Why Ruger M-77 are not the choice for rebarreling or modifications.

[jds holler]

My first centerfire rifle was a M77 I bought in 1974 with the tens and twenties that I received in cards and such for my high school graduation gifts. Price was $176, brand new, and the dealer threw in two boxes of shells to boot. It's a 243.

I fell in love with the way it fits and handles, the scope mounts, tang safety, Mauser type action, -- no other rifle packs as comfortably for hunting. And in 243, my God what a meat ax it's been. It's dumped dozens of deer and coyotes, one elk, and truck loads of chucks and jacks.

It's skinny little pencil barrel WAS a shooter, and I never had trouble getting dime sized groups. I started loading for it with a Lee Loader, (pound your shells together) and I graduated up from there.

Got to shooting squirrels and chucks with it, and well, pretty much fried the barrel with thousands of rounds. I've still got it, but it's lucky to shoot 3 MOA these days. It will be my next candidate for a rebarrel, and I've found this thread interesting. jd

 

[mikeinct]

I love the bluing on those old ones

Not Me dusty, mine was a 1976 200th year 257 Roberts. it had an eggplant colored receiver, nice enough blue barrel. Had that thing 11,13 years before I sold it. Sold the 22-250 V barrel job as well. Can't say I miss anything but the hunting memories using them. mike in ct

 

[Raythemanroe]

They should have built a integrated pic rail instead of the ring system that they used. That is my only complaint with a Ruger M77. I was able to adjust the trigger to what I liked on mine but using a different trigger system that excepted common custom upgrades would have been appreciated also.

Ray

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Not Me dusty, mine was a 1976 200th year 257 Roberts. it had an eggplant colored receiver, nice enough blue barrel. Had that thing 11,13 years before I sold it. Sold the 22-250 V barrel job as well. Can't say I miss anything but the hunting memories using them. mike in ct

That eggplant color is the one i like. Not sure why but i do

 

[Dusty Stevens]

They should have built a integrated pic rail instead of the ring system that they used. That is my only complaint with a Ruger M77. I was able to adjust the trigger to what I liked on mine but using a different trigger system that excepted common custom upgrades would have been appreciated also.

Ray

A straight in front screw is a good start

 

[Dessert]

The reason shooters love the stock is that it was designed by Lenard Brownell, famous rifle builder from Sheridan, Wyoming.

 

[tobnpr]

Heck everyone knows Ruger builds the least accurate rifles on the US. market next to the breakover single shots

Not so anymore, and there's thousands of owners of RPR's that would say otherwise. I've always felt that it's Savage's floating bolthead that gives it an edge (every Savage barrel I've looked at with a borescope is horrendous, yet the rifles still shoot). The RPR was the first (and extremely successful) intro for many into the sport of precision rifles/shooting and PRS.

Ruger made a large investment (I believe 6, GFM hammer-forging machines at a million bucks each) a few years back that paid big dividends.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Not so anymore, and there's thousands of owners of RPR's that would say otherwise. I've always felt that it's Savage's floating bolthead that gives it an edge (every Savage barrel I've looked at with a borescope is horrendous, yet the rifles still shoot). The RPR was the first (and extremely successful) intro for many into the sport of precision rifles/shooting and PRS.

Ruger made a large investment (I believe 6, GFM hammer-forging machines at a million bucks each) a few years back that paid big dividends.

The standard Ruger American rifle with a Timney and good custom barrel shoots. After a new stock and replacing all the plastic bits it starts to feel like a good quality gun. It is easily upgradable, I think I sound like a Salvage guy .

Ray

 

[DickE]

Chevy verses Ford debate here. It will never end. Never had a problem with rebarreling a Ruger. If barrel is too tight for inside wrench, then go to outside receiver wrench, then if still too tight, go to relief cut on old barrel. Read in a post here years ago Remington receivers tensile strength at 180,000 psi- Ruger investment castings at 225,000 psi. Control round feed is not used in any form of Benchrest. But better have that in Africa.

 

[Coolcarl]

Did I miss something here? When did anyone mention a ruger m77 action being used for competition???

Ruger has never intended for their rifles to be used competitively in shooting matches. They have always only tried to appeal to hunters. They build some of the toughest and most reliable actions in the industry that will save your life in the event of catastrophic case failures as mentioned before and they will give you more than enough accuracy to harvest game at any ethical shooting distance a caliber is capable of. And they have accomplished that goal with high flying colors imo.

I'm sure if ruger wanted to produce an action that appealed to the budget minded competitive shooter like savage did with their benchrest action, I have no doubt ruger would be able to produce a very fine innovative action indeed. But as of now, that obviously is not their goal.

I have a M77 3 way safety action wearing a 29" Bartlein in 6.5 PRC, I shoot it for fun, 2,100yds is as far as I've shot it. If I'm going to compete in benchrest I'll take my BAT B or if I'm competing in PRS I'll take my Defiance Ruckus or my American Rifle Company Archimedes. But those guns are comp. guns.