Outdoor Canada’s gun guy appraises more of your vintage firearms—and tells it like it is

COLLECTOR’S CORNER

The Ruger 77 has been a popular hunting rifle since 1968, with the earlier tang-safety models now becoming collectible. They are also practical sporting rifles. Chambered in .30-06 cartridge, the 77 pictured here was made around 1974. It is what’s known as a “round top” model, with the receiver drilled and tapped for scope bases, a feature that was less popular than Ruger’s integral bases. It did, however, permit the use of other makes of bases and rings, such as the Conetrol brand used here; the scope is a steel-tube Weaver K4 from the same era.

This rifle is in approximately 98 per cent of its original condition, making it worth between $550 and $750. The scope, bases and rings would likely add another $200. Relatively few of these firearms were chambered for the 6.5 and .350 Rem. Magnums, or the .284 and .358 Win. cartridges—those chamberings can double the value of rifles with the more common cartridges.