Ruger 77 in .223

[COLT45SA]

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.

I'd be quite happy if I'm able to duplicate that. 100 yds~? Ruger 77~? Any modifications~? Stock trigger~? What bullet~? What powder~?

 

[S Miller]

I'd be quite happy if I'm able to duplicate that. 100 yds~? Ruger 77~? Any modifications~? Stock trigger~? What bullet~? What powder~?

Those targets were shot with a LV BR rifle Borden action 22-.075 shortppc Stock made by myself krieger barrell our own 52 bullet with 133 with a march 48HM. I am new to this forum, not sure if the internet has made many rifles shoot small all day. That agg was shot in about 4hrs. It takes dedicated equipment and good bench technique and flag reading skills to shoot .250 consistently. You can try and pull as much accuracy as you want out of you ruger and have fun doing it. She'll probably give you some teasers along the way just enough to keep you trying more things. If shooting small groups makes you happy consider short range BR.
Scott

 

[rmeyerwy]

I got a Ruger MKII in 22-250 and just got one in 204 Ruger. Both will shoot .6 or better groups consistently.
shoot 40vmax in 250 and 32vmax in 204. In my opinion, the gun(s) are capable of better groups than I am.

 

[searcher]

I think the worse thing is to hear from a lot of folks that you shouldn't expect too much out of your Ruger. Fact is, a lot of Rugers just don't shoot all that great with factory ammo and are notorious for having some pretty rough barrels. That said, they can be VERY accurate when properly handloaded with what it likes, as long as they have a good trigger, good bedding and good optics. I noted you mentioned the bedding and trigger in great shape - so that is a big plus. Most any factory rifle will usually shoot the 53 V-Max well, once you get dialed in on the powder it likes.

There can be HUGE swings in accuracy using the same V-Max and changing up the powders. Unfortunately - I think there are over 50 powders suited for .223 and listed in the various manuals. Frankly many will work in some of the rifles, but there aren't that many powders that work GREAT in almost all rifles from an accuracy standpoint. After having tuned a few dozen .223's (no large-scale deal) here is what I'd start with as far as powders if you aren't getting what you expected with the V-133 powder, which usually does nicely with the V-Maxes. My favorite powders for that V-Max are Accurate LT32, Reloader 7 and IMR8208XBR. At this stage, I'd not bother trying to complicate things by changing primers, changing seating depth, etc. Once you see the powder or two that smokes everything else with both five round groups on average, then you can further tune.

There are a lot of powders that will likely get you 1/2", but if you know guys where you can get just enough to load ten rounds of each powder with the OAL as recommended by the bullet manufacturer, you will get an idea of what your gun may really like and probably what it does not. I'd load five rounds at 2 grains under max and the other five at 1 1/2 grains under max. The logic being if it shot badly with either load, my choice is to lower the load to find a likely far off node at a lower velocity than I may or may not want to shoot at- or increase to what will be a max load or beyond to find it - the latter being unacceptable to me. Ideally, you want a nice, wide accuracy window and sometimes it is worth having a slow load that is super accurate over a speedster that isn't.

If you haven't bought your powder yet, I'd not start off with any more than a pound of the V powder if you have the option. We get in our mind what we want to work in our rifles and sometimes (actually - a lot of times) that doesn't play out. If I could only have one powder for that bullet and I was betting it would shoot well in my rifle (not from velocity standpoint - but of accuracy)- I'd choose the LT32. Good luck on your quest!

 

[AckleymanII]

He has a skeleton stock on his ruger

 

[603Country]

some years back, I bought a Ruger Hawkeye in 223. It shot pretty well, and I might have accidentally shot a couple of tiny 5 shot groups with Sierra 65 gr GKs over H335 and 2230. But, I wanted more, so I had the action trued up and bedded, Timney trigger, and Benchmark barrel added (9 twist). Really a fine shooter now. Loves 40 gr Nosler BTs.

And in the 80’s I bought a used Ruger 77 Varmint in 220 Swift. What a great shooter. Loved 55 gr Nosler BTs over IMR 4064. Didn’t need to do anything to it till I wore out the barrel.

Even with those rifles, as good as they are, I’m not gonna brag about shooting 1/4” groups, so I doubt a stock Ruger 77 can do it.

 

[COLT45SA]

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.

Best way to lighten trigger pull in an M77 is installing a Timney trigger~!!!

 

[pavementends]

The things that help my Ruger were filing the mag box until it was not touching the receiver and lightening the trigger. After that it has been very consistent with loads it likes. The 69gr RMR bullets are extremely seating depth sensitive. .040 off the lands or nothing. Mostly under 1/2 once in a great while 1/4 but not all day every day.

 

[COLT45SA]

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.

Not factory stock. It has a lightened Timney trigger and already shoots 5/8" groups. That was with virgin brass. So now with once-fired brass and meticulous brass prep I'm looking to do better. That's why I asked my original question~!

 

[COLT45SA]

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.

I'm already shooting 5/8" at 100 yards~! Need better loading data now~!

 

[COLT45SA]

Best way to lighten trigger pull in an M77 is installing a Timney trigger~!!!

Did that and it made a world of difference. My smith also lightened the pull to below what the factory Timney adjusts down to. I love a light trigger, and I'm far more than happy with mine. I now have almost zero flyers.

 

[urbanrifleman]

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.

The Ruger vt was better out of the box than a Remington 700. I had three of them.

 

[JB10]

I would buy another if i ever find one. Its heave to take out predator calling, but is good on prerrie dog towns and just all around bench shooting

 

[COLT45SA]

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

Sorry you had such a poor experience with your M77. I have a way to go with cartridge prep but am already shooting 5/8" with the wrong bullet weight and less than ideal cartridge prep~!!

 

[wildcatter]

You might get a 1/4" group out of any factory rifle, but for people to tell you it is possible on a regular basis, is just plain false!

.5" regularly is very rare, and very seldom are you ever going to see a factory rifle in factory class competition shoot a .5" agg! That's something that draws a huge applaud. Let alone in 223 caliber.

Sorry just being realistic, just enjoy getting them dime size groups when they develope.

 

[boltfluter]

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~??????

In a word "no". You may get the occasional 1/4 minute group, but that does not equate to a 1/4 minute rifle. It is very hard to agg. 250 in a full blown benchrest rifle for 4 (5) shot groups, let alone a factory production Ruger rifle. But you will have fun working with your reloads for sure. So, if you are enjoying the challenge and having fun doing it, that's all that really matters.
Paul

 

[J.D.Erwin]

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~??????

NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[COLT45SA]

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.

Thanx for your post. It's very encouraging~! Hadn't considered bullets weighing 50 gr so I'll have to get some of those Noslers~!

 

[COLT45SA]

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

There lies the problem. Prior to reading your statement I've always used 3 rounds with the first ladder build and 5 when Ive found the nodes.
I think that you've solved my problem~!!