No love for Ruger?

[redrockranger]

I have a 77 Mark ll that I “tuned” with a premium barrel, respring and polish. Also redid the stock with a hand rubbed oil finish. Shoots well under 1/2 moa. 2.5 lbs crisp trigger. It is my favorite rifle and I did the work myself instead of bolting on new parts. It’s a 260 rem. Far more enjoyable than building a full custom imo.

Premium barrels work well on a Savage also.If you are looking for accuracy.

 

[redrockranger]

Back in the early 90s I got a Ruger M77 Target Model in 6MM PPC that was a real shooter. My girlfriend bought it for me. Let both the rifle and her get away. But that Ruger was a gateway drug to a Sako 6MM PPC then a Hall 6MM PPC which led to Benchrest Matches at Rachel's Glen which eventually led to a vast number of rifle-related, expensive, time-consuming addictions including the real hard stuff, F-Class matches. That damn Ruger changed my life.

For the better ??

 

[effendude]

My first varmint rifle was M77 HVT? in .223, tan laminated stock, grey stainless barrel and my first two stage trigger. I shot probably 10,000 prairie dogs with it until it finally gave out one day when the shooting was too good. I never dreamed any rifle could be more accurate, that was before I started shooting competitively. I think they were fine hunting rifles, and looked good. I did buy a Ruger American in .223 for a loaner rifle when prairie dog shooting, it is rough but plenty accurate for the average shooter. I'd love to find a M77 in .35 Whelen....
Scott

 

[Damfino]

For the better ??

Shooting competitively has provided a few memorable highs and lots of lows and I've probably spent way too much money. But I've made more than a few life-long friends and now shooting/reloading focuses my mind and provides a sense of purpose and camaraderie that makes my life much richer and fuller than it would have been otherwise. So yes, for the better.

 

[NWnewguy]

Much love from Ruger from me.

I think the only bolt rifle I have left is a M77VT in 223. It's a legit <1/2" factory rifle with Sierra 52hr MKs. Unfortunately, I think it's a 1-12T barrel and that's nearly as heavy as you can shoot with it. I don't pull many factory rifles out of the safe anymore, but I'll hold onto that one for a while yet. Wait, just remembered a 243 stainless laminate. It's reasonably accurate with handholds at 3/4". I have a passel of Ruger Mk series pistols and they are all trouble free, accurate and reliable. Same thing for the couple of dozen Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk and Single Six/Ten pistols. Never a problem. Only Ruger I ever had that I didn't care for was a P series 9mm. It worked fine, but felt cheap like a Taurus, only maybe a little better. Other than the Mk series pistols with a can on them, the next favorite Ruger for me is a 77/22VT. That things is accurate and fun to shoot. Takes 10/22 mags and drives tacks with cheap ammo.

 

[SSL]

My first brand new rifle was a Ruger M77 (old-style tang safety) in .22-250 in 1973. I haven't been without at least two Rugers at a time since (as well as several of their revolvers and 10/22s). My preference grew to be the #1B and I have had several over the years and have a list of 'tricks' to help various accuracy issues. All but one Ruger (an M77 .220 Swift which turned out to have the scope mounts milled wrong) have been accurate. Like @effendude, my .243 VT was amazingly accurate. My latest Ruger, an American Predator in .223, shoots anything from 50 to 68-grain bullets into very small groups. No, Rugers may not reach competition level, but they don't cost a fortune either. For most shooters they are a good value.
Honestly, even though I have them too, I've had more issues with Remingtons than Rugers, ranging from feeding issues to the surprise of having them fire when pushing the safety off...sure to tighten the old sphincter.

 

[dkhunt14]

Back in the early 90s I got a Ruger M77 Target Model in 6MM PPC that was a real shooter. My girlfriend bought it for me. Let both the rifle and her get away. But that Ruger was a gateway drug to a Sako 6MM PPC then a Hall 6MM PPC which led to Benchrest Matches at Rachel's Glen which eventually led to a vast number of rifle-related, expensive, time-consuming addictions including the real hard stuff, F-Class matches. That damn Ruger changed my life.

I hope you married that girl. Matt

 

[DHall_37]

Got my dad a Ruger American in 22 Mag for Christmas, dad wanted a muzzle break on it and I put weaver mounts on it and a cheap scope we had laying around. It shoots good at 50 yards for dad and I.

 

[wkdickinson]

Ouch!

Had a beautiful #1 in 30-06. Never could get it to shoot less than 2 MOA.

20 years ago I had a beautiful #1b in 30-06 also. Mine would group under an 1" at 100 yds. But when I took it out 2 weeks later the POI would 6" up, down or sideways. I tried everything to fix it, with no success. So I sold it, which I felt bad about, but maybe someone else could fix it.

I also had a #1V in 220 Swift that was a "hammer". Sold it too, just didn't shoot it enough.

 

[jdh47]

Ruger made it's reputation on decent hunting rifles. Years ago in Abilene at a gunshow I met a man that restocked Ruger M77's and did nice work. his stuff was pricy but good. Bill Hall was his name and he did one in a full stock like a Mannlicher. Bill Ruger saw it and bought it. He asked if he could copy the stock and Hall told him if he bought it he could do whatever he wanted with it. Ruger has never tried to compete with competition stuff. Their angled recoil lug is sort of weird but they are solid rifles with sort of their version of the CRF. I'm pretty sure they can be made to shoot but probably not competitively in Benchrest. I wish I had never traded off the <77 7x57 I redid the stock on and checkered 20lpi. put a Ruger steel bottom metal on it and oil finished. It was a decent stick of wood. Shot pretty good. Killed a pig in Cotulla Tx. once then in a fit of mild stupidity traded it off.

 

[EOD Rob]

Never had anything against Ruger. Matter of fact, I really like the company and their products. However, for some reason, I only own a 10/22. I guess they just never had anything I could not live without. Seems like every time they come out with something cool, someone else brings out something cooler.

 

[nakneker]

Had a few 77s growing up but have since gotten away from them simply because the aftermarket parts available are far and few in between. That being said I have a few #1s, Vaqueros, 22 pistols both single six and MK II, 22/45 and of course multiple 10/22s. I’m not a huge fan of their bolt actions but I am a fan of Ruger, I’m hoping to pick up one of the new Ruger/Marlins in 45-70 when the stupidity wears off I can buy one for retail or less.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

There were 0 announcements for new rifles this year from Ruger.

Not true. They brought out the new marlin 45-70

 

[kneedtospeed]

Got a couple 22/45 Target handguns.
Arguably their best efforts .

 

[69mach]

not a huge fan of the m77s but i love my mark II and mark III 22s. best semi auto 22 pistols ever made imo. also like my 12 and 20 guage red labels. their wheel guns are not a pretty as colts and i don’t know that they shoot any better or worse than a smith so i’m in limbo. don’t forget the 10/22s either. an amazing gun that has stood the test of time

 

[LiveFire]

Got a couple 22/45 Target handguns.
Arguably their best efforts .

I forgot about my 22/45. The only Ruger I have had that has not gone back for any kind of work is my 22/45. So I guess out of 2 10/22's, 2 super black hawks, and a ruger american rimfire theres at least one that didnt have to go back. My brothers 243 ruger american is an excellent shooter though.

 

[jcm800]

Had two SBH 44's with poor QC. That was enough for me.
Chucking buddy had an old 77 varmint with the laminate stock / stainless barrel in 25-06. Witnessed several 400+ yd shots with it.... good shooter. I used a 40x 7mag at the time.

 

[357Mag]

I never see anyone here modifying a Ruger. I had a Target-Varmint 22-250 that was a hammer! The bolt was a bit sloppy but other than that it looked well made. Not many aftermarket parts?
Just wondering.
Chet

Chester -

Howdy !

In the latter -70s, I wanted to campaign a calibre larger than .224"; in local short range " varmint rifle class " benchrest style score matches. The winners in this class were shooting Savage 112Vs in .222 Rem .
I wanted to shoot a slightly larger calibre, that might net me a couple more 10s compared to use of a .224 .
But, them .222s were hard to beat ! I and my best friend were also groundhog shooters, so the new rifle even more so.... needed to be suitable for varmint use.

Came across a 1yr pre-owned M-77 .250-3000 w/ a 22" sporter barrrel. Would have prefered the 24" barrel length that Ruger also offered, but none were to be found. l flet pretty lucky.

The rifle was a tang safety " Red Butt " . I asked Fred Sinclair to do whatever he could to make the rifle be able to shoot its best. The barrel was already floated from the factory. Fred swore he would not work on near-Mauser rifles, and he held the M-77 to be on of those kind. Got the run back from him, but never did disassemble the barreled action from the stock. I suspect he might have just sat on the gun for a bit, and then hand it back; as... he did not charge me anything . I did put a single-set Canjar on it, and that made a world of difference when shooting the rifle w/ the trigger set down in the ounces range.

My friend manage to shoot the first ever ( for either of us ) 5-shot 100yd one hole group w/ this M-77.
The load was Sierra 75gr HP over 39.0gr H380 and FED LR Match. We went back to Fred, to see what else we might be able to talk him into doing to the gun, when we still couldn't beat those -122V .222s .
Fred was non-plused, and asked us what on Earth we were expecting out of this rifle !?! We quit bothering
Fred, and eventually I had him assemble a custom gun, that was able to beat the factory .222s .

That M-77 .250-3000 w/ the accuracy / field load mentioned above, was a death ray on groundhogs !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[ngoforth]

A Ruger 77 MKII VT in .243 is one of the things that led me to this website to learn more about reloading. The rifle never performed as well as it should have in my mind. It went back to Ruger, they put a new barrel on it and fixed some problem with the bolt. Their customer service is excellent. When it came back it shot a little better but still not what I thought it should do. I thought about putting a custom barrel on it but never went through with it. I liked everything about the rifle but the way it shot. I sold it. In my own experience I think there are better options for an out of the box accurate rifle. I will still buy other Rugers when I want one. When I find a blackhawk in 45 Colt it will come home with me.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A Ruger 77 MKII VT in .243 is one of the things that led me to this website to learn more about reloading. The rifle never performed as well as it should have in my mind. It went back to Ruger, they put a new barrel on it and fixed some problem with the bolt. Their customer service is excellent. When it came back it shot a little better but still not what I thought it should do. I thought about putting a custom barrel on it but never went through with it. I liked everything about the rifle but the way it shot. I sold it. In my own experience I think there are better options for an out of the box accurate rifle. I will still buy other Rugers when I want one. When I find a blackhawk in 45 Colt it will come home with me.

Got to shoot mine today but its a 3 cartridge convertible