I saw one brand new at the gun show today and the guy wanted $800 for it. This particular specimen has a tang safety, a large barrel contour, a very bright blue finish, no quarter rib but with a banded front sight and Winchester style adjustable rear sight, CRF, and it has a band of some sort in the forearm. I have been thinking about getting a big Ruger to turn it into a 505 Gibbs so I thought this one may be a good candidate. Can somebody tell me more about this model? When did they discontinued it? Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The old model M77 .458 is not a CRF. It has the CRF type of extractor, but it is a push feed and the extractor snaps over the rim when you close the bolt. Not to worry though, it will still feed upside down, sideways, and any other way you want it to, at least mine does.

Thanks Big Bore for the info. I did not fondle it at the show, as the guy got it all locked and zip tied and I did not intend to buy it at the time so I did not ask to play with it closely. Now that I got home I thought maybe I should look into it more so the reason for this post. The gun show is still on until tomorrow night so I still can get it tomorrow if it is still there. Anyway, it did appear to have an extractor extending all the way back but apparently it is not a CRF. I think I will pass it this time and look for an older model 416 Ruger instead. Thanks.

Why not just buy a CZ 550 in .416 Rigby? It will cost $640 NIB, holds three in the magazine, has express sights, better wood, and very likely a better barrel.

George

George,

I already got several CZ 550 Safari Magnum rifles so I am looking for something different. Unlike the Mauser design, the Ruger left bolt lug protrudes all the way up to the lip of the bolt face so there is prenty of material there to accomodate a big cartridge like the 505 Gibbs and maybe even the 577 T-Rex. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Ming,
The old Ruger .458 M77 ("Mark I" if you will, or at least let us say pre-Mark II M77) ... TOO SHORT!!!

It was a medium magnum, the action is not even suitable for a .375 H&H length.

That is why they brought out the M77 Magnum Mark II, about 1990, it is a longer action, as opposed to the M77 Medium/standard Mark II action (which does have a recoil lug on the action).

Heck if I would mess with the recoil plate stuff if I could avoid it!

If custom building with a Ruger Magnum M77 action , like the RSM (.375 H&H, .416 Rigby, etc.), the MAGNUM RIFLE, I would discard the recoil plate, install the Remington style recoil lug as the primary, and a real barrel lug as secondary.

The old Ruger was used for 375 H&H, but isn't
long enough for Gibbs. My first 458 HE is on
one I rechambered from 458 Win.Used as a
single shot.Strong and safe.And that bedding bar
is the best way, bar none, to handle hairy recoil, along with the barrel ring holding barrel to stock.I bought extra bars and rings and use them on my other hairy rifles.That rifle is
a gun of great quality.Make a great one to
redo to Lott, with different mag box.Ed.

Thanks Ron for the suggestion. I will definitely look into the Remington style recoil lug arrangement when I get to that point. This is just one of those projects that does not need to be done right away.

Thanks Ed for the info. I have been known to buy something without thinking ahead and I am glad that I did not do that today. You guys are great with good info.

ed, i might be mistaken, but i don't recall Ruger ever chambering the tang safety actions (my personal favorite 77's by the way) in 375. They weny from 338 Win Mag to 458 Win Mag, because of the length of the action. That is indeed why he brought out the Express Magnum actions, AFAIK, - Dan

Dan--I based my statement on clerk at gunshop, where I got rifle from about 30 years ago who told me the African model was available in 375 and 458.Idea stuck with me all these years.
He probably was wrong, as I think you know more than a clerk. But when I built my 458HE , the
first case I tried was 3 inches and with long mag box that I made up, and deep seating bullet, I could make it work
and feed...And they are my favorite actions...Now
if Ruger would only build an oversize one with
1.4 in barrel threads and 1.5 in longer, I would be in the clover,as they say. and would use it for my 700HE..Ed.

Ed,Dan is correct. The early Rugers were never chambered for 375 H&H, becuase the action was too short.