2 Ruger M77 questions for ruger experts!

J

JasonYuke

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First off ,
1) Why does ruger not free float the barrels of their rifles, they are one of the few left that seems to have contact throughout the stock and barrel there must be an issue i dont understand, because most cold hammer forged barrels shoot better free floated .

2) Has anyone had positive result by free floating the barrel, from the front block to the end, requires much material removal.

Thank you
 
Well - Heres my opinion FWIW - The canted front action screw is capable of putting substantial bending moment on the action and stock, giving the action the potential to rock back and forth. By placing support at the barrel tip this is alleviated.
When I rebedded my M77, I eliminated the forestock pressure point, and placed some bedding support immediately ahead of the action screw. (In my case, the forearm of the stock had warped, throwing groups off - a fairly common problem.)
Having said that, many folks report improved accuracy simply by removing the forestock pressure point.
 
My one experience with changing the bedding on a M77 was when I replaced the original stock with a Hogue Overmolded synthetic. The barrel was freefloating with the Hogue installed and accuracy suffered, going from around 1 1/4 MOA to around 2 1/4 MOA. A small rubber gasket at the tip of the fore-end was inserted in an attempt to duplicate the original pressure point and accuracy returned to where it was before I "improved" the gun.:redface:

A lot of my improvements follow that pattern.

John
 
I free floated the barrel on my tang M77 but for the first couple inches forward of the recoil lug when I bedded the action and realized a measurable improvement in accuracy. Whether the bulk of the improvement came from the action bedding or the barrel floating I can't say. More importantly however it stopped the shifting of point of impact with the change of seasons.

Cheers
 
There are some rifles that shoot better with a consistent pressure on the barrel.

My thought has always been to go ahead and free float it though. You can always go back and shim the barrel channel after it you must and then you will be starting from scratch and be able to build it up slowly. Careful torquing of the action screws can also come into play.
 
A few years back I bought a used M77 (1978 model) that had been free floated. I can't compare prior accuracy but every handload with different bullets and powders I have fired through it gets 1" at 100m (without working up an accurate load)....so I can't imagine freefloating has hurt the accuracy :)
Cheers
 
Gatehouse said:
Are you having some difficulty with a RUger shooting well?
Click to expand...


Depends on what you call acceptable accuracy!

A while back I bought a new hawkeye in a 300 win mag.*I liked the rifle, and with very limited shooting with this rifle I was able to get 1.5 to 2 inches with hunting bullets. I tried a few 165s (not my favorite) but wanted to se if that would tighten up and the results were worse!. I have not honestly give it the oppertunity to perform, and it only has aboyt 30-40 rounds down the pipe. I seems to like again limited experience with this one,,,, 180s over the 165s but I only tried one powder my old trusty RL-22.

I tried a group of 5 of my target rifle loads down it the other day to see if match bullets would shoot better but the 175s shot still in the 1.5-2s for 3 shot area. but it would drop a shot to the right than back in the same hole and than back to the right. (not the scope) I changed out the VXIII after the first range day and than put my Zeiss on it.. with the same results its drifting as it heats i think is the problem but again could be the wrong load for the gun.

I pulled it apart really for the first time, the other night and thats why I ask if free floating and bedding may help. But really I need a few more range events with the gun before I can say ya or no. Need to try 4831 and 4350 as well and try a higher and lower load charge with RL-22, as I say I was just going by my old standby..

I do have 2 othe ruger M-77s II in varmint rifles they shoot well, but have the lam-free floating stocks.

I was ready to get the dremal and the accu-glass out based on what I observed when I took the rifle out of the stock lots of contact!!!!

If anyone has a load suggestion for the Hawkeye in a 300 win mag, please feel free to comment, because my remington sendaro loads do not appear to be a winner for it.

Yes lol! I I want to cheet on load development !!

Best Regards
 
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I Have An M77 In 3006 All Weather .i Gave It The Barrel Float Job And It Shoots Worse Than With Pressure On The Barrel .some Barrels Need Pressure To Stabilize And Make Them Consistant.my Is Better With Pressure ,i Fiberglassed The Front Pressure Band Back In And It Is Back To A 1inch Gun Instead Of A 2+inch With The Float.same Ammo!your Rugers Could React Different But I Am Not Messing With Mine Anymore Cause Its Shooting Good.
 
I plan to pillar and glass bed my Ruger 77 (35 Whelen, tang safety). I currently am only shooting Rem factory loads 200/250gr. It groups very nicely into 1-1 1/2 inches. Trigger pull is 3lbs, factory walnut stock. Groups do seem to move a bit dependent on the weather.
Right now I am undecided WRT doing this work on the current stock or order a new one.
Anyway, have you considered pillar bedding? I have had excellent results doing this on other rifles over the years.
 
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