This ballistics get test is for those hand-loaders that are considering owning a .375 Ruger or already own one as I do.
Questions You May Ask
Can a .375 Ruger cartridge be easily hand loaded down for deer and bear?
Is this bullet fast enough, powerful enough at a reduced speed for the New England deer and bear hunter?
To test these questions, I shot a reduced load 235 grain Speer Hot Core Semi-spitzer (almost a round nose) into 10% FBI Ballistic Gel at 2138 fps at point blank range to simulate animal tissue damage. See the video’s below.
Recoil is similar to a muzzleloader, but perhaps the ballistic gel didn’t think so. Check it out!
Further examination of the gel in my kitchen sink below. My wife had just finished a batch of mustard pickle preserves as it is a very active kitchen. Note: No mustard pickles, onions or cauliflower were injured during this exam!
I was very impressed, after seeing the cavity expansion in the 235 grain bullet track in the first 10 inches on entrance. The track was straight, actually exited all 32 inches of the block suggesting that the bullet easily held together. No bullet fragments were observed. Black gel burn marks were observed in the first 10 to 15 inches of the bullet path.
Because mushrooming of lead occurs as low as 1800 fps I would not exceed 125 yard shots. Great for mixed hardwood and softwood terrain. Most shots are taken at around 50 yards in New England North Woods.
Velocity and Energy Table Below
| Calculated Table | ||||||||||
| Range | Drop | Drop | Windage | Windage | Velocity | Mach | Energy | Time | Lead | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (yd) | (in) | (MOA) | (in) | (MOA) | (ft/s) | (none) | (ft•lbs) | (s) | (in) | (MOA) |
| 0 | -1.5 | *** | 0.0 | *** | 2138.0 | 1.991 | 2384.8 | 0.000 | 0.0 | *** |
| 25 | -0.3 | -1.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2069.6 | 1.928 | 2234.6 | 0.036 | 1.3 | 4.8 |
| 50 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 2002.4 | 1.865 | 2091.8 | 0.072 | 2.6 | 4.9 |
| 75 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1936.5 | 1.804 | 1956.4 | 0.111 | 3.9 | 5.0 |
| 100 | -0.0 | -0.0 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1871.9 | 1.743 | 1828.0 | 0.150 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 125 | -1.1 | -0.8 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1808.6 | 1.685 | 1706.6 | 0.191 | 6.7 | 5.1 |
| 150 | -2.8 | -1.8 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 1746.8 | 1.627 | 1591.9 | 0.233 | 8.2 | 5.2 |
Great deer and bear round for sure and likely moose too, even with reduced loads. Accurate? 1 inch or less at 100 yards..
Reduced Loads here.
More 375 Ruger Reduced Load data for Deer and Black Bear – Updated
Good Hunting!
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