Info on a Ruger M77 Mark II in .280 Rem. Needed.

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sunflake

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I own a Remington 700 in 25-06, and a Weatherby Vanguard S2 30-06. So I understand and can attest to these 2 as well as Winchester Model 70. But have zero knowledge of Ruger 77 Rifles. Are they any good? I see a lot of them for sale which kinda makes me wonder. I know the Ruger No.1 is a great rifle but that is as far as I go. Lets hear the opinions from the guys who know.

Thanks in advance!
 
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Info on a Ruger M77 Mark II in .280 Rem. Neded.

I've got a couple of Ruger rifles. The 7x57 I have hasn't been the best grouper of my rifles, but I've taken a couple of deer with it. The last group I shot with it was with a Hornady 139 grain that measured .75 center to center at 100 yards which is better than I'd done previously this rifle. Usually can expect 1.5-2 inches with this one on a good day.
I bought a 280 Ruger Hawkeye and it seems to shoot well with some 1 inch groups the little bit I've shot it. I took my last two deer with this rifle and I really like the way the trigger pull is set up.
I personally think the build and performance out of the Rugers is on par with Remington and Winchester. I've never shot a Weatherby rifle although I Do have a Remington Classic chambered in the 300 Weatherby.
 
The original 77's and the MK-II's are solid dependable rifles, but can have triggers that range from acceptable to awful out of the box. With a little tweaking most can be just fine.

The original tang safety versions were hit or miss as far as accuracy goes. The Mk-II's are generally plenty accurate enough for hunting. Most will shoot around 1 MOA with trigger work, but I've never shot a Ruger that could compete with other brands for pure accuracy. I'd still rate a Ruger at near the top of my list of guns I'd prefer to buy. Accuracy is good enough, and I value rugged dependability over a tiny bit of accuracy I may not be able to use anyway.

The newer Hawkeye's generally have much better triggers and have shot the best of any of the Rugers I've owned or shot.

The 280 is a good round, especially if you are a handloader. I wouldn't touch one if not. It isn't anything magical though. It won't do anything a 270 or 30-06 won't do just as well. It also doesn't give up anything to them either. I've had a couple of 280's over the years, including one of the Ruger's. If you just want something different from the crowd it is a good choice. If you want to be able to find ammo anywhere, not such a good choice.
 
Excellent rifles, well built and very tough. As stated above triggers sometimes need some work but other than that an outstanding rifle in my opinion.
 
I own a ruger 77 hawkeye and will agree about the trigger, I changed my and installed a timney, really did alot for my groups. Just last week I changed the stock to a boyd thumbhole and that really did it. I would buy another 77, i just need to pick a caliber I would like, mine is a 7-08..any ideas?
 
I've got a new Hawkeye in 223, and like others have said, the trigger isn't perfect. Mine was about 4 pounds, so I took it to a smith and he just swapped out the spring (so very easy) and dropped the pull to 2 pounds. I still wasn't completely satisfied, so I bought and installed a Timney. Great trigger. I also have some tang safety Rugers and all of them have had trigger work and all have fine triggers now. And they all shoot great.
 
Mine is also a Hawkeye in .280. My trigger came from the factory at 4 pounds and I haven't had to change it. Shoots 140gr Noslers extremely well.
 
My .204 is a Ruger M77 MkII. The only change I've ever made is the trigger. It would have been fine for a deer gun but not for varmints. It is the most accurate rifle I've ever owned. Shoots 1/2 MOA at 100 with anything I load. Twice, I shot (small) groups at 400, both times were under 3".

Can't speak the the .280 at all.
 
"The original tang safety versions were hit or miss as far as accuracy goes. The Mk-II's are generally plenty accurate enough for hunting."

The big part of that problem with the tang safety rifles is Ruger used contract barrels by Wilson. I had two chambered to the 7x57, a #1A and an M77. The M77 was a decent shooter with loads that it liked. I found that going with the heavier bullets and seating hem out a bit made a big difference in accuracy. The #1A however had a throat so deep even a 175 gr. Hornady round nose couldn't come close to the rifling. My gunsmith confirmed this and I sent the gun back to Ruger. They replaced the barrel with one chambered to proper dimensions and the gun is very accurate now. My only complaint was it took Ruger 7 months to get the gun back to me. :eek:
I can't say anything about the MKII's as I don't have one. I do have five tang safety guns and I like them.
Paul B.
 
I have an old Ruger 77V, that now sports a slimmer barrel by Douglas. With the old bull barrel (which I think came from Shilen), it was a wonderful shooter. With the new barrel it remains a wonderful shooter. And I've got tang safety Rugers in 308 Int'l and a 270 Ultralight and they are both excellent shooters.

As for the barrels for the old tang safety models, I've read (but probably can't find the article now) that the 77V barrels were made by Shilen and at least one other company, and it was just luck of the draw as to whether or not you got a great shooter. Still, back when I was first reading about the Ruger 77V in Gun Digest in the early 70's and how Ruger was now chambering them in 220 Swift, the gun writer raved about accuracy. That article was what got me dreaming of and eventually buying a 77V in 220. It was so accurate that it was boring. Shot most everything into tiny little groups till I finally shot out the barrel.
 
I have several Ruger Model 77s (two earlier tang safety ones and two MKIIs) and have found them all to be reliable, accurate and well-made.

I've had a couple of 280's over the years, including one of the Ruger's. If you just want something different from the crowd it is a good choice. If you want to be able to find ammo anywhere, not such a good choice.
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If you want something really different from the crowd-but just as hard to find ammunition for, look for a MKII chambered in 7X64 Brenneke. I have one and it is especially accurate. The 7X64 is a ballistic twin to the .280 Remington and it's virtually impossible to see any difference in the case size and configuration between the two cartridges.
 
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