Ruger Guide Gun

[Voodooracer]

Hi everyone, I've been away from the forum far too long due to school and work commitments but I'm finally back haha. I've been stashing away money to save up for my first safari, so hopefully within the next couple years i'll be able to book it! I've been trading and selling some rifles and handguns I no longer shoot anymore and I've got a line on a pretty decent deal on making a trade for ruger's new guide gun chambered in 416 ruger. I see ammo is becoming available for it again and am giving serious thought into picking it up. I'm intrigued by the setup, it has the nice green mountain laminate stock with the muzzle brake systems on it, for target practice I'm sure i would appreciate the muzzle break but for hunting scenarios i would put the muzzle weight or just the thread protector on. I like the fact that it has a compact 20" barrel to boot. I was considering another cz 550 in 416 rigby but i have the 2 already in 375 h&h and 458 lott. The cz's are a touch on the long side in regards to barrel length for my liking until i can get them to AHR to have them modified. Anyways, apologies for the mini rant haha. I have heard so so reviews on Ruger's african model but have heard great reviews on the guide gun. Any thoughts or input is always greatly appreciated. I know 416 rigby would be much better for ammo availability across the pond and as a classic african cartridge but the deal on the ruger looks difficult to pass up.
Thanks!
Voodooracer

 

[Royal27]

If you want it, get it.

Doesn't sound like this is really a "need" issue. And even if you did get over to Africa and your ammo got lost I'm guessing that you'd have the .375 as well, which will be easy to find ammo for and can handle anything over there.

 

[Voodooracer]

Yes, it is more of a want than a need, I've become addicted to big bores since joining the forum haha. Yes, my 375 is pretty much my go to rifle, either I'll have a lighter rifle for pg or a larger one for the big stuff. I haven't heard many folks with field experience with the 416 ruger on game, with the old tried and true 416's I can see why it isn't turning the world on its ear.

 

[Royal27]

Don't get me wrong. I get it. I want a .470 Nitro Express so bad I can taste it and will end up getting a .458 Lott as a compromise.

 

[Voodooracer]

A 470 n.e. would be an awesome addition! Oh the sacrifices and compromises we make, it's unfair haha!

 

[700xcr]

Hi everyone, I've been away from the forum far too long due to school and work commitments but I'm finally back haha. I've been stashing away money to save up for my first safari, so hopefully within the next couple years i'll be able to book it! I've been trading and selling some rifles and handguns I no longer shoot anymore and I've got a line on a pretty decent deal on making a trade for ruger's new guide gun chambered in 416 ruger. I see ammo is becoming available for it again and am giving serious thought into picking it up. I'm intrigued by the setup, it has the nice green mountain laminate stock with the muzzle brake systems on it, for target practice I'm sure i would appreciate the muzzle break but for hunting scenarios i would put the muzzle weight or just the thread protector on. I like the fact that it has a compact 20" barrel to boot. I was considering another cz 550 in 416 rigby but i have the 2 already in 375 h&h and 458 lott. The cz's are a touch on the long side in regards to barrel length for my liking until i can get them to AHR to have them modified. Anyways, apologies for the mini rant haha. I have heard so so reviews on Ruger's african model but have heard great reviews on the guide gun. Any thoughts or input is always greatly appreciated. I know 416 rigby would be much better for ammo availability across the pond and as a classic african cartridge but the deal on the ruger looks difficult to pass up.
Thanks!
Voodooracer

I have the 375 Ruger Guide Gun. I mounted a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36mm with the Boone & Crockett reticle using Alaskan Arms LTD. quick detach rings. Very accurate. Factory Hornady 270gr. ammo chronographed an average of 2777fps. Planning on using this combo on elk this year and some day in Africa. I have only shot rifle with the muzzle break on and is a pleasure to shoot that allows fast follow-up shot if ever needed.

 

[Voodooracer]

Thanks 700xcr! That's great to hear, if I didn't have a 375 h&h I'd definitely look into a 375 ruger. That's excellent, good luck on your upcoming hunt! I've been debating on scoping the 416. How well do the Alaska arms qd rings maintain your zero when taking the scope on and off?

 

[700xcr]

It returns to POA. You install rings with the instruction supplied with rings and you will not have any problems. They gaurranty their rings to shoot POA. I got their low set to mount my scope and it is perfect check weld to the stock. Gun comes up nice.

 

[Voodooracer]

Excellent, looks like I'll be looking into a set of those when I pick up the rifle haha.

 

[700xcr]

I am happy with them. Well built and sturdy. I will have the scope in day pack hunting out of camp in the thick brush and use open sights. Then once I get on top on clearings and more open terrain I will pull scope out of day pack and mount on gun. That's my theory anyways wright or wrong.

 

[Voodooracer]

That sounds like solid logic to me, I'm sure that combination will serve you well

 

[Voodooracer]

I just got the guide gun in from my ffl dealer, i'm extremely impressed with it so far, the express sights are very nice and easy to focus on. i ended up adding 2 out of the 3 spacers that come with the gun to adjust the l.o.p. Now the gun fits me like a glove and its extremely handy and balances very well for me. hopefully this week my ammo will come in and i can get some trigger time with it. I'll upload some photos soon

 

[CAustin]

Voodoo racer it just so happens that I have one of the first Guide Guns chambered in 416 off the line. I mounted a Lupehold VX 6 in 1-6 which gives you a clear 120' of vision at zero magnification. I took the rifle to South Africa in April of this year and it dispatched a lioness and a Cape buffalo with no problems. My picture on this site has me holding the horns of the buff. The rifle performed very well given that I only put 50 rounds through it prior yo going over. The bolt is a little stiff till you work it up a bit. The muzzle break is a gift from heaven as with it in place the rifle feels like a 45-70 in terms of kick. Yes the Hornady DGX and DGS are available at Cabela's and I got a couple of boxes from Able Ammo. Both rounds are 400 grains that travel at about 2400 ft per sec. I love this rifle......period. Great craftsmanship at an affordable price. Be ware I put one solid round into the buff that passed through both shoulders. Hope you can get one as I had a devil of a time getting it in the 416 Ruger.

 

[Voodooracer]

Thanks for the report CAustin! I did get the guide gun and im extremely impressed with the quality and cant wait to shoot it. I would love to take it to Africa one day. That is an excellent looking trophy! I have been intrigued with the 416 ruger for a while and when i saw it available in the guide gun platform i jumped on it. I'm debating on scoping it or not but the vx 6 would definitely be the scope I would choose. The DGX rounds are fairly easy to find right now but have been having a little trouble getting any solids. I see midwayusa.com finally has some back in stock.

 

[CAustin]

I bought up five boxes of each when I was able to find it back before my hunt. Check with Cabela's on the solids midway USA as you say carries it as well. The guide gun is stout in more ways than one. The kick will let you know that you have a beast killer in your hands. Just like Ruger says the action of the bolt is short like your regular 30-06 deer rifle. Shooting it without a scope is an adventure trying to hit the inner rings on a target. The rifle comes with normal size scope rings so if you decide to mount the VX6 you will néed the next size up. My gun shop manager was able to send them back to Ruger and got me the right size. Be sure to have them order the matte stainless.
I hunted a lioness in the Kalahari before the buff and the first round broke both of her shoulders so she didn't run at all. you are going to love the 416 when you get to shoot it. The port is loud so wear protection even if it's just one round. My PH didn't when I fired the three rounds at the range and he had ringing ears for the rest of the day.
Give us a shout we you take it yo the range!

 

[Voodooracer]

I will definitely be stockpiling ammo as much as possible. Ah okay, being the caliber it is I am looking at a set of quick detach rings when I scope it so I can remove the scope if need be. I bet it would flatten a lioness quite nicely! It is really good to hear some firsthand field experience with the rifle and cartridge. I absolutely will wear hearing protection haha, I want to try to keep my hearing as long as possible. I definitely will do a range report, I should have it out this week, I'm itching to shoot it that's for sure. I regularly shoot my 458 Lott so I'm used to taking a bit of a beating at the range, I'm sure the guide gun will be a welcome change hahah