Just put on lay away a Ruger 77 stainless in 7 mm RM - the gun is mint and has the canoe paddle synthetic stock - I use to think this was the ugliest stock in America but I came to love it because it appears to be very tough and solid and doesn't feel off balance like some of the hollowed out stocks now on Ruger and other rifles. According to the sales person these used Rugers are very much in demand because of these stocks - so - anyone out there have experience with them and how was the accuracy - was any glass bedding or shaving done to improve performance or was it good to begin with - thanks. Note: it has the usual heavy Ruger trigger but we can fix that.

I have owned one for some time now in 7mm mag also. mine really likes 140 grain ballistic Tips loaded with 65.5 grains of RL19 federal 215 primers and rem brass. I get cloverleaf 3 shot groups at 100 all day long. Great rifle and the recoil is not bad either. I'm a Ruger fan from way back but the first thing you need to do when you get your rifle is replace the trigger with a Timney trigger as the Ruger triggers really suck. My big 7 shot fairly well when I first got it but when I install the new trigger my groups greatly improved. I don't know if all Ruger stainless 7 mags shoot as well as mine, I might have just got a Good One. Good luck and good shooting.

[ 06-10-2003, 22:40: Message edited by: Handloader ]

Rifleman

I bought myself one of those when they first came out and still own it. It used to be the only centre fire rifle I owned(except the old enfield that couldnt shoot straight) and have taken around thirty big game animals with it.

I have done zero custom with it and she shoots 1/2 groups with 154 hornady FB's. RL22 or IMR4831 gets me the same results using the book max.

When I first bought this rifle I thought the stock looked cool but now I think it's kind of ugly. Ugly but tough as hell. This thing has taken one hell of a beating and it doesnt even look like it's been used hardly. One thing about the paddle stocks, they kick harder than any of the other 7mags I've fired.

I considered replacing the stock with the newer style but have decided against it because I havnt heard many positives about the new ones.

I ALSO BOUGHT A 7MM MAG. SS USED LAST YEAR. I FEED IT 65 GR R-22 BEHIND 160 GR SIERRA SBT FOR 2.5 IN GROUPS @ 250 yds & 5in @ 400yds(just to see). THE ONLY THING NOT VERY GOOD ON A HUNTING RIFLE IS THE BRIGHT FINISH OF METAL BUT A COUPLE CANS OF FLAT PAINT TOOK CARE OF THAT.THE TRIGGER WHILE VERY GOOD IN TODAYS MARKET COULD USE A LITTLE WORK & WOULD PROUBLE LOWER GROUPS. ALL IN ALL YOU WILL NI\OT FIND A BETTER MADE RIFLE FOR HUNTING. MY HATS OF TO RUGER.

Thanks for the replies - its encouraging to here that maybe this is one stock I won't need to glass bed. Plan to install a Timney trigger and replace the factory hard pad with a Deccelerator. Now all I got to do is get the thing paid for. Already have the dies, 150 gr NBT's and RL22 - really looking forward to owning and shooting this rifle - thanks

rifleman, good choice of rifle. I had one with the iron sights and a very accurate rifle. Most likely you won't have to glass bed it. That stock is tougher than hell. The only change I would suggest is a Pachmayr Decelerator. I also used flat black paint but I wanted an all black rifle. 160 gr. Noslers and RL22 is a good combination. The only reason I don't have it anymore is I moved up to a .338 WM.

You know what I just may get a laminate stock someday when I have the money - good looking with that stainless action - All my rifles are traditonal wood blue - but for some strange reason a power came over me and said to find the Ruger with the all weather stock in stainless and in 7mm. When I walked into my favorite gun store I found this one sort of buried in the back - looks like new - sort of a fate thing I guess. The thing about that Ruger stock is it is tough and rigid and it has a very distictive high tech look about it - matches the high gloss stainless finish - which I can understand some shooters don't like but I do - I don't hold much faith in scaring an animal away because the gun in shiny - I don't sit in trees and I don't hunt turkeys -the current synthetic stock on most factory rifles are hollow and bend with little effort. I have a custom 98 mauser in 270 and a 77 tang safety model in 338 - I sure don't need the 7mm which basically will do the job that the other two rounds do - but someday there will be grandkids and they won't need to buy a rifle - this is what I tell my wife who just doesn't understand my need for another rifle.