Gunwerks Skuhl 375 Ruger

[Daisy]

$9000 Gunwerks with engraving or a $2000 Model 70 would make the decision easy for me too. $7000 can be a big upgrade to a hunt. You’d easily get your money back quickly on the model 70. The Gunwerks would require the right buyer if you could find him.

You’re right about that my man. The juice is probably not worth the squeeze.

Have you switched over to straight pull yet 375?

 

[Daisy]

Absolutely, I did ask your opinion and for the kind of money we’re talking about I’m quite happy to have some dissension. A gun dealer in Alberta has a Rigby 375 for $50 K (Canadian) I was looking at yesterday. Absolutely gorgeous, but I’d want to touch it with cotton gloves on (if at all). Plus, that’s five years of safaris. I appreciate the old gunmakers art, but for a rifle I want to use it does leave me a bit flat.

I do like laminated stocks as well - particularly the Grey. The suggestion to buy a used model 70 and test drive a safari is a great one. I’m a practical so it makes a lot of sense to me.

The Blaser R8 does look great in a quality wood stock as do the pre-64 Model 70 with that red rubber recoil pad and the Rigby PH model is absolutely amazing.

Getting a used Model 70 is definitely the practical choice. If needed, I could have it rebarreled, restocked, and accurized for much less than the Gunwerks or the Blaser.

I have a model 70, and it has been a fine gun. It is kind of like driving a Toyota Corolla, though, very reliable, will last forever, no bells, and whistles.

I switched over to the Blaser r8 This year and have been very happy. I have a traditional grade 9 Woodstock, but also have two synthetic stocks. I now have five barrels. It’s really cool to get both sides of things.

I also have a fierce, full carbon set up, and it is a fine shooting gun. I do shoot 6.5 PRC, but with a suppressor it kicks about like a 22 rifle.

I do agree with you about the traditional guns a lot of the same opinions come from people that will go by a $25,000 Highland stalker, although very beautiful, provides no improvement of shooting.

 

[375Fox]

You’re right about that my man. The juice is probably not worth the squeeze.

Have you switched over to straight pull yet 375?

I own an R8 with 300 Win and 375 H&H barrels, but I can’t say I’ve fully embraced Blaser yet, not sure I ever will. My Sako 85 is my go to rifle.

 

[375Ruger416]

That’s interesting that you switched to the Blaser R8. What stock do you use with a 375 or other African big game cartridge?

Another benefit of the Blaser R8 is that I can buy a left had bolt and hand it down to my kids one day. My 6 and 9 year old have been coming with me on hunting trips around here and practicing with their 22 and 410.

However, turns out both the little guys are L eye dominant and prefer to shoot L handed…

 

[375Ruger416]

I own an R8 with 300 Win and 375 H&H barrels, but I can’t say I’ve fully embraced Blaser yet, not sure I ever will. My Sako 85 is my go to rifle.

I like the Sako 85 as well, but it’s not a true CRF, is it?

 

[Daisy]

I own an R8 with 300 Win and 375 H&H barrels, but I can’t say I’ve fully embraced Blaser yet, not sure I ever will. My Sako 85 is my go to rifle.

It is a weird transition for sure. I’ve really liked it so far, but my favorite part is more of the modular nature of it rather than the shooting. Honestly, most rifle shoot better than I can shoot them.

 

[375Fox]

I like the Sako 85 as well, but it’s not a true CRF, is it?

Lots of debates on that here. It hasn’t failed me yet. However, unfortunately model 85s in 375 H&H have a bad habit of hitting scope turret with low mounts. So you either need to be prepared to limit your scope choices to a standard duplex and rotate scope 90 degrees or go with medium rings. I rotated my scope.

 

[dchum]

J Alain Smith uses one, and on none of the videos he uses it the gun leaves me with a warm nostalgic feeling in my heart...

He shoots it well though

He did most of his hunting before with a plain old stainless model 70 in 375hh. 2x7 Zeiss.
Simple…

Fear the man with one rifle.

 

[Daisy]

That’s interesting that you switched to the Blaser R8. What stock do you use with a 375 or other African big game cartridge?

Another benefit of the Blaser R8 is that I can buy a left had bolt and hand it down to my kids one day. My 6 and 9 year old have been coming with me on hunting trips around here and practicing with their 22 and 410.

However, turns out both the little guys are L eye dominant and prefer to shoot L handed…

I’ll post a picture later, I either use GRS sporter stock or a semi weight barrel, contour, professional, that I had a kickstop inserted. They try to sell the safari with steel . The regular professional will handle all the way up to their largest caliber, which I think is a 500 or 458 I can’t remember. I have 375 Ruger and 416 Ruger

 

[375Fox]

It is a weird transition for sure. I’ve really liked it so far, but my favorite part is more of the modular nature of it rather than the shooting. Honestly, most rifle shoot better than I can shoot them.

I think I’ll save it for the safari I really want two rifles. I love it as a rental rifle on European hunts. One event occurred though that really shook my confidence in it. I dry fired on an empty brass (did not force close whatsoever) and got it 100% stuck for several hours. A standard rifle I could simply beat the bolt open but unfortunately the R8 just wouldn’t release and nothing can be done.

 

[ChrisG]

Most data says that’s just not true. Opinions vary on both sides. Ability to create within strict tolerance could make carbon fiber better. Can you show me a non opinion piece that shows more recoil at same weight?

I can give you numbers based on the math.... Young's modulus for walnut is just over 2GPa. Now that's a lot... but compared to carbon fiber... it isn't even close. Carbon fiber has a modulus of elasticity of 200-500GPa (dependent on weave, binder, etc.). That's 100x -250x as rigid! That means given the percentage of impulse that is absorbed by a wood stock (shock), the amount absorbed would be approximately 1/100th to 1/250th of that in a carbon fiber stock. So, while the "push" might not be noticeably different, the "impulse"(read shock) is very much different.

Does it make a difference? I don't know. I dont have two identically weighted rifles in identical configurations with the only difference being the stock. All I can tell you is "theoretically" it adds up.

 

[Daisy]

I can give you numbers based on the math.... Young's modulus for walnut is just over 2GPa. Now that's a lot... but compared to carbon fiber... it isn't even close. Carbon fiber has a modulus of elasticity of 200-500GPa (dependent on weave, binder, etc.). That's 100x -250x as rigid! That means given the percentage of impulse that is absorbed by a wood stock (shock), the amount absorbed would be approximately 1/100th to 1/250th of that in a carbon fiber stock. So, while the "push" might not be noticeably different, the "impulse"(read shock) is very much different.

Does it make a difference? I don't know. I dont have two identically weighted rifles in identical configurations with the only difference being the stock. All I can tell you is "theoretically" it adds up.

I can see that. It definitely is more rigid.

 

[375Ruger416]

I’ll post a picture later, I either use GRS sporter stock or a semi weight barrel, contour, professional, that I had a kickstop inserted. They try to sell the safari with steel . The regular professional will handle all the way up to their largest caliber, which I think is a 500 or 458 I can’t remember. I have 375 Ruger and 416 Ruger

I didn’t realize the R8 came in 375 or 416 Ruger; thought it was just the classic 375 H&H

 

[Daisy]

I didn’t realize the R8 came in 375 or 416 Ruger; thought it was just the classic 375 H&H

Check out my thread on J Sipp barrels. I got the idea from @Philip Glass who had some barrels made a couple of years ago.

Here is my 416 that just came in. I’ve shot the 6.5prc and 375ruger already he made and they did great. He also made me a 416 caliber over the barrel suppressor that’s done but going through the ATF bs.

He added the picatinny rails for 100 bucks a piece. But I have already switched to Blaser specific QD mounts on the other ones, and will this one too. Went with a European brand called Makuick in 17.5mm height.

 

[Daisy]

Here is the professional stock. The croc handles are not my style, but I called Top Dog and he sold to me, with kick stop and 1 inch pad for 2k. Can’t beat that with a stick. Came with trigger group too, so now I have 2 bolt housings and 3 trigger groups.

 

[375Ruger416]

Here is the professional stock. The croc handles are not my style, but I called Top Dog and he sold to me, with kick stop and 1 inch pad for 2k. Can’t beat that with a stick. Came with trigger group too, so now I have 2 bolt housings and 3 trigger groups.


View attachment 575563

Very sweet setup. Blasers have definitely climbed back onto the list.

You’ve got a Ruger African in 375 as well, don’t you? How do you like it? I could always have one put in a laminate stock and polished by a gunsmith.

My first hunting rifle was a Tikka and then a Fierce so I appreciate a smooth action.

 

[Daisy]

Very sweet setup. Blasers have definitely climbed back onto the list.

You’ve got a Ruger African in 375 as well, don’t you? How do you like it? I could always have one put in a laminate stock and polished by a gunsmith.

My first hunting rifle was a Tikka and then a Fierce so I appreciate a smooth action.

I honestly have not shot it yet. I came home from Africa and started collecting larger calibers. I bought it and took it straight to gun shop and haven’t shot it yet.

I do have 375 Ruger Alaskan in hogue stock and it’s a great gun. I’ve shot it a few times and I like the action better than my model 70. I do need to sell it though because right now I have four 375 rugers and the Blaser is getting most of my love. I picked up a savage brush hunter 375 too. I put in a woox stock and added a detachable mag with a cerakot job. It’s a cool looking gun.

 

[Daisy]

Very sweet setup. Blasers have definitely climbed back onto the list.

You’ve got a Ruger African in 375 as well, don’t you? How do you like it? I could always have one put in a laminate stock and polished by a gunsmith.

My first hunting rifle was a Tikka and then a Fierce so I appreciate a smooth action.

I’m a big fierce fan. Custom like guns at a good price. They got a bit of a bad rap on rockslide but I think that was because guys who called didn’t get Instant attention. They seem to have resolved most of the feeding issues.

My friends are leaning Bergara lately I just haven’t been that impressed. I love how many companies allow you to drop Tikka into their stock and go.

 

[Daisy]

Someone was talking about utilitarian guide gun. I dipped a 416 ruger and cerkoted and it turned out really well.

 

[pilar]

“”The wood stocks don’t do anything for me””

that’s to bad as the top M70 and bottom #1 are almost the perfect safari rifles for 1/2 the $$$ of a GW