Ruger M77 love them or hate them?

I only have one, a tang safety .270. Got it from my dad about 30 years ago. Have killed a pile of whitetail and hogs with it.
 
C.W. Richter said:
I like them! (M77s-all variants. NOT the newer, non M77 variants.) Ruger is famed for being tough, actions being too tight and triggers way too heavy!! Shot a pile of old wood/blued M77s owned by elders as a kid, then later picked up a MkII in 22-250...After some valve lapping compound through the action (followed by a good cleaning and lube), a trigger job (down to 2.5 lbs via a combo of the bolt treatment and lighter springs), reaming the factory rings (the dimension was less than that of a 1" scope and would either crush or leave marks-that was pretty bad, but easy to remedy,) and some handloading, it's a compact 1-holer and good to 400 yds. It's essentially my quick grab varmint gun.

Before I picked the MkII up I built a highly hot-rodded M700 in 22-250, heavy bbl, parkerized black, fancy boyd's green laminate stock-bedded and relieved, talleys, timney calvin, etc. with same handloading-the V was considerably higher but same accuracy (and it was on-the-money out to 750 yds using the Burris 6-20 w/ Varmint plex)...it must've weighed close to 14 lb (the Ruger is like 8 fully outfitted,) so I decided to let "Frankenstein" go. The buyer uses it to shoot steel out to 750 and he will NOT sell it back. (I asked! LOL) It was NOT a pleasure walking through 1,000 yd+ fields in the hot sun for woodchucks using the Cannon! (The Ruger is a pleasure.) 'Can share some pics when my hard drive of photos (hopefully) gets restored...Ok found 1 of Frankenstein, but the MkII is just so much more portable and equally as accurate! 'Have to get the tall bipods for varmints as you have to be higher on unlevel ground, when the grass is higher, and I prefer sitting shots (w/ elbows on the knees)-super accurate form. The ears, however, favored the Frankenstein variant.
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I had the same experience with the tight rings! I thought I had done something wrong. Nope. They are "Too Little."
 
I had to look up what an "RSM" and "RSI" were.... I have a M77 Mk II International which I think is the RSI with the full stock in .270 Win. As mentioned above, the trigger is horrible on it. I've killed one deer with it and it basically sits on the shelf. But, I see that Timney makes a replacement trigger for it. I've had good luck with other Timney's...has anyone on here put one in a M77 Mk II? How'd it do? It's a really nice little rifle other than the trigger. I'd spring for the Timney if it would fix it :)
 
Jim Golden said:
I had to look up what an "RSM" and "RSI" were.... I have a M77 Mk II International which I think is the RSI with the full stock in .270 Win. As mentioned above, the trigger is horrible on it. I've killed one deer with it and it basically sits on the shelf. But, I see that Timney makes a replacement trigger for it. I've had good luck with other Timney's...has anyone on here put one in a M77 Mk II? How'd it do? It's a really nice little rifle other than the trigger. I'd spring for the Timney if it would fix it :)
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Get a lighter spring & polish the surfaces = about 3 lbs, do not need to change the trigger, Wolff do a spring kit.
 
I really like the 3 M77, Mark IIs I have. 25-06, 30-06 and 9.3x62. I have the laminate/stainless versions and have had them cerakoted.
IMG_1684.jpeg
 
When I was too young to know up from down, I bought a bull-barreled Ruger in 6mm Rem. I don't even know if it had an original barrel, and have doubts about it because the man said he was a serious target shooter, and this was "one he almost kept to compete with." It would shoot bugholes with the cheap ammo I went out and bought. Even with a Japanese scope from the early 70's. One day I traded it for a cute little side by side 20 ga. that was worth $400. I said, someday I'll get another bull barrel. Little did I realize what a gem I had.

So, yeah, I guess I'm in the "like them" column.
 
I have never owned one, but I was thinking of buying one years and years ago in .338 Win Mag.
Not sure of the exact model, but it was a stainless M77 with a laminate stock.
The thing that put me off was how small the pistol grip was in my hand – it felt tiny.
The stock felt small and slim, and I'm only of average height too.
The thought of shooting it in a .338 Win Mag didn't appeal to me at all...

I think the M77 is a great-looking rifle, and I have nothing against them whatsoever, but I've never forgotten how that stock felt in my hands...

Russ
 
I only have the Ruger Hawkeye stainless in .375 Ruger with the Green Mountain Laminate stock, bought on sale at Bass Pro, and I love it!

If I had bought this hunting rifle first...I might not own any other hunting centerfire rifles, cuz this rifle is accurate, powerful, I can shoot it well, and legal to hunt pretty much any big game anywhere a bottle necked centerfire bolt action rifle can be used to hunt.

Here is a picture of it with a blacktail I took with it last year.
 

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Jim Golden said:
I had to look up what an "RSM" and "RSI" were.... I have a M77 Mk II International which I think is the RSI with the full stock in .270 Win. As mentioned above, the trigger is horrible on it. I've killed one deer with it and it basically sits on the shelf. But, I see that Timney makes a replacement trigger for it. I've had good luck with other Timney's...has anyone on here put one in a M77 Mk II? How'd it do? It's a really nice little rifle other than the trigger. I'd spring for the Timney if it would fix it :)
Click to expand...
I just fitted a timney on a left hand m77 mk2 7mm rem mag. Fitting the safety took a bit of time but not crazy if you are handy with filing/polishing. The sear was a bit high on the replacement so needs a bit of work to keep the action smooth.
 
Badboymelvin said:
I have never owned one, but I was thinking of buying one years and years ago in .338 Win Mag.
Not sure of the exact model, but it was a stainless M77 with a laminate stock.
The thing that put me off was how small the pistol grip was in my hand – it felt tiny.
The stock felt small and slim, and I'm only of average height too.
The thought of shooting it in a .338 Win Mag didn't appeal to me at all...

I think the M77 is a great-looking rifle, and I have nothing against them whatsoever, but I've never forgotten how that stock felt in my hands...

Russ
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100%…. Ruger stocks are actually fairly slim—especially through the wrist and fore-end—at least compared to something like a Winchester Model 70 or a cz.

They seem to lean more toward that classic British/Mauser style—straighter lines, a more open grip, and a narrower fore-end. Not quite as refined or slim as a true Rigby-type rifle, but definitely heading in that direction.

By comparison, the Model 70 feels fuller through the grip and wider in the fore-end—more of a traditional American profile.

One of the things I really prefer even with large hands.

There are several gunsmiths that specialize in thinning the cz and Winchester stocks and making them more “traditional” stalking rifle.
 
CBeck said:
100%…. Ruger stocks are actually fairly slim—especially through the wrist and fore-end—at least compared to something like a Winchester Model 70 or a cz.

They seem to lean more toward that classic British/Mauser style—straighter lines, a more open grip, and a narrower fore-end. Not quite as refined or slim as a true Rigby-type rifle, but definitely heading in that direction.

By comparison, the Model 70 feels fuller through the grip and wider in the fore-end—more of a traditional American profile.

One of the things I really prefer even with large hands.

There are several gunsmiths that specialize in thinning the cz and Winchester stocks and making them more “traditional” stalking rifle.
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I have also noticed how slim the Ruger stock is compared to others. I like how true Hawkeyes especially handle, but one downside may be that they aren’t great for soaking up recoil
 
I love mine. I have a MkII in a .270 that I’ve taken whitetail, mule deer, axis, coyotes and pigs. It is my favorite rifle that I have complete confidence in. I also have an African in .375 Ruger that I used on my last RSA trip. Great shooting guns!
 
I love the Hawkeyes and haven't tried the other similar Rugers.

Regarding the stock being thin, I think it depends on the model. My son has a standard Hawkeye .308 which has a thin stock, but my Guide in .30-06 has a beefy stock. I have owned two other Hawkeyes and only sold them for changing calibre preferences.

I also have a Model 70 Safari Express in .375 H&H and consider it comparable to the Hawkeyes, just different. The safeties are similar but I find the Hawkeye safety easy to use quietly with just my thumb. If I were looking for another CRF rifle, it would be a toss up between another Hawkeye or Model 70 assuming both were available in the calibre I'm looking for.
 
-I have a few of each, 1 tang safety in 25-06 with a thicker than sporter barrel. Shoots lights out.
-What was a Ruger Hawkeye paddle stock matt stainless in 35 whelen that is now in a Bell and Carlson stock, also a great shooter.
-Ruger African 35 whelen which is coming with me in May
-There’s another mint 270 Ruger I forget if it’s a tang safety or mk2 I don’t remember but unknown it’s in the safe lol
-I just picked up last November one of those Ruger “bush” rifles in 35 whelen, I really enjoy this setup, and it will become my go to rifle for here.

Every single one of them I pillar bed the stocks, bed the action , timney triggers, and float the magazine box. They are not the smoothest like my m70’s, but they are pretty rugged and for the cost can’t be beat.
 
I am not an expert of Ruger firearms, and I have never owned one, but I shot few weeks ago an elephant with the model quoted below. It was a borrowed rifle from a game department, but I can give a positive account of this type of rifle in terms of manufacturing, precision, and perfectly quickly feeding of a bigger cartridge like the 416 Ruger.

Ruger News

ruger.com ruger.com

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Had very brief, limited affair with a couple of rifles of the early tang safety model, the CRF wannabes. Gross chamber dimension issues with both. Pretty much swore off Ruger 77s after that. Piddled a little with the Hawkeye version, never owned one and really mystified by the tiny, funky wing safety nub Ruger designed. Seemed partially usable. No experience with the RSM but they looked the part. Never could figure out the reason for Ruger’s action to stock mounting system. Theory is one thing, real world for a wood stock is something else.
 
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