Tracer,
Appreciate your comment. Congrats on that. That's how it should be.
I've been told by gunsmiths who know a lot more than me, that good bedding is key on big bores. I've not heard of Model 70's with stock splitting. Never had any problems with my 375 when I had it. I can't say whether the first stock split oin my rifle was becasue of sloppy bedding or not. The second stock was done by a guy I had more faith in. It has held up well.
I've seen and/or heard of a number of bigger bore Rugers, particularly the early 458's with splits down near the front screw and chips behind the tang. In fact, in one of the shops I worked in required that any Ruger 375 or bigger required the smith look at it before we took it in trade or for consignment, because of potential stock cracks. Of course the big difference between a 70 and a 77 is that darn angled screw. All that aside, I still prefer the early 77's. Just because I like 'em.
The rep for the company providing our Rugers in the last place I worked was the one who told me they were having trouble trying to get wood on the 416R, becasue of concerns over splitting. But he could have been BSing me.
Bfly