A barrel-band front sight with sturdy, attractive ramp holds a white bead of appropriate size. An “Express” open rear sight with shallow V notch is adjustable for windage, not elevation. A Mauser claw extractor grabs the cartridge off the follower and controls feed into the chamber. An alloy stock insert ensures the Alaskan won’t back out of its inletting during the heavy recoil of the .375.

I tested the effectiveness of the stock's profile and surface by wetting my hands, then cycling the rifle quickly offhand. August heat prevented my duplicating the finger-numbing cold of a day in freezing rain on Kodiak Island. But it was clear the new stock would handle more surely than traditional walnut and speed recovery from recoil--although a smoother comb would also make the Alaskan more comfortable to shoot. As is, it tends to tug on a cheek pressed tight to its surface.

The Ruger Alaskan's trigger broke smoothly and uniformly at 4.25 pounds, out of the box. While I prefer hunting triggers of two pounds, no triggers on commercial hunting rifles are designed for such pull weights. I found the Ruger trigger quite manageable.

For range tests, I chose a scope that seemed appropriate for the rifle: a 1.25-5x20 Sightron. Ruger rings are among my favorites because they're so quick and easy to install on a scope, and there's no base to attach. Once on a rifle, the scope and ring assembly comes off with a quick twist of two screws.

Despite its endearing simplicity, I've not yet had a Ruger ring come loose or a scope slip in the ring. I do wish the firm would offer lower rings, given my penchant for 2.5X scopes that could be mounted to more closely match the sight-line of open sights on rifles like the Alaskan.

The rifle proved tractable at the bench. The wide fore-end was not only sandbag-friendly but easy to hold down under recoil. The one-inch butt-pad is not only thicker than the African's; it's softer.

Given that the .375 Ruger hurls well over two tons of muzzle energy from a 20-inch barrel, the Alaskan is comfortable to shoot. I'll concede the stock's generous proportions and sticky surface help distribute recoil.

With the two factory-loaded bullet weights, the rifle shot extremely well. A couple of groups with 300-grain solids stayed inside 3/4 inch (one was a half-inch cloverleaf most varmint hunters would covet).

Group sizes were predictable and didn't swing wildly from tight to loose. Nor did changes in bullet weight move point of impact significantly--only 1.5 inches at 100 yards.

Shooting across a willow flat at moose, Ruger's Alaskan is a long-range rifle, shooting 270-grain bullets as flat as a .30-06 hurls 180s. In tight quarters, it's a stopping rifle.

As to function, the bolt rattled a bit in travel. But feeding, extracting and ejecting followed with reassuring certainty. The Mauser claw controlled each round from first contact to lock-down.