Ruger M-77 in 6MM rem

[Wayne F]

I inherited a Ruger M-77 Mark II in 6MM rem from my father. This rifle appears to have not been fired. I found a receipt that indicates he purchased it shortly before his death and I can find no evidence that it has been fired.

Is there a process for breaking in a new rifle? All my shooting will be punching paper at 100, 200 and 300 yds., all from a bench.

In addition, what is the process for sighting in a rifle like this. It is equiped with a Tasco high country scope. Any good websites on these issues or general advice would be much appreaciated.

Thanks
Wayne

 

[BADSBSNF81]

Well, as far as web sites go, just do a search with terms like "rifle shooting", "marksmanship", "target shooting", etc.

As for "breaking in", there are many different theories and procedures. IMHO, buy as many different brands and weights of ammo you can find/afford and find out what the rifle likes. At this point, scope regulation is not that important(provided that you are on paper). When you find the factory load that gives you the best group, you can then do a "two shot zero" with the scope.

You will need a friend to help. Fire one round and note where it is on the target. Have your friend adjust the windage and elevation of the scope until the cross hairs are centered. Fire the second round. It should be close to the first one. Fire a 3 or 5 shot group to verify.

Remember, the scope only allows you to see the target better. It doesn't make you a better shot.

Find an NRA rifle course to learn the basics if you don't know them already. Good luck.

 

[Yanus]

Wayne,
First of all, I am sorry to hear about your father. I lost mine 3 Oct. of this year. You have my sympathies.......

Now, as to your rifle, you need to take it to a gunshop and have the scope bore sighted, unless you already own a boresighter yourself. This will cost about $15, but it will put you on the paper at 100 yds. I own a Bushnell boresighter that I've used for many years. I've personally boresighted many rifles. Most good boresighters such as Bushnell and Tasco run about $80.

Then, follow the above advice and try 2 or 3 different brands of ammo to see what your rifle likes. Probably the best 6mm Rem ammo out there is Remington. Good luck and enjoy.......

Yanus

 

[Art Eatman]

No particular argument with the above ideas, but let me make life a bit simpler.

"Break in" has been discussed here many times. Since what you have is a hunting rifle and not a benchrest rifle, I can't see where worrying about breaking it in has any merit. The key is to do a bit of extra cleaning when you are first sighting it in and testing for which ammo works best as to accuracy.

As to ammo, I have been quite pleased with the Federal (85-grain Sierra boat-tailed hollow-point (HPBT) in my .243. It's as accurate as my handloads; 3/8" to 1/2" three-shot groups.

Bore sighting: Set the rifle, sans bolt, on some sort of rest on your dining table or desk, pointed out a window at some "target" at a distance. Look through the bore; look through the scope. Twiddle the knobs until the two are pretty much together.

For your first shooting, do it at 25 yards. I don't remember if that scope is 1/4- or 1/2-MOA (Minute Of Angle; roughly 1" at 100 yards), but it will take either four or two times as many clicks at 25 yards as at 100 yards to get a given amount of movement of the point of impact. At 25 yards, it's just fine to shoot one shot and then adjust the scope.

Dead on at 25 yards is roughly two inches high at 100 yards. Roughly. So, the next step is the actual sighting in at 100 yards. If your first shot is on the paper--and it should be--fire two more shots at the same "hold" of the crosshairs.

Adjust the scope as necessary to move the imaginary center of the three shots to two inches high and horizontally centered. You don't need to wait around a lot between shots, but don't fire them "rapidly".

The trajectory of the 6mm Remington is for 2" high at 100 yards, you're dead on around 200 yards, and about 6" low at 300. That'll take care of 99% of your hunting needs.

If your three-shot groups are over an inch, and you're doing your part as to consistent sight picture, come on back and we'll talk about "tuning".

I hope all this stuff hasn't been a case of "talking down" to you; no such intent.

Regards,

Art