Started By
Message

Ruger M77 Mark II opinions

Posted on 1/16/24 at 12:35 pm
Posted by Duckhammer_77
TD Platinum member
Member since Nov 2016
2771 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 12:35 pm
I have an opportunity to get a lightly used Ruger M77 Mark II (pre-hawkeye) in great condition for about $850. Its an all-stainless 300 Win Mag with a Mauser action, control feed, etc. I want to re-barrel it for an all-weather 257 Weatherby. What is the OBs opinion of the quality of these rifles?
Posted by turkish
Member since Aug 2016
1971 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 12:57 pm to
They’re pretty good rifles. Heavy, pretty poor trigger, and not known for their accuracy. The “boat paddle” types with the inset butt stock have kind of a cult following. Let us know how that rebarrel goes.
This post was edited on 1/16/24 at 12:59 pm
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
9030 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 1:16 pm to
honestly, those "boat paddle" zytel stocks are horrible. Very hard to bed and not very accurate. After re-barreling with a custom barrel (+ $600), you still have an $850 Ruger M77 rifle. A common complaint of the M77 Mk II's was the factory trigger that broke around 6-7 lbs. Most people just spent more $$$ and replaced it.


Seriously, this rifle is a very good buy and the seller also has brass and dies should you wish to reload. Proven handloads and targets in the linked pictures. The Weatherby Vanguard is a solid action built in Japan, and the predecessor to the Howa 1500. $750 + tax, tile, and license and you're done.

Lastly, before buying the Ruger M77, you can find an older Rem 700 magnum rifle for < $850 and build off that if you want a custom barrel/rifle. If you're a die-hard Ruger M77 guy, buy and build exactly what YOU want.




Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
67273 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 1:33 pm to
That's a lot of money for a used rifle that you want to rebarrel anyway. You could buy a new tikka for less than that and screw a prefit barrel on for free and have a way better rifle for less money.

A used rem 700 oughta be cheap and easy to get and is a better option if you want to do a customish build.
Posted by Duckhammer_77
TD Platinum member
Member since Nov 2016
2771 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 1:44 pm to
all great info, thank you. Never had a Ruger, but was intrigued. I inherited a custom shop Mark V deluxe 257 and love it, but I want something for actual weather and deer stand conditions. I have brass, dies, and a jug of RL25. Looking for a new project I guess. Wanted to see about a faster twist than 1:10 to handle longer 130 gr bullets.
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
6060 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 2:58 pm to
For a bargain, get the Vanguard in 257 WBY. Also, look around for a Mark V ultralight.
Remington made a run of 257 WBYs at one time. Maybe you can turn one up.
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
6060 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 3:06 pm to
Posted by Duckhammer_77
TD Platinum member
Member since Nov 2016
2771 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 3:39 pm to
quote:

buy a new tikka and screw a prefit barrel

also looking at this option. My T3 22-250 Forest is a pleasure to shoot.
Posted by meauxjeaux77
south louisiana
Member since Feb 2012
91 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 4:17 pm to
Not worth that price for you project IMO

the Ruger can be slicked up and trigger can be
replaced for reasonably cost..

its not the a great platform for what you
aim to do.

if its a paddle 77, it needs to be minty for
850$ (300 WM ) I almost bought one years ago
I found rifle front end heavy and got a Rem 700 stainless (wish i keep it )
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
17532 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 6:03 pm to
I have two that were handed down, a stainless 270 and a blued 6mm rem. The 270 is still my main deer rifle despite having about a dozen others laying around. With a little tinkering they can be made to shoot pretty well (barrels are thin and like a certain type of bedding and a pressure point in the fore-end), but were never intended to be tack drivers. Both mine had timneys installed so I can’t speak to the trigger. The action feeds every time and just feels like it’s always gonna work, if that makes any sense.

It’s not the gun to buy as a donor action, it’s just a really solid gun as it sits if you want a stainless 300wm that’ll shoot plenty well enough to kill a deer.


Posted by TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill, LA
Member since Sep 2008
6943 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 6:14 pm to
Duck, I feel like I'm piling on, but I fall into the group that thinks that too much to spend on a donor action for a customer gun projects. Another option option for a donor action would be an older/beat up Savage bolt.
Posted by 801Bengal
Lafayette
Member since Nov 2016
261 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 6:45 pm to
Have had a M77 Mark II 30-06 with a Zeiss scope since 1997/1998. Can’t remember what year I bought. Had fun smith float/bed and new trigger. Gun is awesome.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
67273 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 6:50 pm to
Didn't ruger go through a period of making crappy barrels? Was that just the mini 14 or everything?

I really like the ruger action and the safety. I wish they had a fixed ejector rather than the model 70 style pop-up one.
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
17532 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 7:39 pm to
Wiki says ruger sourced the barrels on the previous tang safety m77 but took it in house with the mark II when they went to hammer forging, as far as I know they weren’t known to have duds but the two I have will definitely shift POI as they heat up if you drill a box of ammo through it. The sporters are featherweight contours and I doubt they did any kind of stress relieving, but if I were to make a group out of cold bore shots, I bet it would be inside an inch with the round it likes.

I’ve never put enough rounds through a spring ejector to make one fail, but I can see how a fixed is one less thing to break. It’s hard to describe but that Mauser action feels like you could beat it with a sledgehammer and it would still cycle.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
67273 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 7:44 pm to
quote:

Mauser action feels like you could beat it with a sledgehammer and it would still cycle.


Because you could. Having the milled in scope ring groove also makes a ton of sense. It's a very well designed action for a regular ol killin stuff rifle. It's just an improved model 70.

The model 70 has the spring ejector too. I've never had a problem with mine. It just seems silly to have that extra little spring and pivot in there when the original design was just fine.
Posted by NorthEnd
Member since Oct 2007
2174 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 9:13 pm to
I have a Ruger m77 that just sprays bullets, especially when the barrel is hot. And the trigger is no bueno. It was my only rifle for 20 years and I just thought I sucked at shooting. Bought a Tikka and now I’m a marksman ??.

The best thing about it is the looks. Ruger makes a beautiful rifle with stainless and wood
Posted by LSU Neil
Springfield
Member since Feb 2007
2649 posts
Posted on 1/16/24 at 9:34 pm to
Mine only shoots 165 grain sierra game king hand loads
But it’s a tack driver with 1/4 gp consistently
I’ve tried umpteen different bullets and it sprays them all over
Posted by upgrayedd
Lifting at Tobin's house
Member since Mar 2013
136168 posts
Posted on 1/17/24 at 1:20 pm to
My FIL recently gave me a Mk II with the Mannlicher stock. Haven't got to shoot it yet but the trigger feels pretty decent. Don't find it to be too heavy at all.
Posted by magicman534
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
1660 posts
Posted on 1/17/24 at 2:47 pm to
I have one in 30.06 and it’s the most frustrating rifle I own. Never grouped consistently. Changed scopes, glass bedded stock, trigger job, muzzle brake….. I tried factory and hand loads from 180gr to 125gr. It likes 125gr hand loaded nosler Accubonds the best. PITA. Needless to say it’s the only ruger I own.
Posted by DieselTiger1
9 Dragon
Member since Oct 2008
13672 posts
Posted on 1/18/24 at 8:10 am to
I just picked up my M77 MII .243 boat paddle from the gunsmith. It was my first gun as a kid and went through Katrina.he I thought he was kidding when he told me they were sought after these days. For me it's just a nostalgia gun. Very happy to have it for my daughter to shoot, but I was surprised to see the prices they are going for.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram