The Ruger African I ordered in 375 Ruger arrived from CDNN today. This one does not have a barrel band and has a matt barrel and action. Their catalog picture showed a barrel band so I started thinking about calling them back...

From a barrel harmonics standpoint it's better to not have a sling attached to the barrel. The rifle is not heavy enough to worry about the stud attachment to the stock. I'm now wondering what is the advantage of a barrel band? Is it primarily avoiding the swivel/stud with the left hand?

Comments would be appreciated from current African owners.

I don't know if my opinion means much, but barrel bands are required on all heavy calibers.

Is the .375 Ruger in that class?

Barrel band sling base was not on the early run of Ruger Hawkeye "African" rifles.
Later production has included that hardware.
Even the stainless "Alaskan" Hawkeyes have it in .416 Ruger chambering with a Hogue stock!

The latest Ruger "African" in 9.3x62mm has a heavier barrel (than .375 Ruger),
same 23" length, and barrel band sling base, and one stock crossbolt.
It is muzzle heavy and not as lively as the .375 Ruger African.

What are they good for, barrel band sling bases?
They get the muzzle lower in slung carry.
They look cool to nostalgics and luddites.

The best place for a front sling base on any rifle is the tip of the forend, IMHO,
like on this .458 B&M, on a short action that is a bit more powerful than a .458 WinMag:



The barrel band sling base and a tight-sling may affect accuracy, surely.
So may a secondary recoil lug on the barrel, bedded in the stock.

But that matters less on a big bore used at close range.

Quarter ribs are also pretty useless unless integrally made and stiffening the barrel.

Saeed's .375/404 Jeffery would be perfect if he would only get the front sling base on the stock moved farther out toward the forend tip.

My 375 African is the "old" model. It came with the sling swivel on the stock.

Having heard of (but not experienced) the possibility of jamming the left hand on the swivel under recoil, I measured the barrel diameter and ordered an Uncle Mikes barrel band. It works just fine.

Hugh

Ruger will 'convert' your older Hawkeye African/Alaskan to a barrel band and supply a filler screw for the emypty sling stud hole. Take your trigger and stock off and ship just the barreled action as they will also convert any 'modified' trigger work back to factory original.

This is what I wrote as part of an artical I did for the NZ G&H.

It is interesting to note how many supossedly knowledgable writers continue to perpetuate the fallacy that this stud is barrel mounted because if it was mounted on the fore arm it might dig into the leading hand during recoil.They have not recognised that the design of these rifles negated the ability to mount the stud on the fore arm as this was usually very short in front of the receiver ring and left insufficient room for this purpose. Besides which the recoil of most of the rifles they were used on was, and is really quite easily handled. When it first came into practice it hadn't been too many years since military rifles from which all sporting rifles were developed, had extremely long barrels and the rear sling stud was mounted in the front of the trigger guard. It was to have the slung rifle sit lower on the shoulder and bring the weight down making it more portable, controllable, and practical to carry. When rifle developement mooved toward the sporting requirements these lessons were kept in mind. The fore arm was shortened to be just enough to hold onto as the weight of the former military arms was such thar no-one wanted to carry that much when it was not necessary, besides the rifle was not likely to be needed as a club that the military action sometimes necessitated. However the barrels were still longer than is now the norm and up to thirty inches was not uncommon so that keeping the weight lower when the rifle was slung was still desirable. It was when factory hunting rifles which usually had fuller and longer fore arms became cost efective for the average man with their forearm mounted sling stud,(because this is a cheaper option) that the confusion started. While most who aspire to :safari" will be unable to afford the cost they still want their rifles to look as if they were about to go and the barrel mounted sling stud is a factory offering to pander to this desire, even when a ten inch or longer for end negates the need. As many of the factory stocks were improperly shaped to help with recoil the transition to recoil being the reason for barrel mounting the sling stud began. This is a manufactured reason as any rifleman who has used the heavier calibers will tell you it takes very few shots from a propperly shaped stock to accustom yourself to this factor. If it can not be handled then the rifleman ( or woman) needs to reconsider whether he really needs this level of power.

Von Gruff.

As for me-

I believe RIP has the perfect solution--

SSR

Good discussion! Thank You for the feedback.

Cliff

Brockman's Magnum Sling Swivel Stud

http://www.brockmansrifles.com/sight_options.asp.htm

About 2/3 down the page.

My new Ruger Hawkeye African in .338 Win has a barrel band front swivel, barrel band front sight and shallow V windage adjustable rear sight on an island, Mod 70 type 3 pos. safety.

It has muchl Less wood than the early guns. Its lean and mean and the best factory rifle since the pre 64 Win., it may even be a better rifle, maybe? I would bet money anyone that knows me would bet their house and kids that I would never make such a statement...

I am going to get one in .375 Ruger and/or a 9.3x62, maybe one of each.

The 375 ruger I got from CDNN 2-3 months ago had the barrel band on it. It'll probably be a while still before I get a chance to shoot it. I'd like to find a take off Hogue Alaskan stock for it.

I took the African to the range today and shot a spread of charge weights up to max with RL 15 and the Hornady 270 SP RP. No groups were unacceptable for hunting, largest was ~1.2" @ 100 yds. Smallest was ~.75" My chronograph quit, so I don't know velocities. Recoil was quite manageable, I shot 30 rounds with no aches or pains. The barrel collected no copper. I'm going to like this rifle!

Cliff