Ruger M77 Mark II accuracy - Page 2

Dr. Strangelove · November 18, 2009, 12:02 PM

I've got a Model 77 in .308 that is a great rifle. Strangely, though I've loaded for it for years, I've never bothered to measure the group size. It's a hunting rifle, not a target rifle.

If it's going to be a hunting rifle, I'd say buy it. I think too many folks get hung up on the "sub-moa" stuff for basic hunting rifles at normal ranges.

bottom rung · November 19, 2009, 12:29 AM

I have a Ruger M77 MkII Hawkeye in .30-06. I get 1.5" groups with factory Federal 180gr Power Shoks. Personally, I love the Rugers. I think they have more character than some other bolt actions. My rifle is a sporter with a 22" barrel. It has the LC6 trigger that it came with from the factory. It is set around 5lbs with absolutely no creep. I think it is a fantastic trigger for hunting. I couldn't be happier with my rifle. It looked fantastic cradled in the 45" spread of a Canadian Moose.

Crankylove · November 19, 2009, 12:56 AM

I have a MKII Hawkeye in .358 Win, and accuracy is not a problem with it. Two weeks ago I shot another 5/8" group at 100 yds, thats plenty good enough for me (also outshot my dad with his CZ in .416 Rigby, was a good day

)

rumrunner · January 7, 2012, 03:52 PM

I personally will never purchase another m77. I bought one new and it has never shot well. I have tried numerous different factory ammo and my best groups are 3-4 moa. This is completely unacceptable to me. I now use a Rem 700 which i consistently group sub-moa. It's likely i got unlucky, but i know at least some other people have the same issues. I'm surprised no one on here has anything bad to say about them. As far as the trigger goes that isn't much of a concern. The M77 trigger is one of the easiest ones to improve with a file and diamond stone. Mine is now a clean break at three pounds. Of course I would never recommend you do that, but you probably have the required skills. I personally wish I would have spent the extra money to buy either a Rem 700 or a Winchester Model 70, and will never make the same mistake.

PawPaw · January 7, 2012, 05:06 PM

I've got two old Ruger 77s, both in .25-06. One is a fine shooter with 117 grain bullets and Reloder 22 powder. Groups under an inch are regular and expected. If the rifle shoots over an inch, the loose nut behind the stock isn't doing his part.

The second one is an unknown factor. I picked it up last week and it hasn't been to the range yet. Both of these rifles are tang-safety models and so far I've been very happy with them.

I agree that the trigger could use some work. They manage to combine grit and creep with just a touch of overtravel. I might install a Timney on this newer rifle at some time in the future.

warbirdlover · January 7, 2012, 05:11 PM

I just got back from the range. In other threads I had put a Boyd's stock on my MkII Ruger .300 Win Mag. Here is the five shot group before I moved it to 1-1/4" high at 100 and corrected left and right to be centered. Not bad for a 20 year old rifle eh?

Oh yeah. This was with cheapo factory Remington CoreLoks. No handloading by me.

I did buy a lighter trigger spring for it and it took me all of 60 seconds to put it in. Trigger is right at 4 lbs. now. Good enough for a hunting rifle.

http://www.erniethegunsmith.com/catalog/i22.html

603Country · January 7, 2012, 07:07 PM

Warbirdlover is right. Replacing the trigger spring took my pull from about 4.5 pounds down to 2 pounds. Cost me $10 at the gunsmith and it took him maybe 5 or 10 minutes, but most of that time was him looking for the correct spring. If I had know it was THAT simple, I'd have done it myself. As for the older Ruger 77's, the tang safety kind, those triggers will eventually need some work. I've got two of those and the triggers are fine now, with help from the local gunsmith. As for accuracy, all my Rugers shoot fine. The most recent buy, the Hawkeye in 223, just (about an hour ago) shot 4 Sierra 65 gr Gamekings into one ragged hole, with the 5th just outside the ragged hole. Center to center, measured the longest way, was 0.5 inches. Tomorrow I'm going to see what Nosler 40 gr Ballistic Tips will do, over AA2230 or H335.

FrankenMauser · January 7, 2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumrunner

... I personally wish I would have spent the extra money to buy either a Rem 700 or a Winchester Model 70, and will never make the same mistake.

You resurrected a 2 year-old thread to tell us that?

homesick · January 7, 2012, 09:49 PM

Doc I have acouple Ruger 77s one being a Hawkeye in 7mm-08 all weather. This is a standard weight hunting rifle, it shoots the 120, 130, and 140 gr bullets well under 1 MOA. From what I see at the range these rifles are very accurate. As for the triggers most are very heavy from the factory but they are an easy fix.
If the price is right, and it fits your needs sounds like a go to me.

Orion6 · January 7, 2012, 10:01 PM

Had one in .308 in the mid-late 90's. Wish I had never sold it.

It would easily do an inch at 100 yards with Core-Lokts and Winchester hunting ammo. Had a decent trigger too.

I'd take a chance if the price is that good. It was a heck of a rifle for me.

FrankenMauser · January 8, 2012, 04:05 AM

Quote:

I'd take a chance if the price is that good. It was a heck of a rifle for me.

Quote:

If the price is right, and it fits your needs sounds like a go to me.

Servo77 started this thread 6 years ago.

The prior resurrection was 2 years ago. (for no real reason)

I think this thread has run its course.

BIG P · January 8, 2012, 04:40 AM

I've got the 25-06 with about a 1000 rounds down the pipe & its still taking deer & hogs @ 300yds.& songdogs at 400 so I sure aint complaining.beats the fuzz out of throwing rocks.

Orion6 · January 8, 2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

I'd take a chance if the price is that good. It was a heck of a rifle for me.
Quote:
If the price is right, and it fits your needs sounds like a go to me.
Servo77 started this thread 6 years ago.

The prior resurrection was 2 years ago. (for no real reason)

I think this thread has run its course.

I didn't even notice, ha ha!

TX Hunter · January 8, 2012, 01:33 PM

I have one of the little Ruger Frontier .308s and despite its extreemly short 16.5 inch barrel it is still very accurate. Less than two inches at 100 yards with factory ammo. I hunt deer with it and love it.

November 18, 2009, 12:02 PM	#26
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,406	What are you going to do with it? I've got a Model 77 in .308 that is a great rifle. Strangely, though I've loaded for it for years, I've never bothered to measure the group size. It's a hunting rifle, not a target rifle. If it's going to be a hunting rifle, I'd say buy it. I think too many folks get hung up on the "sub-moa" stuff for basic hunting rifles at normal ranges.

November 19, 2009, 12:56 AM	#28
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: The land of green Jello and vanilla icecream Posts: 1,200	I have a MKII Hawkeye in .358 Win, and accuracy is not a problem with it. Two weeks ago I shot another 5/8" group at 100 yds, thats plenty good enough for me (also outshot my dad with his CZ in .416 Rigby, was a good day ) __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776

January 7, 2012, 05:06 PM	#30
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 2,667	I've got two old Ruger 77s, both in .25-06. One is a fine shooter with 117 grain bullets and Reloder 22 powder. Groups under an inch are regular and expected. If the rifle shoots over an inch, the loose nut behind the stock isn't doing his part. The second one is an unknown factor. I picked it up last week and it hasn't been to the range yet. Both of these rifles are tang-safety models and so far I've been very happy with them. I agree that the trigger could use some work. They manage to combine grit and creep with just a touch of overtravel. I might install a Timney on this newer rifle at some time in the future. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

November 19, 2009, 12:29 AM	#27
bottom rung Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 494	I have a Ruger M77 MkII Hawkeye in .30-06. I get 1.5" groups with factory Federal 180gr Power Shoks. Personally, I love the Rugers. I think they have more character than some other bolt actions. My rifle is a sporter with a 22" barrel. It has the LC6 trigger that it came with from the factory. It is set around 5lbs with absolutely no creep. I think it is a fantastic trigger for hunting. I couldn't be happier with my rifle. It looked fantastic cradled in the 45" spread of a Canadian Moose.

January 7, 2012, 03:52 PM	#29
rumrunner Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 28	I personally will never purchase another m77. I bought one new and it has never shot well. I have tried numerous different factory ammo and my best groups are 3-4 moa. This is completely unacceptable to me. I now use a Rem 700 which i consistently group sub-moa. It's likely i got unlucky, but i know at least some other people have the same issues. I'm surprised no one on here has anything bad to say about them. As far as the trigger goes that isn't much of a concern. The M77 trigger is one of the easiest ones to improve with a file and diamond stone. Mine is now a clean break at three pounds. Of course I would never recommend you do that, but you probably have the required skills. I personally wish I would have spent the extra money to buy either a Rem 700 or a Winchester Model 70, and will never make the same mistake.

January 7, 2012, 07:07 PM	#32
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 1,752	Warbirdlover is right. Replacing the trigger spring took my pull from about 4.5 pounds down to 2 pounds. Cost me $10 at the gunsmith and it took him maybe 5 or 10 minutes, but most of that time was him looking for the correct spring. If I had know it was THAT simple, I'd have done it myself. As for the older Ruger 77's, the tang safety kind, those triggers will eventually need some work. I've got two of those and the triggers are fine now, with help from the local gunsmith. As for accuracy, all my Rugers shoot fine. The most recent buy, the Hawkeye in 223, just (about an hour ago) shot 4 Sierra 65 gr Gamekings into one ragged hole, with the 5th just outside the ragged hole. Center to center, measured the longest way, was 0.5 inches. Tomorrow I'm going to see what Nosler 40 gr Ballistic Tips will do, over AA2230 or H335.

January 7, 2012, 09:49 PM	#34
homesick Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 290	Doc I have acouple Ruger 77s one being a Hawkeye in 7mm-08 all weather. This is a standard weight hunting rifle, it shoots the 120, 130, and 140 gr bullets well under 1 MOA. From what I see at the range these rifles are very accurate. As for the triggers most are very heavy from the factory but they are an easy fix. If the price is right, and it fits your needs sounds like a go to me.

January 7, 2012, 10:01 PM	#35
Orion6 Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 135	Had one in .308 in the mid-late 90's. Wish I had never sold it. It would easily do an inch at 100 yards with Core-Lokts and Winchester hunting ammo. Had a decent trigger too. I'd take a chance if the price is that good. It was a heck of a rifle for me.

January 8, 2012, 04:40 AM	#37
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,469	I've got the 25-06 with about a 1000 rounds down the pipe & its still taking deer & hogs @ 300yds.& songdogs at 400 so I sure aint complaining.beats the fuzz out of throwing rocks.

January 8, 2012, 01:33 PM	#39
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,776	I have one of the little Ruger Frontier .308s and despite its extreemly short 16.5 inch barrel it is still very accurate. Less than two inches at 100 yards with factory ammo. I hunt deer with it and love it.