Winchester M70 Safari Express OR (Discontinued) Ruger M77 Magnum in .375 H&H?

International Harvester said:
You're right JohnWM, the Alaskan is a great, classic looking rifle and I would love one in .30-06. However for a 375 H&H I prefer the action and barrel to be heavier.

IH
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I suggest holding an Alaskan....the fore-end is very chunky. Nothing that can't be solved by restocking!

International Harvester said:
I noticed stickhunter's RSM didn't have a black tip on the forestock while 1899's RSM did. Is one of these rifles of older vintage? I'm starting to lean towards the Ruger due to its chunkier metal, longer action and greater weight. This will be my largest caliber if I get it. I would prefer weight over recoil.

IH
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I think all of the RSM rifles had a black fore-end cap. Perhaps some of the RSM Express rifles were made without that feature. Thos were available in .30/06, .300 WM, .338 WM and probably some others too.
 
I would consider the Sako Kodiak, but I am admittedly a Sako fan. Between the Ruger and the Winchester though, I would go Ruger. I just think they are prettier, and I like their integral base set up. The quarter rib and banded front sight are right ###y.
 
1899 said:
I think all of the RSM rifles had a black fore-end cap. Perhaps some of the RSM Express rifles were made without that feature. Thos were available in .30/06, .300 WM, .338 WM and probably some others too.
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I think you're right, 1899. My rifle had some customization done to it (e.g., extended mag) when it was rebored to 505. I think the stock was worked over at the same time, and perhaps the forearm shortened by removing the black tip in order to get the barrel band closer down.
 
SuperCub said:
How heavy are those Ruger RSMs?
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Mine is just at 10lbs naked, about 11.5 with scope and ammo. Very steady to hold, very easy to shoot accurately, and recoil is not bad at all. I would not want a .375 that was much lighter! But then I am a recoil wuss.
If I was doing a lot of walking, I'd choose a lighter rifle and lighter caliber, probably a 9.3x62. But this combination of Ruger RSM rifle/.375 H&H cartridge is wonderful if a person is mostly hunting by spot and stalk from vehicles or hunting from blinds etc.
 
jjohnwm said:
The RSM is a beautiful gun, and I would love one in .458Win or Lott, but it is pretty hefty for a .375. I had one in .416Rigby and I loved it, but it eventually split its stock, just before I was scheduled to take it on a hunt. Kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.
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What did Ruger do for you on that one?
 
I have a Ruger 77 in 338 and a model 70 in 270wsm, I like both of these very much and I am unlikely to part with either, however the Ruger is nowhere near as smooth as the 70.
 
I have a Ruger 77 in 338 and a model 70 in 270wsm, I like both of these very much and I am unlikely to part with either, however the Ruger is nowhere near as smooth as the 70 (both are CRF)
 
Here is mine! It is abit heavy, but as stated helps in the recoil department!
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The Ruger is an awfully nice rifle but it is a hair heavy when chambered for the 375 H&H. That's about the only downside to them...well, the Goodyear stamped recoils pad isn't a thing of beauty but that is easily rectified.

I'd be torn too. I love my RSM (416 Rigby) but I'm a big M70 fan as well. See which one feels better to you and go from there.
 
Longwalker said:
Mine is just at 10lbs naked, about 11.5 with scope and ammo. Very steady to hold, very easy to shoot accurately, and recoil is not bad at all. I would not want a .375 that was much lighter! But then I am a recoil wuss.
If I was doing a lot of walking, I'd choose a lighter rifle and lighter caliber, probably a 9.3x62. But this combination of Ruger RSM rifle/.375 H&H cartridge is wonderful if a person is mostly hunting by spot and stalk from vehicles or hunting from blinds etc.
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About a pound and a half too heavy for my liking. My 9.3 tips at 7lb 11oz fully loaded and is a delight to carry and shoot. The RSM is a chunk to carry but even at that weight it isn't bad. When you're belching off 400 or 500 grainers with the rifle pointed at dark hair that extra weight goes unnoticed but does soak up some recoil to allow for fast follow up shots. The meaty 375 RSM probably shoots even faster given that it's not overly obstinate in the recoil department. Ardent's probably sounds like an MG42 when he gets feeding it lunch!
 
BigUglyMan said:
About a pound and a half too heavy for my liking. My 9.3 tips at 7lb 11oz fully loaded and is a delight to carry and shoot. The RSM is a chunk to carry but even at that weight it isn't bad. When you're belching off 400 or 500 grainers with the rifle pointed at dark hair that extra weight goes unnoticed but does soak up some recoil to allow for fast follow up shots. The meaty 375 RSM probably shoots even faster given that it's not overly obstinate in the recoil department. Ardent's probably sounds like an MG42 when he gets feeding it lunch!
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I did have a reason to cycle mine very quickly this September. Shot a bull elk approaching me at a 1/4 head-on angle at about 130 yds. I hit right where I aimed with the 260 gr. Nosler partition, at the point of the oncoming shoulder. Elk took off like he was stung by a bee, running hard left. I cranked in another and swung fast, shot again before he had covered more than 20 yds towards thick escape cover and dumped him with a spine shot. That fast second shot definitely saved me a long tracking job.

Despite shooting a big, tough bullet placed exactly where I aimed, a funny thing happened. It missed the top of humerus by a hair, and impacted the socket of the scapula, shattering most of it into pieces the size of a quarter. But then the bullet changed direction and went back out at about a 30° angle, and did not penetrate the lungs. Only a couple fragments of bullet and bone reached the near side lung. Don't know how an elk can withstand that much shock and damage and still run like he wasn't hurt, but that's what happened.

So, sometimes a quick follow up shot is necessary, 'cuz sometimes the biggest, best bullet does odd things when it hits hard bone. A good handling rifle and the ability to hit running game can save the day.
The RSM's smooth action and steady weight were an asset in this one case anyway!
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