Scored on a m77 Hawkeye in 375

[meatmachineman]

Despite my better judgement telling me to not go to a gun show less than 1 week after the election, my son and I went anyway. We started on one end of the expo hall and were on the next to last row on the other end of the hall with nothing but a few AR mags to show for our efforts when we came upon a table. My son says, "Dad! Look! A 375!" Disheartened by the usual gun show overpricing and my sons remarkable ability to completely look right past pricetags, I grudgingly looked down and there... right before me... was a blued Ruger m77 Hawkeye in 375 Ruger, sitting in a walnut stock, all on top of the original box. I did a double take... $500!!! I asked the fella at the table and he said it hasn't been fired, just bought a few years back, limbsaver installed and then it just sat in the safe, and appeared to be the case. Seemings how this appears to be the same animal as the African, just predated a little, I just couldn't pass it up. Although I'm glad to have scored it, I now have to get another toy or two sold to get a piece of glass on top of it. For a 416, I was thinking of a low power variable, but in a 375 I figure a 3-9 would be fine. With Cabelas having the conquest at 299 currently, I'm thinking that might be a decent option.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Very nice pick-up! I too was afraid of checking out the local gun show and decided to cut up all the trees I've lost from the storms. I think you had the better day...

 

[DrMike]

That is a great snag. Congratulations.

 

[Anonymous]

You'll like the .375 Ruger. Is yours the African with open sights or a plain barreled 77?

 

[gerry]

That is an excellent find and $500 is a very good price for it, a 3-9 Conquest would be a good scope to put on it since the 375 can reach out a ways. The addition of a Limsaver is a good idea, the factory pad is a joke. The 260 gr AccuBond is an excellent all around bullet and for powders any of the 4350's, Big Game and RL 15 among others are ideal for the 375 Ruger. Congrats on on snagging a 375 Ruger.

 

[meatmachineman]

I believe it may predate the African. As best as I can tell, it was made in 07 which I think was the introduction year of the 375Ruger... and I say that with a huge "I think." For all intents and purposes, it is the African, just not designated as such. I am going to take a few pics of it in a few minutes. I'll have em posted a little later.

 

[Anonymous]

It may very well be an African. Although called that in the marketing literature- none of my Alaskans were marked as such on either the box or the rifle.

Which kinda disappointed me a litte. Regardless, the rifle won't disappoint.

 

[gerry]

My SS/Laminate is also just marked as a Hawkeye. Mine is an earlier model as well with the front swivel stud on the stock, it seems like they have now gone to a barrel band on more recent runs.

 

[JD338]

Nice find, congratulations on your new 375 Ruger.

JD338

 

[meatmachineman]

Sounds like this is an African based on what you guys are telling me. Simply marked as M77 Hawkeye... mentions African neither on the gun nor box, but everything seems to indicate African....

 

[gerry]

Definitely an African, as far as I know they don't put a crossbolt in the stocks of any lesser round. Nice looking gun you got there (and pooch )

 

[Anonymous]

NIce find for $500! Definitely an African.

I've picked up a couple of Alaskans for about that....one unfired, the other hunted to death but likely less than 40 down the tube.

Be aware that some of the early Africans were notorious for splitting stocks.

 

[russ808]

A 2x10 Minox would look good on that too.
Russ

 

[DrMike]

It is definitely a handsome rifle. Hodgeman is right--there were some issues with stocks splitting on these rifles. Keep an eye peeled for cracking behind the recoil lug. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up that rifle were the option given to me.

 

[meatmachineman]

The pooch is Ben (Benelli). He's great household dog... the duck dog I was hoping he'd be didn't pan out so well, though. He's OK with gunshots but struggles with fetch and is deathly afraid of water . Our other pooch, Remi (yeah, you guessed it, Remington) is great with fetch, very light of foot for brush and really doesn't mind water. Unfortunately she'll pee herself and hide with any gun shot. :roll:

Does anyone know if these came bedded from the factory? I took the action out of the stock. It appears to be bedded around the crossbolt/recoil lug area (although for how stumpy that lug is, I have concerns about it's effectiveness) and under the chamber area. It appears to have been done by someone whose done bedding before. Which leads me to another question... I am rather concerned about stock splitting. I've read varying acounts as to the effectiveness of pillar bedding in preventing splits... everything from it eliminates them to it causes them. I've done pillars before on an m70 featherweight, but it was not for recoil concerns. Would installing pillars be a worthwhile venture on this stock?