Finally a 7mm/08

[Bitman]

I've been looking for some time now, and finally picked up a M-77, tang safety, 7mm/08, in about 98% condition.
I hate keeping safe queens, so I'm going to shoot it and enjoy it. :lol:

 

[boaman88]

One of my favorite calibers. I say shoot it as often as you can. Nice find in the tang safety model. Should make a top notch deer rifle.

 

[cellar701]

Nice rifle, nice caliber. I have a couple of rifles in 7-08 (neither of mine are Ruger) and eventually I'd like to pick up a Ruger in 7-08 as you describe or one in 7x57. In my book you can't beat the caliber for deer or similar size game.

 

[rugnelli]

Bitman,

Now that sounds like a good one. I have a few but that would be a great addition in any gun safe.

Congrats,

rugnelli

 

[R77PA]

Congrats. I have actually never seen one in person.

 

[chet15]

First one I ever saw was at the 1983 NRA show in Ruger's display. Thought it strange at the time that Ruger would have that in their rack when it wasn't a cataloged caliber. That one later showed up on a list of "U" used guns printed in one of the RCA Journals.
Chet15

 

[44-357]

I have a remington bdl 7mm08 and it is a wonderful round you will love it.

 

[208packinheat]

Wow, few and far between. I have a 77-prefix M77 R in 7mm/08 NIB. Just have not had the occasion to shoot it.

 

[208packinheat]

Wow, few and far between. I have a 77-prefix M77 R in 7mm/08 NIB. Just have not had the occasion to shoot it.

 

[picketpin]

The story I heard when I bought mine and then went looking for another and for it to be cataloged was the "Bill Ruger Sr." refused to bring it out as a production.cataloed item becase it wasn't SAAMI stadardized at the time and he refused to continue twith the caliber until it was.

Of course I also heard that as it essentually duplicated the 7x57 ballistically it didn't bring a lot of sale and thus was not picked up.

Mine went to live with one of the brothers some years ago. They have always been pretty rare/uncommon though I have no idea on total numbers or even a guess.

Some stuff, the first 7x57 Rs, 257 Sts, 35 Whelens and the 264 win Mags there was at least an idea of the number made. I never heard one associated with the MKIs in 7-08.

Ross

 

[chet15]

Here's what I have on it from the reference:

77RSI 7mm/08 (known s/n range 77-53497 to 77-55394 - reportedly about 100 made) and 772-30403 to 772-39766 (reportedly only 50 made in this serial range).

Chet15

 

[208packinheat]

Chet, what are the numbers for the 77 prefix Rs in 7mm/08?

 

[EVR]

Shoot that 7mm till the metal is silverworn and the stock looks like a corncob.

You have a really special game killer.

I mean, seriously, what is the value you will lose over the years, a few hundred bucks if you shoot it?

We had a 7x57 tang safety. No longer. It was THE ranch rifle around here and we used it on deer, elk and coyotes and only parted with it because it is now with a close friend.

One special hunt involved an elk I took on my ranch here on a depredation hunt at night under bright starlight and in the in snow with it, along with a number of other elk and deer so I have a soft spot for tang safety 7mm's and the '08 is close enough!

You '08 will be a great tool.

Enjoy!!

 

[Bitman]

I have a few tang safety Rugers, including the 7mm Mag, and a 7X57, to go with this 7mm/08. So, I don't have to use it, but I like to shoot the rifles in my safe. I knew these 7mm/08's where hard to come by, but I didn't think they were that uncommon.

 

[chet15]

Chet, what are the numbers for the 77 prefix Rs in 7mm/08?

I have that one noted from 75-64821 to 79-80226, but have never heard any production quantities on that one. The RSI kind of stuck out to a lot of folks when it came out (with employees and execs also at the time) and that early range 7mm/08 RSI production figure came from somebody well tied at the factory. The later serial range of RSI's was a distributor special, so the "50" quantity on that is pretty well established as well.
Production on the "R" in 7mm/08 would have been quite a bit more (I'd say anywhere from at least a few hundred up to maybe 1,000-2,000), so it is still a pretty scarce rifle.
Chet15

 

[chapped lips]

Here's what I have on it from the reference:

77RSI 7mm/08 (known s/n range 77-53497 to 77-55394 - reportedly about 100 made) and 772-30403 to 772-39766 (reportedly only 50 made in this serial range).

Chet15

howdy....this discussion got my attention.....i have a 77R and a 77RSI in 7/08....my RSI has a s/n of 772-29979....was there a third run of these?

and how common were RSI's in 22-250?.....its s/n is 78-40792.

a great forum!.....makes my pulse......PULSE!

 

[Hotel1Actual]

I have only encountered one Ruger 77 in 7mm-08, at a gunshow
back in the early 90s. Price was 400, if I remember correctly,
and I believe it was a 77R or 77RL.

 

[valkrider8]

I also have a 7mm-08 RSI with a serial # 772-29*** It's a safe queen, every year I say I am going to hunt with it but just can't bring myself to do it. Hmmm?

 

[APEXDUCK]

I picked up a Ruger M77 Frontier in 7mm-08 last year. Great gun , nice and handy package.

I'd like this gun a bit more if it had a nice walnut stock but the laminated will work for now.

APEXDUCK

 

[chapped lips]

APEX.....i like it in the laminate.....good looking setup! :D

tho it's not a scout rifle, i've kicked around putting a red dot on my 358 77RS....it's been wearing the old 2x7 leupold compact since i got it.

have you ever considered doing that to your frontier?

 

[APEXDUCK]

Chapped Lips,

Never thought about a red dot but I might just try that sometime. The scope on there now is a Burris EER 2.5x and works well. Comes right up and offers just enough magnification for hunting at medium ranges. Fun gun to carry and shoot.

APEXDUCK

 

[stang]

I bought one of the compacts. I love it, accurate easy to carry and light. My favourite hunting rifle.

 

[Trey Whitley]

I picked up a Ruger M77 Frontier in 7mm-08 last year. Great gun , nice and handy package.

I bought a twin to yours about 3 years ago and put a scope in the "conventional" spot for the boys to hunt with, the first 7mm-08 I've owned. Ours aren't as rare or collectible as the ones being discussed here, but I'm extremely impressed by the on-game performance the 7mm-08 is capable of with so little recoil.

And I agree with you about "handy"...I had to go buy another Frontier when they came out in .358 WIN, which I put a scout scope on, and it's my hands-down favorite gun for hog hunting. The only screw-up Ruger had on the 358's is the stock- they should have stuck with the smooth/uncheckered type.

 

[RJ556]

stang, what size (approximate) groups are you shooting with your Compact 7mm-08? And, are you using factory loads or hand loads. Thanks rj