Ok, hunting in the adirondacks...noticed a crack appear near the tang around 1.5" long heading for grip...What to do? Any suggestions?

I don't want to just replace the wood to have it happen again...I'm thinking laminate or synthetic stock replacement with proper bedding and recoil lugs...All suggestions welcome...I just want to solidify this rifle as best as possible for the future. Thank you in advance and Happy Holidays...Mike

Send it back to Ruger and tell them to replace the stock.
If it happens again, send it back again.
If you tamper with the bedding or repair it in any way, Ruger is off the hook.
I know of no synthetic stock.
There is only one recoil lug on the rifle, and that falls off when you loosen the action screws.
It is a "recoil plate" that anchors on the little nubbin of a bolster on the front of the receiver underside.
Maybe accurate, but not the best stock split prevention bedding.
There is only one crossbolt in front of the magazine box, and it backs up NO RECOIL LUG THERE.
Relief of the tang and a second crossbolt aft of the magazine box might have prevented your split.
That could be repaired with a buried/hidden crossbolt behind the tang and the above relief and crossbolt in addition, and add pillars while you are at it, and a full glass bedding job (there is none present in the factory bedding) ...
but then Ruger is off the hook.

DRG says: "Kiss my liberal grits!"

Thank you for the reply. I just don't want it to happen again. I really want to trust the rifle to pretty much be as sound as possible.

Any suggestions who might do the work properly? Anybody who is reliable and someone who has worked with Rugers?

Massad:

If you can't get Ruger to replace it, Boyds makes replacement stocks for both the Ruger MKII as well as the old Ruger tang safety model. Here is the link to the tang safety laminate:

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/...Safety-p/503-124.htm

The tang safety laminate is out of stock right now but I would bet you could special order one. In a .458, a laminate might be a better choice.

Also, Accurate Innovations makes some really beautiful stocks as well and I'll bet they could get you hooked up but the Accurate Inovations stocks are bound to be a bit more expensive. Accurate Innovations makes the stocks for Montana Rifle Company.

I sent a gun back to Ruger and they practically made it like new for me. It was 20 yrs old. All work was for free. I am embarrassed to admit the whole fiasco. Bottom line, All my fault. All stupid. They fixed it- even reblue and replaced missing parts.

I am sure, unless I just got lucky, Ruger will fix yours. And, seeing the problem might result in better future guns. I know the CZ has improved a lot with cross bolts and bedding after early failures. But, they have to know about a problem to fix it. And care.

I see on my Ruger, there is a small gap or relief between the tang and stock. maybe your was fitted to tight in that area? Seems like a wood stock should last, if done right.

send it to ruger

guys, as far as i know, no one makes a stock for the RSM .. it is NOT interchangable with the markII that boyds sells.. Dave, the rsm action is HUGE

You guys are great after Christmas..will go back...I sure loves me that riffle and the round itself....Will contact them.

Massad:

Sorry, I didn't realize it was a Safari Magnum. I thought it was a MK 458 Win mag. If that is the case, these guys are right. Send it back to Ruger.

I had the exact same thing happen on my Ruger 416 Rigby. I sent it back and they replaced the stock with no questions. I then sent it to Jim Brockman and had him relieved the wood around the tang and glass bedded the stock. I knew this would void the Ruger guarantee, but for there have been no problems in over four years with lots of shooting. The rifle remains one of the most accurate ever.

quote:

I then sent it to Jim Brockman and had him relieved the wood around the tang and glass bedded the stock. I knew this would void the Ruger guarantee,

I did a lot more and really BAD modification and Ruger still honored the warranty and fixed by bad too. Not saying this is a sure thing, but if you have a problem with the bolt or trigger after messing with the stock, I think Ruger will treat you right.

Send it back to Ruger and let them replace the stock, and then, find someone who can make sure that the cross bolts are correctly done and that the relief around the tang is correct so that it doesn't happen again.

Ruger has a real problem with splitting stocks and god knows why they can't fix it as it is not brain surgery.

Thanks for the advice, may contact Jim Brockman

I am not 100% but am fairly sure those early Rugers in 458 have the same recoil plate system as the Safari Ruger.

If that was the case then a replacement stock would need the forend to be made of the "good stuff", assuming you were to maintain the Ruger recoil lug system.

One big problem with the RSMs is loose bedding screws. You should check them periodically to make sure it is snugged up. Overall I am impressed with the quality of the RSM.

John

A friend of mine had a Ruger stock fail at the recoil lug and sent it back to Ruger. I think they replaced the whole rifle.

It's probably best to send it back to Ruger they will surley replace the stock.

A crack in the tang area is not un common with any bolt action and many other systems. The crack is however not typically the problem but a syptom. It's nearly impossible for a stock to crack at the tang unless the web is first cracked. You will need to repair the web and then the crack behind the tang will stop growing. pull the mwtal out of the stock and inspect the web. A crack will be hard to see maybe put your fingers in the magazine well and push it apart with your fingers the crack should appear.

You can reinforce the web by useing a dreamel tool and routing out enough wood so you can drop a 1/4" bolt cut to length in. Epoxy the bolt in and the repair is done.

Still your best off by haveing Ruger replace the stock and then using this procedure to reinforce the staock rather than fix it.

I appreciate the advice, thank you to all...Mike

I'm sorry to hear it. After Ruger replaces the stock, I'd send it to gunsmith specializing in big bores to have it bedded properly and recoil lugs added if needed. I know CZ had issues with the early 550s some of which didn't have crossbolts, I haven't heard any complaints so they must've addressed that since. For the cost of a Ruger RSM, that shouldn't happen and they should be going out of their way to fix it.

Best of luck,

Chuck