RUGER M77 Re-barrel?

[killspot]

I have an older Ruger 7mm mag that I have replaced with a Remington Sendero. The Ruger was an ok shooter out to 300 yrds but couldn't find a load that would shoot to my standards beyond. I am wondering if any of you have any advice on re-chamber/barrel for this gun. I know it's not the most desired action to build a rifle on. Thinking about a 6.5? Like the stats on the 6.5mm Rem. Mag, however see that is not popular and hard to find brass. Thoughts?

 

[Glenn Powell]

6.5 Rem mag is a good round! And with a long action you should be able have some throat work done to really take advantage of case volume. As to brass I don't know, Remington still makes runs of the stuff, I think, and if ya buy a 4-5 hundred you should be set for the life of the barrel. You did not mention if this will be for hunting or punching paper, I assume hunting. What kind? Long range deer? Coyotes? Spot and stalk? Ambush? Could go a long way in helping with caliber selection, barrel length, contour, sights, stock, and all the other fun stuff. ;D

 

[Larryh128]

There is nothing wrong with a 77 action, make it whatever you desire. No it's not a benchrest action but it still can be made to shoot very well, make sure & have the lugs trued before anything else. My suggestion would be to do that with the 7mag barrel on & check accuracy after. You're only talking about .001 to square the lugs so it won't affect the headspace as long as he doesn't get crazy & take .005+. Some Ruger barrels will shoot, some won't.

 

[killspot]

I would be using this mainly for deer/antelope. Looking for a long range shooter, something I am comfortable at 600yrds. Looking at the 140gr bullets, so I thought that the long action would be an advantage to free up a little powder space. As for truing up the lug, I put a trigger in it and glass bed it when it was new. (Assume the glass bed would address that potenial issue?) It used to shoot 1-1/4" groups at 100 and just under 2" at 200. But never got good results after 300. My Sendero is a shooter though. Easy 1" at 200 and have confidence off the bipod to make a 700yd shot in the right conditions. Would like to see similar results with this gun. Thanks for the replys! Oh, as for barrel length, would like to keep it around 24" but would like to get as close to 3,000 fps any thoughts on velocity/barrel length would be great also. thanks!

 

[killspot]

Oh! Bolt Lugs! Not recoil LUG! No never touched the bolt! Will do!

 

[Glenn Powell]

If its velocity ya want take a good hard look at the 264 win mag, 257 and 270 weatherby, and a 26" tube. But be careful, they are known barrel burners, but for hunting rifle ya won't be putting a lot of rounds down range anyway. 7mag is also a good choice, high BC bullets, and good velocity. The 300 win mag is an excellent long range rig, and if ya just want something different 308 Norma. 338's are also good long range rounds, but recoil with the 30's and up can be uncomfortable, and my experience with the 7mm, recoil is quite sharp. The 6.5 rem mag is a lot like the 6.5x284, and recoil is pretty mild, to me anyway. I don't like to shoot at game past 400, and the 6.5x284 dose very good inside 400, terminally.

 

[Larryh128]

Yes, bolt lugs, should have added the extra word. If they aren't square, the best barrel in the world won't shoot well. I "re-did" a 77 for a bud of mine that had a Shilen barrel installed in an attempt to make it shoot decent, rifle was at best a 1-1/14" rifle. Bedding was perfect & an excellent job, barrel & chamber looked good, so I set up the bolt & indicated it in. One lug was .0015 off of square. Squared it & it immediately went to a one hole rifle. I only shot 9 rounds thru it, 3 groups of three on 3 different days. All were the same, one ragged hole. Check the bolt & the threads on the back of the bolt are 1/2-20.