It's only "more poweful" than the .375 H&H by a couple hundred foot pounds - not significant. The Alaskan is an "economy" rifle for those who don't want to shell out for a more expensive one. Unless you reload, the .375 Ruger only comes in 2 loadings by Hornady which costs more than the H&H ammo which is loaded by multiple manufacturers. Ruger is following Weatherby's tactic of making "traditional" loads slightly more powerful - only in a smaller rifle instead of a larger one.
@redlegagent Yes, but it's still just as good as the 375HH and comes in a slightly more compact package. As far as the load availability goes, it will improve over time. It also is a great cartridge for guys that already own magnum actions, or evern a 30-06 that want to make a barrel change. You can't change to a 375HH with a 30-06 action.
they basically took a .375 rem ultra mag and shortened it to make a .375 ruger special... I see no purpose for it other than gunsmiths making these for customers with only standard size actions who are too cheap to buy magnum actions.
Wally Johnson ( the late ) killed over 1200 elephants almost all with a 375H&H. Doesn't matter if you have a 460 weatherby you still have to hit the target especially when using solids. The performance difference between a 375 ruger and a 375 H&H are marginal no animal is going to notice the difference. If you take a 375 ruger to africa and lose your ammo you may be out of luck , H&H ammo is all over Africa. That said the Ruger is still a sweet rifle.
Designed by ruger/hornady to "match" the h&h ballistics with a 20 inch barrel, not be superior. it was only found out after that out of a 20 inch barrel is was very very slightly better . In a 23 inch barrel, like on the african however it will much surpass the h&h. This is comparing the ruger to an h&h with a 24 inch barrel. The one thing I like about the rugers is that the inexpensive factory loaded 270 grainers are spire points. Which also helps
Ruger released a good round, but will do what they always do. Despite the fact that the .375 ruger round will fit into shorter actions, ruger won't do that, they will only release it in the more expensive alaskan. Defeating the purpose of the shorter ultra mag style shell. It will match .375 H&H performance in a shorter barrel, and surpass it in a longer barrel, but they will never release it in a longer barreled rifle. The .375 ruger seems bound to fail like alot of stuff that shouldn't
@Tadpoleriver yea i was on a website it was eaither ruger winchester or remington and i clicked the photo gallery and i was looking threw the pictures and the guy had the gun and he had a grizzly dead next to it i dont know about a big horn but i think it can
To me, an elephant rifle is one that can get your pants out of the fire when things go wrong, NOT one that only works when things go right.
But, that's just my personal definition, one can bring whatever rifle he wants on his safari, the PH will be there to bail you out if things take a turn for the worse.
There was been more ele's killed with the .375 H&H than probably any other cartridge in the world and the .375 Ruger is every bit its match. This is total B.S. about it not being an elephant cartridge. Stoked with 300 gr. bullets the .375 Ruger is more than adequate...
Yes, it CAN kill an elephant, but if you are face with a situation where the animal does not go down on the first or second shot, and attempts to charge, none of the .375's are very good at stopping charges.
Therefore, I stand by my statement that a hunter would be better suited using a .416 or .458 for elephant hunting, because they have a larger margin for error than a medium bore like the various .375's
If you are a good shot with the .375 then by god hunt whatever you want with it.
What do you mean they have a larger margine of error? That extra .041 bullet diameter with several more grains of cordite behind it will kill an elephant while a .375 will not it if misses the brain by say an inch or so? Uhh............... Sure some countries enforce a .40 cal minimum but thats mainly for larger blood trails, seeing as its not a good thing for the world of hunting to have hunters dangerous game walking around wounded. Some have 37 cal minimal, but most suck at shooting.....
Nice. Ruger should chamber the Alaskan in .450 Marlin.
The Marlin lever guns in .45-70 and .450 are popular up north.
vandohky 4 months ago
It's only "more poweful" than the .375 H&H by a couple hundred foot pounds - not significant. The Alaskan is an "economy" rifle for those who don't want to shell out for a more expensive one. Unless you reload, the .375 Ruger only comes in 2 loadings by Hornady which costs more than the H&H ammo which is loaded by multiple manufacturers. Ruger is following Weatherby's tactic of making "traditional" loads slightly more powerful - only in a smaller rifle instead of a larger one.
redlegagent 4 months ago
@redlegagent Yes, but it's still just as good as the 375HH and comes in a slightly more compact package. As far as the load availability goes, it will improve over time. It also is a great cartridge for guys that already own magnum actions, or evern a 30-06 that want to make a barrel change. You can't change to a 375HH with a 30-06 action.
rrhynes 1 week ago
they basically took a .375 rem ultra mag and shortened it to make a .375 ruger special... I see no purpose for it other than gunsmiths making these for customers with only standard size actions who are too cheap to buy magnum actions.
red0ubtable 5 months ago
better a 375 with good stout solids than a 460 with mushy soft-points when that elephant gets too close - its the bullet that kills not the calibre
wotrabbitfish 6 months ago
It would be cool to have an m1 garand chambered in 375.
MUSICALGUNNUT45 10 months ago
@MUSICALGUNNUT45 That thing better weigh 40 lbs lol
ntrudr800 6 months ago
nice rifle...not alot of recoil though...
bulletman84 1 year ago
Wally Johnson ( the late ) killed over 1200 elephants almost all with a 375H&H. Doesn't matter if you have a 460 weatherby you still have to hit the target especially when using solids. The performance difference between a 375 ruger and a 375 H&H are marginal no animal is going to notice the difference. If you take a 375 ruger to africa and lose your ammo you may be out of luck , H&H ammo is all over Africa. That said the Ruger is still a sweet rifle.
james7mmwby 1 year ago
Designed by ruger/hornady to "match" the h&h ballistics with a 20 inch barrel, not be superior. it was only found out after that out of a 20 inch barrel is was very very slightly better . In a 23 inch barrel, like on the african however it will much surpass the h&h. This is comparing the ruger to an h&h with a 24 inch barrel. The one thing I like about the rugers is that the inexpensive factory loaded 270 grainers are spire points. Which also helps
WeatherbyDude 1 year ago
I wish Ruger would release a similar rifle but in plain old .308
Iron sighted Bolts are rare and they have a good thing in the Alaskan but needs more caliber options IMO
SaginawGS 2 years ago
@SaginawGS 308 never has been a popular hunting cartridge, hence it's lack of availability.
rrhynes 1 week ago
Ruger released a good round, but will do what they always do. Despite the fact that the .375 ruger round will fit into shorter actions, ruger won't do that, they will only release it in the more expensive alaskan. Defeating the purpose of the shorter ultra mag style shell. It will match .375 H&H performance in a shorter barrel, and surpass it in a longer barrel, but they will never release it in a longer barreled rifle. The .375 ruger seems bound to fail like alot of stuff that shouldn't
JtsGreene 2 years ago
Actually its on par and more expensive, basically a peice of shit.
headphones222 2 years ago
Have you had any problems with the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan? Would it be overkill for Alaskan Grizzly or Big Horn Ram?
Tadpoleriver 2 years ago
no way it would be great, especially for the grizzly and it would be good for the ram too:)
TheDodgeChallenger 2 years ago
@Tadpoleriver yea i was on a website it was eaither ruger winchester or remington and i clicked the photo gallery and i was looking threw the pictures and the guy had the gun and he had a grizzly dead next to it i dont know about a big horn but i think it can
mojosmadness2 2 years ago
Elephant gun it is not!
PigHunter375 3 years ago
yes it is
jonesboy707 2 years ago 2
Anybody who thinks that a .375 of any flavor is the right choice for elephant is misguided.
.40 cal/400 grain bullets/5000 ft lbs of energy and up are so much more potent that it's really not even worth debating.
Should you find yourself facing a charge, or following a wounded buff, that .375 gets pretty small, pretty quickly.
PigHunter375 2 years ago
yes the 416 is more effective but I have seen many more elaphants fall to a 375 than a 416
TheDodgeChallenger 2 years ago
depends on what your idea of an elephant gun is, there has been elephants taken with the .303 british so i guess it is an elephant gun
lliamcoombs 2 years ago 2
To me, an elephant rifle is one that can get your pants out of the fire when things go wrong, NOT one that only works when things go right.
But, that's just my personal definition, one can bring whatever rifle he wants on his safari, the PH will be there to bail you out if things take a turn for the worse.
PigHunter375 2 years ago
There was been more ele's killed with the .375 H&H than probably any other cartridge in the world and the .375 Ruger is every bit its match. This is total B.S. about it not being an elephant cartridge. Stoked with 300 gr. bullets the .375 Ruger is more than adequate...
sanjuancb 2 years ago 2
Yes, it CAN kill an elephant, but if you are face with a situation where the animal does not go down on the first or second shot, and attempts to charge, none of the .375's are very good at stopping charges.
Therefore, I stand by my statement that a hunter would be better suited using a .416 or .458 for elephant hunting, because they have a larger margin for error than a medium bore like the various .375's
If you are a good shot with the .375 then by god hunt whatever you want with it.
PigHunter375 2 years ago
What do you mean they have a larger margine of error? That extra .041 bullet diameter with several more grains of cordite behind it will kill an elephant while a .375 will not it if misses the brain by say an inch or so? Uhh............... Sure some countries enforce a .40 cal minimum but thats mainly for larger blood trails, seeing as its not a good thing for the world of hunting to have hunters dangerous game walking around wounded. Some have 37 cal minimal, but most suck at shooting.....
JtsGreene 2 years ago
They killed a cape bufalo with the 375 ruger so It can be used on the big five which a cape bufalo is so it can also kill an elephant
bf3pwner 2 years ago