Ruger M77 Magnum in 416 Ruger - Opinions

[marshy]

Hi Gents

Me once again!

I need your valued opinions once again... I got a phone call yesterday about a Ruger M77 Magnum for Sale, in 416 Rigby (for those interested it is going for R12k, and that includes brass, bullets, and dies). The rifle has only fired +-40 shots, but shows slight wear on the barrel (bluing has been rubbed down at the end of stock) and stock has some slight scratches - it was carried by a ranger at one of the private game reserves. The action is as slick as snot

So here's my question-

Has any one had any experience with the Ruger Magnum, especially in 416 Rigby?
Also, I'm looking to add a barrel band, change the front sight, new recoil pad, change the rear sight to a single leaf, bed the action and perhaps shorten the stock (possibly to 22 inches?)

I also obviously plan to reblue the metal work, and looking to either redo the stock / replace it with another? (on that point, do any of our members in the States have any ideas on stock choice as i looked to replace it with a factory offering, but i see they don't offer the Magnum anymore? Are there any other replacement options available in the states? as we're limited here in SA.)
Otherwise I'm going to stain, rechequer, and give it an matt oil finish.

Thanks for the input!

Marshy

 

[enysse]

Well I looked the value up in the USA it's worth $2500 brand new. I have shot the 416 Rigby in the RSM....I really liked the gun!

I'm a huge fan of Ruger rifles and don't think you can go wrong in buying this gun. Rugers are really good guns!

 

[Ontario Nimrod]

I own 3 of them, one in each of .375H&H, .416 Rigby and .458 Lott, so I guess you can tell what I think of the gun. Although I haven't yet had a chance to shoot the 2 bigger ones, I used the .375 in Namibia a couple of years back and found it to be exceptional. Beautiful wood on them, too.

 

[Code4]

For R12k with the accessorys I think you have a good deal. If it is like the .375H&H version (which I have shot) they are a lovely rifle.

You have a number of good gunsmiths in RSA who will be able to perform the work you need. Correctly performed stock work is always expensive in my experience and unless absolutely necessary to be avoided.

A pantograph is used to duplicate stocks. This could be done if you have a nice piece of wood to replace the factory stock with. It will still need to be finished and that is also expensive.

 

[jaustin]

I have a RSM in 416 Rigby and it is one of my favorite rifles. This rifle shoots like a dream and recoil is very moderate. I have shot at the range out to two hundred yards and was very suprised by the accuracy and bullet drop, or lack there of. I love this rifle for buffalo and if I ever hunt elephant again this is the rifle I will carry.

Noticed after posting that the picture in my avatar has my Ruger 416 front and center.

 

[kingcorona]

Just rec'd my 416 Rigby....don'y know about Ruger rifles but the cartridge intrigues me in that it has about 15+% more case capacity than the 416 Rem or 416 Ruger......that means the gun will recoil softer with lower case pressures while meeting the competitions ballistics....was considering the 416 weatherby but learned that the parent case for the weatherby IS the Rigby so a handloader can push MV to the 2750 level with a 400 gr projectile in the Rigby.....just gotta make sure the stock is properly reinforced and maybe some recoil management devices would be in order....I will have my CZ bedded and an extra cross bolt installes as well as a recoil reducer in the butt stock....but you can not go wrong with the Rigby IMHO,,,,,,,been around for 100 years for a reason.....immitation is the sincerest form of flattery and if it's good enouugh for Mr Weatherby well........

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Just rec'd my 416 Rigby....don'y know about Ruger rifles but the cartridge intrigues me in that it has about 15+% more case capacity than the 416 Rem or 416 Ruger......that means the gun will recoil softer with lower case pressures while meeting the competitions ballistics....was considering the 416 weatherby but learned that the parent case for the weatherby IS the Rigby so a handloader can push MV to the 2750 level with a 400 gr projectile in the Rigby.....just gotta make sure the stock is properly reinforced and maybe some recoil management devices would be in order....I will have my CZ bedded and an extra cross bolt installes as well as a recoil reducer in the butt stock....but you can not go wrong with the Rigby IMHO,,,,,,,been around for 100 years for a reason.....immitation is the sincerest form of flattery and if it's good enouugh for Mr Weatherby well........

2750fps from a 400gr bullet? I have no experience with this round but have been giving thought to a .416 Remington and have compared it against the Rigby. The three reloading manuals I have for Nosler, Swift and Barnes all show a max speed of 400gr projectiles around 2500fps. Have you seen this kind of velocity at the range? If so, I'd like to know the load and how accurate it was.

 

[kingcorona]

Saw a thread on this site that the loader was getting these velocities out of his Rigby...the case capacity of a 416 Rigby is only 1 grain ligter than the weatherby....Stands to reason they can achieve the same velocities........the limiting factor for accuracy being the gun/twists and shooter....just gave me confidence that the caliber will perform without any hiccups as sometimes shooting my Lott and any maxed out case will have issues and needless to say give me an action that will out last me.......

 

[PaulT]

I would want to caution anyone loading any 416 beyond the traditional 2400fps to use the very toughest projectiles available for such loads.

I have witnessed several abismal failures of projectiles when fired from hand-loaded 416 Rigby's to beyond 2500.

 

[sestoppelman]

The Rigby case is huge and can run right up to the Weatherby, but not sure I would want to! I like my .404 Jeffery with 400 grs at near 2300. Plenty of smash and compartively light recoil. Remember these old rounds made their reputations at or near the original factory ballistic specs. It worked then, it works now.

 

[timbear]

The rifle has only fired +-40 shots, but shows slight wear on the barrel (bluing has been rubbed down at the end of stock) and stock has some slight scratches - it was carried by a ranger at one of the private game reserves. The action is as slick as snot

I have not owned a Ruger rifle yet, but I have 2 Blackhawks, and know Rugers are build to last. My personal take on this: If it doesn't break, don't fix it! You are getting a good rifle in a tried and try caliber for a good price. If you take it where the game is, eventually it will show wear marks again. So what? A rifle should be a tool, not a showpiece. If the LOP is wrong, it shoots badly because of inferior bedding or feeds badly, a gunsmith is the obvious answer. If not, I personally would leave it as is and spend the money on another hunt. Just my 2 1/2 cents, of course.

 

[browningbbr]

I have a 77RSM in .416 Rigby. Other than a little work to make the blade ejector move freely, the rifle has been excellent.

I've put about 200 rounds through it so far. All were hand loads. The best accuracy I have seen has been with 400gn Barnes TSX moving at 2350 fps using RL22 powder.

The .416 Rigby round was developed to be a lower-pressure load. 2300-2400 fps with a 400gn bullet will kill anything on the planet. I don't suggest loading more heavily.

Best of luck!

- browningbbr