Am I dreaming or did Ruger used to make a RSM in 30-06? I just ordered one in .375 H&H and was thinking about what a great two gun battery that would make.

I believe they did...in fact I think on one of the latest blue book of gun values cover, the picture on it is a gentleman (can't remember who) with his ruger RSM 30'06 and the Gemsbok he shot with it. I remember reading the story that the picture came from and specifically that it was a 30'06. Someone may call me a liar, but it's what I remember.

Actually, it's a Ruger Express (RSEXP) instead of a Ruger Magnum (RSM).

See this thread:

Ruger M77 MKII

-Bob F.

Ruger sure did manufacture the the RSM in .30-06 as well as other cartridges/calibers. There was one for sale on GunBrokers.com a while back. You might check and see if it sold. Lawdog

The Ruger M77 Express rifles were the "little brothers" to the Ruger M77 Magnums. Ruger has discontinued the Express rifles. I don't know the exact year they stopped making them. When they were available, I saw retail prices (here in Houston) of around $995.00.

The Express used the standard-length action and was chambered in .270 Win, .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Win Mag. Quote from Ruger's 1999 catalog: "The Ruger Express Rifle is built with a standard-length Ruger 77 Mark II action. The Ruger Magnum Rifle is based on a special receiver and bolt that are approximately 7/16" longer than a standard .30-06 length." The Express rifle had the Circassian walnut stock and the integral quarter rib just like the Magnum models. There was one standing blade and one folding blade on the rear sight. The Magnum model uses the longer magnum-length action and is chambered in .375 H&H, .416 Rigby and .458 Lott. It also has the Circassian walnut stock and integral quarter rib. There is one standing blade and two folding blades on the rear sight

Example of the M77 Mark II Magnum (M77RSM MKII):

*** Notice that this one has the cross bolt in the stock. ***
1999 Ruger catalog suggested retail price: $1620.00

Example of the M77 Mark II Express (M77RSEXP MKII):

*** Notice the absence of the cross bolt in the stock. ***
1999 Ruger catalog suggested retail price: $1550.00

Description from the Ruger web site back when they were available (I saved the info):

Ruger Express Rifle M77RSEXP MkII
Caliber: .270, .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag

Magazine Capacity; 4 rounds Standard Calibers
Magazine Capacity; 3 rounds Magnum Calibers

Barrel Length; 22" Standard Calibers
Barrel Length; 24" Magnum Calibers

Stock: Circassian Walnut
Receiver: Blue
Safety: 3 Position Safety
Sights: Front:Blade -- Rear:V-Notch, 1 stationary, 1 Folding
Weight: 7lbs 8oz

Both the Express and the Magnum share features normally found only on custom rifles. The barrel and sighting rib are painstakingly machined from a single bar of steel - a luxury detail found only on these Ruger bolt-actions. The solid rib incorporates folding-leaf express sights, ruggedly dependable in their own right or as a practical backup to an optical sighting system. Both rifles are factory-machined to accept Ruger steel scope rings.
The Circassian walnut stock, traditionally contoured and handsomely checkered, is a feature associated with only the best-quality rifles. Timeless beauty, superb refinements, and exceptional features make this rifle hard to duplicate at twice the price!

Hope this helps,
-Bob F.

Just thought this might be of interest: An article by Jim Carmichel where he uses a Ruger Express in .30-06 in Africa.

-Bob F.



The .30/06 in Africa

By Jim Carmichel



"...the Ruger rifle I took on this safari has a distinctive African flair. It was an M77 Express model, which has a quarter-rib express sight base (which is integral to the barrel rather than soldered on) and barrel-band sling-hanger typical of bench-built British bolt guns—as is the conservatively styled stock, which the Ruger catalog says is Circassian walnut."

http://www.outdoorlife.com/