First, a few details:

I was at the Manchester, NH gun show recently and was sort of shopping for a .338 Win Mag that could be used as a general purpose hunting rifle. What I had in mind was something that could be used anywhere in N. America and possibly other continents later on as well. Previously I've owned a Browning A-bolt II in .338 but I wanted something crf just in case I ever got the chance to use it for dangerous game such as brown bear, lion, red squirrel, or possum.

As I searched the various tables I came across a rifle that pretty much matched the idea I had in mind for my ideal general-purpose hunting rifle. I asked permission to pick it up to take a closer look and asked what it was. It turned out to be a .375 Ruger Alaskan model just like this:


It shouldered very easily for me and was light enough to carry all day without needing a rifle-bearer. The action is nice and smooth and feels very solid to me. No slop that would be a big turn off to me and Macifej. The sights are very easy to see and I think target aquisition will be very easy. I believe the front is a NECG white dot and the rear is an express style with a white line that seems to match very well. I only knew what I had read here previously about the round and asked if the dealer would be willing to hold the rifle for me for a little while so I could do a little research.

I quickly went to a friend's restaurant and asked to use the computer and knew my answer in minutes and promptly went and purchased the rifle and 3 boxes of ammo. I haven't yet scoped it but will do so shortly. I put one box of the Hornady 300 grain loads through it using the irons and was quite impressed. I'm used to iron sights needing a lot of adjustment before I'm anywhere near my target but this wasn't the case. Just to get an idea of the recoil and a sense for where the rifle would shoot, my first shot was offhand at a 12" x 12" hanging steel plate at 100 yards. A guy I see at the range just about every time I'm there spotted for me as I figured my shot would probably hit the impact mound somewhere behind the plate. What a surprise, I hit the darn thing first try!

I then sat down at the bench for a little more serious shooting and took 3 shots with my target at 50 yards. I ended up with a group of about 2" that was about an inch to the left of the bull. Now I was impressed! Since the sights arent the adjustable variety I took 3 shots at 100 yards using a little Kentucky windage and got a group of about 4" that was centered about an inch below the bull. I'm not very good with iron sights and am actually quite please with my results, I'm sure that some of you would put me to shame with this rifle.

I fired the rest of the box of ammo at the hanging steel ram at 200 yards from offhand, seated, and from 1 knee. I was able to hit the ram every shot excepth my first one offhand when I kind of slapped at the trigger. The recoil is certainly present but manageable. I wouldn't want to put in a long bench session with it but field postitions were not at all unpleasant. I'm planning on scoping it this weekend and will post my range results again after that sight in.

Thanks for reading!

I love my Alaskan.

I don't use irons much, but I played around wiht them and they were easy to use.

Enjoy our new rifle!!

Thanks for the range report. Sounds like you have a keeper.

Will look forward to your report after the rifle is scoped.

Thanks for the report Slug! Nice work and reporting! I am even more interested now than before and will have to get my paws on one ASAP!

Come back east a little ways to NH and you can try mine.

One thing I forgot to mention:

My gun was a sample that Ruger used as a show gun so it had to be sold as a used gun. The dealer I got it from is literally a mile away from the factory where these are made. It was as perfect as a rifle brand new in the box but I got it for $699.

I'll have to order one as no one here stocks them. I went to the neighborhood store on my way back from lunch the other day and inquired - they said "sure we have that" and pointed to a revolver! $699.00 is dang near free in my book!

Slug,

That Ruger would great with one of these in 378 as its companion

http://www.weatherby.com/_images/products/rifles/_enlar...dgr_snowcamo_big.jpg

Great news...you indeed have a fine rifle. There is NOTHING wrong with the 375R, it's just got a lot of catching up to do with the buying public.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Is this true? Your Ruger Alaskan has non-adjustable iron sights? That makes it different than a friend's gun. He, like you, was able to keep it on target for the first shots, then zeroed it for 100yds. His scope, when mounted was zeroed for 2 inches high at 100yds.
Get loading dies and load some lighter bullets to reduce recoil and make it more "useable" in the U.S. My deer/elk load for my .375H&H uses either the 210 or 235 Barnes X bullet.

Mine also has non-adjustable sights -- which are very close to on.

quote:

Originally posted by prof242:
Is this true? Your Ruger Alaskan has non-adjustable iron sights? That makes it different than a friend's gun. He, like you, was able to keep it on target for the first shots, then zeroed it for 100yds. His scope, when mounted was zeroed for 2 inches high at 100yds.
Get loading dies and load some lighter bullets to reduce recoil and make it more "useable" in the U.S. My deer/elk load for my .375H&H uses either the 210 or 235 Barnes X bullet.

The 210 grain TSX loaded to around 2900 fps was what I was mulling over. Any experience with these?

Oh, yeah. Have used this bullet in my .375H&H (not loaded to maximum) whenever I hunt with friends. Have had to track enough elk that I want to be able to settle their hash right quick. Was given the 210's about three years ago and have found them to do a very good job on elk and also on mule deer. DRT! I'm about out of them, but was also given some 235's and will try them next year for elk and deer.

What velocity do you load the 210 grainers to?

That's a good question! Haven't had the chrono set up whenever I had the gun with these bullets at the range. Will have to do something about this after hunting season. By interpolating loading data, I'd say I was getting a little over 2800fps. Low recoil, accurate, and deadly.

Great report slug!! Looking forward to hearing how your next session (with scope) goes.

Cheers,
Canuck

I like the 350 gr. Woodleighs and 300 Gr. Northforks in my .375 H&H..If I'm shooting a big bore then I want big bullets...If I want to shoot 210 gr. bullets then I'll use my .338 Win. or shoot 200 gr. bullets in my 300 H&H..

I think the 375 Ruger is a well balanced cartridge and one that many folks have been wanting for years, a beltless 375...I just built a 416/375 Ruger on a Mauser action and its a neat looking round.

Slug..nice to hear the positive report! I brought mine home yesterday and am waiting for my dies/brass so I can shoot it. I basically did what you did...I wanted something that could handle EVERYTHING everywhere. Sold off almost all of my rifles, barrels, etc. to have just 1 gun. I'll probably load it up with the 200 gr Sierra FN's right away and terrorize the local coyotes with it as deer season's over!!!

Slug,
Mmmm, do you think the 375 Ruger will be enough gun for possums? They can be tough to knock down when they charge

.......Not that a 300 gr bullet won,t work for 300 plus yards ,,But that is a thing I really like about big bores ..They can be load adjusted for different applications ...The biggest problem would be wildly different p.o.i.......Also ,, unless it,s dark out ,the express sights will kill dear , ect most excellently ....Why handgun or muzzel loader hunt when you can have such a fun hunt with your primary express rifle ........If more people hunted deer and hogs ect with express sights the world would be a better place no doubt

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
Slug,
Mmmm, do you think the 375 Ruger will be enough gun for possums? They can be tough to knock down when they charge

It's probably marginal for possum but I'll make do. I'm a little more worried that I'll be under-gunned for racoons. Should I step up to a .505 Gibbs?

Placed the order for my Alaskan yesterday......hope its here by Christmas!....you guys are making me jealous.

My Alaskan shoots a big ragged hole with the 260gr Accubonds. It is a great rifle, I love it. I want to hunt everything with it, but fear "caliber envy" in the deer camp. I put a Vari-X III 2.5-8 on it, with Warne QD mounts. Love it, Love it, Love it.

quote:

Originally posted by The Slug:

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
Slug,
Mmmm, do you think the 375 Ruger will be enough gun for possums? They can be tough to knock down when they charge

It's probably marginal for possum but I'll make do. I'm a little more worried that I'll be under-gunned for racoons. Should I step up to a .505 Gibbs?

Slug,
The Gibbs is, I understand, a powerful rifle but will it be enough to knock down an angry racoon?
Play safe I say, go for a double in 577, you just might need the second shot in a tight spot.
Happy hunting.

Not wishing to start anything but I have found that a stoked up 45/70 works well on coons in the woods & an 870 does the job when they are trying to enter the house..

I have the african model, Blue steel and wood stock. I love it. I have a Leupold VX-II 2x7x33 on it and it shoots sweet.

Took it to the range for some longer range shooting. I had preveiously only taken it out to 100 yds to zero it in @ +2" @ 100.
It shot right on at 200yds and -7@300 yds. I think it is a kkeeper. Now to get it out hunting.

Cheers
j

quote:

I want to hunt everything with it, but fear "caliber envy" in the deer camp. I

Bore envy is an ugly thing, but fear not...it is worth the pain...






Cheers,
Canuck

I love the smell of burnt powder and gut piles in the morning.