Ruger M77 accuracy and range report
- Thread starter roseau river rat
- Start date
blacksheep
Member
I had a m77 25-06 that was my most accurate rifle I owned for years. I had a 270 ultra light that shot all over the place. Then i had a m77 300 win mag that shot 1.5 inch groups all the time handloaded or not.
When the hawkeye stainless came out a few years back, I had to have one in 308 winchester. This was the least accurate rifle I've ever seen. I ordered it with a brand new Leupold 3-9 vari x 2. I tried 3 diferent types of factory loads that wouldn't shoot. bought a pound of varget and burned the whole pound over 2 weeks shooting many different loads. I couldn't even get 168 gr. hpbt match bullets to shoot. I put a different scope on, checked the rings, checked all the action screws. I tried a business card between the barrel and stock. Finally backcountry took it back and shot it. They said it looked like the target was shot with buckshot.They were awesome about it and sent me a brand new one so I wouldn't have to deal with ruger warranty.
Sadly, I fired two three shot groups with the new one using 168 hpbt loads. Groups were 2 inch. I sold this second rifle and haven't bought a ruger since. I shot some 3/4 inch goups with my 257 weatherby, and 1 inch groups with my 300 wsm the same days as I was range testing that first 308. It was not my shooting!
When the hawkeye stainless came out a few years back, I had to have one in 308 winchester. This was the least accurate rifle I've ever seen. I ordered it with a brand new Leupold 3-9 vari x 2. I tried 3 diferent types of factory loads that wouldn't shoot. bought a pound of varget and burned the whole pound over 2 weeks shooting many different loads. I couldn't even get 168 gr. hpbt match bullets to shoot. I put a different scope on, checked the rings, checked all the action screws. I tried a business card between the barrel and stock. Finally backcountry took it back and shot it. They said it looked like the target was shot with buckshot.They were awesome about it and sent me a brand new one so I wouldn't have to deal with ruger warranty.
Sadly, I fired two three shot groups with the new one using 168 hpbt loads. Groups were 2 inch. I sold this second rifle and haven't bought a ruger since. I shot some 3/4 inch goups with my 257 weatherby, and 1 inch groups with my 300 wsm the same days as I was range testing that first 308. It was not my shooting!
I had a M77 with a tang safety in.270 Win and mounted a 2-7x33mm Leupold scope on it.
I also replaced the factory trigger with a Timney trigger group.
The gun gave me sub MOA groups with a couple of sweetheart handloads and dropped a couple of nice bucks in the Bancroft area for me.
I sold it to my nephew for a smile and about as much as I paid for the scope and he's taken deer and a couple of moose with it.
He's not a hand loader and uses the 150 grain Core-Lokts almost exclusively and the deer I saw looked quite dead.
This rifle is a 8.0 on a scale of 0-10 and would have made 9.0 except that it came with a terrible trigger as did most Ruger rifles from that era.
I also replaced the factory trigger with a Timney trigger group.
The gun gave me sub MOA groups with a couple of sweetheart handloads and dropped a couple of nice bucks in the Bancroft area for me.
I sold it to my nephew for a smile and about as much as I paid for the scope and he's taken deer and a couple of moose with it.
He's not a hand loader and uses the 150 grain Core-Lokts almost exclusively and the deer I saw looked quite dead.
This rifle is a 8.0 on a scale of 0-10 and would have made 9.0 except that it came with a terrible trigger as did most Ruger rifles from that era.
I have two early 70s M-77s.
One in a .250 that is a sweet little gun that shoots an average of 1-1 1/2" after bedding & trigger adjustment. Very bullet particular gun, shoots less than 1" regularly but only with 87gn Sierra's.
One in a 7x57, that was like throwing a handfull of gravel at the target with every bullet except very long RN bullets which it would get in the 1-1/2" range. Bedding & trigger adjustment helped not a bit. Then I discovered the chamber was reamered so loose (as in mil spec) I'm surprised the bullet didn't come out the reciever end occasionally
Had the barrel cut back one thread & a 280 reamer run in it. It was an instant good shooter Now average groups run about an 1"... it was better (lots of groups in 1/2-3/4 range) with a more powerful scope but it now has a 1.5x5 Burris & that's all I can do.
All in all I really like my early Rugers, smooth action & they just fit me
They could be better, would be nice to have detach mags.
The long action you can open the bolt with the saftey on, yet the short action you can't
One in a .250 that is a sweet little gun that shoots an average of 1-1 1/2" after bedding & trigger adjustment. Very bullet particular gun, shoots less than 1" regularly but only with 87gn Sierra's.
One in a 7x57, that was like throwing a handfull of gravel at the target with every bullet except very long RN bullets which it would get in the 1-1/2" range. Bedding & trigger adjustment helped not a bit. Then I discovered the chamber was reamered so loose (as in mil spec) I'm surprised the bullet didn't come out the reciever end occasionally
Had the barrel cut back one thread & a 280 reamer run in it. It was an instant good shooter Now average groups run about an 1"... it was better (lots of groups in 1/2-3/4 range) with a more powerful scope but it now has a 1.5x5 Burris & that's all I can do.All in all I really like my early Rugers, smooth action & they just fit me
They could be better, would be nice to have detach mags.
The long action you can open the bolt with the saftey on, yet the short action you can't
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
The trigger on that gun is user adjustable, an allen wrench is all that is needed. Turn the gun over and look closely at the trigger, you will see a small screw.
Thats a real nice rifle there. Great shape and period correct scope really holds the nostalgia.
I have the exact gun and it likes 130 TSX over IMR 4350. It shoots to under an inch as well. Very nice balance to the rifle given it has a thinner barrel.
Thanks for the post
I have the exact gun and it likes 130 TSX over IMR 4350. It shoots to under an inch as well. Very nice balance to the rifle given it has a thinner barrel.
Thanks for the post
I've had several Ruger 77s.
A .243 and a 6mm Remington - both tang safeties. Both are/were sub 1 MOA. I also have a 300 win. mag Mark II M77 - it is also a 1 MOA. All are/were great rifles. All had/have fixed 4x scopes (Leupold or Tasco). I still have the 6mm and .300 win. mag.
A .243 and a 6mm Remington - both tang safeties. Both are/were sub 1 MOA. I also have a 300 win. mag Mark II M77 - it is also a 1 MOA. All are/were great rifles. All had/have fixed 4x scopes (Leupold or Tasco). I still have the 6mm and .300 win. mag.
I have a 77mkII leftie stainless in 30-06 and as long as I load Accubonds I get easy 2in groups at 200m. A tad on the heavy side but have had the trigger done by Bits of Pieces here and have it down to 3lbs. Its my main hunter. Being a leftie if I had not found the one I have now I would be looking for a tang safety.
