.375R Alaskan

31 December 2007, 09:52

JohnDeere

.375R Alaskan

I'm sifting and sorting restocking options for my Hawkeye Alaskan. The Accurate Innovations laminated stock is appealing but it seems pig-heavy at three pounds. Anyone happen to know what the factory Hogue stock weighs. I don't have a scale dainty enough.

I'd actually like to slim the Alaskan down to the 7 1/2 to 7 3/4 pound range. I'm not sure how much farting around 458Win's idea of using a factory replacement injected molded stock entails.

Thanks-

02 January 2008, 08:03

RIP

JohnDeere,
Those first edition Hogue stocks weighed 2.5# on the Alaskan.
The barreled action of that 20-incher weighs about 5.75#. 8.25# total for the rifle.

The HS Precision synthetic with full aluminum bedding block weighs 2.5# also.

I have a plastic-canoe-paddle, old Ruger MkII .338 WinMag stock that weighs 1.75#, with the rattling sling hangers replaced with Uncle Mike's stud kit that they used to make for that purpose.

The stainless 20" Alaskan .375 Ruger fit perfectly in this as a drop in.

Weighs 7.5# bare just like that.

The more recent tupperware stock should be about the same.

The old canoe paddle is uglier and tougher, stiffer, stouter. Try it, get rid of the clatter-trap sling hangers, put a slip on pad on or a replacement buttpad, you might like it as much as I do.

The canoe paddle is the same weight as the African's walnut stock I have. It would be a good one to preserve the beauty of the African wood for harsh use substitution.

BTW both the 20" Alaskan and the 23" African are turned down to the same diameter at the muzzle, about 0.675", so the same front sight parts fit on both.
They had to put more taper on the Alaskan barrel to do that.

02 January 2008, 08:16

JohnDeere

Thanks, RIP. Quite helpful. By canoe paddle I assume you are referring to that particularly ugly plastic stock that has Ruger's name in large letters molded into the left side of the butt in a funky sort of design? Are they available 2nd hand only, or as OEM new from someone like Brownell's? Also, I think I remember someone on this site complaining about the recoil from this stock. Any idea why? I frankly don't believe any stock "absorbs" recoil so--other than design geometry problem--can't see why any injection molded stock should worsen recoil.

Did you cross-bolt or pin the canoe paddle stock, or use as is?

Thanks-

02 January 2008, 08:17

MJines

RIP,

Interesting idea, the use of the canoe paddle stock. I have one off of a .338 as well. Did you do anything with the stock other than replace the sling hangers, i.e., bed it in the barrel channel? How much have you shot it with that stock on it and how is it holding up? Thanks.

02 January 2008, 08:53

RIP

This is the 7.5-pound/20-inch-barreled Alaskan in .375 Ruger, that will equal a 24" barreled .375 H&H:

Hey,
One man's trash is another man's treasure!

I have another stock like this that I have glass bedded in the recoil lug area, and sanded the barrel channel a little, had a gunsmith put a decelerator pad on it, and the epoxy actually stayed put. It was on a .338 Win mag that was since rebarreled and restocked to .416 Taylor.
I will rebed that one to the African since the recoil lug area has epoxy in it already. The 23" barreled African will weigh the same as with the wood stock, wearing one of these canoe paddles.

I also have a 300WinMag MkII in a canoe paddle stock, and it had no work. Shoots 1/2 MOA just as it came out of the box, and I would not dare to change it.

I have not shot this .375 Ruger Alaskan in this stock yet. Did the switch just tonight in order to answer John's question.

It may be 1/2 MOA too, if so, I will not do anything to it. The fit is that good in .338WinMag barrel contour.

Another member posted the canoe paddle switcheroo early in 2007, IIRC, gave me the idea, I just never got around to it until tonight.

02 January 2008, 09:00

Canuck

Great photos RIP.

I have been looking for a canoe paddle off and on since the other fella posted up his....haven't found one yet.

If anyone knows a source, I'd be interested in hearing it.

Cheers,
Canuck

02 January 2008, 09:18

RIP

Canuck,
Sure beats a tacky-sticky-fat-assed Hogue. I want to keep my canoe paddles for rough use. So ugly they are loveable. Lighter than the HS Precision by 3/4 pound.

02 January 2008, 11:11

Gatehouse

If you go boat paddle, you WILL need that recoil pad modification. I had a boat paddle on my 7mmRM, and I thought it kicked like a SOB.

Changed to a B&C with a nicer pad, and it's quite gentle to shoot now.

I give that boat paddle away years ago...Never thought I would miss it until now.

I'm contemplating a Macmillan stock, but I'm alo thinking about a plain tupperware injection molded one, I dont' want to increase weight and some of my Macmillan stocks have been kinda chunky. Anyone know the weigth of the Mac Ruger hunter stock?

03 January 2008, 01:36

gumboot458

............John Deere , if you can make it to Juneau , bring your wood stock and I,ll bring the SpruceKing over ...we,ll take the brake off it and you can shoot it with the wood stock and the canoe paddle stock ...........It weighs about 8 lbs with out the muzzel brake and with Hornady,s Heavy Magnum 500 gr solids it isn,t much fun ......some may consider it painful ...the synthetic stock absorbs recoil .......All I did with mine is bed the 2nd recoil lug with JB weld ...The 1st one made it 9 years of very rough use ,, and I swapped it out for a new one and put the old one on a 338 which shoots 5/8"groups @ 200 meters ....2nd paddle stock I bedded the 2nd lug with Marine Tex...and epoxied the decelarator pad on with JB Weld ....Works great .....If you take some 40 lb green Spider Wire and wrap it between the stock and one side of the rattle swivels with half hitches it works great and they become silent ....Oh Ya , the Spruce King is a 458

03 January 2008, 04:40

JohnDeere

RIP,

Thanks for the help. As Canuck noted, great photos. Pretty is as pretty does. I'd say its good lookin' ugly.

Gumboot458, you're scarin me with your pile driver.

The only thing decent about the Hogue is the pad. It really soaks up the recoil, but has all the handling qualities of a green 2x4.

03 January 2008, 05:42

old4x4

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
Canuck,
Sure beats a tacky-sticky-fat-assed Hogue.

Sometimes the bigger ones put on a better performance!

I'd be afraid to fire it....kinda light. But I am interested how the stock holds up and your shoulder, too.

03 January 2008, 06:56

RIP

Oh PUHLEEZ! My all-time favorite gamegetter of the past is a 6.75-pound (bare weight) .375 H&H (Pre-64 M70 with with 1-pound Brown Precision stock and .625" muzzle diameter), pet name "Uru" from Marvel Comics' Thor's Hammer.

A 7.5# .375 Ruger is a Nancyboy by comparison.

My "Mjollnir" is a 10.5# 470 Mbogo with 500-grainers at an honest 2700 fps, no 460Wby-Wannabe-hype there.

03 January 2008, 15:36

Will

Are not the Bell and Carlson stocks lightweight?

Maybe you can get a McMillan Edge for the Ruger by now (?).

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04 January 2008, 11:21

JohnDeere

Everyone bitches about MPI's stock, but I have three and they are the cat's PJ's. Difference is, I stand eyeball to eyeball with Doc when I order them, drop by the shop as they are coming together and can nix them if they don't turn out perfect. Doc builds to about whatever weight I ask and will bend over backward to incorporate special design features as requested (bob the forend, slim the grip, round off square edges, etc.). I've only had one flaw--a small booger in the paint--and he repainted with a smile upon request. Nothing wrong with the other stocks out there, this is just what works for me.

I simply don't want an expensive stock on a knock-about rifle.

04 January 2008, 11:56

Gatehouse

quote:
Originally posted by Will:
Are not the Bell and Carlson stocks lightweight?

Yes...But when dealing wiht a hard kicker, there is always that apprehension of wondering if your stock will stand up. Maye I will try 7RM B&C on 375 .hmmm

quote:
Maybe you can get a McMillan Edge for the Ruger by now (?).

Not last time I checked...

06 January 2008, 06:31

luv2safari

quote:
Originally posted by Canuck:
Great photos RIP.

I have been looking for a canoe paddle off and on since the other fella posted up his....haven't found one yet.

If anyone knows a source, I'd be interested in hearing it.

Just sent a PM. I have one off my MKII 338.

L2S

Cheers,
Canuck

06 January 2008, 06:33

luv2safari

quote:
Originally posted by luv2safari:
quote:
Originally posted by Canuck:
Great photos RIP.

I have been looking for a canoe paddle off and on since the other fella posted up his....haven't found one yet.

If anyone knows a source, I'd be interested in hearing it.

Cheers,
Canuck

I just sent you a PM. I have one off my 338 MKII.

L2S

06 January 2008, 06:51

Canuck

PM replied to.

06 January 2008, 07:46

RIP

Canuck,
A size small Limbsaver slip-on pad is even purtier, and you don't even have to punch a hole in the rubber for the sling stud, and it does not cover up the Rampant Ruger Eagle molded into the canoe paddle side-butt. I like it.

06 January 2008, 07:56

WestCoaster

Does the 1st letter of RIP stand for redneck by any chance?

06 January 2008, 09:01

Canuck

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
Canuck,
A size small Limbsaver slip-on pad is even purtier, and you don't even have to punch a hole in the rubber for the sling stud, and it does not cover up the Rampant Ruger Eagle molded into the canoe paddle side-butt. I like it.

Yes, I noticed that (the hole punching, that is). And you may have noted that I am no stranger to slip-on recoil pads...I kinda like 'em too.

Cheers,
Canuck

06 January 2008, 09:23

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by WestCoaster:
Does the 1st letter of RIP stand for redneck by any chance?

Rip: Really Important Person
named after my friend
Vip: Very Important Person
Look out when Vip and Rip take to the field! Ain't no where's Waldo about it!

Yes I am a Redneck.

07 January 2008, 03:13

RIP

Canuck,
The other idea from your redneck friend who has arm span greater than his height:

Next I should try the new Pachmayr Decelerator slip-on that has the curvy contour on the cuff, which is a stiffer and shorter cuff than the old Pachmayr slip-on posted originally above. That won't hide the Rampant Ruger Eagle either.
My only concern is not to get too pretty.

07 January 2008, 03:36

Canuck

quote:
your redneck friend who has arm span greater than his height

You'll have to be more specific than that.

Thanks for the pic of the smaller Limbsaver.

quote:
Next I should try the new Pachmayr Decelerator slip-on that has the curvy contour on the cuff,

Funny, I was just looking at those in the Midsouth Shooters Supply catalogue (we don't get new stuff in Canada for a LOOOONG time it seems). Thought it might be a good option...love my Pachmayer decelerators, and that would save any sort of dickin around trying to fit one.

Rampant Ruger Eagle, eh? Have often wondered what that was....thought it was a Phoenix rising from the ashes or something....

Cheers,
Canuck

07 January 2008, 03:56

JohnDeere

quote:
I have not shot this .375 Ruger Alaskan in this stock yet. Did the switch just tonight in order to answer John's question.

Hey RIP, how'd it shoot? The waiting is killing me.

A few folks have complained about miserable recoil off this canoe paddle stock (just bought one, so I'm curious). I'm assuming its the lousy factory recoil pad and that a SIMS will rectify the problem.

07 January 2008, 04:07

JohnDeere

Anyone know if there's going to be a problem getting paint to adhere to a canoe paddle stock? Just bought one for my Alaskan and am thinking about painting it olive with black and tan webbing.

07 January 2008, 04:18

RIP

JohnDeere,
You going to try to pretty it up?
I think paint will stick to it better than that Hogue.

You go shoot it and tell me how the canoe paddle works. I expect sub-MOA for three shots at 100 yards using Hornady factory loads.
I have too many other shooting projects ahead of this one to be able to tell you right now.
As I said before, a 300WinMag I have in a canoe paddle was 1/2 MOA right out of the box.
It is a stiffer and stronger stock than the current allweather stock made from milkjugs.
Others here have had good results with this stock on a .375 Ruger African model. Better than wood anytime. Better than Hogue.
I even like the 3/4-pound lighter weight better than the HS Precision.

I reckon my African will get a canoe paddle and the HS Precision will go on the .395 Ruger Max, which will have slightly greater recoil at max loads.