My Bicentennial Ruger M77 7mm RM I bought new in 1976 at Doc's Gun Barn in Pocatello ID. They had six of them new in boxes, and let me look at all of them to pick out the one with the wood I liked the best, $175. Scoped it with a 4-12x Redfield, $130.
It's been with me on many horseback trips in a half dozen wilderness areas, and accounted for 20 elk, more deer and antelope than I can remember, and a mountain goat.
The rifle has outlived several scopes on the rugged hunts it's been on, and is a bit worn around the edges. But the memories are worth it.
Although I gave it a graceful retirement to a backup role in favor of a SS and synthetic 300WM elk rifle some years ago, it will be the last gun I ever want to get rid of.
