M77 MKII all weathers are some of my favorite rifles. I currently only have three a 308, 30-06 dropped in a Hawkeye walnut stock and an ultralight 7mm-08. Once the trigger is worked and stock bedded (if needed at all) then they are about perfect to me. They are not light rifles, but I don't hunt at high elevation in the Rockies walking many miles so the weight does not bother me. In fact, it helps me to hold the rifle steadier especially shooting off hand. Ruger did make a run of them in the synthetic ultralight configuration in 243 and 6.5 Creed not long ago so maybe they will make another run soon.
Last edited by TnBigBore; 02/13/24.
Always remember that you are unique, just like everyone else.
I like the Mark II and the Hawkeye stainless rifles. Personal preference, but I prefer the Mark II's bead blasted. Though, I do have some with the original shine.
I have a 7mm-08, .30-06 and a 35 Whelen. All work well. I replaced the trigger spring and polished the trigger/sear mating surfaces on all of them. It's about a 30 minute job and then you're good to go with a fantastic 2.5 pound trigger pull with a rugged open trigger design.
The 7mm-08 has killed a fair amount of stuff around home - whitetails, coyotes, and a bobcat. The .30-06 killed a caribou in northern BC last fall, and the Whelen took a black bear on Vancouver Island a couple of springs ago. I could have done all of that with just the .30-06, but the three together are a good set.
There was a NOS All-Weather UL 7mm-08 Hawkeye that just sold in GB at its starting bid of $1200. It sat for a little while and was just a little too much for me, though it was tempting. I picked up one of the Sports South .243 UL’s about a year and a half ago and it is one nice handling rifle. I’m not wild about the chambering, but it’s a nice rifle.
I hunt with a SS Hawkeye in 358 every season. I’m not nort a fan of the stock. I should have bedded it a long time ago but haven’t. I do like it a lot especially since it shoots better than it used to. The stainless shows marks more than I thought it would but it just adds character to it.
There was a NOS All-Weather UL 7mm-08 Hawkeye that just sold in GB at its starting bid of $1200. It sat for a little while and was just a little too much for me, though it was tempting. I picked up one of the Sports South .243 UL’s about a year and a half ago and it is one nice handling rifle. I’m not wild about the chambering, but it’s a nice rifle.
Not looking for one, or anything else actually, but if I wanted one, I’d pay that. Sometimes you just got to pony up for what you want, good deal or not.
There was a NOS All-Weather UL 7mm-08 Hawkeye that just sold in GB at its starting bid of $1200. It sat for a little while and was just a little too much for me, though it was tempting. I picked up one of the Sports South .243 UL’s about a year and a half ago and it is one nice handling rifle. I’m not wild about the chambering, but it’s a nice rifle.
Not looking for one, or anything else actually, but if I wanted one, I’d pay that. Sometimes you just got to pony up for what you want, good deal or not.
If it were a .308 (though they don’t exist) I would have. Not knocking the 7mm-08 by any means. It’s a great cartridge, it’s just I’m already well invested in the .308.
It seems as though it pretty prevalent on the road system in my vicinity. Pretty much wherever there is 375 H&H and 416 Ruger, the Ruger versions are there. Occasionally, I see the Buffalo Bore, Choice, and DoubleTap. These go pretty quickly if loaded with the Barnes TSX. Commercial Transportation limitations to Alaska, can be a limiting factor to anything coming to Alaska, particularly ammunition and powder. This is most obvious with increased demand during panic buying, and a month or so prior to moose season.
Edit: As to brass, I will assume there will be more runs. I have seen periods of no-brass availability for the 416 Remington, 458 Lott, and 458 Winchester over the years. This was before the covid bs.
My favorite rifles and I own a pile of them in both the sporter and ultralight configurations. I wish Ruger would make an All-Weather Ultralight .308 win. I don’t know why this configuration was never done. Seems like a no brainer to me. Here’s one of my latest, a Sports South exclusive 30-06 Ultralight.
I'd like an all weather ultralight 308 with an 18"-20" barrel and open sights. I really miss the way my old 338 rcm all weather 20" with sights carried. I packed it around the grizzly filled island Park quite a bit. The same in 308 would be more practical.
Sometimes I just carry my 77/44 all weather when camping up there these days. It's a hammer with the lee 310g cast flat nosed bullets.
I also wouldn't mind an all weather with a shorter say 20" barrel with sights in 9,3x62. Seems like it would be a great Alaska rifle. Should feed well and hold 5 rounds and be that stainless ruger ruggedness.
I had a guide gun in 30-06 that was close but the barrel contour was too heavy and the laminate stock was pretty ugly.
When all is said and done cockroaches and Ruger 77 MKIIs will remain. Just a bombproof design; simple, steel, heavily proportioned internals, one-piece bolt, integral bases. I bought one of the newer "full form" synthetic stocks for my stainless/boat paddle .308, it worked fine but I've gone back to the skeleton zytel; beauty is as beauty does. Should've bought a few more in the late 90's.
Interesting. I changed over to the skeleton Zytel for a while, but went back to the full zytel. Different strokes I guess.