty hands the stock was great to carry with no slippage, and with the Leupold 1.75x6X the ballance is perfect. I think as an Alaskan bear gun it would be unbeatable in the thick alders or with cold wet hands.