My wife's grandfather has M77 in 270, so very similar sans the stainless. In his work shop, the tops of three walls are covered with antler racks. I counted this past season while we were processing deer, and there are 37 sets... and that's just the bucks. I asked him how many of those were shot with his 270. "All of them." He said, "That's the only gun I've used for deer since 1974."
Now he is only a moderately avid hunter, so he hasn't killed hundreds and hundreds of deer with it. But he has killed a lot, and he really likes that rifle, it has never really failed him.
He had a friend do several boxes of hand loads for him a number of years ago. I don't know the powder or the bullet brand, but they are 130 grain soft points (I think they're Sierras - 130 grn Gamekings - 1820s but I can't be certain) in Hornady brass.
It's zeroed at 200 yds, and when one of tests it several weeks before season, it's spot on... year after year after year!
It has an older leupold 3-9x40, and it will probably be on there until the barrel is replaced, if not after.
Basically, I don't think you'll be disappointed, especially if you enjoy getting a finely tuned load for it!
Now he is only a moderately avid hunter, so he hasn't killed hundreds and hundreds of deer with it. But he has killed a lot, and he really likes that rifle, it has never really failed him.
He had a friend do several boxes of hand loads for him a number of years ago. I don't know the powder or the bullet brand, but they are 130 grain soft points (I think they're Sierras - 130 grn Gamekings - 1820s but I can't be certain) in Hornady brass.
It's zeroed at 200 yds, and when one of tests it several weeks before season, it's spot on... year after year after year!
It has an older leupold 3-9x40, and it will probably be on there until the barrel is replaced, if not after.
Basically, I don't think you'll be disappointed, especially if you enjoy getting a finely tuned load for it!