I'm ordering a Ruger RSM magnum rifle. The catalog says AAA wood. Is the wood really nice or have any of you been disappointed in it when you saw yours?
I ordered a Ruger Express in .30-06 a couple of years ago and when it came in, it was yellow - kind of like a chinese SKS stock. I sent it back.
I would not classify any of the 4 or 5 M77 Magnums I have seen as AAA Circasian walnut. They are maybe A grade. Still a nice looking stock for the money.
Scott
Posts: 1662 | Location: USA | Registered: 27 November 2003
I just got a RSM in 375 H&H its got really nice wood probably AA at best but its pretty I like the pattern and no pin knots.I'm happy!
What really prompted me buying a RSM was there was a RSM in the shop I go to in 416 Rigby that was getting a scope mounted on it,It was so nice I decided right there and then I wanted one,it most definitely had AAA wood.Beautiful!!!
I suppose its luck of the draw and my experiance is only those 2 rifles,hope that helps.
Quote: I ordered a Ruger Express in .30-06 a couple of years ago and when it came in, it was yellow - kind of like a chinese SKS stock. I sent it back.
The wood on my .458 Lott is very dense and well-colored, but it lacks the dark stripes of the so-called "Circassian" I've seen on others. While it's no showpiece, I'm happy with it, and I'm not worried about any undue failures.
Posts: 23 | Location: Fenton, MO | Registered: 22 August 2003
I've never been disappointed with any of my bigbore Rugers of recent make. I have to say the wood of older Rugers have been disappointing, kind of like the old Marlin stocks, just plain no grain stuff.
Thanks, guys for your help. (Except GeorgeS, who seems senseless.) I called Ruger and they said they had gotten complaints about some of the stocks on the RSMs - several complaining they were too yellow. They said they have more consistant wood coming (from the same supplier).
Mine has a heck of a nice piece of wood with the dark swirling grain typical of circassian walnut. To call it AAA might be a stretch, more like AA, but I've seen some rifles at triple the cost with no better wood.
Posts: 2788 | Location: gallatin, mo usa | Registered: 10 March 2001
I know it isn't a Ruger bolt action, but I was very lucky with my No.1 in 416 Rigby. I bought it from auctionarms and was able to see a picture of it. The wood is amazing for a factory rifle in my opinion. I would go on gunsamerica and view pictures and wait until you find one with wood you really like. Less gamble and you know what you're getting.
Posts: 673 | Location: St. Paul MN | Registered: 21 April 2001
The wood in my .416 Rigby 77 is fantastic. A friend just got one in .375 H&H and damned if his wood wasn't even better than mine. Rated A, AA, or AAA, don't know and really don't care, but I am very happy with the wood I got.
I just picked up my .375 yesterday. The wood is outstanding with lots of black streaking. On the other hand, the trigger pull runs between 6.5 and 7.5 lbs. Feels like the safety is still on. I also spent half the day lapping the scope rings on this one and on a Ruger #1 RSI I picked up at the same time. The alignment of the rings is the worst I have seen, and so are the trigger pulls for both rifles. (Of course, I am also used to shooting pulls between 2 oz and 1 lb on all my match rifles).
Posts: 17 | Location: Wyoming | Registered: 12 November 2002
Do yourself a favor. Call up Brownell's and order up a Clymer 1" ring reamer if you intend on doing anymore Ruger rings. Saves time and energy over lapping.
If you need a 30mm reamer you have to order it directly from Clymer.
Yeah, they were the Ruger rings that came with the rifles. I didn't try to measure how far they were off, just started lapping, and lapping, and lapping, etc. The rings are just very poorly made as far as concentricity. I can usually lap a set of Leupold QRW rings in only a few minutes. I just took both rifles over to a local gunsmith to see if he can make the triggers workable. I can live with 3 to 4 lb pulls on hunting rifles but not 5.5 to 7.5 lbs.
George, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks. The reamer should take metal off a lot faster than lapping.
Posts: 17 | Location: Wyoming | Registered: 12 November 2002
The trigger can easily be made workable. They are pretty easy to do yourself if you are mechanical at all. Basically the reason they're heavy is because the angle or the trigger to the sear is over 90 degrees so when the trigger is pulled it is pushing up and compressing the return spring. You just file the tip of the trigger end where the sear contacts it to be parallel ( or 90 degrees to the sear whichever sounds best to you) and of course the return spring can be clipped as well. By the way if you can't picture what I'm talking about, there are some pictures and instructions on www.centerfirecentral.com that will make it easier. I've done a bunch of Ruger triggers and I can do one in 15 minutes down to 2.5 pounds. As a last note, if yours is really bad, you may have to file the pad down where the safety lever contacts the trigger. As long as the safety will go on smoothly it will be fine- don't worry about it.
Posts: 2788 | Location: gallatin, mo usa | Registered: 10 March 2001
