A Tribute to An Old Friend

[Ardent]

Finally wrote a quick word and review on one of my favourite affordable rifles, and some comparisons to the Model 70.

http://www.morrisonarms.com/2014/09/the-ruger-safari-magnum-rsm-a-tribute-to-an-old-friend/

 

[bearkilr]

Good write up Ardent. The only fault I could really find with it is that it's just too heavy for my liking in the 375 H&H chambering, and therefore I sold it. It does have great craftsmanship for the price though, no doubt.

I was eyeing up one in 416 Rigby on the EE, until I got to that portion of the ad where it states "Magna-Port". Too bad.

 

[Superbrad]

With rem 700 issues of late and lack of old school quality very apparent I have two loves..... old rem actions and new ruger actions.... expect a write up on a unique ruger scout soon....

Very well done.... we can all get involved in crf vs. Push..... but a good rifle with great characteristics is not something any of us can argue.....

 

[hoytcanon]

Nice write up Angus... particularly appreciated by this avid Ruger fan...

 

[jbmauser]

I agree. A fantastic write up Angus!

I don't have a RSM but wouldn't mind one some day.

Just curious but how do you rate the CZ550 Magnum action compared to the RSM action? Obviously the CZ lacks many of the fine features the RSM does such as the integral barrel rib but how do the actual actions compare in your opinion?

Personally I think the 3 position safety is a big plus on the RSM but what about the rest of it?

 

[Ardent]

The CZ is swell, but a little rougher, and it's actually a slightly smaller action than the RSM as well. It is also tough as nails and there's little bad I can say about it, the RSM is just a very refined package for the price.

 

[jbmauser]

Thanks. I do love my CZ550 Magnum but realize it is a pretty basic rifle. I've never had the opportunity to handle or inspect a RSM so I was curious about how the actual actions compare.

 

[hoytcanon]

I find it interesting how the mob "pooh-pooh's" the 3-position safety in the standard actions and calibers, but loves it in the magnum actions... personally, I love the 3P safety and vastly prefer it to the old style tang safety... no matter what gun it is found on...

 

[Ardent]

I'm a big fan of the 602s and on to the 550s, you certainly haven't gone astray and have a wonderful tool. Refinements are the principle difference between the RSM and the CZ. Hard to fault the CZ in any way it's like a good pickup by two different makers you like.

 

[Ardent]

I find it interesting how the mob "pooh-pooh's" the 3-position safety in the standard actions and calibers, but loves it in the magnum actions... personally, I love the 3P safety and vastly prefer it to the old style tang safety... no matter what gun it is found on...

I'm a huge fan of the three position wing safety on any rifle, figured nearly everyone was? If you've used one, you have a hard time faulting it.

 

[Superbrad]

I find it interesting how the mob "pooh-pooh's" the 3-position safety in the standard actions and calibers, but loves it in the magnum actions... personally, I love the 3P safety and vastly prefer it to the old style tang safety... no matter what gun it is found on...

To be honest, I was brought up on a two position safety...... if you take enough game one way it is hard to go with another.... there are many hunters that advocate no safety on at all when hunting... I am not one of them, but I do find the ruger safety to be "loud"....

That being said, imop, the ruger actions are second to none, the fit and fit and finish is superb and once you are used to it it really isnt hard to use a 3 position like a 2 position....

One thing unmentioned is the checkering.... I typically dont like checkering because I like to move my hands about a rifle when needed... but for some reason ruger checkering just fits me and is deep and well done.... this may be a personal thing but worth mentioning....

 

[Kevan]

That was a very excellent article and you have a natural writing talent.
I share the same feelings for my Trevor Proctor - built 602 and in a dumb moment nearly parted with it to cover the cost of two new 375 upstarts.
Thankfully I kept my old reliable 375 and instead parted with the two 375 headaches when it was obvious they were beyond hope.

Again , Thanks for a fine write-up and am looking forward to your next work....

 

[jbmauser]

I'm a huge fan of the three position wing safety on any rifle, figured nearly everyone was? If you've used one, you have a hard time faulting it.

I'm with you and hoytcannon on this. The 3 position safety is superior to any other in my opinion. Now that my hunting rifle collection is basically done, I may start upgrading as many as possible to the 3 position safety. There's just a couple Brno's that I won't alter from original but the rest would be far better rifles with the 3 position installed.

 

[DRA]

Great article. Thanks for sharing.
It was your original praise of the RSM on CGN that persuaded me to purchase one in .416 Rigby.
It is a lot of gun for the money - very glad I have one in the collection.

 

[hoytcanon]

I'm a huge fan of the three position wing safety on any rifle, figured nearly everyone was? If you've used one, you have a hard time faulting it.

You mostly experience the love-fest with the tang safety in conversations about the MKI vs MKII... after ten or so comments of how the tang safety is superior, I usually can't help jumping in with a differing opinion...

 

[Ardent]

That was a very excellent article and you have a natural writing talent.
I share the same feelings for my Trevor Proctor - built 602 and in a dumb moment nearly parted with it to cover the cost of two new 375 upstarts.
Thankfully I kept my old reliable 375 and instead parted with the two 375 headaches when it was obvious they were beyond hope.

Again , Thanks for a fine write-up and am looking forward to your next work....

Very kind Kevan, thanks!

Great article. Thanks for sharing.
It was your original praise of the RSM on CGN that persuaded me to purchase one in .416 Rigby.
It is a lot of gun for the money - very glad I have one in the collection.

Glad to hear it, a .416 version would be wonderful, and a lovely cartridge. Currently experimenting with it's brother the .450.

 

[NL-Hunter]

Great Job A, quality images as well. Never had a chance to handle a nice ruger - YET!

 

[burnsy56]

That was a wonderful read. Well done. You are a modern day Robert Ruark.

 

[Ardent]

That is way, way too kind but thank you. I'll do an article on the Gold Label as well, one of the best shotguns I've had the pleasure of owning and using, even in comparison to far pricier guns. Probably should do a Merkel 140AE proper write up too, at some point.

 

[nowarningshot]

Kicking aside a classic in the name of corporate profit. Not a new thing, when one thinks of Tikka pushing the T3, Sako the A7, Remington the M700, and the mother of all of them Winchester scrapping the entire pre line in 1964.

Craftsmanship and quality is easily replaced by horrible plastic stocks, poor triggers, and lack of attention to fit and finish. In fairness to Ruger, they would sell 20 or 50 Walmart grade rifles for every RSM. Great rifles, but many people would go a different direction when after semi custom rifles.

I have never owned a RSM, but have owned two M77 tang, and three MkII. The ugly duckling of the bunch was the canoe paddle 7mag MkII. I would side on the three position safety as better. There is a place for a tang safety, and IMO that is on a waterfowl shotgun. Some of the really early tang M77 rifles got a bad reputation for accuracy as it was early and Ruger was sourcing barrels by low bid. Neither of my tang rifles had this problem. Still have one of those, under the category of never for sale.