I'm thinking of getting a Ruger KM77RSBZ MKII in .338 Mag. The model with the stainles steel barrel & laminated stock. Does anyone on the board have one (not necessarily in .338) and if so, how do you like it? I had a Ruger .338 years ago and as I recall, it was fairly accurate but I had feeding problems. How accurate have you guys found these? Any problems such as feeding? How does the laminated stock handle the recoil? Anything else you want to add. My inclination is towards the Ruger since I like the open sights as a back up in case of scope failure. Any & all comments welcome and thanks in advance. Bear in Fairbanks

Hey Bear, I bought my son a MKII in .30-06 for his 1st rifle. The stock is pretty ugly, but it is functional. The rifle is a 1MOA w/ handloads. I would think the laminate would handle recoil a bit better than solid wood if the bedding is right. It sure beats those ugly Ruger synth. stocks.

I've got a left handed M77MII in 30/06 with the laminated stock. It's a good stock,but its heavy and with the pencil thin barrel,the rifle isn't all that balanced. Accuracy is good when the thing wants to fire. Its misfired more then a few times,with both factory and reloaded ammo. Ruger says nothing is wrong with it.
I've heard horror stories about laminates coming apart in moisture,but I've had this rifle soaked for days,without any problems. I would imagine this stock is probably made by boyds. The extra weight of the stock will be welcomed in a .338 and the heavier barrel contour will handle better.

I've had one for 10 years, stainless heavy barrel with laminated stock in .243. No iron sights but topped with a leupold 6.5x20 40mm. Shoots 70 gr. bullets into 1/2 moa but not so good with 100 gr. A heavy rifle but great for varmint or benchrest and the stock is comfortable and durable. Personally I like the way it looks especially with the grey stainless barrel.

Bear: I have a Ruger M77 MK-II, and this rifle had the older "boat paddle" looking stock. That stock has a hard and thin recoil pad, so the felt recoil could be a problem. I replaced the stock with a Hogue Rubber-Overmolded one, and the rifle not only looks better, but this stock has a soft and thick recoil pad that helps manage recoil.

By the way, are you the Nonook's Bear?

Guys: Thanks one & all for the replys. They're much appreciated.
Ray,Alaska: Nope! It's just my nickname. Graduated years ago from UAF but don't go up there much any more. Bear in Fairbanks

Hey Bear,
This is a long shot, but I knew a Tom Bear while attending BEHS at Eielson. Could you be him? If so, PM me.
Jerry/AK

Jerry/Ak.: Sorry to disappoint you but no I'm not the guy. The name doesn't even ring a bell with me. I came up in Sep. 1967 about 3 weeks after the flood. Was in the Army at the time. Stayed up here & went to school at UAF. One of the best things the Army did for me was to send me up here. Bear in Fairbanks

Bear,
Well, I figured it was a long shot, but it was worth the try. I was there from '66 to '68.
Jerry

Hello,

I have a ruger mark 2 stainless laminated stock .338 winchester magnum, with out sights. I have a leupold vari x 2 (3-9) power stainless scope on it. I have shot 3-shot 100yard groups right around 1 1/2 inches with remington 250 grain corelock factory loads. I have recently through together a reload for this rifle. 69 grains of IMR 4350, CCI 250 magnum primers, remington cases, and 250 grain Hornady Interlocks. This load often shoots 1 inch 3-shot groups at 100 yards, but consistantly puts 3 into 1 1/4 inch. That in my opinion is more than accurate enough for any big game hunting out to 400 yards and in my opinion 95% of all hunters shouldnt shoot that far anyway!!!
As far as recoil I hate the (rubber but pad) if that's what you would call it. Its a piece of HARD crap. My gun kicks quite a bit off the bench, ( i should get a packmayer pad) but in the field i haven't noticed it. Shot a Doe Mule Deer about 6 months ago and never felt the recoil.

And by the way I've never had any problems with feeding, though i haven't shot mine very much.

My friend bought one in 308 Win last fall. Its been a good gun so far. It does look nice.

I have a .338 Win. mag. and .358 Win. (originally a .308) in stainless/laminated Mark lls. I find Ruger�s laminated stocks a little heavy and slippery, but certainly functional. Because of fit, I also find the �felt� recoil of my .338 Win. mag. Mark ll is greater than what I experience with my Model 70 stainless/walnut and Tikka stainless/synthetic .338s, which are lighter than the Ruger. All in all, these stocks are utilitarian and serve their purpose. However, if these rifles were my front line hunting rigs, I would pull the factory laminated stocks off of them and put them in McMillan synthetic stocks. CP.

[ 03-23-2003, 01:37: Message edited by: CP ]

I have a Ruger 77 MK-II .338, SS/Lam and I like it.
Most factory loads will make a three shot 1" group at 100 yds, and handloads will consistantly do 3/4" ( 70.00 IMR 4350, 225 Hornady )
I was suprised at how mild the recoil was, even off a bench it's no worse than my lighter .270.
With the thick barrel & lam stock, the gun is kinda heavy, right now, I'm fitting a 27 oz fiberglass stock to it( the lam stock weights about 39 oz ).
The gun has been 100% reliable, never had a misfire or misfeed. Got it wet & cold for eight days elk hunting last fall with no problems.
Controled round feed, three position safty, factory iron sights and $100 cheaper than a Winchester...you can't go wrong.