Ruger 77 in .223

[COLT45SA]

I have a Ruger 77 in .223. It's the stainless steel version in a Zytel 'paddle stock', and the barrel twist is 1:12. I also has a Timney trigger set down to 3/4 ounces. I'm thinking a 53 gr bullet over V133 powder(?)
Will I be able to get it to shoot 1/4 minute~??????

 

[nakneker]

I have a Ruger 77 in .223. It's the stainless steel version in a Zytel 'paddle stock', and the barrel twist is 1:12. I also has a Timney trigger set down to 3/4 ounces. I'm thinking a 53 gr bullet over V133 powder(?)
Will I be able to get it to shoot 1/4 minute~??????

There are some 77s that will shoot that small but I think they are the exception and not the rule. Ruger has produced some 77s over the years that shoot like that but most of the 77s I’ve owned or ones my friends have had were doing good to get under 1 moa or .50 moa. I have one Ruger in a laminate stock, heavy barrel in 6PPC that I picked up here that shoots .25 consistently.

 

[AWS]

There is only one way to find out.

Realistically, no, unless your extremely lucky and your factory rifle is exceptional. Consistent 1/4" five shot groups are difficult to achieve with any rifle.

 

[jdh47]

I kinda doubt it but there's nothing to keep you from trying. Consistent 1/4" groups are not as commonplace as some might think.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I had one many years ago.
1/4 minute? No.
1/4 hour? Maybe.

 

[wildcatter]

Any factory rifle that could repeat .250" groups as an average is pipe dream! Any factory rifle that can average .500 is a keeper, not to mention uncommon.

Most any rifle can turn in a .250 moa group once, it's just a matter of how many groups you will have to shoot to get one,,, the 77 was known to be rugged, reliable, and strong. Not so much as a leader in extreme accuracy.

 

[COLT45SA]

Any factory rifle that could repeat .250" groups as an average is pipe dream! Any factory rifle that can average .500 is a keeper, not to mention uncommon.

Most any rifle can turn in a .250 moa group once, it's just a matter of how many groups you will have to shoot to get one,,, the 77 was known to be rugged, reliable, and strong. Not so much as a leader in extreme accuracy.

I'll probably won't end up too disappointed. I had my hopes raised that when I found out that I was shooting too heavy a bullet and bought some 52gr and 53gr-ers. I also have some new Norma brass that I'll be using.
It will never be a competitive bench rest rifle, but I"m going to be meticulous with my loading and ladder building. I've searched and searched but cannot find any of the targets I shot with the 55 gr bullets. They weren't total disasters by any means, they just weren't what I'd like to get to. I know that the 77 was never heralded as one of the most accurate rifles, but I'm confident that I can get shooting at the level that will surprise a lot of folks. Not worried about holding .500 because it was doing that with the wrong bullets.

 

[S Miller]

Good luck with your m77. Please keep us posted,always like to see tiny groups. Hear is .250 agg that my son shot couple weeks ago.

 

[wildcatter]

I want to see 5 5 shot groups in a row, not over the summer, that are under .5" @ 100 yards. When you can do that, you sir will have either a very rare factory Ruger 77, or a very expensive custom 77!

Like I say, there is always a one of a kind for everything, and that will truly be one of a kind!

The 1-12 is plenty for the 55 grain, probable handle the 60 grain. I had a #3 they had a 1-10 twist and the old 70 grain semi Spitzer Speer was great in it. That gun with the barrel band removed, barrel floated, and bedded shot great, it would shoot mid .3s 5 shot groups frequently, but you could expect the .75s now and then to. 60 grn. Sierra's shot good to, but not as good as those Speer's.

 

[JB10]

M77 mk2 223 varmint/target model. Its in a heavy wood stock from factory. This is with 50gr nosler varmint ballistic tip. It will shoot this size groups all day long. I will also add that i bought this 2nd hand from my gunsmith friend with his load data. Loaded with what he said and was shocked. He did not know round count but knew was under 500 rounds.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

It would probably be an exception to the rule, but anything is possible

 

[wildcatter]

M77 mk2 223 varmint/target model. Its in a heavy wood stock from factory. This is with 50gr nosler varmint ballistic tip. It will shoot this size groups all day long. I will also add that i bought this 2nd hand from my gunsmith friend with his load data. Loaded with what he said and was shocked. He did not know round count but knew was under 500 rounds.

This is why I would invest in a good barrel and have a good gunsmith chamber and bed it. Factory guns just won't do this all day. To me it's worth the effort and money for the repeatable results.

Do you know what barrel he used? What all did he do to it, trigger, bedding, action timing, face and thread truing,,,,? But looks like it was done right!

 

[JB10]

This is why I would invest in a good barrel and have a good gunsmith chamber and bed it. Factory guns just won't do this all day. To me it's worth the effort and money for the repeatable results.

Do you know what barrel he used? What all did he do to it, trigger, bedding, action timing, face and thread truing,,,,? But looks like it was done right!

From what he told me the smith lightened the trigger just a bit but not sure how. The barrel is the factory ruger barrel, still has all the engraving from ruger on it. He bedded only up by recoil lug area. Its about 2 inch area.

 

[WyleWD]

From what he told me the smith lightened the trigger just a bit but not sure how. The barrel is the factory ruger barrel, still has all the engraving from ruger on it. He bedded only up by recoil lug area. Its about 2 inch area.

Back when Ruger made those VT's they used Douglas and Wilson barrels on a lot of them if not all. Per Ruger and an employee of Douglas. When I scope the barrels on those it sure doesn't look like a "Factory Ruger" barrel. Those things will shoot quite well IME. WD

 

[JB10]

I know im extremely happy with how mine shoots. I dont ever plan on selling it.

 

[wildcatter]

From what he told me the smith lightened the trigger just a bit but not sure how. The barrel is the factory ruger barrel, still has all the engraving from ruger on it. He bedded only up by recoil lug area. Its about 2 inch area.

I've been told by others bedding the Rugers is different from other actions because of the tang and action screw.

I know on my first attempt with the #3, still even more different but don't remember. I know I did some research before hand,, before computers and Google days. I just don't remember the source, but possibly Skeeter Skeltan, or maybe a redirection from John Taffin. Maybe even Rick Jamison,,, all older treasures from the early days,,,,, dam rereading that makes me feel real old,,,, Today we really have it easy, information, materials, components, and much better gun smiths, that still evolved and learned from them!

 

[AckleymanII]

Two thoughts on persuing extreme accuracy with the 77.

A. put a boyds laminate stock on it

B. freefload the magazine box where it is loose between the action and the floor plate

C. bed the action and free float the barrel

D. ONLY tighten the center screw finger nail tight or remove it completely as this screw pulls the action down in the center, causes strange harmonics

E. put in a light weight trigger

As the gun sits, figure 1" groups, MAYBE at tad better, and I hope you can get near the lands with the bullet seating depth

My boat paddle stock rifles are 200 yard hunting rifles, 1" groups will suffice.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

All your 1 shot groups will be under 1/4 inch.

 

[Hal]

M77 mk2 223 varmint/target model. Its in a heavy wood stock from factory. This is with 50gr nosler varmint ballistic tip. It will shoot this size groups all day long. I will also add that i bought this 2nd hand from my gunsmith friend with his load data. Loaded with what he said and was shocked. He did not know round count but knew was under 500 rounds.

Would you mind sharing the load and have you tried that load in any other .223 ?

Hal

 

[JB10]

Lc brass, no major prepping. W748 powder at 26.5gr nosler bullet 50gr varmint ballistic tip. Seated at a coal of 2.260 Remington 7 1/2 primer. I have teasted same load with a 53gr vmax in a friends savage with same results. I have a savage axis i shoot 50gr vmax with 27.5gr of w748, all else same. That bullet liked the higher charge. I only went with the 50 vmax to try and preserve my noslers since they were out of production for last several years and shoot so well.