300-375 Ruger Magnum

B

bjld

Guest
Hi all

Has anyone necked down a 375 Ruger Magnum to 308?

I've just ordered a Howa 1500 in 375 Ruger and it got me thinking.

The water capacity of ~100 grains seems just about right for 30 cal.

As far as I can tell only Hornady makes 375 Ruger brass - any good?

I apologise if this has already been covered - I tried searching the forums but couldn't find anything.

TIA
Ben
 
talk to Dave Tooley at Tooley custom rifles. He has the reamer for this in house and has done a lot of testing on this round. Way more than anyone else.

Hornady ran a limited run of dies for it (300 HSM) and still might have a set.

Dave built a LR pistol on that caliber for me on his Orion action and modified McCree 700 stock with no butt. Just starting to work loads and so far running 208s at 2560 out of a 18" barrel and looks like long way to go before it peaks.

Dave has run the 225 Hornadys out of test guns with 26" barrels at 2850.

BH
 
BountyHunter said:
Hornady ran a limited run of dies for it (300 HSM) and still might have a set.
BH
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice BH - I've emailed Hornady to see if they have a set of 300 Ruger Magnum dies.

Advice I got from a different forum suggested:

1. use a 375 Ruger FL die without the expander to take the neck down a little, then

2. use a 338 Ruger Compact Magnum FL die to form the neck and shoulder down to 338, and lastly

3. use a 300 RCM FL die to finish the neck and shoulder at 308 calibre.

Even if Hornady supply a 300-375 Ruger FL die, using a 338 RCM FL die first is probably the easiest intermediary step.

Regards
Ben
 
I have been shooting a 30-375 Ruger imp 35 degrees for 3 seasons now, if you need any info i can help.

It is capable of shooting the 208 Amax at 3050 fps with ease.

The Hornady brass is good, its not great but its good and very usable.

ERIC
 
I am running the 225 BTHPs 2950 with the 30 HSM out of a 29" barrel using H1000. I have run them up to 3050 but brass life suffers and accuracy is better at 2950. The brass is good but necks need do be turned as the thickness varies. Case capacity is a little more than needed especially with the 208s.

James
 
I've no specific experience with the .30/375 Ruger, but it is very similar to a few largish .30s I have shot.

For the Ruger:

Diameter at base (not rim), .532
Diameter at shoulder, .515
Case OAL: 2.580

Similar cases, in order of a bit smaller to a fair bit larger:

Compared to the .30 BooBoo or .30 SOB or .300 OAM (based on the 8x68 case):
Diameter at base (not rim), .5236
Daimeter at shoulder, .499
Case OAL, 2.620

Compared to the .30 SHV or .300 Dakota (based on the .404 Jeffery case):
Diameter at base (not rim), .545
Diameter at shoulder, .531
Case OAL: 2.555

Compared to the .300 RUM
Diameter at base (not rim), .550
Diameter at shoulder, .525
Case OAL, 2.850


I have shot, with at least two years competition, both the .30 SOB (8x68) and .30 SHV (shortened 404).

The smaller of the 2, the 30 BooBoo, has the same capacity as the .308 Norma magnum. You can get about 3,100 fps with the 190 grain bullets, and 2,950 (probably plus) with 210s I believe Dave Tooley still has the NBRSA single group (10-shot) record with this chambering, and of course, a number of people have done very will with the .308 Norma Magnum. I've had success with Rel-22, Rel-25, and especially H4831. 4831 gives almost the same velocity -- within 25 fps -- and better consistency. The 2 barrels I had that used Rel-25 also preferred magnum primers, but Rel-22 and 4831 shot better with standard primers. In spite of that, I think the primer "preference" is a matter of individual barrels, and not of primer type generally.

The 30 SHV or .300 Dakota gets you another 100+ fps. I've used used Rel-22 and VV N560. Again, different barrels showed a preference for either the standard or magnum primers.

Speaking very generally, I've never known anyone to have good success with H-1000 with these chamberings (no knowledge of the .300 RUM). Velocity is higher, and SD/ES can be appealingly low. But day in/day out, the groups & scores just aren't quite as good, due to more "mystery" shots.

I don't think there is anything special about the .30/375 Ruger, and nothing wrong with it either. It is very close to a number of other chamberings, and now that RWS brass is so hard to get, perhaps that is a factor in making a choice.

Probably heretical of me, but I also think Dave Tooley the master of these 30 caliber, beltless magnums. He's been experimenting with them a long time, since before 1995. The BooBoo and SHV (& MHV) are his creations, together with Chuck Bass and Bill Shehane. Give him a call.

Goo luck to you,

Charles
 
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