.375 Ruger .416 Ruger...Fad?
 

10 Years ago I bought a 7mm WSM..the world seemed to be changing and time tested cartridges were "new and improved" Now Cabelas has stopped carrying ammo for the 7WSM-and I'm not sure there are any new production rifles in that caliber anymore.

So now that I am looking at a big bore rifle..am would I be going down the a similar path with one of these new Ruger/Hornady rifles?

Is there much to gain in these updated calibers?

IMO, you gain a little more power with a 375 ruger over the legendary H&H, but not enough to warrant selling one for the other. The two ruger cases are capable of fitting in 30-06 actions, where as the full length H&H needs an action to handle a 3.600" OAL round. Winchester long actions already do this, and finding full length actions isnt too hard or pricey, so the need isnt there like it would be say 30 years ago, IMO. For the last few years, the 416 Rem mag languished, and was disappearing, so the new ruger had a legit purpose. Now Winchester is selling the safari rifles again, and ammo is coming avail again. Finding brass or ammo is fairly simple for the 375H&H, just about anywhere in the world. The new ruger cases, good luck. With the H&H case, you can make just about any belted mag from it, ie 7mm STW, 358 STA, 8mm mag, 416 mag, just to name a few. If you have a H&H, and want a definate improvement, have it reamed for 375 wby, and it will still take the old case with ease, fireforming new brass in the process. If you want the ruger flavor, then go for it, their alaskan rifle is cool. Only problem is, I dont think in the long term(15-30 years) ammo will be around. Time will tell on that.

I'll also add, unlike other guns, you do want some meat, aka weight with these calibers. It will tame down the recoil. I would think 8.5-9lb to be a good weight for a 375 or maybe a 416, and not be unwielding. Hence I rather have a full sized action, and not an intermediate action.

Browning still offers new rifles in 7mm WSM, though I'm not sure anyone else does, I think the 270 and 300 wsm are here to stay.

The .375 and .416 Ruger offer little IMO over the .375 H&H or .416 Rigby


Expand on what you mean by big bore?
IMO once you hit .375 and larger the decisions are easy, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott
I don't see any hot new round coming into these markets and taking over, we have the weatherby's, 375RUM, which is now dead I believe, the 450rigby is nice, but the Lott is the way to go in the .458 caliber IMO, plus it'll shoot .458 win.mag.

also there is the .338win.mag, or .340wby.

the best round doesn't always win the race, many times the first/popular one does, and that means a lot especially if you don't reload or may one day sell the rifle or need ammo in a pinch.

btw I believe it is said that the 375H&H only needs 22" of barrel to burn that powder effectively, etc... so if you just want a handy rifle, a .375 ruger isn't required, sako has a H&H with a 21 1/4" barrel, ruger has a 23" in the H&H.

I'm not sure there are any stats on it, but it would be interesting to note how many rifles over .375 caliber or larger are sold each year, compared to under .300, I believe I once read that up until 308caliber all calibers are pretty popular, but after that sales drastically drop, ie way more 300mags are sold than 338mags, and I'm pretty certain that trend continues on up...
although they say big bores are more popular than ever before, but I still wouldn't think they're a 1/10th of deer rifle sales.

loper,

"So now that I am looking at a big bore rifle..am would I be going down the a similar path with one of these new Ruger/Hornady rifles?"


You answered your own question..............even with a question ?



Bet you wished you brought a 7MM Rem Mag right about now, huh ?

The .375 Ruger just doesn't have the popularity and ammo is just not as readily available as the tried and true .375 H & H

That's the big problem with new caliber releases. It takes awhile (maybe never?) for them to gain a following which leads to stores stocking them.

I am looking for a rifle fit for caribou/bear up to 300yds so that I don't need to tote around two rifles...but I also want enough 'umph for a cape buff.

My thoughts are to look at the .416-.458 calibers..but they aren't as adept for a 300yd shot as the .375's are...BUT they pack a bit more punch when it may be needed.

As far as my 7wsm goes..I like it. As long as Federal keeps packaging the Barnes TSX..I'm happy-and I can always get hand loads after that.

the 375H&H has enough for cape buffalo, cousin took his with 300gr solids.

the 375 and 416 are certainly flatter than the 458

the 375 and 458 are more popular/cheaper I would think than a 416, but I think the 416 is growing in popularity.

Why in the world would you think that you need something bigger than the 7mm mag for caribou and bears?

If and when you go on a buffalo hunt then worry about getting the DG rifle.

.375
 

I always liked that saying. ".375 H&H. One planet, one rifle."
But the .375 Ruger, does the job. And, it's made in the good old USA

ATB

7mm mag will work fine for caribou or bear, though for big brown bears I might like a little more so I dont wet my pants.

Now bigbulls, why on earth would you try and talk a man out of buying more guns?lol. 375H&H is a good all around gun, and is alot of fun to shoot. Much more of a push on recoil. You can use lighter bullets for the 'bou, or anything else that walks, or go with the heavier bullets for big'nasty.

Keep your 7mm wsm, reload if you dont yet, or consider a rebarrel to 300 wsm. Then get yourself a 375H&H, and maybe a nice bigbore lever gun in the mix. You can NEVER have too many guns!lol