I had an M77 Mark II and I think they are decent rifle. Good accuracy, nice design, well finished, integral scope bases, simple drop plate box magazine. I was hemming and hawing about buying it, as I'd read some reports on the internet of poor accuracy, but mine turned out to be a decent shooter with common factory ammo. My Uncle, who does a lot of hunting, has one as well and has had it for decades, so I assume he likes it.
Ruger M77 Thoughts? Opinions!
- Thread starter dh002052
- Start date
- Location
- Peace River, Alberta
Ruger rifles have always been a working mans gun. I have had a few over the years and still have a heavy barrel tang safety. It shoots ok, about 5/8" at 100 with hand loads but most of their rifles have been known to be 1-1.5" rifles over the years. They outsourced their barrels for a few years and I believe those years gave them the crappy accuracy reputation that they still have. Their barrels as far as I know are back in house production.
I have always liked their line of firearms. If ultimate accuracy is your goal, then grab something else but if you are needing a hunting rifle, go ahead and give it a try.
Greg
I have always liked their line of firearms. If ultimate accuracy is your goal, then grab something else but if you are needing a hunting rifle, go ahead and give it a try.
Greg
Not to get into a Ruger verus Remington thread, but there are many reasons why the 700 is 'hot rodded and modified' and why it it 'the small block chevy of the firearms world'.
It's rigid design of the 700, the very fast lock time, an excellent trigger, and the most secure extractor/bolt nose/barrel fit of any 2 lug bolt action made and the fact that starting in 1962 it has earned a superb reputation for accuracy. It ends up being cool and the best of the mass produced...
LOL, an oft forgotten standard. - dan
I had a 300 Win M77 SS Mkll that was very accurate! I put a Bell & Carlson stock on it, bed the action/floated the barrel and was very happy with it...right up until I moved the 3 position safety from full safe to the bolt-turnable (middle position) and the rifle went off. Fortunately good firearm etiquette kept all with me without any leaks. I took it to the smith on the corner of Hwy 33& 97 to be repaired. He said he was confident that the rifle wouldn't repeat this fault but couldn't guarantee it so I sold the rifle with this disclosure.
I had an older (tang safety) heavy barrel M77 in .308 that shot great groups with handloads. I did eventually sell it though...not sure why. I think I just wanted to try something new. I've since replaced it with a Remington 700 and a custom build.
I used to know a fellow who was buying hay off me who had a competitive long range rig built on a tang-safety Ruger 77 action. I believe he was doing some discipline of 1000 yard shooting. He knew his stuff for sure and I don't doubt he had the rig but I never saw it. He was going down to Arizona every winter to shoot.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
I have a canoe-paddled stainless M77 MKII in 7.62x39. With a trigger job it can shoot sub MOA with handloads. It's still just a hunting rifle and love it so.
Like the others, the Rem 700's get hot-rodded and they perform superbly.
Getting factory parts for Rugers are difficult unless you send the gun back for warranty/repairs. That in itself makes it a bad choice to modify if you need an original part again.
Like the others, the Rem 700's get hot-rodded and they perform superbly.
Getting factory parts for Rugers are difficult unless you send the gun back for warranty/repairs. That in itself makes it a bad choice to modify if you need an original part again.
I bought a Ruger heavy barrel .308 many years ago and it has always preformed flawlessly for me. It's the older one with the walnut stock and tang safety. With my handloads, I can put one big hole the size of a dime at 100 yds (5 rnd grp). I took it to the longer ranges and I can shoot 2" groups at 200 yds and 3" groups at 300 yds. It's nailed a lot of deer for me over the years, and I have no complaint at all. That said, if I was into long range precision shooting, I'd be looking for something else as I don't think the Ruger rifles are really made for that discipline. But as a hunting rifle? Absolutely excellent for me.
These should be piller bedded and floated, triggers do need some adjustments and the screw just in front of the trigger under the mag hatch latch should be chucked.. It pulls the center of the action down (which isn't good!) Mines being over hauled by Sam Adams best long range precision rifle smith in the east far as I'm concerned.
The issue with the barrels is crappy quality control a lot of companies are the same, you may think you bought a .308 but check the barrel you'll find anything from .308 to .310, .309 you can work with but anything over is useless. This goes for any factory made rifles. Also lapping the lugs truing on bolt faces etc anything that will off set your harmonics, also I noticed with the bipod rail on the ruger mk1 vt the screws they set in rather sloppy, sometimes they protrud into the barrel channel and a little prick of a screw point poking the bottom of the barrel will totally screw you up.
