Ruger M77 Mark II accuracy

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I have an M77 Mk II in .270 Winchester (laminated / SS). It will out shoot my skills, any day.

The trigger isn't bad, but definitely not worth bragging about.
If the rifle really is a 'screaming deal', you can afford to throw a Timney trigger in it - without breaking the bank.
 
I have a 308 Win. Ruger M77 Mk II International. Accuracy is very good, consistently within 1.5 MOA. The trigger ain't too bad, but I'm seriously considering a retrofit with a quality single set trigger (maybe a Kepplinger or Timney). :cool:

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I have they exact same rifle as Franken Mauser and have nothing but praise for it. Bought it last year and put to deer in the freezer with it. I kinda like the trigger
 

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I have a MkII in 270 I bought it in 1999. I have since put together quite a collection of other hunting rifles. Some cost 3 or 4 times as much as that Ruger. But I can't stop using the Ruger. It's a no nonsense rifle that I know won't let me down. I can't imagine how you could break one. Accuracy potential is there it's just pickier about what it likes than most guns. The trigger work is easy. Great guns. Free float the barrel, bed the action, and tune the trigger down to 3lbs and go hunt.
 
jet man, unless you're a benchrest competitor looking for reductions in group size on the order of thousandths of an inch, barrel length is not an important factor in accuracy. It's only a factor in muzzle velocity and in handling on moving targets. Well, to a minor extent in handling in the cab of a pickup or in moving through thick undergrowth.

(In the specialty world, some guys with .30-'06s for very long distance target shooting are using heavy VLD (very low drag) bullets and 30" barrels. Small groups at 1,100 and 1,300 yards.)

My 77, mentioned above, is a light sporter. 22" barrel.
 
What are you going to do with it?

I've got a Model 77 in .308 that is a great rifle. Strangely, though I've loaded for it for years, I've never bothered to measure the group size. It's a hunting rifle, not a target rifle.

If it's going to be a hunting rifle, I'd say buy it. I think too many folks get hung up on the "sub-moa" stuff for basic hunting rifles at normal ranges.
 
I have a Ruger M77 MkII Hawkeye in .30-06. I get 1.5" groups with factory Federal 180gr Power Shoks. Personally, I love the Rugers. I think they have more character than some other bolt actions. My rifle is a sporter with a 22" barrel. It has the LC6 trigger that it came with from the factory. It is set around 5lbs with absolutely no creep. I think it is a fantastic trigger for hunting. I couldn't be happier with my rifle. It looked fantastic cradled in the 45" spread of a Canadian Moose.
 
I have a MKII Hawkeye in .358 Win, and accuracy is not a problem with it. Two weeks ago I shot another 5/8" group at 100 yds, thats plenty good enough for me (also outshot my dad with his CZ in .416 Rigby, was a good day :) )
 
I personally will never purchase another m77. I bought one new and it has never shot well. I have tried numerous different factory ammo and my best groups are 3-4 moa. This is completely unacceptable to me. I now use a Rem 700 which i consistently group sub-moa. It's likely i got unlucky, but i know at least some other people have the same issues. I'm surprised no one on here has anything bad to say about them. As far as the trigger goes that isn't much of a concern. The M77 trigger is one of the easiest ones to improve with a file and diamond stone. Mine is now a clean break at three pounds. Of course I would never recommend you do that, but you probably have the required skills. I personally wish I would have spent the extra money to buy either a Rem 700 or a Winchester Model 70, and will never make the same mistake.
 
I've got two old Ruger 77s, both in .25-06. One is a fine shooter with 117 grain bullets and Reloder 22 powder. Groups under an inch are regular and expected. If the rifle shoots over an inch, the loose nut behind the stock isn't doing his part.

The second one is an unknown factor. I picked it up last week and it hasn't been to the range yet. Both of these rifles are tang-safety models and so far I've been very happy with them.

I agree that the trigger could use some work. They manage to combine grit and creep with just a touch of overtravel. I might install a Timney on this newer rifle at some time in the future.
 
I just got back from the range. In other threads I had put a Boyd's stock on my MkII Ruger .300 Win Mag. Here is the five shot group before I moved it to 1-1/4" high at 100 and corrected left and right to be centered. Not bad for a 20 year old rifle eh? :D Oh yeah. This was with cheapo factory Remington CoreLoks. No handloading by me.

I did buy a lighter trigger spring for it and it took me all of 60 seconds to put it in. Trigger is right at 4 lbs. now. Good enough for a hunting rifle.

http://www.erniethegunsmith.com/catalog/i22.html
 

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Warbirdlover is right. Replacing the trigger spring took my pull from about 4.5 pounds down to 2 pounds. Cost me $10 at the gunsmith and it took him maybe 5 or 10 minutes, but most of that time was him looking for the correct spring. If I had know it was THAT simple, I'd have done it myself. As for the older Ruger 77's, the tang safety kind, those triggers will eventually need some work. I've got two of those and the triggers are fine now, with help from the local gunsmith. As for accuracy, all my Rugers shoot fine. The most recent buy, the Hawkeye in 223, just (about an hour ago) shot 4 Sierra 65 gr Gamekings into one ragged hole, with the 5th just outside the ragged hole. Center to center, measured the longest way, was 0.5 inches. Tomorrow I'm going to see what Nosler 40 gr Ballistic Tips will do, over AA2230 or H335.
 
rumrunner said:
... I personally wish I would have spent the extra money to buy either a Rem 700 or a Winchester Model 70, and will never make the same mistake.
Click to expand...

You resurrected a 2 year-old thread to tell us that?
 
Doc I have acouple Ruger 77s one being a Hawkeye in 7mm-08 all weather. This is a standard weight hunting rifle, it shoots the 120, 130, and 140 gr bullets well under 1 MOA. From what I see at the range these rifles are very accurate. As for the triggers most are very heavy from the factory but they are an easy fix.
If the price is right, and it fits your needs sounds like a go to me.:)
 
Had one in .308 in the mid-late 90's. Wish I had never sold it.

It would easily do an inch at 100 yards with Core-Lokts and Winchester hunting ammo. Had a decent trigger too.

I'd take a chance if the price is that good. It was a heck of a rifle for me.
 
I'd take a chance if the price is that good. It was a heck of a rifle for me.
Click to expand...
If the price is right, and it fits your needs sounds like a go to me.
Click to expand...

Servo77 started this thread 6 years ago.

The prior resurrection was 2 years ago. (for no real reason)

I think this thread has run its course. ;)
 
I've got the 25-06 with about a 1000 rounds down the pipe & its still taking deer & hogs @ 300yds.& songdogs at 400 so I sure aint complaining.beats the fuzz out of throwing rocks.:D:D
 
I'd take a chance if the price is that good. It was a heck of a rifle for me.
Quote:
If the price is right, and it fits your needs sounds like a go to me.
Servo77 started this thread 6 years ago.

The prior resurrection was 2 years ago. (for no real reason)

I think this thread has run its course.
Click to expand...

I didn't even notice, ha ha! :D
 
I have one of the little Ruger Frontier .308s and despite its extreemly short 16.5 inch barrel it is still very accurate. Less than two inches at 100 yards with factory ammo. I hunt deer with it and love it.
 
Follow up shots

Because running whitetail deer can be hard to hit with a rifle I've had to on two occasions fire five shots with my M77 in rapid succession...never had the slightest problem with that bolt gun.
 
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