Hello,
Any pro or con comments on subject rifle?? Curious for purchase is near. Thanks

PS Caliber is 375 HH

Pros:

Solid
Well built
Reasonably priced

Cons:

Heavy

The Ruger is a fantastic rifle with only one minor flaw IMHO... It could be about a pound lighter! Aside from that it's brutally strong, rugged and reliable once you've got it slicked-up and ready for the field.

Mine's a .375 H&H and I wouldn't trade it for the world after having it for two years now.

RSMs are great for the price, but with all three chamberings(375, 416, 458) having the same barrel profile. The 416Rigby or the 458Lott are a better weight/caliber ratio.

The only negatives I see are, the bolt handle is a tad short and I would like a bigger knob on the safety. Otherwise they are a deal.


Hog Killer

The only recoil lug on an RSM is the plate in the forearm. There is no recoil lug on the action at all. The primary, and only, recoil lug is in the forearm only. Should be plenty for the gentle .375 H&H.

Hello RIP,
Was not aware that the action itself did not have a recoil lug. I am aware of the angled lug on the smaller versions of the Ruger 77 but this does not exist with the magnum version or just does not serve as a recoil lug??

quote:

Originally posted by driver:
Hello RIP,
Was not aware that the action itself did not have a recoil lug. I am aware of the angled lug on the smaller versions of the Ruger 77 but this does not exist with the magnum version or just does not serve as a recoil lug??

The 45 degree angle of the front action screw is a fine thing on both the M77 Mk II (standard length action) and the M77 RSM (magnum length action).

On the RSM, however, there is no recoil lug on the action, just a little round bolster that fits in a hole in the recoil plate. All the recoil bears on this bolster pulling on the back end of the recoil plate.

The front end of the recoil plate has a recoil lug on it that is inletted into the wood in the forearm.

That is the only recoil lug on an RSM.

Take an RSM out of the stock or look at an exploded diagram. It is amazing. Disassembled, the recoil plate falls free and the barreled action is devoid of any recoil lug at all.

If I rebarreled or rebored an RSM to 500 Mbogo, I would discard the recoil plate, add a Remington-type "washer" recoil lug where the barrel screws into the action (as the primary recoil lug) and add a secondary recoil lug to the barrel, and have it bedded where the recoil plate lug went on the original.

Compare that to the CZ 550 Magnum with a traditional primary lug on the action and a recoil lug contraption (part of which is built integral to the barrel) as the secondary recoil lug on the barrel.

The RSM integral quarter rib and other niceties thus comes at a cost of no recoil lug on the action.

Rip,
the rugers have a second quarter rib, under the barrel, which also acts for recoil. The recoil plate is simular in function as the CZ "F" block...

seems to work.

the RSM is too heavy, imho.

other than that, an excellent firearm, with Hogkiller note on the safety being too small being perfectly correct

RSM: no recoil lug on the action, all on the barrel, one recoil lug bearing in the forearm last time I looked at mine.

Does removing and replacing a Ruger stock void the warranty?

Admittedly it seems to work, this Ruger Goldberg system. My .416 Rigby is capable of bughole accuracy.

Hello Rip,
Appreciate the details on the non lug/lug system of the Ruger. I will inpsect mine to gain further understanding of the method used, but as you and others have mentioned, it seems to work ok. I have heard the complaint about the safety lever earlier and may have a way of correcting that item. Have use of Ferro Arm/ruby tipped laser, CNC and EDM equipment and can pretty much duplicate whatever fairly easy. Could just EDM a unit and mfg. the "push area" a bit larger and even crosshatch checker the surface. I am SURE that would void the warranty but I will most likely do a bit of carefull stock altering on my own for am familiar with the square edges of most Ruger 77 rifle stocks and can put a radius on them fairly easy and streamline plus take a bit of weight off as well. Figure that will also give them heartburn at Ruger's warranty station!!
On second thought, believe I will just shoot the thing and hope it hangs together. Again, thanks for the explanation.

Just got one after trying to win on a Winchester bidding frenzy.
To me the gun is nose heavy and the barrel is too short. That said, I have jeweled the bolt, put in a Timney trigger, glass bedded the action as concerns over recoil and absense of lugs is present, and added a kick-eez pad. This before ever even going out to shoot it. So am in for a treat I hope. Will use a Leupold VarX iii 1.75-6 for scope. Also plan to shoot witout scope as have Warne QD rings.

Hello Gila Jorge,
The heavy part about the rifle does not concern me for used to toting 12-14 lb rifles around for years and actually light rifles are difficult for me to shoot off hand and believe the weight on these Rugers is about 10 lbs or so and could add a pound or so in the butt to get neutral balance for faster swing to shoulder/sight. We will see. Used to know a source on levers for the Ruger rings which permited quick on and off for them, and have been told quite good in quality. I will start digging out old notes/sources.

driver

I have one in .416 Rigby, it weighs 10.5 with a Leupold 1.75-6x scope. It would be a bit heavy, but for a .416 or .458, I wouldn't want it any lighter. I have shot 250-300 rounds through mine, no problems even feeds the North Fork flat nose solids, groups into an inch. For offhand shooting I'd rather have it a bit heavy than a bit muzzle light.

Hello jstevens,
Glad to hear that after 250-300 rounds no problems with your Ruger. How difficult is it to maintain a steady flow of brass for the 416 Rigby? I did not opt for that caliber only because have experience with the 375 several years ago and quite a fan of the caliber. Have opportunity to do the 416 Rigby in a Ruger No. 1 in near future for that caliber has quite a good reputation as well in the game fields all over the world.
I am gearing up for a trip to Africa some two to three years from now providing the terrorists do not set up shop there, and converting my inventory of long range match/tactical type firearms to sporting types and building an "arsenal" of not only dangerous game types, but plains game as well. I have a Mauser 458 Win Mag. and thought about the Lott, but may well want to go with the Rigby. In the process of finishing a VZ24 for the 8x57 caliber in the traditional turn of the century mode and that will serve as a light rifle with the right loads. I am not opposed to the NO 1 in tight quarters w/ something that can "shoot back..." for did a fair amount of hunting in Alaska with one in 458 Win Mag. and included the big bear which frankly scare the hell out of me most of the time. Did take some hunters with me from time to time and always nervous, but never let them see you sweat you know!! Apparently you think highly of the 416 Rigby??

Does it still come with that ridiculously small front "blade sight", or did they correct that?

I have one in 416Rigby and have altered the stock (slimmed it and got rid of the 'flats' at the grip) replaced the bolt handle with longer straight one . Previous owner had the barrel Magnaported. Shoots like a house a fire. Just too heavy and I use my CZ550 more for a 416. Nice guns though the safety is way wrong for me.

driver

I sure haven't had any problems with brass, Grafs and Midway normally have it in stock, although expensive. For some strange reason, I don't go through .416 brass at the pace that I do in .223 and .243 though. I do like the .416, have yet to shoot anything heavy with it, although given the ultimatum of giving up it or the .375, I'd sure keep the .375. After it's all said and done, there's just more uses for the .375 in my world. The .416 is ready for a maybe next year buffalo hunt. The thing I like about the Rigby is that it is a thumping big bore that shoots flat enough for other game in a pinch. It also has been easy to work up good loads for and accurate.

Hello jstevens,
Thanks for the input. I am used to going through some few thousand 223/308 brass in a year and certainly can't imagine that with one of the "boomers." I will have to alter my thought patterns a bit but can see the brass consumption would be a whole lot less with a 416 Rigby.
I mentioned that I may well end up with a No. 1 in 416 Rigby and would do another 77 Magnum Deluxe if it were not for the cost of same. I still have a couple first rate match grade rifles to move, so one never knows. I already have an excellent Mauser 458, but having the same rifle in another caliber has a certain appeal. Well, can't have everything.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Pros:

Solid
Well built
Reasonably priced

Cons:

Heavy

Heavy is a CON when it comes to big bore rifles?

Dan

CON, not found in my safe.