Ruger M77 short or long action

[HighValleyRanch]

I was looking for another stock for my ruger M77 and the ads referred to short action and long action model 77's, new and old style.

How do I tell what stock to get?

It's just marked M77 and is .308.
Barrel looks straight, not tapered, and the safety is on the tang.

[fisherman66]

Short action = 308 family of cartridges
Long action = 30'06 family of cartidges

Little over simplified, but a good place to start.

I've been shooting a heavy barreled 280 (long action) tang safety M77 for about a decade.

[DonR101395]

That would be an "old style" short action.

[HighValleyRanch]

Great! now I know what to look for.

[RocketFoot]

Didn't they just change from M77 MKII to the M77 Hawkeye? That may be old and new style. I have a new Hawkeye in 7mm mag.

[Scorch]

The Ruger 77 with a tang safety is the "old style". Ruger now offers a Ruger 77 Mk II and the Ruger 77 Hawkeye, both based on the same action type, but the Hawkeye has a slimmer, slightly more contoured stock.

[Deaf Smith]

I once had the 77 with a tang safety. .338 WM. Blued. Real good gun. Kind of wish I'd kept it (even though it kicked like a mule.)