School me on the M77

coyoteking

coyoteking

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It’s time I get myself a good dedicated deer rifle, blue steel and walnut, and I really liked the few M77’s I’ve shouldered and shot. I’ll be looking specifically for a 280AI on the used market, as my collection is severely lacking between the .257 and .30 calibers.

I recall some debate about wing vs tang safety. I prefer tang safeties myself but is there any other reason why a wing safety on the 77 is more desirable?

I’ve read that the barrels of some 77’s made in the late 80’s and early 90’s were less than accurate. Is there a specific range of serial #’s I should avoid?

If the 280AI chambering is unavailable I’m not opposed to having the chamber reamed or even swapping out the barrel.

Any and all advice is appreciated, as well as links to any good articles on the subject.
 
The original version of the Remington mountain rifle is worth taking a look at.
Walnut and blued,compact nice rifles.
Find a nice 280 and chamber it to the Ackley version.
Just got mine finished.
 
Tang safety Rugers haven't been made for a very long time. The tang safety models have their fan base. I far prefer the later Ruger versions and would never buy another tang safety Ruger.
 
Gatehouse said:
Tang safety Rugers haven't been made for a very long time. The tang safety models have their fan base. I far prefer the later Ruger versions and would never buy another tang safety Ruger.
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You just don’t care for tang safeties or is there something wrong with tang-safety Rugers?
 
I have had a couple M77s and still have a beauty limited edition in 358 Winchester. Beautiful Blued & Walnut. I love it. Slim, light, Rugged action, internal magazine (never lose a magazine again!). Accurate as heck! I like the integral scope mounts; although I do upgrade the Ruger rings to something better. I really prefer the wing safety (and the triggers on the more recent models). I like the wing as it is big, 3-position, mechanical, metal and easy to see and operate. It is not my only bolt gun, but when its time to hit the deer wood old-school style nothing is better. Here she is......
C2r4rl9.jpg
 
Triggers are ok on the tang models, replacements require a tiny bit of stock work. I’ve had a 308 I couldn’t get under 2.5 moa. Had another 30-06 that shot lights out. The old red recoil pad may as well be steel. Stock shape doesn’t agree with me, kicks harder than it should is a bit clubby. I prefer the newer mkii and Hawkeye after some trigger work, still have a 375.
 
coyoteking said:
It’s time I get myself a good dedicated deer rifle, blue steel and walnut, and I really liked the few M77’s I’ve shouldered and shot. I’ll be looking specifically for a 280AI on the used market, as my collection is severely lacking between the .257 and .30 calibers.

I recall some debate about wing vs tang safety. I prefer tang safeties myself but is there any other reason why a wing safety on the 77 is more desirable?

I’ve read that the barrels of some 77’s made in the late 80’s and early 90’s were less than accurate. Is there a specific range of serial #’s I should avoid?

If the 280AI chambering is unavailable I’m not opposed to having the chamber reamed or even swapping out the barrel.

Any and all advice is appreciated, as well as links to any good articles on the subject.
Click to expand...

I have three Ruger M77's,a compact .243Win.tang safety,Stainless Synthetic .270Win and RSI 30-06Sprg both wing safety. IMO,there isn't another rifle in the price point that delivers deadly accuracy,good looks,great build and quality with a wide variety of calibers like Ruger M77 Hawkeye series rifles.
 
I have had well over a hundred Ruger M77's over the years... all versions and most configurations... my preference is the Mark II. Ruger was a well oiled machine with regard to fit and finish from 1995 through 2008... I prefer the 3-Position safety to the tang safety, and although some Mark II triggers can be a little on the heavy side (not all), they are easy to work on and get down to a very clean-breaking, light pull. In the late 1990's and early 2000's, Ruger did some very interesting configurations. The M77 rifle is a well made, solid workhorse type of rifle... very dependable, accurate and the ergonomics work well for a wide range of shooters... they fit me perfectly.
 
what i really like about the m77 / hawkeye is the stock they fit me as well and no cheeks and it is a workhorse not that much to talk but still there when needed.
 
3IbSO2ql.jpg

They built pushfeed Ruger MK2’s early on, serial suffix 780. Easy to convert to a CRF with a milling machine if you feel it’s necessary
 
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coyoteking said:
Ahh, gotcha. I didn’t know the 77 even came in a push feed, I’ll have to do some more reading on it. Thank you.
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The tang safety and some early MKII were push feed. They still have the big claw extractor but yes, they are push feed.
 
Buckmastr said:
3IbSO2ql.jpg

They built pushfeed Ruger MK2’s early on, serial suffix 780. Easy to convert to a CRF with a milling machine if you feel it’s necessary
Click to expand...
Yep, got one of those early MKII as well. Didn’t realized it was a push feed for a few years until the subject came up and made me pull it out of the safe and have a look. I’ll be darn!! Lol

IMG_6233_zpsace9846c.jpg


.30-06 (now rebarelled to .35 Whelen) MKII on the left and .375 Ruger Hawkeye on the right.
 
bcsteve said:
Yep, got one of those early MKII as well. Didn’t realized it was a push feed for a few years until the subject came up and made me pull it out of the safe and have a look. I’ll be darn!! Lol

IMG_6233_zpsace9846c.jpg
Click to expand...

Yep, Feeds so well it can't be a pushfeed. Well it is.
 
bcsteve said:
The tang safety and some early MKII were push feed. They still have the big claw extractor but yes, they are push feed.
Click to expand...

I have M77 VT in 22-250 that’s push feed, but I’d always thought that was specific to the VT model, I didn’t realize it was available in the sporter versions as well. Makes sense that it would be though.
 
Gatehouse said:
The tang models are push feed, have clubby stocks, lock the bolt when on safe and have inconsistent accuracy. But some guys really like them.
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Count me among them then.
Never found any of those issues with the one's I've owned and still to this day I'll take a tang safety 77 over a Hawkeye any day of the week.
To each their own.

And yes, tang safety locks the bolt and that's a good feature IMHO.
 
coyoteking said:
It’s time I get myself a good dedicated deer rifle, blue steel and walnut, and I really liked the few M77’s I’ve shouldered and shot. I’ll be looking specifically for a 280AI on the used market, as my collection is severely lacking between the .257 and .30 calibers.

I recall some debate about wing vs tang safety. I prefer tang safeties myself but is there any other reason why a wing safety on the 77 is more desirable?

I’ve read that the barrels of some 77’s made in the late 80’s and early 90’s were less than accurate. Is there a specific range of serial #’s I should avoid?

If the 280AI chambering is unavailable I’m not opposed to having the chamber reamed or even swapping out the barrel.

Any and all advice is appreciated, as well as links to any good articles on the subject.
Click to expand...
It sounds like you should track one of these down. ;)

https://ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAfrican/specSheets/57126.html
 
They are a good to great, underrated and undervalued rifle. I prefer the MkII, just not.the boat paddle. Prices are low for what your getting. Doesnt have a big fan base, and not the aftermarket of some that do. My V/T in 25-06 is more accurate than i am. Have a Hawkeye 300wm that was a gun show prize, finish is excellent unlike the reputation of Hawkeyes.
 
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