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.
