I bought an m77 300wn. in 1976 new,with rings and basses,i paid 188.00. I have used it on bear, deer, elk, coyotes, i don't know how many rocks,and targets iv'e kild in the off seasons.I still shoot this gun,if i do my part it still puts them in the bull. Iused this gun only until 6 yrs ago i got a deal on a 340 wby. and 2yrs ago i picked up a 270wsm. I promesed my oldest son when he was 12 he's now 38, that he could have it,so this sommer it's going to craig alaska to carry on, and be handed down to my grandson. This paticular year ruger stamped on the barell "made in the 200th year of american liberty" so if you run accros this it was a one time one year thing from ruger. I checked, it runs up the value. Sure as with anything used it's buyer beware. Good luck!

my friend, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and in my opinion Ruger is the sow's ear.....(right along with Savage)

Just my $0.02 on Rugers.

I won a Stainless Composite M77 Mk II (I think) at a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation dinner, raffle, auction. It's in 7 Rem Mag and shoots VERY well (>1" @ 100 yds). That's the good part!

I was VERY disappointed in the finish machining of the action, though. As you know they are cast, not a bad thing to begin with, but wait. This one had not been completely machined to "square" the top of the action as related to the bore. I finally figured this out, and was able to mount a scope "squared" with the bore, and it does shoot well.

But I wouldn't buy one until AFTER I had proven to myself that it shot up to my standards.

As others have mentioned, there are differences to note between the MKII and the tang safety, notably the trigger. If it is a MKII (which I have and love), you will almost certainly have to do something with the trigger, either have a good smith work it down or add a Timney. I went with the latter and I now have a very nice shooting (trigger and accuracy wise) stainless, controlled round feed .338 for under $500. I've heard varying reports on accuracy and can only comment on mine, it shoots very well.I haven't fully wrung it out but its largest three shot group with factory ammo was 1.5" and the smallest must have been an accident because I'm not that good and that was with the original trigger.

There a tool that do the job, there are nicer rifles out there but at the same token I would take a Ruger over a filthy push feed rem 700

Picked up a used SS 77MK II in 7mm Mag last year - could not be more pleased - at the range last Friday is grouped 175 gr Hornady SP into one ragged hole with RL22 and 2930 fps. I modified the trigger myself - not hard to do using drawing and instructions that can be found on the web. This model has the boat paddle stock and I did add a Pachmyr pad to lenthen the pull a little and soften the rear end.

Also own a used 338 WM Tang model that shoots just as well -I did glass bed the action and forend tip - with 210 NP and IMR 4350 at 2960 fps it will group into a nice clover leaf pattern if I do my part.

Hope this helps