IS the 375 ruger a good long range caliber?

[TXAoudadKlr]

Also, keep in mind with the 375's larger frontal area its going to be pretty authoritative when it impacts.

 

[AKBman]

I know this is an old thread, but thought I would chime in. I have a Ruger Alaskan in a gray laminated stock with a 23" barrel. I have loaded everything from 270gr round nose bullets to 350gr cast. With 300gr Sierra Boattails, I have been having a lot of fun busting rock at over 500 yards, and it is easy with the Shooter app for my phone, can't wait to get my new Leica 1600B so I can range targets even further out, I bring 2 rifles usually, the 375 and my 300 Win Mag, both make hitting targets at 500+ yards easy work. Wish I could afford to try the 300gr Accubonds in mine.

 

[WildRose]

I know this is an old thread, but thought I would chime in. I have a Ruger Alaskan in a gray laminated stock with a 23" barrel. I have loaded everything from 270gr round nose bullets to 350gr cast. With 300gr Sierra Boattails, I have been having a lot of fun busting rock at over 500 yards, and it is easy with the Shooter app for my phone, can't wait to get my new Leica 1600B so I can range targets even further out, I bring 2 rifles usually, the 375 and my 300 Win Mag, both make hitting targets at 500+ yards easy work. Wish I could afford to try the 300gr Accubonds in mine.

I haven't done any work with mine beyond 400yds so far but had several kills on deer and one big hog with it to date.

Accuracy has been excellent and nothing I've shot with it has taken a step shooting factory hornady ammo in it.

 

[Tom Moran]

^^^ I agree. "Most practical" is the best way to put it. .375s can be great long range guns if you can push a 350 grain bullet fast enough (CheyTac) but the Ruger kinda falls flat with that size of bullet. It'll shoot 300s moderately fast but the 338s will shoot them faster, plus they have better BCs coming out of a .338.

Get a .338 Lapua or Ultra Mag for the most practical long range hammer, or step up to a Lapua AI or 338-378 for a bit less practicality/slightly bigger hammer.

Speer 270 grain btsp runs 2,960 fps with H4350 ver 3,000 with reloder 16...sighted in zero at 200 it hits 5 inches low at 300 and 14 inches low at 400...26 inches low at 500 I will take it.

 

[FEENIX]

I hope that after 11 years, the OP has figured out the answer to his query.

 

[cornshank]

I think it would work fine at long range within reason. I think some get too caught up in needing high B.C bullets and muzzle velocity and X amount of energy to get the job done. I was told a 458 socom (equal to a 45-70 in performance) was only good for 150 yards and I was crazy to stretch it any farther than that but I did it anyway and made a kill at 290 yards with it. Sure it dropped like crazy and didn't get there in a hurry but when it arrive there it sure did its job.

Just hold a little higher , that's all.

 

[Tom Moran]

I had a 30-06 for decades and liked the push type recoil rather than a kick like my father's 7mm mag had...after encountering a 400 lb cinnamon black bear in Colorado at dark with just a bow no side arm the beast took 3 huge breaths sucking air in its lungs that sounded like air rushing in a metal garbage can then the exhale which sounded like a sasquatch I took off running all the while waiting to be mauled. This year I am going back to tent and hunt in Rifle for Elk....my gun is overkill for Elk but if that bear gives me trouble he is going to get the 300 grain roundnose. That's really why I chose the 375 Ruger for that dang bear !

 

[sp6x6]

Id have zipped that bear with my bow

 

[cornshank]

I had a 30-06 for decades and liked the push type recoil rather than a kick like my father's 7mm mag had...after encountering a 400 lb cinnamon black bear in Colorado at dark with just a bow no side arm the beast took 3 huge breaths sucking air in its lungs that sounded like air rushing in a metal garbage can then the exhale which sounded like a sasquatch I took off running all the while waiting to be mauled. This year I am going back to tent and hunt in Rifle for Elk....my gun is overkill for Elk but if that bear gives me trouble he is going to get the 300 grain roundnose. That's really why I chose the 375 Ruger for that dang bear !

If you hit him with a 300 gr round nose ,I'm sure he will not bother you any more.
I really don't like the bears either , seem to get around them enough seems like when surprised they sometimes stand up,
I have had to throw rocks at one to get his attention, he decided he wanted no part of my rifle or me .

 

[Tom Moran]

A cowboy warned me not to go up there cuz there were 4 big cinnamon black bears there...in my state no deer hunter gives up their spot...young and dumb me thought the cowboy was protecting trophy bulls for his ranch owners clients....putting up a solar electric bear fence around the tent with some booby traps to let me know...I don't care for bears but cats are worse.

 

[WildRose]

Just hold a little higher , that's all.

Past about 200yds it's more like lobbing mortar rounds than shooting a rifle.

 

[Tom Moran]

A cowboy warned me not to go up there cuz there were 4 big cinnamon black bears there...in my state no deer hunter gives up their spot...young and dumb me thought the cowboy was protecting trophy bulls for his ranch owners clients....putting up a solar electric bear fence around the tent with some booby traps to let me know...I don't care for bears but cats are worse.

 

[cornshank]

Past about 200yds it's more like lobbing mortar rounds than shooting a rifle.

All bullets are a lobb , some with more of a lobb some with less.

 

[Tom Moran]

Not if you reload and stick to the lighter 235 to 270 grain boat tails...I will let everyone know how it does on Elk and back bear in Colorado this year. Hopefully.