375 Ruger vs 375 HH

[spekieries]

May we have a poll to see what percentage of hunters arrived in Africa with lost cartridges. I googled 4 gun shops, all have 375 R cartridges(Rounds) available. If you land in RSA hopefully your plain does not land in Dwaalboom, because that will create a problem. If you land in RSA and there is a problem keep my e-mail I will gladly load you a few 375R if you have a problem.

Nothing wrong with a model T-Ford, however I prefer driving my Hilux. Nothing wrong with a wind up watch but I prefer mine working with a battery. Nothing wrong with a log book but I prefer using a calculator. Nothing wrong listening to the transistor but i prefer watching TV. Nothing wrong with a Nokia 3610 but I prefer my I-Phone. Nothing wrong with the .375 H&H but I prefer my .375 R

 

[bdavis1960]

Can't argue with your logic and wouldn't try to. Not sure where you checked the gun shops, but I can tell you from experience that, outside any major city, I've yet to see any ammo in the sizes discussed other than .375 H&H and 9.3 x 62. Every PH I've hunted with, while fond of Ruger rounds, recommend against bringing such rifles for exactly the reasons discussed. If you're going on a safari at a fenced in area on hour from Joburg, no worries.

Bags - I've never lost bags at the airport, but have had them stolen from a vehicle parked in a shopping center on the way to northern Namibia. I've also personally met hunters who've had their guns and ammo stolen while in police custody at Joburg. To ignore the threat of theft in Africa is foolish.

 

[johnnyblues]

IMO the only down side of the 375 Ruger is the choices of factory ammo. Hornandy or nothing. I own one and would not shoot DGX or DGS Hornadys. I m booked for buff/hippo in August. I had Superior load for me.

 

[CAustin]

I have a 416 Ruger but when it came to a 375 I bought the H&H classic.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have a 416 Ruger but when it came to a 375 I bought the H&H classic.

I just refer to my 375 Ruger as my 375 Rugby and it's an instant classic.

Lately I've been thinking about a 404 Jeffery conversion project, so one day I might have a real classic too.

 

[Michael Dean]

The single biggest difference between the 375 H&H and the 375 Ruger are the rifles currently being offered in each caliber. The Ruger is being offered in lighter rifles with shorter barrels in stainless while the classic 375 H&H is offered in wood stocks with a blued 23-24 inch barrel. The actual states regarding velocity and foot pounds of energy isn't worth discussing as being so close in similarity.

The key difference for those traveling to Africa is going to be the readily available supply of 375 H&H ammunition as opposed to the almost non-existant availability of the 375 Ruger. At the end of the day, if you don't hand load, the 375 H&H is going to offer a much greater choice in bullets and cartridge choices.

 

[Velo Dog]

May we have a poll to see what percentage of hunters arrived in Africa with lost cartridges. I googled 4 gun shops, all have 375 R cartridges(Rounds) available. If you land in RSA hopefully your plain does not land in Dwaalboom, because that will create a problem. If you land in RSA and there is a problem keep my e-mail I will gladly load you a few 375R if you have a problem.

Nothing wrong with a model T-Ford, however I prefer driving my Hilux. Nothing wrong with a wind up watch but I prefer mine working with a battery. Nothing wrong with a log book but I prefer using a calculator. Nothing wrong listening to the transistor but i prefer watching TV. Nothing wrong with a Nokia 3610 but I prefer my I-Phone. Nothing wrong with the .375 H&H but I prefer my .375 R

Hi spekieries,

You mention that there's "Nothing wrong with the .375 H&H" so, I'm curious why you prefer the Ruger version over the original H&H version.
I'm not trying to be a smartasss here, and I know that I'm in peril of starting a "my baseball hero is better than your baseball hero" type of school yard argument, not necessarily with you but with any members out there who are grumpier than myself, LOL..
I am however genuinely curious, because I truly don't get it.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Eddie P]

My reason for choosing the .375Rug is the "flavour" of rifle. Mine is for cold and snowy and not dry and dusty so stainless is essential.

The guide gun is perfect with it's short barrel.

Ballistically the Rug has the edge on the H&H, but not enough to have to take that into account.

 

[CAustin]

The single biggest difference between the 375 H&H and the 375 Ruger are the rifles currently being offered in each caliber. The Ruger is being offered in lighter rifles with shorter barrels in stainless while the classic 375 H&H is offered in wood stocks with a blued 23-24 inch barrel. The actual states regarding velocity and foot pounds of energy isn't worth discussing as being so close in similarity.

The key difference for those traveling to Africa is going to be the readily available supply of 375 H&H ammunition as opposed to the almost non-existant availability of the 375 Ruger. At the end of the day, if you don't hand load, the 375 H&H is going to offer a much greater choice in bullets and cartridge choices.

If hunting South Africa most arrive through JNB. I have been to two sporting goods stores and both had 375 Ruger ammo available. One also had 416 Ruger. It's there but as some mention not a lot of choices and it is expensive as hell.

 

[Savage Hunter]

Well, I think the 375ruger has just surpassed all other big bore rifles. Why? you might ask.....

Because I just picked up my Nosler M-48 Outfitter in 375ruger making it the best..... I hope.
I won't be hunting DG for probably 3 years, so I mounted my Leupold VX-3L on it with Quick release.
When it's time to hunt Buff, I will get a "proper" DG scope for it and keep both scopes ready to use....... or just the new scope.
I plan to hunt PG with it this summer, money is tight, and this scope should do me fine.
Trying to decide which ammo to use.

 

[1dirthawker]

velo dog,

i bought the ruger for 2 reasons, one the rifle was shorter and handier than most any h&h i could find at the time.

two, it was probably at least a pound lighter than any other rifle i looked at in the h&h.

also, i am not a "classic" kind of guy. i wanted a great rifle for a bear guide rifle up here in AK. i was using a 338 win before, because it was lighter than all 375 h&h rifles i could find (years ago) the 375 ruger: it was stainless, lighter, shorter, same performance, had a mauser type extractor, a sticky (but ugly ) hogue stock, integral rings and iron sights. pretty much a turn key guide gun. it was noticeably less money than any h&h i could find at the time too.

thats why i did it.

 

[Velo Dog]

velo dog,

i bought the ruger for 2 reasons, one the rifle was shorter and handier than most any h&h i could find at the time.

two, it was probably at least a pound lighter than any other rifle i looked at in the h&h.

also, i am not a "classic" kind of guy. i wanted a great rifle for a bear guide rifle up here in AK. i was using a 338 win before, because it was lighter than all 375 h&h rifles i could find (years ago) the 375 ruger: it was stainless, lighter, shorter, same performance, had a mauser type extractor, a sticky (but ugly ) hogue stock, integral rings and iron sights. pretty much a turn key guide gun. it was noticeably less money than any h&h i could find at the time too.

thats why i did it.

Thanks Don,

Finally, someone has parted the clouds for me.
Prior to your post here, I saw no earthly reason for the Ruger version to have been conjured up.
Furthermore, I have until this very moment, been quite surprised it's lasted this long.
So anyway, thanks for your post here, I learned something from it.

Cheers,
Paul.

 

[Eddie P]

Thanks Don,

Finally, someone has parted the clouds for me.
Prior to your post here, I saw no earthly reason for the Ruger version to have been conjured up.
Furthermore, I have until this very moment, been quite surprised it's lasted this long.
So anyway, thanks for your post here, I learned something from it.

Cheers,
Paul.

1DH pretty much mirrored what I said. But in more depth.

His reasons perfectly match mine.

 

[Velo Dog]

1DH pretty much mirrored what I said. But in more depth.

His reasons perfectly match mine.

Less expensive, stainless steel, synthetic stock, short barrel and about a pound lighter to carry than the typical H&H versions available these days.
Got it (finally), I'm a little slow sometimes.
Incidentally, only the less expensive part would get my attention (but, not for long if I had to put up with the rest of those reasons - LOL).
Sorry, I could not resist a wisecrack.
Seriously, I do now understand why some folks are drawn to this cartridge/rifle configuration.
It is very insignificant that people like myself, do not find it worth buying, instead of the H&H version.
Differences of opinion are usually a good thing.

 

[Shawn.54]

I got the Ruger because I could afford it and reloading equipment
at the same time. Also I can get on my hands and knees in brush and drag the rifle behind me and not worry about scratching a wooden stock on a fine rifle.
It doesn't live up to the fine gentlemens rifle of African Safari but it is a rifle that will roll around in the mud and brush with you like a best your best childhood friend.
Shawn

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The single biggest difference between the 375 H&H and the 375 Ruger are the rifles currently being offered in each caliber. The Ruger is being offered in lighter rifles with shorter barrels in stainless while the classic 375 H&H is offered in wood stocks with a blued 23-24 inch barrel. The actual states regarding velocity and foot pounds of energy isn't worth discussing as being so close in similarity.

The key difference for those traveling to Africa is going to be the readily available supply of 375 H&H ammunition as opposed to the almost non-existant availability of the 375 Ruger. At the end of the day, if you don't hand load, the 375 H&H is going to offer a much greater choice in bullets and cartridge choices.

Ruger came out with the 375 Ruger and also the 300 RCM and 338 RCM all within a few years of each other. RCM is "Ruger Compact Magnum." Personally, I thought the 338 RCM was the one that would catch on and make it, but both the 300 and 338 are essentially non existent now. The 375 Ruger has caught on and is growing. Rifles being roughly half the price of what it costs for a 375 H&H. I've heard people talk about how 50 years ago, the 300 H&H was widely used, then the 300 Win Mag came along. A lot of the all boils down to marketing and pereceived differences.

BTW, Ruger offers the 375 in blued steel and walnut stock with a 23 inch barrel. They offer left handed models too.

 

[Shawn.54]

Ok this thread has cooled off for over a week so I figured I'd wake it up again.
I have never traveled by air with a gun or ammo I just keep hearing about what if your ammunition gets lost, is ammo the only thing that gets lost what would you do if the rifle gets lost?
I think that the answer is you would rent a rifle until yours showed up if it was a H&H you could rezero the rental to your ammo or use what it was zeroed for at a extra cost. I have had lost luggage that does eventually catch up to you but I'm not familiar with protocol of lost luggage in any African nation. Lost ammo or rifle on a hunting trip would be an inconvenience that could be annoying, but could be worked around.
Just my thoughts.
Shawn

 

[ArmyGrunt]

More of an issue than a problem, unless your stuff never showed up

 

[Michael Dean]

We need to rethink what Ruger did. Ruger is in the business of manufacturing firearms. Simply put they could have come out with two or three different styled rifles, shorter barrels, more of a carbine styled weapon without going to the extent of developing a new cartridge. The cartridge does nothing new, you obtain the same basic results from the 375 H&H. Ruger would have been better off introducing a new line of rifles and stayed with the classic 375H&H cartridge.

 

[Shawn.54]

Rifle,scope,Talley mounts,reloading dies, and first 150 bullets for less the #1 upgrade at AHR on a CZ550 is reason enough for me.
Shawn
That is a 4 shot group out of five first shot landed 8" high made adjustments and fired last 4.