375 ruger for long range ?

[mike mccormick]

Has anyone done it? Thinking of using a 300 to 350 grain, high bc bullet out of a 26-30 inch barrel. Might be short on powder capacity?

 

[El Matador]

I think in that size of action you'd be better off with a 338. The problem with high-BC 375 bullets is they are pretty long. I guess if you did a single shot setup you could seat your bullets long and get away with it, but still like you said the powder capacity is lacking. To really get the 375s moving you need to get up into the Cheytac size actions and cases.

 

[std7mag]

If they can get a 45-70 to 1,800 yards, then i say Go For It!!!

Let us know how things work out!

 

[Orr89rocz]

Build a RUM, get ADG brass

 

[Bill K]

Powder capacity ?? Look how little the Br cartridges use and they reach out fine at 1000 yrds,
So maybe the 375 Ruger can do it. It is all in the correct bullet and dialing in the range on your scope or high end iron sights. SMILE

 

[DaveTooley]

The 338 PRC gives you 80% performance of a Lapua at 60% of the cost.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I guess it depends on the rifle's intended purpose and what you consider long range?

Many years ago, I built a wildcat where I necked the 375 Ruger case down to 338 cal. Long before PRCs were around, but it's essentially a 338 PRC with the shoulder bumped a little farther forward. Launches the 250gr Bergers up over 3000 fps from a 26" barrel. Very accurate as well.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

And whatever you decide to do with the 375 Ruger case, make sure you buy ADG brass. Hornady is garbage for pushing pressure. I now use ADG 300 PRC brass necked up to 338 and fireform with normal target practice. The stronger primer pockets and base in the ADG brass allow anything built on the 375 Ruger case design to really shine and deliver amazing performance with excellent powder efficiency.

 

[benchracer]

Has anyone done it? Thinking of using a 300 to 350 grain, high bc bullet out of a 26-30 inch barrel. Might be short on powder capacity?

I have done this in a CZ 550 chambered for 375 H&H. I used Cutting Edge 300 MTH with RL17 and 350 SMK with RL22. OAL with these bullets required single feeding. From a 25" barrel, the MTH's liked to run around 2780 and maxed around 2830. The SMK's liked to run around 2560 and max was north of 2600.

375 Ruger has slightly more case capacity than 375 H&H, which may allow use of RL16 and RL23. That may be worth investigating.

With the 350 SMK's, I found controllability of my hunting weight rifle to be the limiting factor for precision shooting. From what I can tell, the 350 SMK hasn't been available for the last several years, so use of it may be a moot point.

I had good results out to 1000 yards (as far as I tested) with the Cutting Edge 300 MTH.

To aid precision shooting, I recommend either a heavier than sporting weight rifle or a muzzle brake. As has been mentioned by others, quality brass (Lapua, ADG, and Peterson) in 300 PRC is available and can be readily necked up for use in 375 Ruger.

A bullet I have not worked with, but believe to be worth investigation, is the Cutting Edge 325 Lazer.

 

[Zero333]

375 H&H Improved !

This way you can find brass easier and if you're existing barrel already has the right twist and shoots good, you will not have to spend as much money. Just ream it out to AI and smile ?

 

[mike mccormick]

375 H&H Improved !

This way you can find brass easier and if you're existing barrel already has the right twist and shoots good, you will not have to spend as much money. Just ream it out to AI and smile ?

300 prc brass is not hard to find, also is of larger body diameter than the H&H, so that wouldn't work. I already have a 300 prc, and was contemplating spinning up a new barrel in 375 ruger if it will give suitable results. Most load data is for dangerous game bullets, not for target bullets, hence the question.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

300 prc brass is not hard to find, also is of larger body diameter than the H&H, so that wouldn't work. I already have a 300 prc, and was contemplating spinning up a new barrel in 375 ruger if it will give suitable results. Most load data is for dangerous game bullets, not for target bullets, hence the question.

I think if you want something from the 375 Ruger case with more energy than a 300 PRC and good available high BC bullets for long range, then 338 cal is a better option.

I know this isn't conducive of what a Lapua case can actually do, but "Factory" 338 Lapua ammo using a 250gr bullet clocks in at around 2850 fps. So when you consider my 338-375 Ruger can push a 250gr bullet up over 3,000 fps, that's 150 fps faster than 338 Lapua ammo. Pretty impressive and very effective at long range.

Left: Virgin ADG 300 PRC brass necked up to 338 cal.
Right: My 338-375 Ruger fireformed from
the same 300 prc brass.

 

[mike mccormick]

I think if you want something from the Ruger case with more energy and good available high BC bullets for long range, then necking the case up to 338 cal is a better option.

I know this isn't conducive of what a Lapua case can actually do, but "Factory" 338 Lapua ammo using a 250gr bullet clocks in at around 2850 fps. So when you consider my 338-375 Ruger can push a 250gr bullet up over 3,000 fps, that's 150 fps faster than 338 Lapua ammo. Pretty impressive and very effective at long range.

Left: Virgin ADG 300 PRC brass necked up to 338 cal.
Right: My 338-375 Ruger fireformed from
the same 300 prc brass.

View attachment 1535922

Tell me more about this, please. What reamer and dies do you use?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Tell me more about this, please. What reamer and dies do you use?

I have an old set of dies made by Redding. Used to be able to order the 338-375 Ruger from Redding's custom die list, but I don't see it as an option anymore.

The reamer is an old PTG as well. I tried to find the spec sheet but I seem to have lost it over the years. I emailed PTG to see if they have it on file somewhere. It was a long time ago tho so my hopes aren't super high. It is set up for 300gr Bergers, but I think it works better with 250gr Bergers. So if a person wanted to shoot 300gr, I would go with a little more freebore than what I have. Although there are no issues with ny PTG reamer, I have only used JGS reamers for quite some time now. Just better quality.

If you decide you want to give the 338-375R a try, I could send you 3 fired cases so you can send them to JGS and have a reamer made. Could also use them to have custom dies made by Whidden or whomever else.

I think @DaveTooley was another guy who also did a lot of work with the 375 Ruger case back in the day. He might have some good insight on reamer specs and dies.

 

[mike mccormick]

I have an old set of dies made by Redding. Used to be able to order the 338-375 Ruger from Redding's custom die list, but I don't see it as an option anymore.

The reamer is an old PTG as well. I tried to find the spec sheet but I seem to have lost it over the years. I emailed PTG to see if they have it on file somewhere. It was a long time ago tho so my hopes aren't super high. It is set up for 300gr Bergers, but I think it works better with 250gr Bergers. So if a person wanted to shoot 300gr, I would go with a little more freebore than what I have. Although there are no issues with ny PTG reamer, I have only used JGS reamers for quite some time now. Just better quality.

If you decide you want to give the 338-375R a try, I could send you 3 fired cases so you can send them to JGS and have a reamer made. Could also use them to have custom dies made by Whidden or whomever else.

I think @DaveTooley was another guy who also did a lot of work with the 375 Ruger case back in the day. He might have some good insight on reamer specs and dies.

Thank you! I am starting to think this is the way to go. What are you using for a starting load?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Thank you! I am starting to think this is the way to go. What are you using for a starting load?

It likes RL16 and H4350 behind the 250gr Berger Elite Hunter. With either powder, start at 74gr and carefully work up.

With RL 16, it takes about 0.5gr to see any significant rise in speed. But with H4350 it will give the same speed change with half that (.02gr-.03gr).

RL16 gave 3010 fps at a max load of 77.3gr which gave the best accuracy in a 3.010" group at 871 yards. In ladder testing, all rounds fired at the same POA from 76.5gr (2970 fps) to 77.3gr (3010 fps) were all in a sub MOA cluster at 871 yards.

H4350 gave 2946 fps at a max load of 77.8gr, but best accuracy was at 76.5gr which yielded about 2900 fps. There is a good node from 76gr (2860 fps) to 76.5gr (2900 fps). The next node wasn't until 77.2gr (2936 fps) but it was a short node that ended at 77.5gr (2938 fps)

NOTE: The 338-375R 'can' push the 250gr up around 3080 fps with slower powders like H1000 and Retumbo, but I wasn't getting the consistent accuracy or any good nodes with ladder tests like I was with RL16 and H4350.

You can do initial rough work up with .5gr increments most of the way using RL16 and H4350...But I would recommend reducing the charge weight increments to 0.2gr-0.3gr once you go above 76gr with either powder

My barrel is a Brux with 1 in 10" twist and finished at 26". And this data only applies to the 250gr Berger EH bullet, provided your chamber specs are very close to mine. These loads would probably need to be reduced a couple grains if your chamber shoulder dimensions matched a standard 300 PRC case necked up to 338.

 

[benchracer]

If you are considering going with a 338 caliber on the 300 PRC case, take a look at the 33 Sherman Magnum. It is a turn key package. Reamers, dies, and load data already exist. There are smiths out there who have the reamer and can spin up a barrel for you.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I would like to try some N555 and N565 in my 338-375R one day. Maybe even N570. Might work

 

[benchracer]

RL26 and N565 are known to work very well. N568 and N570 might work. Seems worth a look.

 

[DaveTooley]

Thank you! I am starting to think this is the way to go. What are you using for a starting load?

Mike
I did a lot of work with Accuracy International and Hornady for the Precision Sniper Rifle 1 submission in 338 & 300. Pre 300 PRC days. Little did I know where that would lead us.
I have a reamer and 338-300R bushing dies if you're interested.