No love for Ruger?

[potatojudge]

I appreciate how smooth the actions work and how nicely the older M77 feeds. I have a preference for tang safeties over all others. The red pads are usually aged to a more slick finish that shoulders quickly.

I'm going to be putting a new trigger in any rifle I get, so no difference there.

Assuming you get one that shoots reasonably well, they have some advantages as hunting rifles.

 

[choprzrul]

My tang safety M77 in 257 Roberts shot patterns. Had a Bartlein screwed on and now it hovers around 1/2" with 115gr Partitions.

Just finished up fire forming/barrel break in on a 6.5CM Ruger American using the cheapest Hornady 140gr I could find over I4451. It seemed like it's gonna be a shooter....but time will tell.

.

 

[ChesterS]

Got to shoot mine today but its a 3 cartridge convertibleView attachment 1316077

Is that an old 3 screw? If so did you get the transfer block safety installed. I had on e in 44 mag many years ago.

 

[ChesterS]

30 years ago...sold off my Sako's and Ruger varmint rifles. Bought Rem's ..I could put Jewells in them!

Mine had what they called a palma match trigger, it wan't too bad. (1991 I believe).

 

[357Mag]

All -

An accurarization of what I posted, above.....

" ... first ever ( for either of us ) 5-shot 100yd one hole cloverleaf shaped group...."

45 yr later, still a nice looking group.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Prose]

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

Then you're stuck shooting a savage. Accurate rifles are more interesting when they look good.

I hate ugly guns.

 

[mongo chicago]

I've owned many many Ruger guns. The only one I would classify as "bad" is the MK4 pistol. I think it came out too soon without a thorough testing. With that being said I have to laugh when people say Remington is better --- after they install aftermarket target triggers and have gun smithing done to them. Remington was the worst for having the action trued to the barrel. Same for the bolt trued to the receiver.
I have several Ruger #1s. One is my 1000 yard rifle. It is sub. m.o.a. Golly gee, it was done up by a gun smith. This is a 7" group with just a front sandbag rest, with a cold wind.

 

[K22]

Tika is off my list. Had one. Wouldn't shoot. Would shoot, Wouldn't shoot, would shoot. New stock, etc etc.. Tried this trieds that. Finally... Sold it..

I guess lemons are always possible in a factory offering. I have 5 of them and they all shoot terrific. The smooth action and superior extraction system is outstanding. The stock is stiff enough for accurate shooting in the lighter calibers. I like the new T3X modular stock. I replace the pistol grip with their aftermarket vertical grip, and it made a huge difference in being able to control the trigger.

The only issue I have with them is the light weight in the T3 Lite models. Great for a stalking rifle but difficult to shoot consistently well on the range, at least for me, in the 308. It hammers me like Joe Fraizer.

Their varmint version is one of the most accurate out of the box factory rifles I ever owned - sub 1/2 moa with tailor reloads.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I guess lemons are always possible in a factory offering. I have 5 of them and they all shoot terrific. The smooth action and superior extraction system is outstanding. The stock is stiff enough for accurate shooting in the lighter calibers. I like the new T3X modular stock. I replace the pistol grip with their aftermarket vertical grip, and it made a huge difference in being able to control the trigger.

The only issue I have with them is the light weight in the T3 Lite models. Great for a stalking rifle but difficult to shoot consistently well on the range, at least for me, in the 308. It hammers me like Joe Fraizer.

Their varmint version is one of the most accurate out of the box factory rifles I ever owned - sub 1/2 moa with tailor reloads.

My experience was somewhat different. My guess is that "floating " recoil lug.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Is that an old 3 screw? If so did you get the transfer block safety installed. I had on e in 44 mag many years ago.

Yes and no i dont want it. I have a 357 convertible and a 22 all from the same era

 

[K22]

My experience was somewhat different. My guess is that "floating " recoil lug.

Yea, I freaked out the first time I saw that design and was amazed that my rifle could shoot so well with that design.

What model and caliber did you have trouble with? I had a buddy that had a 22 250 in the T3 Lite model and we never could get that rifle to shoot well. I can't say if it was the caliber or the rifle but regardless, it was an 1 1/2 moa rifle at best - not good for a varmint or predator rifle.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yea, I freaked out the first time I saw that design and was amazed that my rifle could shoot so well with that design.

What model and caliber did you have trouble with? I had a buddy that had a 22 250 in the T3 Lite model and we never could get that rifle to shoot well. I can't say if it was the caliber or the rifle but regardless, it was an 1 1/2 moa rifle at best - not good for a varmint or predator rifle.

Just goes to show it doesnt matter that much- most benchrest guns dont even have a recoil lug

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Yea, I freaked out the first time I saw that design and was amazed that my rifle could shoot so well with that design.

What model and caliber did you have trouble with? I had a buddy that had a 22 250 in the T3 Lite model and we never could get that rifle to shoot well. I can't say if it was the caliber or the rifle but regardless, it was an 1 1/2 moa rifle at best - not good for a varmint or predator rifle.

Zactly what I had. So many expectations and so much disappointment. I had a group that was like 5 in one hole. Hooray! found my load. retested and shotgun!! New stock, nope, a jillion test loads.. Nope. 3 different scopes one an NF. Nope.. Trade in at gunshop? Yup.

The two happiest days of my life: The day I bought that gun and the day I got rid of it.

 

[JB10]

I love my m77 mark 2 in 223 target/varment model. Got it 2nd hand and im keeping it. Was in real good shape when i got it 4 years ago. Its heavy to walk into coyote stands to i take a lighter rifle out now.

 

[matthias]

I love my rugers.
458 win mag tropical
221 fireball repeater built on a 223 varmint.
264 win mag pushfeed built on a mk 2 Shoots almost as fast as the Creedmoor.
77/22hornet converted to 5.7x28 repeater.

 

[Will Henry]

I have always kind of liked Ruger products. My first No.1 was a 1A in 30/06. it shot 6 inch vertical groups when i first took it out but a re-fit of the fore arm turned it into a solid 1 1/4 moa shooter. My next one was a 1b in 6mm which shot so well I wore it out just shooting it. I won a bunch of turkeys with that one. An early 77 in 284 was a nice rifle but I never really liked the cartridge. I traded it for a Model 70 in 30/06.
One of the most accurate factory rifles I ever saw was a Ruger 77 Varminter in 220 Swift
When I got more involved in gunsmithing, in the late seventies, I built a real different HV rifle. A "just for fun" rifle in 30/40 Krag. I soldered in a solid bottom. I re-cut the threads and trued up the locking seats. I added bumps to the bolt to tighten up the clearance when in battery. I tossed the factory trigger and fitted it with a Canjar LP, made for a 700. I lightened the striker, added a stiffer spring, and shortened up the striker travel. I used a Hart, 14 twist, barrel and it shot pretty well. Low .3's pretty consistently with sub 1/4 groups happening often enough to keep my interest up. Later, I rebarreled it with a long ten twist barrel, still in 30/40, intending to shoot it in "F" but got sidetracked by MS shooting and have yet to get around to it.
One of my hunting rifles is a tang safety 7x57. Another is No. 1`in 303 Epps. I still like Rugers just fine. WH

 

[PRR1957]

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.

Really nice looking rifle. Also. In the background, your bragging about having gunpowders.

 

[Brians356]

My first and favorite big game carry rifle is a '70s M77 round-top, tang safety in 270 Win. The slickest bolt action I've ever cycled. Bought it used in 1982 for $200. I put a Timney trigger in it, and had a local 'smith bed and float it for me. It is my least accurate rifle, but shot BTs into 3" at 200 yds and fit me like a glove shooting offhand. Then about ten years ago I ran a set of Tubb Final Finish lapping bullets through it and now it cleans much easier and groups < 2" at 200 yds. That makes it a fine muley and antelope rifle.
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[Hankpac]

My two 10/22's and MKIII 22/45 all run flawless and are very well made. Ruger makes good guns. My dads mini 14 has been running flawless since the late 70's.

 

[PRR1957]

Ruger was my brand for my first centerfire (M77 tang safety in 6Rem), first handgun (Super Blackhawk 10.5” brl.), first rimfire (10/22). The M77 was the firearm I learned how to reload ammo with and to epoxy bed the action. Rifle with my handloads shot sub 1/2 MOA. Super Blackhawk was used back in 1981 to first time compete in IHMSA. Nocked down many of 200 yards rams. 10/22 I redid the stock getting rid of the barrel band and bedded the whole length of the barrel channel. Shot ten shot 1/2” groups at 50 yards with Remington Yellowjacket. Used No1V in 25/06 that I bedded the forearm, which was quite the challenge, which with handloads shot 1/4 MOA. A friend of mine had a 77 Mk2 Varmint in 220 Swift that shot consistent 1/4 MOA.

I will admit that Ruger has made some butt ugly firearms. I.E., P85, Mk1, PC9, 57, LCR, Super Redhawk, etc., etc. Heck even the 10/22 is kind of homely.