Well, arrived today, fully examined rifle, and can make the following observations: To begin with, rifle does offer a lot of features only found on far more expensive rifles of either factory or custom built. Stock is of quality walnut, Turkish??, not over blessed with figure, but nice dark streaking, well checkered and matte oil type finish. Probably some polyurethane, but smooth and just about the right level of shine if you will. Rifle of this caliber and greater should have some sort of recoil absorbing pad on it one would think, but what is on it is ok. Won't be that hard to change out if desired. Typical blockish, square edges type Ruger stock, but does seem to be very, very robust.
Metal fit and finish is what I would call high quality for factory gun, deep, dark, polished blue, can see no machine marks, cutter marks, etc. on the rifle anywhere. Have not taken out of stock and probably will not if not needed. Shooting will perhaps change my mind on that, but remains to be seen. Trigger is certainly not what one of my long range match rifles are like, but again, it is a hunting/sporting rifle.
With enough dry firing can overcome it's apparent jerky let off. Some slight slack, take up, then about 4 lbs. break. Have not weighed it, but will later on. Front sight blade/beade on the small side and needs to be replaced when using very well done rear sight w/ one standing two folding set up. Front sight appears to pop off and be easily replaceable, but not sure where one would find a replacement since Ruger does not show one. Any suggestions?? Balance of rifle good for me with weight favoring muzzle end, good full pistol grip for solid grip and quick to come on point and even better with bolder front sight blade/beade. All in all, on a scale of 1-10, price, quality of workmanship, features, extras included, rings,swivels would judge it at the top of the pile for rifles in this price range. score 8. If different sight blade, better trigger (one off of their Target version, two stage, is really quite good and shame they can't use it????) I would have rated it a 9.
Now if the thing shoots 1 MOA no matter what I feed it, then the score would go up. Would I do it again, you bet and would suggest it to anyone for an American made "mauser" in true magnum action in 375 H&H.
All of this is subject to change in the event it does not feed or eject as it should, but have faith in Ruger to make whatever is wrong, right.

If they made them left handed I would own a couple already.

Those Ruger triggers are easy to adjust on the Rugers, just need a small file, a stone and 10 minutes. I believe NECG may make a direct replacement front bead for the Ruger, however I don't have a problem with the factory sights. Don't worry, it will shoot, it seems like all the RSM's will. If it doesn't shoot MOA, I'll be surprised.

Congratulations. It is just too wonderful to explain those first few minutes of examining a new rifle.
NOw to get out and give it the final test by shooting.
Frank

Yeah, it's a little heavy for a .375 H&H but I like mine. Nice rifles. I had mine glass (steel?) bedded and a Timney trigger installed. My gunsmtih also changed the front sight for a larger white bead but I can't remember what part/brand he used. He also tuned the extractor for positive feeding and extraction. Also, on mine, the magazine spring was a little weak and needed replacement. Works great now.

Most rifles nowadays, even a $1500 one, need a little going over by a good gunsmith. The factories just can't spend the labor costs to do the fine tuning like the old days, IMHO. Still, the Ruger M77 Magnums are a LOT of rifle for the money.

-Bob F.

NECG makes the sights for the Ruger RSM. It is a 3/32" white or flourescent bead. Pretty cheap, around 10-12 bucks IIRC. If you are at all handy with tools you can install it your self. Just pop out the old sight, measure the height, order the appropriate sight, pop it in.

Geronimo

Good rifle, a little heavy (for my taste) for a 375 H&H. I were you I will take it to a gunsmith to make a little thinner the stock, it's too "square" from the middle up to the end. Also I will "steel" bedded inmediately and I would change the front sight.

With these little things will look great !!

I really like the Ruger's actions and I believe their base/rings system for mounting scopes is very strong.

Enjoy it.
L

Bob: What was wrong with your extractor? jorge

Just a little "loose". It grabbed and held W-W brass just fine, but R-P brass would slip out (fall downwards some) from the extractor. R-P brand .375 H&H brass apparently has a thinner rim, or at least the lot I had did. My gunsmith adjusted the extractor (I don't know how it's done). It works fine now. Still, I only use W-W brass now. (I bought 500 W-W cases a few months ago.)

-Bob F.

Hello,
Appreciate the feed back and agree with both the pros and cons of the rifle. Have not shot it yet, soon to do that and plan on "ringing it out..." and will be on the lookout for possible extractor issues. Hopefully it works out fine, for maneuvering as we speak to trade for another one only in 458 Lott. Would make a nice pair, one for all sorts of game/plains, etc. and one for the kind of game that bites back. Later.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
If they made them left handed I would own a couple already.

Me too!

quote:

Originally posted by Paolo9,5x73:
Good looking rifle assembled from quality materials, but handling is poor. It's a quality forged crowbar with turkish walnut handle!

PS. Just compare it to an "old" Sako 'Safari Grade' and you can draw your own conclusions. Don't feel bad, that Sako has superior handling characteristics to "Old Fart Model 70" and CZ Magnum, it's about max you can get from a rifle made at large factory.

Gee whiz. The guy just got a new rifle that he's excited about. Is it really necessary to immediately piss on his parade?

FWIW, Driver they're nice rifles, I hope you enjoy it.

Yeah, no kidding.

-Bob F.

Congratulations on your purchase of a very solid American-made gun. This gun is impossible to wear out, if you shoot the rifling "out" of it just have that massive barrel rebored to something larger!

I've had my .375 RSM for a bit over two years now and am very pleased with it. Other than wishing it were a pound lighter, it's near-perfect right out of the box after function testing.

NECG makes the site you need. A nice bold white bead that really stands out. Before you buy it shoot the rifle with the factory site to determine if it's the correct height for your "favorite load". Obviously if it's not you can order a different height site from NECG to get it zeroed. I'm lucky, my soft nose load shoots within less than an inch of the FMJ load (which is dead-on at 25 and 50 yards) with the first/primary leaf.

I took a tiny piece of really fine emory paper and smoothed/sanded the interior areas of the action, ramp and feed lips.

Recoil with the .375 in the RSM is a non-issue, so the factory recoil pad is just fine IMHO.