Value of Ruger M77 Magnum (.458 Lott)

[Schüler Jumbo]

Correct, the muzzle is definitely not threaded.

 

[318AE]

It could be I am recalling the earlier version of Ruger M77 Magnum, with the tang safety, then later in wing safety, ultimately transitioning to the Mk2. I believe from the late 70's into the mid-late 80's was the 458 WM offering. Perhaps when they changed the safety configuration, changed the model to the MKII, they revamped caliber offerings and they re-enforced the stock in better fashion. That's about as good as my memory gets anymore.......

I think that is a very different rifle than the RSM being discussed and am doubtful that any stock wrist breaking issues on that rifle in 458 WM apply to an RSM in 458 Lott. I find myself explaining lots of things to the guys at the Cabelas gun library, once the conversation goes beyond AR15s, MSMs and the like.

 

[PCC600]

I purchased a new Ruger Safari Magnum in 458 Lott in 2003 . It cost me $2800 . It was very barrel heavy , too short in LOP and had the worst recoil pad ever . I spent another $800 on it adding a recoil reducer in the stock to get better balance , a spacer for extra length and a big fat Kickeez . I also filed the rear metal sights so it was actually able to hit something . Turned it into a very good rifle . Used it often and sold it 4 years ago for $4500 . I think that particular model of RSM were good . But certainly no muzzle break was ever offered .

 

[Hedge774]

I picked this one in 375 HH up today. Tha KS @MontanaPat!

 

[ThreeJacks]

Some Ruger literature advertising the RSM listed .458 Lott, .458 Winchester Magnum letting consumers know .458 Win could be fired out of the Lott chambering. You may have picked up on that. I have five new RSM’s and they have all been perfect right out of the factory box. I have read chambering specification questions kept Ruger from releasing the planned .404 Jeffery. The integral quarter rib, barrel band, and front sight band are quite unique. This is the integral front sight band on a RSM .416 Rigby; minimum available barrel length to cut threads for a brake.

Regarding the 404 Jeffrey, I heard that yesterday from a very knowledgeable Ruger collector. They had problems with the 404 No. 1 (very few made) and decided not to make the RSM in that caliber.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

That’s a shame regarding .404J production. The .404 would have been very welcomed in the No.1 and RSM. It’s a mystery to me what the issue was since the .404 was a dominant cartridge in Africa chambered by gunmakers.

 

[Rafiki]

Regarding the 404 Jeffrey, I heard that yesterday from a very knowledgeable Ruger collector. They had problems with the 404 No. 1 (very few made) and decided not to make the RSM in that caliber.

I have no idea what could possibly be a problem with a 404J No 1, that thing can consume about anything.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

True that.

 

[Riflecrank]

My guess: The 404 Jeffery worked fine in a Ruger No. 1.
Problem was with the C.I.P. Homologation.
Also ammo availability might not have been worked out to supply a mass market. No SAAMI homologation back then. Still none ?

Original C.I.P. homologation was dated 1984-June 14.
I do not know how whacky that was.

Revision of 2002-May 15 was still whacko:
Projectile diameter = 10.72mm = 0.4220"
Barrel bore diameter = 10.46mm = 0.4118"
Barrel groove diameter = 10.62mm = 0.4181"

Revision of 2020-April 21:
Projectile diameter = 10.72mm = 0.4220"
Barrel bore diameter = 10.46mm = 0.4118"
Barrel groove diameter = 10.77mm = 0.4240"

FINALLY, something workable !!!
Was 2002 a typo ???
2020 still shows some mighty deep rifling grooves and a mighty tight bore diameter,
and a bullet diameter 0.002" smaller than groove diameter.
Still a little whacky.

Current 0.423" bullets work well in .423" to .425" groove diameters, and more generous bore diameters by numerous barrel makers.
C.I.P twist is 420.00mm = 1:16.5", on current and previous revisions.

Probably just not worth the trouble for Sturm Ruger to sort out the
CIP/SAAMI/ mass-produced ammo issues, not catering to handloaders.
Hence no 404 Jeffery RSM, especially since they were probably losing money on every RSM they made.

 

[Riflecrank]

This thread got me interested in sorting out the misinformation of mine and others here, on both the original M77 RS/RSC/Tropical .458 WIN MAG and the M77 Mark II Magnum Rifle/RSM.

I have perused THE GUN DIGEST library for a little history on the Ruger M77 RS .458 WIN MAG to start with.
Deep dive.
I am coming up for a breath of air before continuing to follow the RSM
to the bitter end, its origin is dated below, summary to follow this start:

A GUN DIGEST date of first listing might be 2 years after Ruger announced a new model was coming.
Usually a GD year of cataloging will be what was actually being sold in the previous year.
Authors of the GD feature articles have to get their stuff in almost a year before the GD edition year.

For example, GD 1969, 23rd Ed., had a Ruger No. 1 on the cover, and John Amber's feature on the Ruger No. 1 announced by Sturm Ruger circa 1966 to 1967, selling by 1968, not listed until GD 1969.
Bill Ruger had been cogitating on a Farquharson-style single-shot rifle since about 1962.

Bill Ruger hired Jim Sullivan, formerly of Armalite, in 1964 to begin developing a bolt action rifle.
The Ruger M77 prototype was ready to be photographed for GD 1969, so it was announced in 1968, selling by 1969,
but not cataloged in GD until 1970.
So GD year will usually lag availability of the rifle model/chambering by one year, sometimes less.
GD 1969 had but one Ruger rifle listed, the "RUGER NUMBER ONE SINGLE SHOT"
"Cals. 243, 308 immediately available. 222, 22-250, 6mm, 7mm Rem. Mag. 30-06, 458 available later. Other cals. to special order." $280.00

Now to get to the GD-ing years for Ruger M77 ... Ruger integral scope bases and Ruger Rings were standard from the beginning, "Round Top" offered later, for a while ...

GD 1970:
RUGER 77 BOLT ACTION RIFLE Cals. 22-250, 6mm Rem., 243 & 308 ... $160.00
With iron sights ... $175.00
RUGER 77 MAGNUM RIFLE Cals. 284 Win., 6.5mm, 350 Rem. Mag. (Available in late 1969) Price to be announced.
(the M77 Magnum Rifle was .30-06 standard length)

GD 1971:
RUGER 77 BOLT ACTION RIFLE ... $160/$175 with sights
RUGER 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... $160.00
(An explanatory note was added:
RUGER 77 LONG ACTION ... Delivery to start July 1970.)

GD 1972:
RUGER 77 BOLT ACTION RIFLE ... $165.00 ... $179.00 with scope rings and metallic sights
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... $165.00 ... $179.00 with scope rings and metallic sights

GD 1973:
RUGER 77 BOLT ACTION RIFLE ... $165.00 ... $179.00 with scope rings and metallic sights
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... $165.00 ... $179.00 with scope rings and metallic sights
RUGER MODEL 77 ROUND TOP MAGNUM ... $165.00 equipped with open sights

GD 1974: The .458 WIN MAG's first listing.
RUGER BOLT ACTION RIFLE ... $169.50 With Ruger steel scope rings ... $183.50 With rings and open sights
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... $179.50 With rings only 300 Win. Mag. and 338 Win. Mag.
................................................... $193.50 With rings and sights 300 Win. Mag. and 338 Win. Mag.
... 458 Win. Mag. ... $246.00 With rings and sights, 24" barrel
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM ROUND TOP ... Up to 338 Win. Mag. ... $179.50 With open sights
RUGER MODEL 77 VARMINT ... $176.50

GD-ing, of the newly arrived .458 WIN MAG chambering only, follows below:

GD 1975:
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... 24" barrel ... $253.00 With rings and sights.

GD 1976:
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... 24" barrel ... $298.00 With rings and sights.

GD 1977: 77 RSC
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... 24" barrel ... $365.00 With rings and sights and Circassian walnut.
Prior to this 1976-1978 production the .458 WIN MAG was designated as M-77 RS.
With the Circassian walnut it became the M-77 RSC.

GD 1978: 77 RSC
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... 24" barrel ... $370.00 With rings and sights and Circassian walnut.

GD 1979: 77 RSC
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... 24" barrel ... $394.00 With rings and sights and Circassian walnut.

GD 1980: 77 RS
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE ... 24" barrel ... $382.00 With rings and sights.
(Price decreased and no claim of Circassian walnut.)

GD 1981:
.458 WIN MAG is listed only as a "Bbld. action, 458, with open sights" ... $330.00 !!!

GD 1982: 77 RS
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE (77RS) ... 24" barrel ... $429.50 ... With rings and open sights.
"Bbld. action, 458, with open sights" ... 357.50

GD: 1983: 77 RS
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE (77RS) ... 24" barrel ... $473.00 ... With rings and open sights.
"Bbld. action, 458, with open sights" ... $413.00

GD 1984: 77 RS
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE (77RS) ... 24" barrel ... $496.50 ... With rings and open sights.
"Bbld. action, 458, with open sights" ... $433.50

GD 1985: 77 RS ... First use of "Tropical" descriptor added to M-77 RS in GD catalog.
RUGER MODEL 77 MAGNUM RIFLE (77RS Tropical) ... 24" barrel ... $496.50 ... With rings and open sights.
"Bbld. action, 458, with open sights" ... $433.50
Price not raised from 1984 to 1985 despite fancy new adjective.

GD 1986: 77 RS Tropical now gets a separate listing from other M-77 Magnum Rifles.
RUGER MODEL 77RS TROPICAL RIFLE ... 24" barrel ... $600.00 "Weight about 8-3/4 lbs. Comes with open sights and Ruger 1" scope rings."
Big price increase (over a hundred bucks extra) for 1986 catalog, i.e. 1985 MSRP = $600.00

GD 1987:
RUGER MODEL 77RS TROPICAL RIFLE ... $600.00

GD 1988:
RUGER MODEL 77RS TROPICAL RIFLE ... $600.00

GD 1989:
RUGER MODEL 77RS TROPICAL RIFLE ... $600.00

GD 1990:
Ruger Model M-77RS Tropical Rifle ... $618.00
and
cataloged same year
RUGER M-77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE ... $1,500.00
for .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, first appearance in GD 1990 with comment:
"Introduced 1989." (The Gen-1 RSM, as I call them).
A short-action Ruger M-77 Mark II in .223 Rem. chambering was also introduced in 1989 and cataloged in GD 1990,
for price $483.00.

GD 1991:
"Ruger Model M-77RS Tropical Rifle" continues to be offered in .458 WIN MAG ... $679.75
RUGER M-77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE ... $1,550.00

GD 1992:
THE RUGER MODEL M-77RS TROPICAL RIFLE ... GONE.
Produced from about 1973 to 1990,
it always had all steel bottom metal. Circassian walnut in 1976, 1977 and 1978 production, I guess.

To be continued with RSM.

 

[Muskox]

To me they are a $1800 rifle in decent shape, and a $800 rifle for the action in rough shape.

There are enough of them that widows are walking away from at $1200-2000 that I would never pay $4000 for one.

Even a new in the box one to me, I wouldn't pay more than $2000 for.

Love them, crazy nice rifles but no thank you.

 

[Riflecrank]

My memory was faulty on what I paid for my .458 Lott RSM, a 2006 model that I found at Cabela's in early 2024. The $1,800 number was more an idea of what I might have paid, in my mind now.
Here is why I took it home in 2024: $1,399.99:

Cabela's tag is wrong on barrel length. It is 23" not 22".
Muzzle diameter is 0.750" at 23" from breech face,
measured from a rod in barrel, action cocked to get firing pin protrusion eliminated.
Those Ruger castings, heat treatings, machinings and hammer forgings are precise.
The one-piece bolt from casting and heat treatment is stronger than any bolt machined from a forging.
Resting at home:

I consider that carbon-fiber stock fitting to be an added value of at least $1,000.00.
So I got the RSM barreled action for $399.99.
For $1,399.99, I wood have bought it even if it was still in walnut, what with it being a SAAMI .458 Lott still needing re-throating with a SAAMI .458 WIN MAG reamer. Doing good has no end.

 

[DaleGribble82]

I saw one in .458 Lott sale for $4K and another in the same condition sell for a little over $2200 in the same month, both on Gunbroker. I think the value of them is what the bidders are willing to pay at this point

 

[Riflecrank]

Up for one more breath before the deep dive in THE GUN DIGEST listings for the Ruger RSM.
It is about the M77 RSC .416 Taylor:

 

[Riflecrank]

GD 1990:
RUGER M-77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H and .416 Rigby ... $1,500.00 ... Introduced in 1989.
Ruger Model M-77RS Tropical Rifle, chambered only for .458 Win. Mag. ... $618.00

GD 1991:
RUGER M-77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H and .416 Rigby ... $1,550.00
Ruger Model M-77RS Tropical Rifle, chambered only for .458 Win. Mag. ... $679.75 ... Last year cataloged in GD.
1989-1990 was probably the last of M77 RS Tropical .458 WIN MAG production, finally sold off in 1991 ?

GD 1992:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H and .416 Rigby ... $1,550.00

GD 1993:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby , .458 Win. Mag. ... $1,550.00
The mythical .458 WIN MAG "RSM" will be listed for 1993, 1994, and 1995, but none ever produced.
Note this was before the .458 Lott entered the stable for real,
so it was not just referring to being able to shoot it in the Lott.
Likewise, the 404 Jeffery was cataloged in GD 1994, 1995 and 1996 but never produced as an "RSM."

GD 1994:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, 404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby , .458 Win. Mag. ... $1,550.00

GD 1995:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, 404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby , .458 Win. Mag. ... $1,550.00

GD 1996:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, 404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby ... $1,550.00
Note the the phantom .458 WIN MAG "RSM" was finally exorcized,
but the phantom 404 Jeffery "RSM" continued to haunt GD 1996.
More amazing is that the MRSP stayed at $1,550.00 for nine years straight,
1991 -1999.

GD 1997:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby ... $1,550.00
They finally called GHOST BUSTERS on the 404 Jeffery "RSM."

GD 1998:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby ... $1,550.00

GD 1999:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby ... $1,550.00

GD 2000:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby ... $1,620.00
Price hike for the rifles sold in 1999, only $70.00.
The last time the "RSM" was actually pictured in the listings of Ruger rifles, up to this point, was in 1994,
same as was shown from the beginning in GD 1990.
Those images would represent 1989 to 1993 production.
Those First Generation "RSM" with barrel-banded sling stud embedded in fore-arm wood,
had a very heavy 24" barrel in .416 Rigby chambering.
By 1998, or earlier, the .416 Rigby RSM had the barrel-banded sling stud moved out of the wood forward of fore-end tip,
but it still had the 24"-long heavy barrel: Second Generation.
This is from my observations of both purchased and merely fondled rifles.
GD 1990-1992 listed no barrel length for the "RSM."
GD 1993-2000 listed "RSM" barrel length as 26" !!! Typo ?
GD 2001 listed RSM barrel length as 23" meaning 2000 production: Third Generation "RSM."
From GD 2001 onward, 23" was the story that GD stuck with.
By the time the .458 Lott "RSM" was listed in GD 2004 (2003 production), it had a slim, to be continued23"-long barrel:

My best stab at the years of "RSM" production based on THE GUN DIGEST:
Gen I 1989-1995 ? (first cataloged in GD 1990)
Gen II 1996-2000
Gen III 2001-2011 (last cataloged in GD 2012)

GD 2001:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby ... $1,695.00
$75.00 price hike.

GD 2002 RIFLE REVIEW by Layne Simpson: "I noticed quite a bit of wood has been trimmed
from the stock of the Model 77 Magnum in 375 H&H and 416 Rigby,
a long-awaited modification that greatly improves the handling and feel of the rifle."
That would refer to rifles produced in 2000-2001.

GD 2002:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby ... $1,695.00

GD 2003:
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby ... $1,695.00

GD 2004:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott ... $1,695.00
Rifle has a briefer catalog model name, a new chambering, and no price increase.
This would imply that the .458 Lott "RSM" was being sold in 2003.
There is finally a new picture of the "RSM" labeled "Ruger Magnum" in GD 2004,
with slim barrel and barrel band beyond the ebony tip,
and good grain flow through the grip.

GD 2005:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott ... $1,695.00

GD 2006:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott ... $1,975.00
Whopping $280.00 price increase to cover warranty work on the "AAA Premium Grade Circassian walnut"
that started cracking on the slimmer, harder kicking .458 Lotts ?

GD 2007:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 338 Lapua, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott ... $1,975.00
A new chambering, .338 Lapua Magnum, was it just another phantom that never got built ?

GD 2008:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 RIGBY, 458 Lott ... $2,200.00
The .338 Lapua Magnum must have been quickly exorcized.
Price hike: $225.00

GD 2009:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 RIGBY, 458 Lott ... $2,334.00
Price hike: $134.00

GD 2010:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 RIGBY, 458 Lott ... $2,334.00

GD 2011:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 RIGBY, 458 Lott ... $2,334.00

GD 2012:
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE, 375 H&H, 416 RIGBY, 458 Lott ... $2,334.00
Last year listed in THE GUN DIGEST.
Costs to produce versus sales revenue must have been poor business.
Price remained the same for the last four years, what the market would bear was not good enough.
Ruger finally ran out of the 2010-2011 production and the bean counters would not let them make anymore.

R.I.P. RSM.
"RSM" is slang for "Ruger Safari Magnum" but never called that in GD cataloging.
It was aka
RUGER MAGNUM RIFLE
aka
RUGER M77 MARK II MAGNUM RIFLE
killed off by the Hawkeye .375 Ruger and .416 Ruger for less than half the cost.
Nowadays we have to re-barrel those to .458 WIN MAG to get a real rifle.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Remarkable research @Riflecrank!! Thank you for posting. By chance did you come across total production of RSM’s? I’ve read only 1,000 RSM’s in the cartridge .416 Rigby were produced in total.

 

[skydiver386]

Like others have posted, I'd pass. Any rifle above 30 cal is usually a slow mover on the resale market, unless it's NIB condition, or something in high demand.

Hold off, keep searching and your dream rifle will come along soon enough.

 

[deewayne2003]

Regarding the 404 Jeffrey, I heard that yesterday from a very knowledgeable Ruger collector. They had problems with the 404 No. 1 (very few made) and decided not to make the RSM in that caliber.

I read an article on Bill Ruger and it randomly mentioned the .404J RSM fiasco; apparently they used an out of date cartridge/chamber diagram that was not compatible with modern ammo. They discovered this late in the development and it was deemed more financially responsible to abandon the caliber than to start over.

 

[Bandera]

I would put its value in the $2500 to $3000 range, based on prices of rifles that have sold lately.
At $4000 it will sit for a long time.

Some of sellers are misinformed as to the value of their rifle.
Some sellers paid to much and are trying to pass that mistake on to the next buyer.

Then there is the vortex scope issue.
Who puts a vortex stripe chicken on a DG rifle?
The reticle alone is enough to get you killed. Circles and hash marks. Excuse me Mr. Buffalo, would you please hold that charge for a second while I sort out which line on my scope to use?

 

[DaleGribble82]

I would put its value in the $2500 to $3000 range, based on prices of rifles that have sold lately.
At $4000 it will sit for a long time.

Some of sellers are misinformed as to the value of their rifle.
Some sellers paid to much and are trying to pass that mistake on to the next buyer.

Then there is the vortex scope issue.
Who puts a vortex stripe chicken on a DG rifle?
The reticle alone is enough to get you killed. Circles and hash marks. Excuse me Mr. Buffalo, would you please hold that charge for a second while I sort out which line on my scope to use?

You guys crack me up with your disdain for modern reticles. This isn’t me taking a jab or poking fun. I’m sitting at my desk currently laughing my ass off. “Vortex stripe chicken” is classic