.375 Ruger VS .338 Ultra

[littletoes]

Well, I had the chance to fire a friends .375 Ruger and his .338 Ultra using 300 grain bullets, and I would just have to say it was a BLAST.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, and was surprised that it wasn't that punishing at all. At 250 yards, both rifles were dead on, with very little drop from a 100 yard zero. Quite the surprise to me, and unexpected.

Makes me wonder how a .375 Ultra Mag would kick now.....and how it would work on elk? 

Only fired each about a dozen times, and all standing. Don't think I'd be interested in bench shootin' them much.

[MountainWalk]

I myself would buy the 375 Ruger over any Ultra Mag over 30 caliber. I would love to be able to fire the Ruger, as I really like the looks of the Alaskan rifles.

[Sagedawg]

Littletoes, whered your buddy pick up his .375 at ? Ive been looking to handle one and nobody here in the Spokane area has one yet. just curious.


  Sage

[BlackTail]

MountainWalk, Why wouldn't you want any ultra mag over .30 cal?  Just curious as I've heard good things about .338 ultra mag.

[WDFW-SUX]

I have a 375 ultra and its was not pleasant to shoot without a break.  The H&H and the Ruger are not bad.  I put a break on the ultra and it tolerable but thats it.  I think the Ruger and the H&H are closer to each other where as the 375 ultra and the 378 Weatherby more comparable.

[TeacherMan]

I have a 338 ultra that I shoot 250gr. Barnes triple shock bullets, 87gr. of R25, and 9.5RM primers. Its a great gun. Remington 700 ADL. My fathers 300 min mag in the Ruger M77 kicks more with its thin little synthetic stock. The 338 isn't a gun you want to shoot 20 rounds out of, but that's more because of the price  :'(If anyone has brass I'm always looking.

PS. where did you get the 300gr. loads for the 338 ultra, what are the ballistics like? I think that could be my new bear load...

[MountainWalk]

MountainWalk, Why wouldn't you want any ultra mag over .30 cal?  Just curious as I've heard good things about .338 ultra mag.

It is my belief, that once you get to around 250 grains of bullet and faster than 2800fps, all your getting is more kick and blast. Besides, the big guns are not the same thing as a 300, or a 7mag. There isnt anything the 338 ultra can do that the old 338 cant. Same for the 375 ultra in regards to the 375 ruger or hh.  I really like the case of the ruger. Looks like its an easy feeding round, not all sharp shouldered like the big ultras or wby's.

[TeacherMan]

Can they produce 4500 ft. lbs out of the barrel? I like my 338 ultra alot. A 7mm mag and an 30/06 will do the same thing. Don't get this belief going that a person only needs one gun. Its like golfing, do you use the same club all day long, I hope not. Depends on the shot. This is what I tell my wife anyway that way I can keep buying guns. There are 100's of types of shot possibilities, so I guess I need 100's of guns. 

[MountainWalk]

I dont put much stock in muzzle energy.  I like strait line penetration, which is easier with bullets of high sectional density doing moderate speeds.  BC means little to me either. All im after is one complete strait line, entry to exit. BTW I use my 338 for almost everything. I find, the more I shoot it, like anything else, I get better with it.

[huntnphool]

What the hell are you guys hunting that you need these guns anyway? I'm having a hard time deciding if I'm taking my 338 of just using one of my 7mags for my moose hunt. That 7 mag is plenty of gun for most anything here in the states, are you going to Africa or something? I don't know why I'm even having second thoughts about it really, just some of the posts on here got me thinking about it. Honestly I havn't heard anything compelling enough to justify bringing the 338 but I havn't ruled it out completely yet. Just curious why you need such a large caliber for hunting here

[littletoes]

Differant strokes for differant folks!

There IS a differance....thats why they make the .50 BMG      and yes, I've fired one of dose too! 650 grains of pure kick ass, but thats another story!

Yep, he picked it up in Spookaloo, not sure where, maybe "Dave's". If you would like I could ask him. He's chronyed his rounds too after load work.  

Pulled the .338 Ultra out of the factory stock, put it in a Choate. Funny thing, I didn't think either rifle kicked that bad.

[MountainWalk]

Besides, the big guns are FUN to shoot!

[littletoes]

Its not "NEED" its WANT!!!

Its America! Why the hell not? Think of it like that. 

If I was to hunt moose, I'd use the .338, not because I'd need it, more moose have been killed with the 'ol '06 than most anything else, I'd use the .338 because I WANTED too.

You don't have a rifle that your Dad gave you, your wife, or just something special you want to keep the memories with?

Think if it like this, you IZ gonna die someday, and that rifle will (hopefully) be passed down to some grandkid or nephew or something, and maybe them "memories" or thoughts will go with it....who knows, but I have a favorite load, favorite rifle combo that I just enjoy shootin'.

Good Luck with that Moose!

[huntnphool]

Sure there is a difference but I dont see anyone packing around a 50 BMG to hunt elk, although those 1000 yard shots would be fun

[huntnphool]

Its America! Why the hell not? Think of it like that. 
Good Luck with that Moose!

Actually the rifle is just for backup, the plan is to stick him with an arrow However, should that bull that "you just can't take a chance loosing" show up I may break down and pull the trigger.

I hear ya on the the quote though, thats why my safe is full too