Who says tang safety M77's can't shoot?

[CoryTheCowboy]

This will be the 2nd I've owned, the first was a RSI in .250 Savage that would consistently shoot around 1", but it was not at all consistent on where it was going to put the group that day. It was too nice of a gun for me to start monkeying with and ended up selling it (with a disclaimer to the shop).

This 375/338W Mag (as marked on the barrel) showed up yesterday. Was short on time today, but sighted it 2.5" high at 100 yards, then shot a 5" group at 240 yards off a set of sticks and figured that was good enough for me. It's coming bear hunting with me next week, so we'll see if I can find one. Topped with a Leupold 1.5x5, 4 rounds in the gun and a sling, it weighs 8lbs 10oz.

Cory

 

[Buckmastr]

Nice custom build and good shooting Cory. Thumbs up.

My custom M77 TS I built a while ago. Started as a 338 win mag. Just over 8.5# now as a McMillan stocked 416 Ruger

 

[hiredgun]

I have an unfired tang safety Ruger VT (heavy barrel) in 220 Swift that I am considering selling. Does anyone have any idea of the value? Thanks.

 

[Buckmastr]

Unfired and mint 1500$

 

[The Kurgan]

Here's my 7x57 in its final form. Boyds blaze Platinum laminate stock with polymer grip cap and multi-point checkering, shimmed for zero lateral play, free floated for most of barrel channel and a hard rubber pressure point added. PT&G steel bottom metal. Mag box relieved. MOA with factory S&B 173 gr SPCE. She's a well built workhorse that also happens to look great. Topped with my favourite hunting scope, a Japan-made Bushnell Elite 3500, 2-7x32. I still need to weigh her, but she's a middle weight for sure.

 

[The Kurgan]

The only real issue with the factory bottom metal is that the front of the trigger guard can break if the middle screw is over tightened. This is easily corrected by using a spacer between the guard and receiver; rather than counting on the mag box to act as the spacer.

I had three sets of SS spacers made. They work well.

 

[mike t]

Looks great Kurgan. Looking forward to my tang safety m77 308 to arrive. Should be here Monday

 

[The Kurgan]

Looks great Kurgan. Looking forward to my tang safety m77 308 to arrive. Should be here Monday

That's a damn nice rifle. Saw it on EE. As a bonus, you have iron sights! There's another 30-06 with a cracked tang going for pennies. I'm tempted, as I have a spare new Boyds stock, new factory take-off bottom metal, custom Allen head action screws, a hard rubber washer that fits perfectly for a front pressure point, and custom SS stock spacers to prevent the bottom metal from binding the mag box. I can probably turn it into a great rifle, but I just don't need another 30-06. If anybody buys it, contact me, you won't be disappointed!

 

[Buckmastr]

The m77 round top receivers take Remington 700 bases and often come with iron sights. I believe they call these the “ST” version. I have one in 7rem mag.

 

[The Kurgan]

∆∆∆ nice !!

 

[hoytcanon]

I shot some factory ammo out of the 220 swift today. I see no reason to believe this gun won’t be accurate especially when hand loaded.

I have the same rifle in the Mark II series. It is one of my most accurate rifles... same barrel profile in the standard 24". Top rifle in the picture below.

 

[a j cave]

I’ve a 77V in 280. It’s the one I can always go to if I’m having a hard time at the range. My coyote gun is a 77R in 243. I can count on it to put the pill on target every time. I’ve used 43gr Mc Cracken to 100 gr partitions. 220swift to 300win have all been very good.

 

[The Kurgan]

Added a rubber forend pressure point. 100 yards. Bushnell Elite 3500 2-7x32.

First two shots, cold clean bore (1/2 inch)...


Last two shots, warmer barrel (under 7/8 inch)...


She's sighted in and ready for Moose!

 

[Leeper]

I just checked the zero on my tang safety 7x57. Three shots in 5/8 inch, 3inches high at 100m, about a half inch left due to different conditions when I sighted it in last year. Seems OK.

 

[The Kurgan]

I just checked the zero on my tang safety 7x57. Three shots in 5/8 inch, 3inches high at 100m, about a half inch left due to different conditions when I sighted it in last year. Seems OK.

Sounds like a great shooter. Are your cold bore shots tighter as well?

 

[Leeper]

The group I fired was from a clean cold bore. I should confess, I re-barreled this rifle with a Benchmark barrel. The original barrel shot well too but I wanted stainless on this one. The original barrel was fitted to a different action and rechambered and continued to perform well for the new owner.

 

[The Kurgan]

I'm quite happy with the performance of this factory barrel. It appears to shoot a bit tighter with a forend pressure point when using 173 grain factory hunting ammo. I'm sure, with enough time, I could find an optimal handload that works with a free floated barrel and rewards with even tighter groups.

 

[Buckmastr]

Hope the barrel didn’t unscrew or the bottom metal break.

 

[Why not?]

The group I fired was from a clean cold bore. I should confess, I re-barreled this rifle with a Benchmark barrel. The original barrel shot well too but I wanted stainless on this one. The original barrel was fitted to a different action and rechambered and continued to perform well for the new owner.

Yes, and I think that barrel ended up on a Norwegian Krag-Jorgensen that needed a new barrel.

Ted

 

[The Kurgan]

Had a very good day at the range today testing my latest handload and other factory ammo.

My best group, however, was...
S&B 173 grain SPCE (factory loaded)
100 meters
cold bore

In terms of accurizing my M77, all I did was relieve the mag box, added a hard rubber washer as a pressure point on the Boyds stock, and a small metal shim in the action area to ensure a tight fit to the stock. BTW, the Boyds stock is excellent value!