Handloading the .375 Ruger Is Rounds Over a Chronograph, the .375 300 Nosler Partition H-4350 77.0 2,489 Lug to Help Prevent Splitting

Load Development Handloads for the .375 Ruger Brian Pearce

turm, Ruger & Co. has once again teamed with Hornady SMfg. to offer a cartridge bear- ing its name, the .375 Ruger. The concept is sound – a beltless case that fits in a standard .30-06 length bolt action but offers performance that slightly exceeds the around-the- world proven .375 H&H Magnum. Industry specifications list a Through this development, Ruger maximum cartridge length of has improved the Model 77 rifle. 3.340 inches for the .375 Ruger, (More on that in a moment.) but Hornady factory ammunition measures 3.2470 inches. The .375 H&H Magnum was first offered around 1912 and has become a standard among hunters Model 77 Hawkeye rifle, I believe taking large and dangerous game. It this combination is a real winner. may be considered the .30-06 of Af- I generally avoid comparisons, but rica, where it regularly accounts for the .375 Ruger will duplicate .375 lion, buffalo, hippo, elephant and H&H Magnum performance, using less powder (and in a rifle with shorter bolt travel making it less likely to end up in the shooter’s Brian was impressed with the face when cycling the bolt hard accuracy of the Ruger Model 77 and the consistency of the .375 with the rifle on the shoulder). The Ruger. Accurate handloads folks at Hornady claim the .375 were easy to develop. Ruger has a case capacity 6 percent greater than the H&H Magnum,

other dangerous game. Likewise it touted as a “proprietary case,” it has been popular in Alaska for many shares similar dimensions to the decades, where brown bears and old Newton case. Regardless, it is hunters occasionally tangle at close of modern design and will easily quarters, and a powerful cartridge handle its SAAMI maximum aver- capable of reliably ending fights is age pressure rating of 62,000 psi. desirable. It’s an excellent blend of According to Hornady’s “Maxi- caliber, bullet weight and velocity, mum Cartridge” drawings, the rim yet offers a recoil level that can be and head measure .5320 inch, case mastered by most hunters. Although length is 2.580 inches, while the the average U.S. deer hunter may shoulder angle is 30 degrees. Maxi- believe it is a big cartridge, it is not, mum overall loaded cartridge length being considered more of a “medi- The .375 Ruger (middle) offers a slight Hornady Mfg. is currently offering 270- is 3.340 inches. Brian used a Ruger Model 77 um bore” by hunters of large game. performance edge over the .375 H&H and 300-grain loads for the .375 Ruger. Powders that offer first-rate performance Hawkeye African version to Magnum (right) but has an overall car- Through handloading, it was possible to Having worked with the new in the .30-06 and .375 H&H Magnum also develop loads for the .375 Ruger. Although the .375 Ruger is being tridge length similar to a .30-06 (left). duplicate factory load performance. .375 Ruger and the new Ruger give excellent results in the .375 Ruger.

1 www.loaddata.com July-August 2007 2 Load Development Handloads for the .375 Ruger Brian Pearce turm, Ruger & Co. has once again teamed with Hornady SMfg. to offer a cartridge bear- ing its name, the .375 Ruger. The concept is sound – a beltless case that fits in a standard .30-06 length bolt action but offers performance that slightly exceeds the around-the- world proven .375 H&H Magnum. Industry specifications list a Through this development, Ruger maximum cartridge length of has improved the Model 77 rifle. 3.340 inches for the .375 Ruger, (More on that in a moment.) but Hornady factory ammunition measures 3.2470 inches. The .375 H&H Magnum was first offered around 1912 and has become a standard among hunters Model 77 Hawkeye rifle, I believe taking large and dangerous game. It this combination is a real winner. may be considered the .30-06 of Af- I generally avoid comparisons, but rica, where it regularly accounts for the .375 Ruger will duplicate .375 lion, buffalo, hippo, elephant and H&H Magnum performance, using less powder (and in a rifle with shorter bolt travel making it less likely to end up in the shooter’s Brian was impressed with the face when cycling the bolt hard accuracy of the Ruger Model 77 and the consistency of the .375 with the rifle on the shoulder). The Ruger. Accurate handloads folks at Hornady claim the .375 were easy to develop. Ruger has a case capacity 6 percent greater than the H&H Magnum, other dangerous game. Likewise it touted as a “proprietary case,” it has been popular in Alaska for many shares similar dimensions to the decades, where brown bears and old Newton case. Regardless, it is hunters occasionally tangle at close of modern design and will easily quarters, and a powerful cartridge handle its SAAMI maximum aver- capable of reliably ending fights is age pressure rating of 62,000 psi. desirable. It’s an excellent blend of According to Hornady’s “Maxi- caliber, bullet weight and velocity, mum Cartridge” drawings, the rim yet offers a recoil level that can be and head measure .5320 inch, case mastered by most hunters. Although length is 2.580 inches, while the the average U.S. deer hunter may shoulder angle is 30 degrees. Maxi- believe it is a big cartridge, it is not, mum overall loaded cartridge length being considered more of a “medi- The .375 Ruger (middle) offers a slight Hornady Mfg. is currently offering 270- is 3.340 inches. Brian used a Ruger Model 77 um bore” by hunters of large game. performance edge over the .375 H&H and 300-grain loads for the .375 Ruger. Powders that offer first-rate performance Hawkeye African version to Magnum (right) but has an overall car- Through handloading, it was possible to Having worked with the new in the .30-06 and .375 H&H Magnum also develop loads for the .375 Ruger. Although the .375 Ruger is being tridge length similar to a .30-06 (left). duplicate factory load performance. .375 Ruger and the new Ruger give excellent results in the .375 Ruger.

1 www.loaddata.com July-August 2007 2 Table I .375 Ruger Load Data

bullet powder charge velocity Load Development (grains) (grains) (fps) 235 Speer spitzer softpoint H-380 80.0 2,815 and my water capacity measure- 82.0 2,898 84.0 2,990 ments support this. Some may RL-15 74.0 2,814 assume that .375 H&H data can be 76.0 2,880 used with an additional 6 percent 78.0 2,950 powder charge. Do not attempt 260 Nosler AccuBond H-4350 78.0 2,587 this, or dangerous pressures will 80.0 2,645 probably result. The shorter pow- 82.0 2,703 der column utilizes powder differ- RL-15 72.0 2,702 ently, or what is commonly termed 74.0 2,769 A Nikon variable 3-9x Prostaff scope was “more efficiently,” so charges are 76.0 2,853 used to check loads for accuracy. similar and sometimes less (espe- 270 Barnes Triple-Shock H-414 81.0 2,795 cially with heavier bullets) in the 83.0 2,851 .375 Ruger than the .375 H&H. 85.0* 2,912 nady factory fodder had an extreme H-4895 68.0 2,637 Nonetheless, the .375 Ruger can spread of 43 fps, while the 300-grain The new Ruger Model 77 Hawkeye African rifle weighs less than 7½ pounds (without scope) 70.0 2,689 load ran 38 fps (each with a five- drive 270-grain bullets around and should prove an excellent rifle for field use. It has great handling characteristics. 72.0 2,747 shot string). Every powder charge 150 fps faster or 300-grain bullets Varget 69.0 2,632 around 100 fps more than tradi- in the accompanying load data was 71.0 2,670 weighed. In many instances the ex- tional .375 H&H velocities with mended at 3.340 inches, maximum, When it comes to powder selec- 73.0 2,713 the same bullet weights. For refer- but in using a variety of bullets to tion, there are many choices that treme spreads were less than 10 fps 270 Speer spitzer boat-tail AAC-4350 79.0 2,669 (again for a five-shot average). ence the Hornady 270-grain factory develop the accompanying data, will give excellent results. The same 81.0 2,722 load is advertised at 2,840 fps or the they were seated to different depths powders that have proven useful in 83.0 2,770 The new .375 Ruger Model 77 300-grain roundnose at 2,660 fps. to accommodate the differences in the .375 H&H will work equally 270 Hornady Spire Point W-748 70.0 2,619 Hawkeye African rifle has several Velocities from the Ruger Model ogive profile. (The accompanying well in the .375 Ruger (or for that 72.0 2,667 virtues worth mentioning. First, 77 African rifle with a 23-inch matter the .30-06). Examples in- 74.0 2,710 rather than being heavy and blocky, barrel clocked 2,859 and 2,745 clude Hodgdon H-4350, H-4895, 285 Speer Grand Slam H-414 80.0 2,772 like the Model 77 Express Magnum fps, respectively. In terms of perfor- H-414, Varget, Alliant Reloder 15, 82.0 2,820 at 10 pounds, it is trim and weighs mance on game, there shouldn’t be Accurate Arms AAC-4350, Win- 84.0* 2,880 just under 7½ pounds. Hunters who any practical differences between chester 748 and others of similar H-4350 79.0 2,593 carry guns will appreciate its lack of the .375 Ruger and the long-proven burn rates. 82.0 2,665 weight. The walnut stock is trim, .375 H&H. 83.5 2,707 When firing several hundred without excess wood, and features a Handloading the .375 Ruger is rounds over a chronograph, the .375 300 Nosler Partition H-4350 77.0 2,489 lug to help prevent splitting. There 79.0 2,545 is a new trigger with a lighter pull straightforward. Be certain to adjust Ruger proved its excellent design 81.0 2,603 the sizing die to avoid pushing the by producing low extreme spreads. (known as the LC6). The rear sight RL-15 68.0 2,452 is a wide V, while the front is a 30-degree shoulder and “work- For example, the 270-grain Hor- 70.0 2,510 ing” cases just forward of the head, white bead. The blueing is a “flat” Reloading dies are available from Hor- 72.0 2,574 finish with minimal glare, again which will lead to premature case nady and RCBS, while Hornady also H-414 76.0 2,643 offers .375 Ruger cases to handloaders. designed with the hunter in mind. separation. And keep cases trimmed Table II 78.0 2,703 within 2.580 inches to assure proper .375 Ruger 80.0* 2,756 Finally the Ruger Model 77 con- chambering. As previously stated the Cartridge Overall trolled round feed action is stout, 300 Sierra softpoint boat-tail H-4350 75.0 2,486 reliable and features a positive three- overall cartridge length is recom- Table II lists the length each bullet 77.0 2,543 Length position safety. was seated.) It is also suggested to 79.0 2,603 bullet OAL chamfer inside the case mouths, es- (grains) (inches) 81.0 2,663 Throughout firing hundreds of 300 Swift A-Frame H-4350 77.0 2,511 pecially when using plain or flatbase 235 Barnes Triple-Shock flatbase 3.290 factory fodder and handloads, the bullets. If cases are not so prepared, 79.0 2,577 new Ruger fed and functioned with- bullets tend to hang up and can 260 Nosler AccuBond 3.330 81.0 2,620 out a hitch. From a sandbag rest, it buckle the 30-degree shoulder when 270 Barnes Triple-Shock 3.300 H-414 78.0 2,701 also proved accurate with a number being seated. 270 Speer spitzer boat-tail 3.340 300 Hornady Spire Point boat-tail RL-15 68.0 2,477 of groups measuring around one 270 Hornady Spire Point 3.305 70.0 2,529 inch, and several managed to cluster None of the data in the accompa- 72.0 2,588 285 Speer Grand Slam 3.300 well under an inch. nying table exceeded recommended * Maximum, approach with caution. industry pressure limits of 62,000 300 Nosler Partition 3.290 An improved bolt-action rifle of Notes: A Ruger Model 77 Hawkeye African rifle with a 23-inch barrel was used to test the hand- psi. All loads were developed using 300 Sierra spitzer boat-tail 3.320 loads. Hornady cases and Federal 215 Large Rifle Magnum primers were used throughout. Case sound design, combined with a new Hornady cases and capped with 300 Swift A-Frame 3.275 length was 2.580 inches, and overall cartridge length was 3.340 inches. Maximum SAAMI pressure beltless cartridge of established per- A variety of .375 bullets were used Federal 215 Large Rifle Magnum is 62,000 psi. Temperature during testing was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. formance, should prove popular with 300 Hornady Spire Point boat-tail 3.305 Be Alert – Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data. in the accompanying data. primers. in-the-know big game hunters. • 3 www.loaddata.com July-August 2007 4 Table I .375 Ruger Load Data