Of the myriad rifle cartridges introduced from the late-1990s through the 2000s, the .375 Ruger is among the very best, and the load below illustrates why. When propelled by 78.5 grs. of Ramshot Big Game propellant, Hornady’s leadless, 250-gr. Gilding Metal eXpanding (GMX) bullet attained 2732 f.p.s. from the 22" barrel of the lightweight, economical—suggested retail price of $448—Mossberg Patriot Synthetic/Marinecote test rifle. That’s similar to the velocity of a standard .30-’06 Sprg. load featuring a 180-gr. bullet in a 24"-barreled rifle. Still not impressed? The 250-gr. GMX also has 4,143 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle and, given its 0.430 ballistic coefficient, still carries 2,127 ft.-lbs. at 400 yds., where it only drops 24.5" if zeroed at 200 yds. The come-ups in m.o.a. and mils are 5.8 and 1.7, respectively. From spitting-distance bruins to distant wapiti, it’s hard to beat this Ruger/Hornady brainchild.
