When Ruger first started making the Mark I rifles, they only made the action , onto which they screwed in contracted barrels. They used a couple of different barrel makers and switched between them as either quality or supply began to whane. This was in the 70's and early 80's. Once they began to make their own barrels, they never looked back, and accuracy became more stable. (the first suppliers had a fair number of lemony barrels, and quality definitely was hit or miss) I have never been "truly happy" with the mark I rifles I have owned, but they are more like work horses and always went bang when I wanted them to, and still killed all the game I aimed at............
Whats up with the Ruger M77 model rifles?
- Thread starter dgradinaru
- Start date
I have had 3 mark ll Hawkeyes, I do not handload but two of the rifles easily shot 100 yard 1 1/2" groups , I have not shot the newest one, I had an accutrigger Savage 338 at the same time as a Ruger in the same, the Savage definitely had a better trigger that I only noticed at the range. I always suspected the Savage would fall apart from the recoil as the clip fell out sometimes, and the recoil pad crumbled, I never had any similar issues with the Rugers as Oldsavage says "they are tanks"
I have owned a number of Ruger rifles over the years, mostly Tang safety models, but also a couple of Mark II actions.
The comments of "iffy" accuracy are valid, although I never had a truly sour one. One 30-06 was 1½ moa at best, but was consistent at least.
I had a 220 Swift in a HB tang safety model that was scary accurate...accurate enough to win many turkeys at turkey shoots.
My mark II in 6.5x55 was also very accurate, and accounted for no end of game, up to and including Moose.
I also had a Tang safety 7x57, it had a very generous chamber with a long throat, but would shoot the 160 Partition into less than moa.
My present Tang safety 77, an original flat bolt model in 6mm, is on it's second barrel, and still going strong.
Regards, Dave.
The comments of "iffy" accuracy are valid, although I never had a truly sour one. One 30-06 was 1½ moa at best, but was consistent at least.
I had a 220 Swift in a HB tang safety model that was scary accurate...accurate enough to win many turkeys at turkey shoots.
My mark II in 6.5x55 was also very accurate, and accounted for no end of game, up to and including Moose.
I also had a Tang safety 7x57, it had a very generous chamber with a long throat, but would shoot the 160 Partition into less than moa.
My present Tang safety 77, an original flat bolt model in 6mm, is on it's second barrel, and still going strong.
Regards, Dave.
There is nothing wrong with a 77! I have a 280 &243. Both are sub MOA . I had a 300W. That also would do an inch. Try one out I bet you will like it. PS, thanks Eagleye, I too had a HB swift that was excellent.
Apparently, not all the tangsafety models in 7x57mm are "inaccurate".... Mine likes 139 gr bullets fine.
This old 3 shot 100 yard group is the only one I have a pic of, though:
The rifle:
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NAA.
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nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
At the very beginning of M77 production, maybe 1976??, Ruger farmed out barrels to low bidder. Any gun with poor accuracy would have to be a very early tang model with one of those questionable out of house barrels.
I have/had three M77, with two being excellent, and one is the most accurate rifle i have ever owned. The 280 is a under appreciated round.
I would think the gun in any kind of decent shape with the rings should be worth $600. That would be fair, any less a bargain.
I have/had three M77, with two being excellent, and one is the most accurate rifle i have ever owned. The 280 is a under appreciated round.
I would think the gun in any kind of decent shape with the rings should be worth $600. That would be fair, any less a bargain.
very good reliable rifle for the price.
I have a 30-06 hawkeye that has now a lam stock LH model. and a 375 ruger is coming back again here, LH stainless lam stock cant wait to shoot it. note not the new guide gun but an older version.
I have a 30-06 hawkeye that has now a lam stock LH model. and a 375 ruger is coming back again here, LH stainless lam stock cant wait to shoot it. note not the new guide gun but an older version.
From the ones I have tried at the range I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I had the cash sitting around for a new rifle.
I really fell in love with a friends stainless laminate in 30/06.
It fit me well, operated smooth and shot well.
I really fell in love with a friends stainless laminate in 30/06.
It fit me well, operated smooth and shot well.
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I really like my 77 all weather in 308.
My only complaint is the ejector does not hang onto the rim long enough and will leave the case sitting on the mag follower sometimes if you open the bolt gently.
My 77/44 doesn't do that.
My only complaint is the ejector does not hang onto the rim long enough and will leave the case sitting on the mag follower sometimes if you open the bolt gently.
My 77/44 doesn't do that.
I have two liberty models in 25-06 and 30-06 both of which are great shooters and have never given me a moments grief. love them both the .25 is my everyday gun
also have two mk 2s in .22-250 and .204 which are beautifully accurate, been in love with ruger since the first time i fired one and can never have to many
(made in the 200th year of american libery) 1976
also have two mk 2s in .22-250 and .204 which are beautifully accurate, been in love with ruger since the first time i fired one and can never have to many
(made in the 200th year of american libery) 1976
I had a 1984 Ruger M-77 in 30-06 that was one of the most accurate hunting rifles I have ever owned...It was common for me to shoot one inch groups at 200 yards with a variety of factory and full power hunting handloads. But I sold it and I don't miss it at all. It felt heavy and awkward. I have big hands but the grip still felt bulky...It was not a handy rifle at all. I also got it into my head that it was an unlucky gun, because I never shot anything of consequence with it and when I changed to a different rifle, my hunting luck changed dramatically. I started shooting all kinds of big bucks and big bear once I got rid of that Ruger. To me target type accuracy isn't everything and in a hunting rifle, I value handiness and "handling" first and if the rifle will put the first three shots out of a cold barrel into 2 inches at a hundred yards, that's all I need. I hunt with a 1919 Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine these days...
Guess I gotta throw a word in for the Ruger M77 ..... I've owned two, a .270 stainless with the 'canoe paddle' stock that served me well for a few years, before I sold it. And a tang safety 7x57 that I have packed around for close to 20 years now. It has taken quite a few head of game, including several wolves, caribou and sheep. It has been rock solid reliable, with lots and lots of use in the winter and has seen a lot of use in temperatures down to -40. It just seems to end up being my winter packing rifle. It has always shot well, the past few years I mostly shoot 120's through it and it is good for 1 1/4" or less on paper, with many groups running well under an inch. (3/8" being my best yet). It is a no frills, well made rifle.
moose2hunt
Regular
- Location
- prince george
Ruger barrels: from Ruger's history page
1967 -1972 out sourced - Douglas match grade
1973 - 1991 out sourced to Wilson (Some, mostly very early had throat issues and were throated too long in older cartridges like the 7x57)
1992- present in house, hammer forged and uniformly good.
the 1/2 dozen I have had in my safe over the years have been good shooters , 1.5 or less with nosler partitions , and that works fine for me as most of my shooting is done well under 100yrds ....
IMO someone had a really bad Ruger years ago and this rumor - urban legend just wont go away.......moose2hunt
1967 -1972 out sourced - Douglas match grade
1973 - 1991 out sourced to Wilson (Some, mostly very early had throat issues and were throated too long in older cartridges like the 7x57)
1992- present in house, hammer forged and uniformly good.
the 1/2 dozen I have had in my safe over the years have been good shooters , 1.5 or less with nosler partitions , and that works fine for me as most of my shooting is done well under 100yrds ....
IMO someone had a really bad Ruger years ago and this rumor - urban legend just wont go away.......moose2hunt
Had a MkII in 6.5x55mm bought NIB from Lever Arms in Vancouver, B.C. circa 1992 that shot like a house on fire right out of the box. Sold it a long time ago on the EE after acquiring a Remington 700 Classic in 6.5x55mm.
Here's the MkII 6.5x55mm when I was shipping it out:
Some lucky CGN'er out there still has this rifle!
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NAA.
Here's the MkII 6.5x55mm when I was shipping it out:
Some lucky CGN'er out there still has this rifle!
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NAA.
Don't be so quick to pass on that rifle.
Ruger was going through some changes at the time you mention but still weren't making their own barrels yet. They had several suppliers, usually based on cost, rather than performance.
The post about the 7x57 is misleading. It may have come from experience and a comment made by Dave Scovill.
I recently sold a Ruger MkI in 7x57 and it was an acceptable shooter with factory ammo. Two inch groups were the norm. I could tighten the groups up to MOA with hand loads and specific weight bullets. Anything under 139 grains didn't shoot well at all.
I have a MKII for sale, chambered in 220 Swift. It shoots better than I can hold it.
On the other hand, I have had Ruger bolt actions that would shoot shotgun sized groups regularly. I believe this hit and miss problem really got bad after old Bill Ruger lost control of the company, to his son and BODs just before he passed on. Their quality control was minimal at best and their manufacturing equipment/tooling was wearing out.
To my knowledge, the MKII model 77s are all manufactured on CNC machinery and Ruger produced barrels are exclusively installed.
Take that rifle out and shoot it before you buy it. If the seller refuses to allow this, then back away. Proof is in the shooting.
