{"id":13260,"date":"2016-04-21T19:02:47","date_gmt":"2016-04-21T19:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/?p=13260"},"modified":"2016-04-21T19:02:47","modified_gmt":"2016-04-21T19:02:47","slug":"mossbergs-wicked-375","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/mossbergs-wicked-375\/","title":{"rendered":"Mossberg’s Wicked 375"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"375-1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the world of big game cartridges there\u2019s this notion that bigger is always better. There\u2019s also a segment of the hunting public that firmly believes velocity is what kills. Weird like\u00a0I am, I don\u2019t belong to either camp. However, I\u2019ve done enough work with real ballisticians to know that without velocity you are either throwing<\/em> little or big rocks.<\/p>\n

If you cannot decide whether you need big bullets or lots of velocity Mossberg<\/a> has the rifle for you and Hornady<\/a> has ammunition for it. Mossberg is now offering their very affordable Patriot rifle in .375 Ruger<\/a>. Yes, you heard right, Mossberg now has a dangerous game rifle. And, Hornady\u2019s Superformance GMX load<\/a> pushes a big bullet (250 grains) fast at 2900 fps.<\/p>\n

\"375-7\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Larry Weishuhn<\/a> commented on my Facebook page, \u201cHave taken MANY critters with the .375 Ruger from elephant to Hippo to Lion to various African buffalo to monster Alaskan brown bear, Austrian ibex to whitetail deer in Texas using it in various Ruger rifles, likely the best all around round to date, my opinion!\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hey I got a lot of respect for Mr. Whitetail, but I gotta ask, have the T-Rex and triceratops made a recent comeback? I understand, some folks just like big guns and the notion that they can hunt anything, anywhere with one rifle is appealing to them. Some, like Bryce Towsley<\/a> even argue you can shoot hard kicking rifles as well as you can shoot light kicking rifles \u2013 unless you just suck. (Bryce is wrong; recoil negatively impacts the ability of all humans to shoot accurately.) No use telling him that, people who\u00a0are wrong have a tendency to stay that way.<\/p>\n

\"375-5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In this 8 pound, 7.6 ounce rifle – that\u2019s with a Swarovski Z6i 1-6X<\/a> riflescope installed in Leupold QRW rings<\/a> – the .375 Ruger generates 38 foot-pounds of recoil. That\u2019s 61% more recoil than a .308 Winchester would generate in the same weight rifle. In return you get only 38% more energy at 300 yards. Twice the pain, half the gain.<\/p>\n

So, what you might ask and I doing shooting a .375 Ruger? I have an upcoming bear hunt on Vancouver Island with Mossberg and they asked if I\u2019d use\/test\u00a0their new three-seven-five. I agreed, only<\/em>\u00a0because I thought there was a slim possibility I might run in to Sasquatch. Now, I don\u2019t think I need a .375 Ruger for Sasquatch but at the same time, I\u2019ve never seen or shot a Bigfoot.<\/p>\n

\"375-3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The reality is I\u2019m testing the rifle just for those of you who might be looking for a new dangerous game rifle. And, for those of you like Weishuhn who just like big rifles. And finally, I\u2019m doing it for those select few like Bryce who think they can shoot any rifle expertly and should be a part of the West Virginia University Rifle Team<\/a>. A team, by the way, that has won the NCAA Rifle Championship 18 times! (Just a side note here: Since they are interested in extreme accuracy they don\u2019t shoot rifles that kick hard.)<\/p>\n

Yes, this rifle kicks. It kicks harder than I like. I sucked it up, gritted my teeth and fired one three shot group from the bench. Looking through the spotter I thought my retina had been detached because the group was just a shade more than an inch. (It measured 1.10 inches.) Wow! Maybe Bryce is right. I bet he could break the half-inch mark with this Mossberg!<\/p>\n

\"375-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I made a slight zero correction and fired an additional 10 rounds from the standing off-hand position. (I\u2019m smart that way; what more was there to prove or suffer through from the bench?) My off-hand shooting was not as precise as normal; I went 10 for 12 on a 10 inch steel target at 100 yards. (Either I cannot shoot as well as\u00a0Bryce Towsley or he is wrong<\/em>.) The aggravating part was that about every other hit on the portable and handy Viking Solutions<\/a> steel target knocked it over. This required a walk down range to reset. (It also gave me time to let the fog clear from my vision.)<\/p>\n

The Mossberg LBA Trigger broke at a consistent 2.5 pounds. The rifle fed flawlessly from the detachable, four-round magazine. And, the soft butt-pad was appreciated. (My shoulder did not hurt when I pulled the trigger; what bothered me was the sensation I\u2019d taken a left hook from Connor McGregor<\/a> to the temple.) I\u2019m sure I can kill a bear with this rifle but I\u2019d like to know for sure that the factory open sights, which include a red fiber optic front bead, are sighted in too. I\u2019m going to wait a couple of days and give the Excedrin time to work before I take on this monster again.<\/p>\n

\"375-6\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On a more serious note, this just might be the best, most affordable dangerous game rifle of all time.<\/strong> (I bet Towsley dreams about a rifle like this.) I can find only one thing wrong with it; its chambered for the .375 Ruger and since dangerous game hunting is an infrequent event, I \u2013 like most hunters \u2013 don\u2019t need a .375 Ruger. Fortunately, Mossberg offers the laminate stocked Patriot in more sensible cartridges like the .270 and .308 Winchester, the .30-06 Springfield, and the .300 Winchester Magnum. All of which are suitable for anything in North America, including, I\u2019m almost sure, Bigfoot!<\/p>\n

I know what you\u2019re thinking; this hillbilly gun writer is a wimp. I\u2019m OK with you believing that. Seriously, you won\u2019t hurt my feelings if you think so, or if you want a .375 Ruger to kill whitetail, bear, elk and other creatures that fall within the power realm of the .30-30. As soon as this hunt is over I\u2019m going back to more sensible hunting cartridges. In the mean time, I\u2019ll leave you with this:<\/p>\n

In most cases, enough gun is a lot less than most people think it is. Too much gun and poor shooting are the mistakes that are more often made.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the world of big game cartridges there\u2019s this notion that bigger is always better. There\u2019s also a segment of the hunting public that firmly believes velocity is what kills. Weird like\u00a0I am, I don\u2019t belong to either camp. However, I\u2019ve done enough work with real ballisticians to know that without velocity you are either throwing little or big rocks. If you …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2522],"tags":[2639,590,21,2640,2105],"class_list":["post-13260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hunt","tag-375-ruger","tag-dangerous-game-rifles","tag-mossberg-patriot","tag-sasquatch-rifles","tag-swarovski-z6i"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hujZ-3rS","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13052,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/an-unlikley-african-rifle-mossbergs-patriot\/","url_meta":{"origin":13260,"position":0},"title":"An Unlikley African Rifle – Mossberg’s Patriot","author":"gunwriter","date":"March 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 African safaris are generally associated with an abundance of gin and tonic, pressed khakis, and exquisite rifles. Those preaching on the subject will minister you with sermons on controlled feed actions living in Circassian walnut stocks with more figure than Jane Russell. Unlike in the Africa of Roosevelt and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "HUNTING"","block_context":{"text":"HUNTING","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/hunt\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Patriot-3","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Patriot-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Patriot-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Patriot-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Patriot-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12967,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/sasquatch-bear-rifle-part-ii\/","url_meta":{"origin":13260,"position":1},"title":"Sasquatch (Bear) Rifle – Part II","author":"gunwriter","date":"February 12, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"As it turns out, I just might really need a Sasquatch rifle. I'll be hunting black bears on Vancouver Island in May. As any true Bigfoot hunter knows, there have been numerous sightings of Sasquatch on Vancouver Island. In fact the famous Thirsty Sasquatch is located in Vancouver. This could\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "HUNTING"","block_context":{"text":"HUNTING","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/hunt\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SAS","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/SAS.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/SAS.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/SAS.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/SAS.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13680,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/dove-customs-mossberg-patriot-scout-first-shots\/","url_meta":{"origin":13260,"position":2},"title":"Dove Custom’s Mossberg Patriot Scout – First Shots","author":"gunwriter","date":"July 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Scout Rifles can become obsessive, especially if you worship at the altar of lightweight. Prior to the 2016 Scout Rifle Conference at Gunsite Academy I asked my local master gunsmith Jerry Dove of Dove Custom Guns if he would like to work with me on a Scout Rifle project. He\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MPSR-5","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/MPSR-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/MPSR-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/MPSR-5.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/MPSR-5.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11070,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/mossbergs-new-mvp-scout\/","url_meta":{"origin":13260,"position":3},"title":"Mossberg’s NEW MVP Scout","author":"gunwriter","date":"January 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We can trace the beginnings of the scout rifle concept to about 1966. That\u2019s when COL Cooper penned an article entitled \u201cThe Carbine Compromise.\u201d In it he discussed various carbines of the day and a semi-custom carbine he had built on a Remington Model 600. This rifle and later variants\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Guns & Ammo Photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13366,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/taking-the-night-train-to-long-range\/","url_meta":{"origin":13260,"position":4},"title":"Taking the Night Train to Long Range","author":"gunwriter","date":"May 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Contrary to popular belief, you don\u2019t need to trade in your pickup to get a rifle that is capable to 1000 yards. I set out to see if I could do it for less than a grand and, thanks to Mossberg and Hornady, I hit a home run on my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "HUNTING"","block_context":{"text":"HUNTING","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/hunt\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"27925-catalog","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/27925-catalog.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/27925-catalog.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/27925-catalog.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/27925-catalog.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11431,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/year-of-the-scout\/","url_meta":{"origin":13260,"position":5},"title":"Year of the Scout","author":"gunwriter","date":"March 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"As predicted pre-SHOT Show, 2015 looks to be the year of the scour rifle. We've already seen two new introductions and Ruger and Steyr have added models to the line up. Some may find the concept unusual but the good news is these rifles have a lot to offer even\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Scout-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13260"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13272,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13260\/revisions\/13272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}