I'm going to buy a Hawkeye in the 375 ruger round, but am torn between the alaskan and the african. The wood verses synthetic stock doesn't matter to me but should I go with the Alaskan 20" barrel, or the African 23" barrel?
The 20" is supposed to duplicate 375 h&h loads while the 23" barrel is supposed to be slightly faster. My original thought was the Alaskan because it's shorter and handier for woods hunting, but then the African kept poping in my head for more velocity.

Just want some opinions on which of the two to go with

Question:
Would you choose the African, 23" barrel, wood stock or the Alaskan, 20" barrel, better outdoor weather protection?

Choices:
Alaskan
African

 

If you don't "like/prefer wood"... I'd go with the Alaskan.... No bad choice here

I took an African to Africa and there is just something about wood and steel .........................JJ

Go with the RIFLE you like the best. The difference in velocity is insignificant.

Buy the African, then get a separate Hogue stock to replace the wooden one.

Gatehouse:
"375 Ruger- The NEW KING of the .375's!!"

You must have smoked your lunch!
However, whether your under the influence or not, you have a right to your opinion. We'll have to revisit this in ten years.

I thought about it more. The only reason the african is tempting me is the extra velocity from the longer barrel. That's it.
So if the Alaskan will pull off at least 2700-2750 fps with a 270 gr bullet and 2550-2600 fps with a 300 gr bullet I'd get the alaskan.
The alaskan might fit better strapped sideways on my 4wheeler rack too.

I could buy the African and then buy a Hogue stock for it, but that would cost me an extra $200 because I would definately go with the full aluminum bed stock.

Should I just keep it simple and get the alaskan and be happy with the velociy?

gohip,

I think you are on the right track with keeping it simple...buy the alaskan with the houge stock, then, with the money you saved buy not buying the African and restocking, take the action to a smith for a smoothing/tweaking...then enjoy.

I have an alaskan and I continue to be impressed with the accuracy from a variety of bullet and powder combos.

I also put warne QD rings with a burris euro diamond 30mm 1x4 scope w/ german 3p. I took the stock rear sight off and use a NEG peep sight attached to the rear scope mount slot when iron sights are the order of the day. Both very sweet set ups.

Have fun with the alaskan...I sure have. Whenever I pull it out of the case at the range...one shot and it alwsys draws a crowd.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Gatehouse:
"375 Ruger- The NEW KING of the .375's!!"

You must have smoked your lunch!
However, whether your under the influence or not, you have a right to your opinion. We'll have to revisit this in ten years.

Sure, I'll meet you in 10 years, right here. The H&H will still be great for the nostalgic hunters in ten years.

I like the idea of an alaskan with a laminated stock (right handed) as a fishing gun or tent gun.
When you are in alaska fishing or sleeping in a tent at night, it is nice to have a short handy gun[ just in case ???.
I took a Marlin 45-70 (stainless / laminated) and cut the barrel from 24" to 20" and what a nice "tent gun" with Buffalo Bore loadings.
These short fast handling guns are nice.
I have personally experienced the Griz prowling around my tent at night and it can be a little unnerving when you are in a small tent with not much room to move and you have a long tom firearm. Hence; Tent gun!

quote:

Originally posted by eezridr:
I like the idea of an alaskan with a laminated stock (right handed) as a fishing gun or tent gun.
When you are in alaska fishing or sleeping in a tent at night, it is nice to have a short handy gun[ just in case ???.
I took a Marlin 45-70 (stainless / laminated) and cut the barrel from 24" to 20" and what a nice "tent gun" with Buffalo Bore loadings.
These short fast handling guns are nice.
I have personally experienced the Griz prowling around my tent at night and it can be a little unnerving when you are in a small tent with not much room to move and you have a long tom firearm. Hence; Tent gun!

Here is a good tent gun. 29" overall length

No dog in the fight but wanted to look at an Alaskan before I had my local dealer order one so I stopped by Crabelas in Dundee today. Inside the action I noticed quite a bit of porosity from casting. It looked like the moon was milled flat inside the action and in the feed rails. I love rugers and own several so this was a letdown for me as I was strongly thinking about putting a .416 Ruger on order. I would inspect your specimen before plunking down the money. I was bummed, oh well I guess I will just have to buy that .30-378 I have been wanting.

I voted for the alaskan, but if I voted again tommorow I might go the other way.
i would not let the barrel length be to much of an issue either.
I don't think much of those houge stocks my self, a little to sticky and i like a good piece of wood.
But that stubby little powerhouse with the barrel band sling swivel is just kind of cool to me.
...tj3006

Just got my African about three weeks ago and could not be happier with what I got for the money I spent. I love the traditional look of wood stocks and the Hawkeye stock fits me like it was custom made. Nothing but good on my end so far. I guess when it comes down to it, I figure its a working gun for <$1000 and not an H&H double so why worry too much about the wood getting marked on occasion when in the field.......wood makes rifles look nicer and "records" where and how they were used. You will be pleased with either though I am sure.

Not sure if you are going to hand load, but so far my results have been excellent with no issues to overcome.


Matt

I purchased the .375 Ruger African and put a Leupold 1.5 to 5 scope on it. The rife looks good. Also added a Kick-Ez. recoil pad. Have used the Kick-Ez pads on other big bore guns and they do seem to reduce felt recoil. In addition the pad gives me alittle more length of pull. I do have several Weatherby Accumark rifles with synthetic stocks that have been to SA the last two years and they do hold up a lot better than the wood stock rifles I took on my first trip to SA in 2006.

I can't understand why Ruger just doesn't make a 22" barrel for both and call it good.

I do not like 20" barrels, so I would choose the African.

But In all likelyhood I would end doing this:

quote:

Buy the African, then get a separate Hogue stock to replace the wooden one.

If I felt the need for a synthetic stock.

Stainless 23" with a laminated stock and a pachmyer 1" decelerator! 375 or 416

The 23" is just as handy as the 20" but balances better.

Can someone please tell me how accurate these new 375 rugers are? Thanks.

I am also considering the 416 ruger. I believe the velocity is around 2350 with the 20" barrel, anyone know anything about this?

well, I bought the alaskan because it will fit on my 4 wheeler and be easier getting in and out of vehicle or stands with it. I think one of the main reasons I went that rought was because of stainless and finished with a black weather resistant finish.
Unfortionately, i go it home and found out that it wouldn't feed and the rails where cutting the brass. I took it back to Cabelas the next day for them to send it back to ruger to fix it. If they can't get it to feed, they better give me a new rifle. All the ruger's Ive had previously fed like butter, so I'm sure I just got a lemon.

Muledeer,
Any chance you'd like to show how accurate yours is with the 270 TSX and RL-15?

Perhaps we can get DoubleAA to post his results with pics regarding his lefty Alaskan.. It even made him shoot good. I was impressed enough to be pushed over the edge into purchasing one. I decided on the Black w/Hogue. This gun earned a nick-name right out of the box.. Warthog.. Just so damn stubby and ugly it’s cute. Just playing with it in the garage feels very handy, points right to aim. I like the stock tho it’s different. It’s comfortable, the wrist angle and palm swell will help absorb recoil as well as the thick pad. I can see how the stocks tackiness might catch clothing, but I like the feel enough to overcome this draw-back. After cleaning and lubrication feeds pretty smooth, just need to wear in the matt finish and it will smooth out even more. No porous action issues and pretty nice trigger right out of the box.. Only issue, which is a pet peeve to me.. There is a noticeable gap at the floor plate to bottom metal contact towards the trigger guard that you can see daylight through. I had a new spare Kahles 2-7X36 I put into Warne Q/D’s.. If this Warthog shoots as good as DoubleAA’s, I’ll be one pretty happy guy.. Btw… DoubleAA’s rifle even made me look good.. I hate to admit whenever his stuff does well cause his head swells up even more (if that’s possible) and I never hear the end of it..

quote:

Originally posted by ScottW:
Muledeer,
Any chance you'd like to show how accurate yours is with the 270 TSX and RL-15?

That's nothing new. You're always out "in the garage playing with it."

Mike's correct, without any load development or tuning, my Alaskan shoots under 3/4" with 270 Hornady's and RL15. I have other plans this weekend, but next weekend I'll try the 235 and 270 TSX's.

If I lived in Canada or Alaska, I would choose the the Alaskan and still change the stock to a lone wolf or McMillan stock. If I hunted lower 48 + Africa, then I would choose the African model. Overall I have heard the African to be more accurate than the Alaskan, I don't believe it's the velocity-short barrel syndrome, I think the Hogue stock flexes under recoil thus loss of accuracy.

Dirk

That's a theory I've also wondered about about concerning flexable stocks. I have a laminate stock and Mike has the Houge. Mike's out today testing several different loads, including the one that shot well in my rifle. Although it won't be conclusive results because they're two different rifles, his results should be interesting. Mike's a damn fine shot and a decent handloader. I'm sure he'll post his results soon.

Reddy375,

As to your question on accuracy of the Ruger, I just returned from the range and tested two loads and can report on them. My rifle is the African model and wears a 2-7 Leupold scope.

Fisrt load was the one I loaded for general North America use and consisted of a 235gr Speer Hot Core with 76gr R15. This load averaged 1.5" for four three shot groups and is fun to shoot as the recoil is quite bearable in the light gun.

The second load today was a 300gr Hornady solid (because I got a good buy on a box of 50) over 72gr of R15. This load shot three three shot groups in a row of less than 1.25".........pretty impressive and it really felt like it packed a punch.

Matt

Thanks thats not bad...groups.

Reddy375,

My ruger alaskan with a burris 1x4x24 will routinely shoot 1 -1.25 inch groups with 260 gr NAB's over 73 gr of Rl-15. It will shoot 300 gr hornady SPBT's over 70 grs varget into same or slightly better. Out of a 20 inch barrel.

Cheers

quote:

then get a separate Hogue stock to replace the wooden one.

I despise Hogue stocks. They are too fat and the grip is too close. Apparently I am not alone as Phil Shoemaker had the same opinion. Phil just ordered a synthetic factory stock through Brownells for about $70. I prefer the laminated stock on my LH .375 Ruger Stainless.

Are you reloaders getting the same velocity as Factory loads, I read an article that said reloading data was hard to come by & it would be impossible to match FL as they used a special powder! I do like the feel of the rifle.

from articles I've read, people are getting the same or better velocity than the hornady ammo.

The hogue stocks seam to be a love hate thing. For me, they are the best feeling and fitting stocks I've ever used

Well I was finaly able to get out and test my new Alaskan black with Hogue stock..

First rumor we can put to rest is the Hogue stocked ones are innacurate.. I think my worse group after sighting in was 1" everything else was around 3/4" and just under. Even had a few teasers of two into one raggety hole with 3rd just off by 1/4" or so. That was with Nosler 260 PT's & 72grns Varget @ 2650fps..

At one point I put I think about 10rnds into a ragged 1" hole.

I must say.. I am impressed by my new Warthog and very very pleased with it's performance..

Will it replace my Beloved Sako Safari 375 H&H?? No... But my Sako wouldn't ever go to wet frozen Alaska for Moose either..

I ended up going back to my original plan & put a Leo 2.5-8 on it and not useing the Kahles.

This was actualy my 2nd time out, this time around confirms my earlier data..

My loads were as follows:
All w/Horn cases & Fed-215 Primers

Horn 270grn R-15 @ 72.0 Vel=2625fps.

Horn 270grn R-15 @ 70.0 Vel=2600fps.

Horn 270grn Varget @ 72.0 Vel=2635fps.

Nos.P/T 260grn Varget @ 72.0 Vel=2650fps

Sierra 300grn G/K Varget @ 72.0 Vel=2600fps

Note: this last outing 2-14 was about 18deg colder than previous.(68 vs.55deg) All R-15 Loads dropped aprox 55fps while Varget velocities weren't affected.. Hmmm....

Well I loaded up some rounds

260 accubond, RL-15 @ 74, 75, & 76 grains. Hoping to hit at least 2750 fps out of the 20" barrel.

260 accubond, H4350 @ 83, 83.5, & 84 grains. again, want to keep it at at least 2750 fps.

270 TSX, Win 760 @ 79, 80, & 81 grains. hope to hit 2700-2750 fps out of the 20" barrel.

300 Partition, RL-15 @ 71, 72, & 72.5 grains. Hope to get it to 2550 fps and up w/20" barrel.

300 sierra GK, H4350 @ 81 grains. hoping for 2550 fps



Now I just have to wait for Ruger to get my Alaskan back for feeding issues so I can go shoot.

I don't have a chronograph, so I have no idea what velocities I'll be getting, but I want to get no slower than:
260 gr @ 2750
270 gr @ 2700
300 gr @ 2550

are these velocities achievable in the 20" barrel in cold weather? I'm looking for someone that has gotten these velocities from the Alaskan in fall-winter weather, preferably 30 degrees or colder


Every day that goes buy, I get more anxious to get my rifle back. I have to refrain from harassing Ruger with phone calls every other day asking if they got to my rifle yet. It's only been 3 weeks and I'm already going nuts. The feeling is similar to quitting smoking.
If I get my target velocities from this short rifle, and Ruger fixes the feeding problem, It will easily become my most used rifle and will most likely stay with me a long time.

I really wish Ruger would make the alaskan with a 22"-23" barrel, but I think for me, the stainless weather resistant finish, not afraid to ding or get dirty stock, and compactness just barely over weighs my desire for more velocity.

Will the Alaskan action and barrel fit in the Africa stock ? I prefer the shorter barrel but a wood stock.

quote:

Originally posted by JOEYBONES:
Will the Alaskan action and barrel fit in the Africa stock ? I prefer the shorter barrel but a wood stock.

Both stocks should be interchangable as the actions are identical in dimentions & barrel contours should be the same.