First of all I am not a precision Marksman, I am an older guy, and enjoy hunting and shooting in general, this was my experience during the pandemic. Although I have always desired higher end rifles, when I was younger I could not justify the cost with putting two kids through college and the typical costs of raising a family. As I got older, decided do the things now, or they will never get done. When I was working corporate I helped out a division in South Africa, the gents there invited me to go on a hunt, at time as much as I wanted to go I could not find and purchase a suitable rifle.
Now many years later that hunt is on my bucket list, I decided to purchase a 375 caliber rifle in either 375 H & H or 375 Ruger. To my dismay, there were none to be found for purchase that I had thought would be suitable. As a result I did go the custom route. As I explored the options I did reach out to Weatherby and others, and was told the timing of a rifle build and if they could do it at all, most custom rile companies were only doing smaller calibers.
I did find a barrel manufacturer named Shaw, and they did build rifles. I had a custom 375 Ruger built, it is on a Savage action but does not have the barrel nut, it has stainless steel action, the action is CIP length to allow for longer bullets, it has a DBM, it has bedded H & S precision stock. The fit and finish of the rifle was very good, the barrel is stainless, 26" long, hand lapped. Besides putting on a 20 MOA rail, Vortex matched 34mm rings I did swap out the spring of the accutrigger set at 2.4lbs, which I kept instead of the timney I had purchased(timney did not function properly with the safety). It is topped with a Vortex strike eagle 5 x 25 x56 FFP. Which I used during break-in and sight-in, initial MOA using Buffalo bore ammo was about 0.75 it will get tighter. I still have to install the arca rail for use on a tripod and the adjustable cheek rest. Other items purchased, big stainless brake (can post the vendor nice guy) and an Indian creek blast shield that is over my brake, deflects sound and concussion away from me and other shooters on the sides of me. The recoil with the indian creak device on goes directly into my shoulder, and it looks like a mini suppressor. I was able to obtain the rifle and components purchased, for about, $1900.00, without glass. (I did get a deal on the build of about $500.00 off for the rifle build, during the pandemic) I went less on the glass about $600.00 but for my purposes it will work, I did purchase a light weight Razor LHT I may swap but don't believe it will be necessary. The build took about 9 months to get to me but I am very ☺ happy with the experience. As I will use this rifle for 3 specific hunts probably more as my health permits. I am very pleased with the process and really happy with the rifle. The only thing I would have done differently is have the barrel fluted for weight reduction, have them install another trigger and install the adjustable cheek rest. If anyone is interested in the actual cost breakdown I could find my receipts. The full weight with scope without the adjustable cheek-rest and ARCA rail is under 11lbs.
. Not even a custom though undoubtably excellent quality
