Reloading success for 375 Ruger

[brentc]

I figured I'd give you guys a little good news about the loads I recently worked up for my 375 Ruger African.

I found superb accuracy with the rifle using a 270 grain TSX on top of 74-74.5 grain of RL 15. I settled on 74.5 grains of RL 15 with 5 shot groups averaging .68". I have the rifle sighted in 3 inches high at 100 yards leaving it dead zero at 240 yards.

I was hunting the coast from Valdez, AK spotting and stalking bears from the boat. We had originally planned to stay on the water for 10 days or until the party limited on black bears. Anyway, we ended up coming home early. Our party ended up killing 7 bears for 7 hunters in 7 days.

I was holding out for a really big bear this year, and on what ended up our last day of hunting we spotted what I thought to be a really nice blackie across the bay. We jumped in the small boat and headed ashore for a better look. After getting a good look at him I was definitely sure he was a shooter. He was a huge bear and was without a doubt one that would make a great rug.

We ended up sneaking to 240 yards of the great beast and I rested the rifle on a log just waiting for him to turn broadside. Once he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger and let her roar. Slam! Bear down in his tracks! I hit him with a high shoulder shot through the scapula. The bullet entered the hide with a .375 diameter hole, then it expanded immediately leaving a 2" diameter hole through his scapula. The bullet drove bone fragments through his vitals and came to rest in the off shoulder on the opposite side of his body. The bullet didn't pass thru his hide which to me was a bonus for a bear of this quality. (He was a thick sucker!)

To me this is absolutely ideal! My beautiful bear hide has one bullet hole and a perfect hide filled with guard hairs and beautiful blackness. What more can you ask for? The situation played out perfectly. I couldn't have scripted it any better.

The hide ended up measuring 7'2" nose to tail with a 19 3/4" skull. He was truly one of the most beautiful black bears I've ever seen!

 

[mtelkhntr78]

Congrats and Great looking bear!

I think I may borrow some of your info on your loads for the 375. I bought a 375 Ruger African last year and I am slowly getting around to getting it ready for hunting. I bought a new butt pad, trigger and detachable rings for it and waiting for the right scope to mount on it. Right now my primary hunting rifle load development has taken priority so I havent put much time into her.
That sounds like some outstanding accuracy out of that gun. Did you do anything to modify the rifle? How was is the recoil with it? What scope did you put on it? I have yet to shoot mine but I am curious of your initial impressions of the 375 Ruger African?

 

[brentc]

Congrats and Great looking bear!

I think I may borrow some of your info on your loads for the 375. I bought a 375 Ruger African last year and I am slowly getting around to getting it ready for hunting. I bought a new butt pad, trigger and detachable rings for it and waiting for the right scope to mount on it. Right now my primary hunting rifle load development has taken priority so I havent put much time into her.
That sounds like some outstanding accuracy out of that gun. Did you do anything to modify the rifle? How was is the recoil with it? What scope did you put on it? I have yet to shoot mine but I am curious of your initial impressions of the 375 Ruger African?

This Ruger shoots great with everything I have loaded for it. I also saw good accuracy with H4350 with 260 gr Accubonds, and 235 gr TSX.

I have installed a decent recoil pad, glass bedded the recoil lug and had another crossbolt placed in the pistol grip to keep the stock from cracking around the rear tang. I also placed some wood sealer under the barrel to help decrease moisture damage. I plan on having it teflon coated this summer to add a little extra durability to the metal when i'm in a salt water environment.

I did all of the mods to help protect the rifle from the elements not to improve the way it shoots. It shot just as well in factory form.

The scope is a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10x40.

 

[Wyattw]

What recoil pad did you use that fits for that rifle. I have one and am looking to get a limbsaver in the Nitro 1.5" variety. Does anyone know what size matches? Thanks.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

What recoil pad did you use that fits for that rifle. I have one and am looking to get a limbsaver in the Nitro 1.5" variety. Does anyone know what size matches? Thanks.

Welcome to LRH. You will find a wealth of knowledge here and find many friendly shooters who are eager to help out.

When searching around the site it is helpful to take note of the date on the last post in any given thread. The post you responded to was over 4 years old so the chance of the poster seeing your question is pretty remote. However, every now and then an old post does get resurrected.

 

[FEENIX]

Welcome to LRH. You will find a wealth of knowledge here and find many friendly shooters who are eager to help out.

When searching around the site it is helpful to take note of the date on the last post in any given thread. The post you responded to was over 4 years old so the chance of the poster seeing your question is pretty remote. However, every now and then an old post does get resurrected.

LL!