never was a big fan of ruger 77s

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive had good ones but for the most part they been a lot of work to get good accuracy out of. Ive allways prefered a 700 and own more of them then anything else but i have to say the 264mag i picked up last year has very quickly became probably the favorite rifle i own. I struggled with it at first and it took ruger putting a new barrel on it but now it does moa with 120 ballistic tips and that combo has taken 7 deer total now this year and every one of them has been a bang flop deal. Surprisingly no excessive meat damage except for the one i spined. that load has given consistant exit wounds and hits like the hammer of thor! Longest shot was a tad over 400 yards and the shortest about 150 so the bullet was challanged at both ends of the velocity range. this is the first 264 ive owned. I dont know why as ive allways liked odd ball rounds. I just cant figure why the 264 isnt a more popular round its sure not because of a lack of performance. Another thing ill say is i absolutely think that the hawkeye is hands down rugers best attempt at a bolt gun. I like this one so much I now have a new 7 mag just like it. I dont have time this year to play with that one but it will get a workout next year.

 

[okbob51]

The Ruger 77 began in 1968 in short actions only. They came with the flatbolt actions and had Douglas barrels. These early guns were VERY accurate. Sub moa groups are common with a variety of loads. Bill Ruger took great care to be sure these guns got off to a great start with the public. They also fit most people better than the latter guns.

Somewhere in the middle seventies Ruger began to buy barrels from other companies than Douglas. They also began putting in unadjustable "lawyer triggers". The stocks were changed to a lesser shape. Ruger 77 became the long shot for finding an accurate rifle. Some were still accurate buy most were not.

I won't touch a Ruger 77 unless it is a early flat bolt. Maybe the Hawkeyes are better than the Mark II.

 

[geetarman]

It depends on the luck of the draw I guess.

I have two M77Vs. A 1974 25.06 and a 1976 22-250. Both shoot very well.

The 25.06 does not like the lighter bullets. Seems to prefer 117-120 gr.

Both rifles have been trouble free for a lot of years.

Geetarman