The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: Bolt, Lever, and Pump Action

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 18, 2009, 11:02 AM   #26
Dr. Strangelove
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 1, 2008
Location: Athens, GA
Posts: 1,436
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.
Dr. Strangelove is offline  
Old November 18, 2009, 11:29 PM   #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.
bottom rung is offline  
Old November 18, 2009, 11:56 PM   #28
Crankylove
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 8, 2008
Location: 8B ID
Posts: 1,752
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
Crankylove is offline  
Old January 7, 2012, 02:52 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.
rumrunner is offline  
Old January 7, 2012, 04:06 PM   #30
PawPaw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2010
Location: Central Louisiana
Posts: 3,137
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
PawPaw is offline  
Old January 7, 2012, 04:11 PM   #31
warbirdlover
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 13, 2009
Location: central Wisconsin
Posts: 2,324
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
Attached Images
File Type: jpg target.jpg (74.3 KB, 107 views)

Last edited by warbirdlover; January 7, 2012 at 04:17 PM.
warbirdlover is offline  
Old January 7, 2012, 06:07 PM   #32
603Country
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2011
Location: Thornton, Texas
Posts: 3,995
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.
603Country is offline  
Old January 7, 2012, 06:26 PM   #33
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,402
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?
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old January 7, 2012, 08:49 PM   #34
homesick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 11, 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 378
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.
homesick is offline  
Old January 7, 2012, 09:01 PM   #35
Orion6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 26, 2004
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 340
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.
Orion6 is offline  
Old January 8, 2012, 03:05 AM   #36
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,402
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.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old January 8, 2012, 03:40 AM   #37
BIG P
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 8, 2010
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 1,679
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.
BIG P is offline  
Old January 8, 2012, 07:30 AM   #38
Orion6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 26, 2004
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 340
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!
Orion6 is offline  
Old January 8, 2012, 12:33 PM   #39
TX Hunter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 11, 2010
Location: East Texas USA
Posts: 1,805
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.
TX Hunter is offline  
Old December 15, 2018, 01:26 AM   #40
Skinny cook
Junior Member
 
Join Date: December 14, 2018
Posts: 1
Follow up shots

Because running whitetail deer can be hard to hit with a rifle I've had to on two occasions fire five shots with my M77 in rapid succession...never had the slightest problem with that bolt gun.
Skinny cook is offline  
Old December 15, 2018, 06:24 AM   #41
jmr40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,792
Thread was started almost 13 years ago, been dormant for almost 7!!!
__________________
"If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong"

Winston Churchill
jmr40 is offline  
Old December 15, 2018, 07:07 AM   #42
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
Keep it alive! Ruger accuracy take 3,4,however many rebirths it has had. Mine is a 1.5” shooter roughly at 100 yds, but I cannot help, but think I can make it do better with technique and reloads!
Nathan is offline  
Old December 15, 2018, 08:54 AM   #43
joeb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 11, 2007
Location: Coastal South Texas
Posts: 135
I've got a 77R in .243 bought new in '79 or '80, I can't recall which year, but I guess it did okay with Federal ammo at 200 giving me about 1 1/4"-1 1 1/2". I do remember it printed all over the place with Remington and Winchester ammo. I found it satisfactory for 220.00 it cost and would pay it again.
joeb is offline  
Old December 15, 2018, 11:32 AM   #44
pete2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,566
I have a Mark II .270, bought in 1994. Not a tack driver but I bought it to hunt with. It will shoot everything I've ever tried in it, handloads and a couple factory loads, into 1-1/2 to 2 in at 100 yards in roughly the same place on the target. I did have a trigger job done on it when I bought it, it felt like a 27 lb trigger pull when I tried to shoot it in. (it was actually 7 lb.) A heck of a deer gun and it's purty.
pete2 is offline  
Old December 15, 2018, 03:19 PM   #45
dvdcrr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 5, 2010
Posts: 665
Mine will shoot 1" groups with several handloads. Stainless 223. But I did float it, glass bed it and do a real trigger job. Sporter barrel. 22"
__________________
"All warfare is based on deception. Hence when we are able to attack we must seem unable....when using our forces we must appear inactive. When we are near we must make the enemy believe we are far away."Sun Tzu The Art of War.
dvdcrr is offline  
Old December 15, 2018, 06:33 PM   #46
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
 
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
Start a new thread, fer cryin' out loud! Enough necrothreadia!
Art Eatman is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.12719 seconds with 11 queries