Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger M77 opinions

I had a Ruger 77 tang safety in 7x57. The chambering was the only reason I bought it. It shot well enough, but I never really liked it. Nothing about it seemed to fit me well. Later I bought a CZ550 in 7x57 that I fell in love with. After I determined that the CZ shot well I dumped the Ruger, and don't miss it.

I've hunted with a ruger 77 since 1973. A tang 270 win was my only big game rifle until ruger changed the bolt to make the 77 a true crf, around 92 or 94 if memory serves. I then bought a mk2 in 270 and another in 30-06'. I bought a Hawkeye a couple years ago in 308win. For me, glass bedding the actions, free floating the barrels, and having a good Smith smooth/adjust the triggers gave me fine accuracy and rifles that performed without problems. One of the best rifles out there, imo.

I've got 3, all walnut and blued. A 1975 Tang Safe 250 Savage I bought used quite a few years ago, already had a Timney trigger. Well under an inch with varmint bullets, I finally got around to fine tuning loads with some 100 gr bullets and got them under an inch.
A MkII 22-250 that is one of the most accurate rifles I own, especially with the 55 Hornady sp.
Another MkII, 257 Roberts that has been my most preferred deer and antelope rifle since I got it.
All have been glass bedded and had some trigger work done by me. Nicely accurate, but a little heavy, they get the job done from field positions.

Agree. All my Ruger walnut stocked bolt actions (eight of them) have all shot better/much better with a bed, float and trigger job. However, I have seen two stainless/synthetic Rugers shoot pretty good straight out of the box. But I prefer walnut on rifles.

I just finished this Ruger M77 Mark II project recently. Haven’t haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet. Got another Ruger M77 Mark II that should be complete soon as well.

I recently bought a Model 77 that dates to 1970, an RS in 284 Win. It was on consignment at a local shop, months after seeing it they still had it. I offered up & we met somewhere in the middle.

So far I just gave it a good once over, deep cleaning & adjusted the trigger. I’ve had the Ruger rimfires & handguns, but no Model 77 until now.

Please don't use this rifle during deer season if you hunt near the Derkins old place on 154. I'll get all confused and start heading towards you to help drag out a dead bambi The RS is one of my favorites, especially the tangers. Congrats on your new rifle.

I have one in 30.06. Used to by my father's. It's a very good rifle. Only thing I replaced was the trigger to a Timney (stock trigger is terrible). I killed my first deer with it in the 90s. It has a lot of sentimental value

Been looking for a tang safety .270 UL for years without success.

I have a tang safety 308, a stainless MKII 243, and a stainless Hawkeye Ultralight 7mm-08. I like them all. The tanger has the original trigger, the MKII had a trigger job done by Mr Timney, and the Hawkeye has a Timney trigger.

They are sweet.

I have a couple of tangers, one from 1977 in 270 and one from 1980 or 81 in 6mm Rem. The 6mm stock got broken, I replaced it with a Boyds. It feels better in my hand than the stock of the 270, less clunky is a good description. I don't like the 'wing safeties' (do like the Hawkeye stock) so I don't have any new ones.

A couple of weeks ago, the 6mm put some Speer 70 gr TNT's into 3 shot groups that measured around 0.6 inches. The 270 has always been an inch shooter. Stock triggers, no bedding. I've shot a lot of groundhogs and deer with both rifles.

Dale

We have a Hawkeye in 30-06. Shoots lights out and the rifle feels and handles like a dream. But I really want a Tanger in .220 Swift.

I wanted a 220 Swift M77 V, but bought a 22-250 in the mean time.

Sweet!

I have a couple mark 2 . I really like them. If I was in the market for a new rifle it would likely be a Hawkeye

Flat bolt too!

My Ruger MKII VT in .22-250 put 4 into 1/2" at 200 yards. No complaints here!

FYI I had a flat bolt in 22-250 and tried to put it in a McMillan Ruger stock. Inletting is different. McMillan never setup their equipment to inlet for those old flat bolts.

I have had 3 of the M77 Mark II's with the boat paddle stock. The 300 Win that I had was a great shooter out of the box, with a little break in and a trigger job it just got better, wish I still had it. The 30-06 I had shot well with 165 Grain SST's , but could never really get it to shoot under an inch, never really got to tinker with other loads for it, end up selling it. The Stainless 338 was a 1/2" gun all day long with 225 grain Remington core lokts, another one that I let slip away. Maybe one day I will get to replace them.

All in all, I think they are great rifles, I have heard good and bad, from many people, but I have heard good and bad about all different brands as well.