Ruger M77 accuracy and range report

roseau river rat

roseau river rat

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I recently purchased an early eighties Ruger M77 in .270 from an older gentleman down the street who is downsizing some of his rifles because he doesnt shoot anymore.The rifle came with a Weaver Challenger 3x9 mounted in the Ruger factory rings that came as standard equipment back then a cheap scope but it was on there so why mess with it.
I got it for a price that i just couldnt pass on and finaly got it out to the range today to see how it shoots.After reading some less than flatering reviews for them online i wasnt holding my breath as to how accurate it would be but as i plan on using it as a hunting rifle i figured that anything in a 4 inch circle at 100 yards would be good enough well much to my surprise this rifle turned out to be a near sub MOA rifle...YES..!!!...
Loaded with 57 grains of H4831 behind 140 grain Hornady boattails " a load that should be more than adequate for deer or moose" and firing from the comfort of a lead sled i am very happy i picked up this rifle.
The previous owner said this Ruger hasnt been fired in over 25 years and has seen about 2 boxes of factory ammo through it lifetime!
the first few shots were on the paper and once dialed in and the barrel warmed a litlle they were nicely tucked into a 1.5 inch group.
The trigger is a little heavy and i may try to lighten it up a bit "this may account for my group size as well" but based on my initial range trip im confident i could hit a deer at 200 plus yards and really thats all im after.
Any comments from other Ruger tang safety owners out there?


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I just bought my son a 708 compact. It came with horny 139 gr gmx ammo that shot into consistant 1" groups off a bipod. It has a horrible trigger. After I get it bedded, floated and fix the trigger it should be a shooter.
 
Good enough for hunting but with tailored handloads should put 3 in an inch or less .A trigger job will help as well as glass bedding......Harold
 
You won't regret the Purchase !

... I've also got one... Bought used, and love it ! The only detractor, and I don't Hunt, but tend to shoot a fair number of rounds,at one sitting, punching the Elusive Paper Target. The only detractor, is that I've found the Tang Safety tends to abrade the web of the thumb. If I were Hunting, the Tang Safety would be great and preferable to other locations for the safety. ....... It's definitely Accurate ! ..... Mine shoots just on the 1" groups, and I rather think,with a more skilled shooter,would do even better. ;) ...... David K
 
I've had my .308 M77 with the heavy profile barrel for many years now, and I've put 4 shots into one dime-sized group at 100 M. on a good day. It shoots consistent 3/4" to 1" groups with almost any good quality ammunition I've fed it. Now I load my own and if the group is bigger than 1-1/4" at 100 yds, I'm disappointed with myself. Mine has the adjustable trigger. If you have the manual, you may wish to check if yours does also. I've put lots of deer on the table with this rifle, and it's never let me down.
 
Yah it has the adjustable trigger but turning the screw on the underside of the trigger doesn't seem to have any noticeable effect so I may have to mess with the sear engagement screw, thing is I hate to take the action out of the stock if I don't have to just because it may throw the point of aim off once put back together.
The loads I was using were hand loads so I havent compared to factory ammo yet.
 
Love mine also. I have a Mark II in 30 06. Bought it new the year before the hawkeye model came out so unfortunately I dont have the adjustable trigger. Finally plan on getting the trigger replaced this year, and since it also shoots so well I should probably get it bedded too. Plan on having this gun for a lifetime!

Its also around an MOA gun too

Yak
 
I have a Mark II in 223 and it's an excellent rifle. I was actually worried a bit when I bought it, because I'd read a number of nasty internet postings about Ruger inaccuracy. I proceeded because my uncle owns one in 223, probably a much older one, and has great sucess hunting with it. He's made a lot of long shots on varmints with his. Good to read more positive reviews.
 
Rugers are bad they should be band from use:


I have:
Ruger tang safety 257 Roberts
Ruger tang safety 280 Remington
Ruger tang safety 338-06
Ruger M77/17 Mach 2
HMMMMMMMM maybe do I like the Rugers :D
 
I have the exact same rifle in .280 rem, although mine is not nearly as pretty due to the fact that until the fall of 2010 it has been my main go to hunting rig. I had the action glass bedded and the trigger done years ago. It's a honest 3/4" shooter with many different loads. It's not super picky about bullets, it shoots most brands and weights pretty well, some extremly well.
I have killed everything from gophers to moose with it. The old girl doesn't get much use anymore since I bought my Cooper .280AI but I'll never sell it.Best part is I bought used in 95...paid 400 bucks for it.
 
my youngest son has 2 M77 Mark II's, both stainless and came in the canoe paddle stocks, both are now in awesome walnut stocks and are unbelievably accurate with quality factory ammo. one is in 260 Rem and the other is in 270 Win.
 
woodlotowner said:
I have yet to hear from an actual owner first hand that their Ruger 77, or any Ruger for that matter (other than the Mini) isn't an MOA rifle. I own a couple and they are extremely accurate. It would be nice to bust a myth here. :)
Click to expand...

Here is an actual owner who owned a 77 in 243, the older model with a tang safety.
It had hunting accuracy, like 1.5 to 2 inch five shot groups at 100 yards, but never made the 1 MOA.
I tried every normal bullet weight and several types of powder.
Had more than one good scope on it.
I had the trigger worked on, made light and crisp.
Had the rifle bedded and rebedded. Tried floating barrel, and pressure under tip.
When I made inquiries about it I was told that Ruger farmed out the barrels on their early models. Some barrels were good, some were not good.
I rate mine in the second catagory.
 
H4831 said:
Here is an actual owner who owned a 77 in 243, the older model with a tang safety.
It had hunting accuracy, like 1.5 to 2 inch five shot groups at 100 yards, but never made the 1 MOA.
I tried every normal bullet weight and several types of powder.
Had more than one good scope on it.
I had the trigger worked on, made light and crisp.
Had the rifle bedded and rebedded. Tried floating barrel, and pressure under tip.
When I made inquiries about it I was told that Ruger farmed out the barrels on their early models. Some barrels were good, some were not good.
I rate mine in the second catagory.
Click to expand...

I don't think 1.5 - 2" can be considered poor accuracy by any means. that makes it a 250-300 yard deer rifle which is about the effective range of the 243 anyway. However if I bought a new one (which I plan on) I would hope for MOA accuracy. Most average hunters would have trouble putting 5 into 2" anyway.
 
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