Yes Portee, I think the OT board is fair for anything from recipes to politics and off colour jokes!

I have M77s in 22-250, 270 and .338 (all older style, top tang safety is the best going IMO). When I was shopping for my .458, I wanted an older M77, but they were tough to get and expensive, got a CZ 550 instead, express sights and a quick detatch 1.5-5x Leupold. I wish I'd have loaned it to Proto b4 the lemmings overwhelmed him. Going to SHOT show is an eye opener, and is neat to see name tags at the Ruger booth with "Ruger being the last name. I like when family roots are preserved. Hornady too.

Couple more things about RGR. Institutions own 75% of stock (good). The bad thing is... it ain't sexy. I think it is a quality long term investment (anyone else read Peter Lynch?), but a 10 bagger... probably not. Haven't decided whether to buy or not, but will have to sell something first if I do.

Someone asked about hunting kill %. Don't really know, but when we did a survey in our area and found about 140 elk, we got 40 bow and 20 rifle tags per yr. I don't know if bears would allow for the same #'s based on reproduction or not. Keep in mind the lower success on bow hunting. I have no doubt that polar bear #'s are currently healthy, but I bet global warming (I am a believer) will be very tough on them. Have never encountered one in the wild, but on my last caribou hunt a few yrs ago, the group b4 us had to shoot one in camp. There was another one in the area, but we never saw it. Good thing, cuz on the last night I lost conciousness outside my cabin and came to thankfully alone. (I will note that I believe my illness was due to an allergy I have long had and not Ripple, whiskey or other elixirs. I am sure most will think that is pure bunk and that I was drunk!) Have friends who have paid the tens of thousands to hunt the white bear, and they said it was a great adventure and that a dead seal is carried on the sled, the bears usually finding you before you find them. If I had the money, I don't think I would go on that hunt though. They are fascinating animals, as they simply regard anything moving as a meal. The group that shot the bear had downed a 'bou, and one swam across a small lake, charged, picked up the 'bou whole and walked off! The guide was unarmed (a stupid MB law) and the elderly hunters had muzzle-loaders, one having been fired. Coulda been a tragedy!

Cheers all!