Conqueror big bore: the .375 Ruger

Guns Magazine, July, 2008 by Dave Anderson

Hornady and Ruger are proving to be a formidable design team, as witness the success of the .204 Ruger. One indication a cartridge is catching on is when other manufacturers pick it up. Several rifle makers have adopted the .204 and other cartridge companies are loading it.

It appears the Hornady/Ruger team has designed another winner. The .375 Ruger cartridge in its two Ruger 77 Hawkeye rifle versions (Alaskan and African) has been, as big-bore cartridges go, very successful (see Holt Bodinson's feature in the December 2007 issue). Ruger reps say sales have far exceeded even their most optimistic projections. A Steyr rep advised they are dropping the .376 Steyr and adopting the .375 Ruger and I would not be surprised to see it in the Weatherby Vanguard as well. Holland's Classic

This is remarkable. The .375 H&H Magnum is one of the all time classics. It would make most anyone's top five list of the world's great hunting cartridges, and more than a few would place it number one. So thoroughly does it dominate its arena that other cartridges take it on at their peril.

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Figuratively speaking many cartridges have confidently climbed in the ring with the .375 H&H, eager for a slap at the champion. Generally they are carried out with their heads hanging loose.

Nearly a century's experience in game fields all over the world has proven .375 H&H ballistics about right. A 270-grain bullet at 2,700 fps or 300-grain at 2,500 fps provide ample power along with tolerable recoil in a rifle light enough (say 9-1/2 to 10 pounds) to be reasonably handy.

Some of the challengers, like the .358 Norma Magnum and .376 Steyr, don't quite measure up ballistically. Others like the .378 Weatherby and .375 RUM have more recoil than most shooters want and, like the H&H, are long cartridges usually requiring magnum actions.

The Ruger and H&H .375s, though shaped differently, are very similar in capacity. Cases vary a bit depending on brass thickness but typically a .375 H&H case will hold about 96 grains of water, a .375 Ruger about 101 grains.

This tells me as a handloader I can match or slightly exceed standard H&H ballistics, all things being equal, without any special powders or reloading techniques.

As loaded by Hornady, the .375 Ruger exceeds "standard" H&H ballistics assuming identical barrel lengths. This meets a goal Ruger had, to match standard H&H ballistics in the 20" barrels of the Alaskan model.

The H&H case is 2.850" long. The Ruger case length is 2.580". The Ruger uses the same .532" case head size as the H&H and its numerous offspring. That's it? That's the big deal? A case length barely 1/4" shorter? Yes, and it is a big deal. The longer H&H case requires a "magnum" length action, or a standard Mauser 98-type action opened up. The .375 Ruger fits the same actions and same bolt head size as such popular cartridges as the .300 and .338 Win. Mags. Economically speaking, Ruger can make a whole bunch of standard actions for less cost per action than a relatively small number of magnum-length actions.

Some .375 H&H fans resent a newcomer taking on their old favorite. Well, I like the H&H round and I don't see it going away. The .308 didn't obsolete the .30-06, as some predicted it would. There was room for both.

In fact I'm not so sure the .375 Ruger is necessarily taking H&H market share, even in Alaska where it is proving very popular. If anything I suspect it is taking market share from the .338 Win Mag.

The excellent and versatile .338 Win Mag, is a flat-shooting round with plenty of power for game such as elk and moose. It is popular in Alaska as a hunting or defense cartridge on brown and grizzly bear, with both the lighter bullets and with 250-grain bullets at 2,660 fps. Many Alaskans like to have a rifle handy while fishing, hiking or working the backcountry. They aren't looking for a fight with bears but they don't want to get eaten either.

Many have bought .338s, as rifles and ammunition are reasonably priced and widely available. With the Ruger Alaskan stainless steel/synthetic stock they can get a tough and durable rifle of proven quality with controlled-round feed and full .375 power, for not much more than a standard .338. Plus it is lighter and shorter than most H&H rifles, handy to hang on a pack frame or store in plane, boat or snowmobile.

Africa is the other home of the .375 H&H. For various reasons, African hunters are much less fickle than Americans. They tend to find what works and stick with it. A young African hunter selecting a rifle knows he can count on H&H cartridges being available. The sport hunter traveling to Africa knows if the ammunition goes astray (I've had it happen, as have several others I know) the outfitter is almost certain to have .375 H&H ammunition on hand.

I expect the .375 H&H will dominate in Africa for a very long time, but I do see the .375 Ruger slowly making inroads even there. I'm planning to take the Ruger rifle shown here to Africa in July. And if my ammunition gets lost? I'll borrow the outfitter's .375 H&H. You can't go wrong either way!