Grown out of a compact rifle...what's next?

[Rich the Butcher]

Hi Everyone, I've been a member here for a few years and really appreciate all of the help and advice I've been given.
So here's my situation:
My son is 13, and has a Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact .308. He has since grown like a weed and is on the hunt for a standard size rifle. He seems to like the BLRs and has handled and shot a few, but the Ruger has performed flawlessly and he shoots it very well.
So what are your opinions on a standard size M77 vs BLR?
Calibre will likely be 308.
He's 5'8 now and growing every day, so this will be an investment rifle that he can use into and through adulthood, so price difference on the two is of little concern.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
RTB.

 

[new210/22]

If you want something that can grow with him (how big are you, how much more growing will he do?) I would consider something like a rem 700 with a magpul stock that can change lop and cheek weld with minimal cost or effort.

 

[guntech]

You could add a full size Boyds stock to your existing Ruger and shoot it forever.

 

[Rich the Butcher]

Common sense has no place when talking new guns!! LOL

 

[hoytcanon]

As a "do-it-all" hunting rifle, I would choose an M77 over a BLR every time... I think there are plenty of M77 options available in .308 and other standard cartridges... you could watch the EE for a couple months and come up with something good. Or check with CGN sponsor vendors like Prophet River.

 

[Butcherbill]

+1 to a full size stock for his Ruger but I’m not one to stand in the way of a new gun purchase.

 

[mike t]

^^this^^ his Ruger has performed flawlessly this far. I would be on the hunt for a fullsize stock

 

[freddyfour]

Buy a full size Ruger stock off the EE (inexpensive option) and then buy a BLR, best of both worlds. He is going to 'need' more then one rifle anyways.

 

[Rich the Butcher]

Buy a full size Ruger stock off the EE (inexpensive option) and then buy a BLR, best of both worlds. He is going to 'need' more then one rifle anyways.

My son and I like this!...my wife not so much hahaha!

Just for some education, could some of you experienced folks share some pros and cons of the M77 and BLR?
Or am I trying to compare apples to oranges?

 

[9.3mauser]

The cons of the BLR... it's fugly and don't try to take it apart... it's complicated... really.

 

[357Maximum]

The trigger.....

M77 and M77 MKII Triggers can be replaced or adjusted to provide a good trigger pull, not so much for any BLR

My first centerfire rifle I ever purchased was a .308 Belgium made BLR in 1972, followed by BLR in 243 and 358.

Then I purchased a M77 in .280. In the next few years I sold all the BLR adding a M77 358 and a Ruger 1A to my collection.

I'd buy a full size stock or just add a limbsaver slip on pad.

Then purchase another rifle to compliment not duplicate the .308

357

 

[Rifleman87]

As a lover of short handy rifles and one who detests long unwieldy rifles (not that BLR’s are long, 40” is my personal max for a hunting rifle overall length), I agree with the others who have mentioned getting a full sized stock for the Ruger. The M77 is a very robust and reliable action, plus he is likely very familiar with the controls and ergonomics of it, why mess with that?

As others have mentioned you have more options for customization with the Ruger, Brownings are pretty much you buy them and shoot them the way they are (not that they’re bad though).

 

[blasted_saber]

The BLR is a hideous abomination of a rifle.

And I love Rugers.

 

[Rifleman87]

Also, Ruger has a lifetime warranty on their rifles, Browning is one year. That might say something.

I love both brands though, I think my x bolts are top notch.

 

[MuthaFunk]

My kids love the Ruger PC9 with Red dot. So do I for that matter!!!!! One of the most fun guns I own next to my AR15.



The recoil is manageable for a 60lb kid. The only down side is it’s too heavy to shoot free hand for them so it must be bench rested in some way for them to enjoy it.

 

[5.45]

Have you considered an alloy chassis (e.g. MDT) + telescopic buttstock?
The aesthetics is like totally different, but he might actually like it.
Can’t beat the adjustability: my daughter and I can use the same rifle, it only takes a couple of clicks to switch the LOP.

 

[nowarningshot]

What are the options.....ohh crop. ....hide the visa.

 

[TheTooner]

My son and I like this!...my wife not so much hahaha!

Just for some education, could some of you experienced folks share some pros and cons of the M77 and BLR?
Or am I trying to compare apples to oranges?

Get the BLR in .243Win and tell her its recoil will be easier for her when she comes out with you.

 

[MRP]

My boy got the same rifle at age 9, now 23, 5'11" ish. Won't part with it, Mom and I borrow it some times. May get a another one but the compact stays.

 

[WeakKnee]

My son started with the same Ruger Compact but in 260, as he grew I found a replacement recoil pad that added about 1/2 an inch to the stock length. By his 3 rd year hunting he was shooting my full size Winchester M70 with reduced recoil 165gr handloads. All worked out well. WK