I'm just curious what "One of Us" thinks. I own the .375 Ruger and H&H, and for no particular reason I have completely lost interest in the Ruger.

My Ruger shoots accurately, I have no doubt it'd perform on par with the H&H, and is even CRF as opposed to my Remington H&H.

I had the option of taking either to Zimbabwe this year, took the H&H. I had the option of taking either moose hunting this year, took the H&H. Later this month I think I'll go with a friend to fill his winter moose tag and again will take the H&H.

Seems like about a year ago this forum was full of predictions of the death of the H&H due to the superior Ruger cartridge, your thoughts?

The H&H will still be around in 50 years.

Can't say that about the Ruger.

Since I've already got a rifle in .375 H&H, why would I buy a .375 Ruger?

Since I can not find ammo for this caliber that does not require 40 hours of over time to pay for one box...my 375 Ruger is GOING......

I like the idea but when it came to spending the money I bought a double rifle in the 375 H&H.

I read some enthusiasm here for the Ruger 375 and 416 but no one on the PM predicted the demise of the H&H or Rigby rounds. Do you have a quote? I did find one (only one) local shop with ammo and the H&H and Ruger loads were priced about the same. Oh, plus the Hartford Cabela makes two.

I felt the Ruger ctg offerings were a net negative becasue they dilute an already small market. For instance; It makes it harder for gun shops to justify big bore ammo on the shelf, because now they have to stock more calibers for a very small market.

I agree, who needs a 375 clone, when you can get the real class act, H&H.

The 20 in bbl, stainless, rubber stock, Alaskan seems a very nice handling big bore, at a good price. I think Ruger should have applied that concept too the magnum length action. Maybe cost 50 bucks more to build. Shades of Winchester all over again.

I have had a love affair with the H&H since I was a kid. I even spoke against the Ruger a bit in favor of the H&H a while back on the forum, before I had a chance to try the Ruger.
We all know it's THE absolute true classic rifle catridge, if there ever was one.
That said; I recently took home a .375 Ruger.
After handling it a bit and doing a little loading for it, it has replaced my H&H for good.
I like the shorter action and overall rifle length for the steep mountains here in the west.
With a little 2.5 power Leupold, it handles like a lever carbine, and hit's; well, like the H&H, only a bit harder.
I like the beltless case as well, and with a 300 gr. RN, is one of the sexiest looking cartridges around.
As far as ammo is concerned, I only use my handloaded stuff, but we have more Ruger ammo in our gun shop then the H&H, and price, though it has gone up about 30% this year alone, is the same for either. Brass has also been very easy to get.
I do not see the Ruger suplanting the H&H any time soon, just as there is still lot's of .300 H&H rifles and ammo even after the advent of the Win. mag; but after playing with it for a bit, I also think the Ruger is a better round overall then the H&H; to the point that if I had neither, I would buy the Ruger.
I think it will become a matter of choosing 'nostalgia' vs. performance.
I'm gunna put the nostalgia up on my gun room wall, but I'll take 'performance' to the field.

quote:

Originally posted by 500N:
The H&H will still be around in 50 years.

Can't say that about the Ruger.

Ditto's
Although my quess would be 100+ years.

I guess that this cartridge will be a minor like the .375 Dakota witch is just as good as Rugers version within a little decade. I also believe that the .416 Remington will be twice as popular as both the .416 Rigby and .416 Ruger at the same time.
I might be wrong but that is my little gut feeling.

quote:

Originally posted by 500N:
The H&H will still be around in 50 years.

Can't say that about the Ruger.

FWIW we can't say that about most of us either...hunt now with what suits you.

I just ordered a second custom 375 Ruger and from the imput I hear from Alaskan hunters there are alot of hunters and guides still wanting 375 Rugers - plus there are a number of used 375 H&H rifles sitting on gun dealers racks here in Alaska for 1/2 of what they were two years ago.
It is only wishful thinking by it's detractors to pronounce the 375 Ruger as dead.

can someone measure the muzzle diameter of their Alaskans and/or African Rugers, please?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
I just ordered a second custom 375 Ruger and from the imput I hear from Alaskan hunters there are alot of hunters and guides still wanting 375 Rugers.

Mr. Shoemaker,

Isn't Alaska where all the other "failed" larger bores...348 Winchester, 358 Winchester, 35 Whelen, 350 Rem Mag, 375 Winchester, & 450 Marlin...went when they "died"?

PS Thanks for all your excellent and sensible writing.

It serves no useful purpose, over the capabilities of the 375 H&H, despite industry shilling. You can reach factory specs easily with the Holland, and ammunition is everywhere. I Emailed my PH and they have yet to see the Ruger. And, God help you if your ammunition gets lost in transit.

DWright, can you really tell the difference in 3/8ths of an inch in the rifle? I slung my 505 Gibbs over one shoulder yesterday out checking fenceline. Went out this morning with my old model 70 in 30-06. In ten minutes I couldn't tell any difference. The weight difference, according to the catalog is about one less Big Mac a week from now to New Year's.

IMHO, we will see Ruger stick to them, simply due to ego and the firmly seated desire to succeed where Win and Rem have failed. It's called "bullheadedness" out here.

Rich

<can't find ammo> means the ammo sells like mad
<can match with 375hh> NO YOU CAN'T .. oh, sure, you can match teh velocity with that case, but NOT AT 375 HH PRESSURE .. which means you are WILDCATTING ... yeah, really

i see ammo at carter's country, at gander mountain, and rifles for sale in both palces and moving ..

let's see.. larger case, shorter action, and BETTER performance.

sounds like the 300hh vs 300win, don't it?

hmm, how many rifles where sold in 300HH last year?

how about so few that winchester (olin) has removed the 300HH from their normal production sequence.

ludittes .. and rich, frankly, a wildcater luditte is amusing.

Silly thread.
The .375 Ruger is forever.
Dying cartridges do not go to Alaska to retire.
Life is tough there.
348's got necked up to 50 cal there.
That's about all the skullduggery there.
The 450 Marlin was laughed out of Alaska.
Hell, I was there.
Thank GOD Phil Shoemaker tells it like it is.
Scott must be a bit too isolated in Dillingham.
He brings an alternative meaning to "big bore" with this thread.

DRG says: "Kiss my liberal grits!"

quote:

Originally posted by jsl3170:
can someone measure the muzzle diameter of their Alaskans and/or African Rugers, please?

Thanks.

Straight from the box,
Hawkeye Matte Stainless .416 Ruger "Alaskan" 20":



Top to bottom:
.395 Ruger Max: 24" in Ruger Tupperware stock, 7.75#
.375 Ruger African: 23" in HS precision stock, 8.25# (7.75# in Ruger walnut "African" stock)
.375 Ruger Alaskan: 20" in Ruger Canoe Paddle stock, 7.25# (8.25 pounds in Ruger-Hogue stock)
.416 Ruger Alaskan: 20" in Ruger-Hogue stock, 8.0#



Two stocks offered by Ruger with the Hawkeye African, 1.75# walnut, and Alaskan, 2.5# Hogue Rubberized:



Three muzzle diameters:
.375 African 23": ~.670"
.375 Alaskan 20": ~.675"
.416 Alaskan 20": ~.755"



The .395 Ruger muzzle (24") in the middle is ~.700":



Barrel diameters near the forend tip of the Hogue stock are similar for all three of the Ruger factory rifles:
The .375 Ruger African 23": ~.805
The .375 Ruger Alaskan 20": ~.795"
The .416 Ruger Alaskan 20": ~.810"
(Not shown here, oops, the .395 Ruger Max diameter at the same location is ~.830", and that is a McGowen No.4 sporter)





These Ruger factory barrels are all similar to no.4 taper, except that the .375s are more tapered (20" has a little more taper than the 23") and the .416 is less tapered.

The .375 is a little lighter than a no.4 sporter, and the .416 is heavier, close to a no.5 sporter, lightened by shortening.
Special Ruger contours!

Rifle metal weight, removed from stocks:

.375 African 23": 6.00#
.375 Alaskan 20": 5.75#
.416 Alaskan 20": 5.50#
.395 Ruger Max 24": 6.25#

Stock weights:

Ruger-Hogue Rubberized, aluminum pillars: 2.5#
HS Precision, full aluminum bedding block: 2.25#
Ruger Walnut Hawkeye African, slim and trim: 1.75#
Ruger Tupperware: 1.5#
Ruger Canoe Paddle: 1.5#

1-Pound stock? Brown Precision? Rimrock?

Mix and match and figure the dry weight.

With a 1-Pound stock, the .416 Ruger would weigh 6.5# dry!

DRG says: "Kiss my liberal grits!"

thanks RIP

let me know where in Africa the shops stock Ruger 375/416 ammunition...

Rich

One of the things I noticed that got me wondering about the popularity of the Ruger was the continued availability of the 1 of 100 LH stainless Rugers. It seems to me that every time I look at Gunbroker theres at least one for sale and I did just recently see one for sale on ARBAY.

Especially since LH big bore rifles are a bit of a problem for us It suprises me to see any on the market at all. I would have assumed they'd be bought up and be gone. I got to thinking that maybe it was a lack of interest in the cartridge.

Like I said earlier, theres no reason I've lost interest in my Ruger, I just have!

Gents

I had a 416 Taylor, it was one of my first Big Bore rifles and like most I was worried about weight and made it way to heavy

Over the past few years I have done what I can to try and lighten it. But finally bit the bullet and had the barrel deep fluted, but I left the barrel at 26 inches because I didn't want to loose velocity.

Well after shooting bigger more heavily recoiling guns

I wanted it cut back to 21.5 inches and to keep the velocity I rechambered in 416 Ruger.

Well now I'm happier than a pig in mud because the rifle is light, handles very well and I have lost very little if any velocity at the shorter length

NO my ruger chambering is here to stay

regards
S&F

Hum…nails in the coffin for the redundant RCMs on the Medium Bore Forum and now the 375 Ruger is being taken off life support on the Big Bore Forum. I guess it’s a slow time of the year for 300 WSM and 375 H&H lovers.

Arguments relating to the 375 H&H and the 375 Ruger remind me substantially of the 30-06 and the 308 Winchester arguments…the enduring beloved historical cartridge vs. the shorter upstart new kid on the block.

I don’t foresee the 375 Ruger dying anytime soon…nor do I believe that it will live or die based upon ammunition availability in Africa. Same for the 416 Ruger…

Hum…speaking of ammunition availability in Africa. Why is it so important to use a cartridge that your PH may have spare ammunition for of should your ammunition be lost in transit? Could perhaps the reason be due to the limited range of available ammunition in local cities which is periodically adversely impacted by shortages of “stocked” ammunition while awaiting delivery of ammunition from manufacturers in Europe and the USA?

The .375 Ruger will live long and prosper.

My 375 Ruger goes hunting.
My 375 Wby is for sale and I sold my 375 H&H.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
let me know where in Africa the shops stock Ruger 375/416 ammunition...

Rich

How available was .375h*h ammo in Africa within first 24months of [1912], the cartridges release?
How many people could afford or actually had an orig. Holland & holland .375H&H rifle before the years later intro of the cheaper but not necessarily bargain priced M70?

"Unlike most British cartridges of the time, Holland & Holland choose not to keep the .375 H&H Magnum as a proprietary cartridge. Shortly after 1912, the cartridge was released to the then existing firearms industry where virtually all of the British manufacturers made rilfes chambered for this great caliber. In 1926, Western loaded the first commercial loads for the .375 H&H Magnum in the United States; however, the only available .375 H&H Magnums made in the United States at that time were custom rifles based on Mauser actions made by Griffin & Howe. But in 1937, Winchester offered the caliber in its new rifle, the Model 70 bolt-action."
.375 Ruger ....its here to stay

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
It serves no useful purpose, over the capabilities of the 375 H&H, despite industry shilling. You can reach factory specs easily with the Holland, and ammunition is everywhere. I Emailed my PH and they have yet to see the Ruger. And, God help you if your ammunition gets lost in transit.

DWright, can you really tell the difference in 3/8ths of an inch in the rifle? I slung my 505 Gibbs over one shoulder yesterday out checking fenceline. Went out this morning with my old model 70 in 30-06. In ten minutes I couldn't tell any difference. The weight difference, according to the catalog is about one less Big Mac a week from now to New Year's.

IMHO, we will see Ruger stick to them, simply due to ego and the firmly seated desire to succeed where Win and Rem have failed. It's called "bullheadedness" out here.

Rich

Actually, my .375 Ruger is exactly 4-1/2" shorter then say my .300 WM, or .375 H&H. I just about an hour ago returned from a Hunt in the steep coast mountain range with the Ruger, and will say now that it is so much handier to carry in the tight forrest then anything else with a lot of punch, that YES, it makes it worth it.
More so now then ever!
And, sure, I could just wack off the H&H barrel, and have a short gun, but then the H&H loses something for me.
Besides, the Ruger gives me a new reason for another rifle, and how many of you out there hunt with just one gun?
After all, we don't NEED more then one. . . . . . .right. . . . . ?

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
My 375 Ruger goes hunting.
My 375 Wby is for sale and I sold my 375 H&H.

But that is to pay for those doubles you keep buying

The 375 H&H will always be the classic beauty of the 375 caliber cartridges, but there's always been room for more cartridges. Let's see we have the 308, 30-06, 300 H&H Mag, 300 Wby Mag, 300 Win Mag, 300 RUM, wait I'm sure I left some out ...



Chuck

what do you have in Orygun to use a 375 on?

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
let me know where in Africa the shops stock Ruger 375/416 ammunition...

Rich

You won't find 375/404 UAE Express ammo ANYWHERE in Africa, but Saeed's two rifles have managed to whack over 800 head of African critters in the last 15 years.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
<can't find ammo> means the ammo sells like mad
<can match with 375hh> NO YOU CAN'T .. oh, sure, you can match teh velocity with that case, but NOT AT 375 HH PRESSURE .. which means you are WILDCATTING ... yeah, really

i see ammo at carter's country, at gander mountain, and rifles for sale in both palces and moving ..

let's see.. larger case, shorter action, and BETTER performance.

sounds like the 300hh vs 300win, don't it?

hmm, how many rifles where sold in 300HH last year?

how about so few that winchester (olin) has removed the 300HH from their normal production sequence.

ludittes .. and rich, frankly, a wildcater luditte is amusing.

You covered it all. Capital B - I - N - G - O!

Wildcatter Luddite....lol.

Long live the 375 Ruger. I know I love the hell out of mine.

As my pal Gatehouse says.. "The NEW KING of the .375s!!!".

If Ruger offered the rubber 20in bbl Alaskan in H&H,(under $1000) that would put some real pressure on the Ruger ctg. I think it would die quick. Ruger is not stupid, so figure the odds on that. I think there is a market for a light, fast, relatively low cost Alaskan style big bore. And the choice is a Ruger ctg or nothing. I take nothing. I understand why owners are happy - after all it "IS" a 375HH clone.

If Ruger forced the buyer to shell out $2200 for a 10 lb MKII in 375 Ruger, how many do you think they would sell? Next to none, if the alternative H&H was offered. IMHO.

Ruger is powerful force, I credit them will blowing the doors off the 458Win and 416Rem. That was a good thing, harmony in the universe. Now I feel a disturbance in the force.

I have no favorite .375.
I like them all, especially the .375 WBY and .375 Ruger.
May The "Ruger" Force be with you.
Ruger is going strong.
They finally made an AR-type rifle, late to the party but it's a doozie, and on dealer shelves now, but listed as "NEW" in the 2010 Ruger catalog.

Gotta go figure out how many accessories I can hang on the Quad rails of a Ruger SR 556 in .223.
Can a grenade launcher be hung from the bottom rail?
How many Weaver rings does that take?
That would make it a "big bore," no?

DRG says: "Kiss my liberal grits!"

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
what do you have in Orygun to use a 375 on?

Rich

We have the biggest Elk in the world, some good sized Black Bear, AND, it's just lot's of fun to use a .375 on ground squirrels and jack rabbits.
As Elmer Keith said; 'The .375 makes a damn fine Mule Deer cartridge'!

Roosevelt Elk are bigger than the ones on the Apache Reservation in AZ? Let me send you over a wolf pack or two for Christmas...

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Roosevelt Elk are bigger than the ones on the Apache Reservation in AZ? Let me send you over a wolf pack or two for Christmas...

Rich

We already have prarrie Wolves in Eastern Orygun that are off limits for hunting, but it's the damn mountain lions that are knockin the hell out of our Deer & Elk populations. Since the liberals have banned hound hunting here, the lions have grown about 20% larger; are living longer; producing more offspring, and taking out more big game.
The upside is that we have seen about 3 times the Bear that we used to, which gives us hunters that do not use hounds, a much better shot at getting a Bear.
There have even been a few reports of the Bears going near the beach towns and raiding the garbage cans.
Aren't the AZ Elk Rocky Mountain Elk? They have bigger racks, but smaller bodies then the Roosevelts here in Orygun.
Also, the terrain here where the Roosevelts are, are straight up and down so we like to hit them hard to keep them from running into the bottom of a impenetrable canyon.
For that the .375s work pretty good.

A big thing the 375 Ruger has going for it is a Made in USA CRF rifle at a reasonable price.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
A big thing the 375 Ruger has going for it is a Made in USA CRF rifle at a reasonable price.

That certainly matters to Americans.
Glad to hear Australians like it too.

DRG says: "Kiss my liberal grits!"

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
A big thing the 375 Ruger has going for it is a Made in USA CRF rifle at a reasonable price.

That certainly matters to Americans.

It certainly matters to many Americans, but judging by the checkout lines at your average Walmart more Americans are interested in the reasonable price part of such equations.

Has the blossom of the NEW KING of the .375's wilted for me? Not at all, just the opposite.

I hunted more with my Macmillan stocked Alaskan than any other rifle this year. It's so handy to have a short barreled rifle with such fine handling characteristics in our thick, steep coastal region.

I am planning on further exploring the capabilities of the Mighty New King in the spring. Heavy bullets, light bullets, long range, short range- the NEW KING can do it all.

PS there is nothing wrong with the H&H, but I greatly prefer the .375 Ruger. Don't see another H&H in my future.