What new Ruger would you like to see in a limited special run?

I’ve read every response on this thread and the one question that I must ask is this:

Is it ultimately important to prospective buyers to have a factory offered model or can one find what they pine for with a simple rebore/chamber or rebarrel of an existing rifle?
With a few exceptions, most of the suggestions could be had with very little effort and expense and there are many existing examples of rifles that some of you list as a wanted model.
Maybe the idea of buying a factory new rifle has some appeal but it seems that itch could be scratched without the wait for something that will probably never come to fruition.

Huvius said:

I’ve read every response on this thread and the one question that I must ask is this:

Is it ultimately important to prospective buyers to have a factory offered model or can one find what they pine for with a simple rebore/chamber or rebarrel of an existing rifle?
With a few exceptions, most of the suggestions could be had with very little effort and expense and there are many existing examples of rifles that some of you list as a wanted model.
Maybe the idea of buying a factory new rifle has some appeal but it seems that itch could be scratched without the wait for something that will probably never come to fruition.

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You are very right.
I do have the fantasy of the old calibers coming back to life and being offered again instead of the newest PRC or ARC caliber. Something about necking up .308 and 30-06 cartridges to 338 or 358 caliber and slapping them fresh on the gun shelves for me to buy new so I can weather it and give that rifle it’s scars.
But I do know I can take any of my current rifles and have them rebored to the caliber I want as well as putting irons on them as well. I just want to bring back the things that should’ve never faded before my time as an adult with adult money and irresponsible gun store visits.

I would love a 450-400 in a Ruger #1. They would have to provide brass as well. One without the other isn't mich good. I missed the first time around love to see them come around again. Dont have much need for one in North America but that combination would be fun.

Jack Stevens said:

Yes! Thanks for posting that YT vid. I’d forgotten about the BRNO 600 as a possible base action for a 350RM build. (I have a custom BRNO 602 in .375 H&H).

Cooper’s gun also displays an extended (or “drop”) magazine for extra capacity. Per my tastes, I probably wouldn’t run a Scout scope, but I would want usable iron sights.

Yes, I’ve got two M600s. Both are super-light and handy. One I shoot irons only; the other is scoped. That one I just sighted-in last week. Shoots like a laser.

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Jack I've never heard of the Remington 600 until now but now I've gotta have one. In 350 Rem Mag, but I'm a bit concerned about accuracy from it. What is your experience with them? I know it's not a sniper rifle but shooting golf balls is fun

jruby said:

I would love a 450-400 in a Ruger #1. They would have to provide brass as well. One without the other isn't mich good. I missed the first time around love to see them come around again. Dont have much need for one in North America but that combination would be fun.

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This is exactly what I’m talking about!
450/400s are out there.
Just troll the usual sites and auctions and Voila’. There you have it!
Why reinvent the wheel?

Huvius said:

This is exactly what I’m talking about!
450/400s are out there.
Just troll the usual sites and auctions and Voila’. There you have it!
Why reinvent the wheel?

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Yes way over priced in my opinion a Rugrr #1 isn't worth three or four thousand dollars unless it's special. The existing ones I have seen are over priced due to thier rarity.

Axle2010 said:

Jack I've never heard of the Remington 600 until now but now I've gotta have one. In 350 Rem Mag, but I'm a bit concerned about accuracy from it. What is your experience with them? I know it's not a sniper rifle but shooting golf balls is fun

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So is banging steel gongs at 200-yds. From the 18.5" pencil barrel, which is channeled in the stock, accuracy has been great doing just that with Speer 200grn RN handloads.

But you're right, the M600s - and the 20'' successor model M660s - were never intended to be sniper rifles. The M600 in .350 RM was purpose-designed to be a short-range (150-yd max) bolt-alternative to the big bore lever-actions of the day. However, the gun and the .350 chambering can shoot accurately beyond 150yds, if needed.

Compact, quick to point, and magnum power. Back in the day Remmy ads loudly promoted the M600, claiming: "It carries like a carbine, points like a shotgun, and shoots like a rifle!" 1960s gun-rag sloganeering at its best right there.

Ballistically, the .350RM holds the distinction as the world's first "short magnum."

As Pet Loads author Ken Waters put it, the cartridge is "a belted .35 Whelen" in a short-action platform (2.800"). He should've added also that it was designed with short barrels in mind - the 18.5" M600 and the later 20" M660. While the 18.5" 600 is a carbine, technically the 20" 660 is what used to be called a "short rifle," the barrel length falling between a carbine and a standard rifle with a 22"-24" barrel.

As far as getting your hands on a M600 in good condition, check GB regularly. But I can advise that prices have gone up in recent years even though .350RM ammo is hard to find and pricey when you do.

Remmy's 20" model 7 is the short-action descendant of the 600s & 660s. They made those for a while in .350RM, and they pop up on GB too. So if you can't find a M600, the model 7 would your next closest alternative.

Huvius said:

So, does Ruger require an order of 50 pcs minimum for a special run?
And, if so, do they require it go through an established distributor?

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The OP mentioned that Randy's Hunting Center has done short orders before and seemed to think they would do another one if they had enough interest.

I think, since they now own Marlin, a Hawkeye African in .444 or .450 marlin would be a fitting addition.

I do wish they'd do another run of the .223/5.56x45 Africans.

TXTad said:

I do wish they'd do another run of the .223/5.56x45 Africans.

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What was the twist rate on those?

Jack Stevens said:

What was the twist rate on those?

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I believe they were 1 in 9.

Jack Stevens said:

All good points regarding new runs in unusual calibers.

In my case of the oddball/near-impossible-to-find-brass-for .350RM, it seems the simplest route might be to find a lightly used, synthetic-stock M77 (which were typically sans iron sights) and convert it to at least some of the Guide Gun specs I posted earlier (i.e., chop the barrel to 20”, add a Timney trigger, a set of irons, etc.)

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@Jack Stevens
350 REM mag brass is easily made out of 7 mm REM mag brass so all is not lost.
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:

@Jack Stevens
350 REM mag brass is easily made out of 7 mm REM mag brass so all is not lost.

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True. But I’m sitting on what’s likely a lifetime pile of actual (head-stamped) .350RM brass - Remmy & Nosler. I just threw out that comment for the unawares guy who might not be ambitious enough to want to make .350 brass from scratch.

I may have bought the rarest Ruger made today from a fellow member. A No. 1B in 7x57. It was an uncatalogued rifle and they only made a run of 100. That’s the B’s only. It’s common amongst the No 1A’s.

Huvius said:

Is it ultimately important to prospective buyers to have a factory offered model or can one find what they pine for with a simple rebore/chamber or rebarrel of an existing rifle?

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This was the conclusion that I came to back on page 12 when I posted "...I think it would be easier to take a left-handed 77 and simply add an ebony fore end, barrel band & iron sights & just roll my own “African” at this point". The main reason for posting the original question was to find out how chaotic getting a consensus would be and to my mind the answer was an emphatic "wildly chaotic!". But now I don't have to wonder because now I know how people will respond & that is a helpful insight into the hurdles to expect. @spike.t's prophetic 2nd post in this thread still makes me laugh:

spike.t said:

Great idea but I think it will be like trying to herd cats...

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migrabill said:

I may have bought the rarest Ruger made today from a fellow member. A No. 1B in 7x57. It was an uncatalogued rifle and they only made a run of 100. That’s the B’s only. It’s common amongst the No 1A’s.

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That is a low run count. But just as an FYI, Ruger only made 60 RSI's for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) in 30-40 Krag. They also only made 60 RSI's for Classic Sporting Arms in 375 Ruger. My RSI in 275 Rigby is from a run of 100 for the Dallas Arms Collectors Association. I've only seen three of those for sale & I bought one of them. I've only seen a single RSI in 303 British for sale in 2015 which is why another run of those was my suggestion at the beginning of this thread (I'm a big fan of that chambering). The 1975 run of the 460 G&A wildcat (a 404J upsized to 458) doesn't pop up too often either.

Would love a 7x57 good pick

Huvius said:

I’ve read every response on this thread and the one question that I must ask is this:
Is it ultimately important to prospective buyers to have a factory offered model or can one find what they pine for with a simple rebore/chamber or re-barrel of an existing rifle?

Click to expand...

Seems to me the factory-built model would have future 'collector value' - especially if it became an unfired Safe Queen for a couple of decades.

Huvius said:

With a few exceptions, most of the suggestions could be had with very little effort and expense and there are many existing examples of rifles that some of you list as a wanted model.

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Well, taking an existing plain-jane M77 in x-caliber, and then having a competent 'smith re-bored/re-barreled it, restocked it, and otherwise upgrade it to classic 'safari rifle' specs will take more time and more money than just buying a limited-run M77 that already has those same specs (or most of them).

On the other hand, and despite having little-to-zero collector value (unless maybe a 'Big Name' 'smith was involved), a custom-built M77 will not only impart immense personal value (being built to your specs and chambering), but you'll definitely want to hunt with it, whether here in the states or in Africa.

odonata said:

This was the conclusion that I came to back on page 12 when I posted "...I think it would be easier to take a left-handed 77 and simply add an ebony fore end, barrel band & iron sights & just roll my own “African” at this point". The main reason for posting the original question was to find out how chaotic getting a consensus would be and to my mind the answer was an emphatic "wildly chaotic!". But now I don't have to wonder because now I know how people will respond & that is a helpful insight into the hurdles to expect. @spike.t's prophetic 2nd post in this thread still makes me laugh:





That is a low run count. But just as an FYI, Ruger only made 60 RSI's for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) in 30-40 Krag. They also only made 60 RSI's for Classic Sporting Arms in 375 Ruger. My RSI in 275 Rigby is from a run of 100 for the Dallas Arms Collectors Association. I've only seen three of those for sale & I bought one of them. I've only seen a single RSI in 303 British for sale in 2015 which is why another run of those was my suggestion at the beginning of this thread (I'm a big fan of that chambering). The 1975 run of the 460 G&A wildcat (a 404J upsized to 458) doesn't pop up too often either.

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Forgot about the special runs for Organizations. Thank you for the response.

Ruger no 1 in 500/416 or 416 no 2 with a special 1/4 rib three leaf safari sight. Change the front sight to a safari style with brass bead and flip up night sight. Definitely redo front sight in some form or fashion, please. I would opt for a provision for red dot sight, etc. but not scope. How about it?