While at the local gun shop the other day, I spied a used M77 Mark II RSI (full stock International version) in .308 on the rack. The gun looked to be in new condition and probably not fired much, looked sweet with that full stock!

Has anyone had or fired one of these in .308? I know these little rifles are handy and strictly for hunting use but was wondering about the potential accuracy, muzzle blast, and recoil of the .308 in such a short package (18.5" barrel) with the full length stock. I might just have to go back and snag this one to find out for myself!

I like the looks of them also. I have a couple .308's with short barrels, a FAL with a 18", and a M98 Mexican with a 16.5", Muzzle blast and flash is not bad if you choose the right ammo, or powder.

One of my hunting buddys has one as his dedicated deer rifle. It's a nice handling rifle & recoil is "snappy" but managable. Another friend has one in 7-08 & that is really a sweet shooter. The 7-08RSI is a pricey now as it was a limited run.

I have three Ruger RSI rifles, all tang safety models and all in .308 Win. Nuff said?
Now, I can't say what the Mk II's will do concerning accuracy, however, all three of mine can be very fussy about what goes through their barrels. Don't expect varmint gun accuracy, that's for sure, maybe???? I'll explain that in a minute.
I tried more than several load combinations and bullet weights in the guns that I have, and the following is what has worked for me. The only powder the guns seem to like is W-760, not the best for the .308, but adequate. None of my rifles like 180 gr. spitzer bullets, PERIOD! They're OK is you like 4" or larger groups. The 150 gr. spitzers are marginal in my rifles with the best load giving 1.75 to 2.0" groups. Groups with the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core are not too bad at 1.25 to 1.50" and that is the load I settled on for most hunting use. The real sleeper though was the 180 gr. Sierra round nose. Groups run from .75" to 1.0" consistantly. I haven't chronographed that load.
The 165 gr. Speer with 49.0 gr. of W-760 gives 2550 FPS from the RSI and 2610 from a 22" Winchester M70. As slow s that load is, it is deadly on deer. I've only recovered one bullet and it had traveled through a deer lengthwise. Deer was 250 yards out, laser measured prior to the shot. Bullet retained 65 percent of it's weight.
Final load data is as follows:
150 gr. Sierra spitzer flat base....50.0 gr. W-760
165 gr. Speer hot Core..............49.0 gr. W-760
180 gr. Sierra Round Nose...........48.0 gr. W-760
What I do find strange is those three loads are the only ones those three rifles will shoot well.
In factory ammo, only the Speer Nitrex 165 gr. grand Slam is accurate, giving about the same velocity and grouping as the 165 gr. handload.
I realize that every rifle is different, but the above is based on shooting tests on three different rifles of the same type. Coincidence? Who knows? That's just what has worked for me.
Paul B.

I've owned a couple of them and really liked them..They are neat, clean and slim..Both of mine shot very well..Wish I still had one...Recoil is mild and I noticed no blast..

Fred,

one in 7/08 would be a neat package. I have heard of 7 x 57, 6.5 x 54 and 250 Savage in limited runs, of the RSI.

Those along with a 260 and 6.5 x 55 would make great additions in the rifle rack.

HOw long ago was the 7/08 run made? Some one on line from Alaska a while ago had a 30/06 in the RSI bored out to 338/06. shot a 250 grain round nose out of it. That would be a thumper on both ends!

Wish Ruger had a more extensive line of caliber choices in the RSI. Stainless with a Gray Laminate stock would all be GReat!

Cheers and good shooting
seafire

I've got a tang safety model in 308 that has been my go to rifle for several years. Deer just seem to love to get in front of it. It consistantly shoots between 1-1 1/2" with any 150gr. load I feed it. It's current pet load is the Federal 150 gr. SST. These are fine, handy little carbines. Muzzle blast is non-existant, well that's what I say after shooting my 338 Win Mag in a similar rifle with 20.5" barrel.

Seafire sez, "Wish Ruger had a more extensive line of caliber choices in the RSI."

So do I. At an NRA convention, I asked if Ruger would ever consider bringing the RSI out in .358 Win.? His answer was a very rude, "Fuck no!" From his reaction, you'd have thought I'd asked to sleep with his mother. My wife was standing next to me when he said it.
Sometimes, I think some of the people at Ruger have their heads up their arses. I guess it's what they want us to have, and not we as the buying public want.
Paul B.

Paul B,
That kind of language is inexcusible, especially in front of your wife, you should have dragged the little shit across that counter and kicked his ass IMO...or mailed his remains to Ruger along with a note of his actions.....

I just hope someone at Ruger is reading these posts...

I have a mkII in 06 that shoots pretty good now. I think the culprit was the nose cap, it was a little tight. A couple of passes with the dremel worked wonders. I bought this gun used in very good condition for $300 because it wouldn't shoot for shit. At the local gunshops I see them from time to time on the rack and they stay there till the price drops to around $300 or so. Maybe the rifle that you see has the same problem as mine.

I have written to ruger a number of times asking for them to chamber the rsi in 35 whelen. Who knows, maybe in 20 years they'll get tired of awnsering my mail and do it.

turfman

They need to make it in 8x57!

They did make a limited run in 7x57. I even saw one, but wasn't smart enough to buy it. I won't make that mistake again.
Paul B.

Ray. I did send a letter to Ruger. Never heard from them.
Oh well. I just remember tghat when I'm buying new guns. Secondhand guns do not send any coin of the realm into their coffers.
Paul B.

Paul,



I also saw a 250 Savage in about 1988 that a guy owned. He showed it to me during a job interview, lol.



Aren't we gun guys nuts?





Sierra's reload manual also mentions one in 6.5 x 54.

Why does Ruger not capitalize on this instead of putting out that short 16.5 inch barrel one they are doing now? Just don't understand marketing guys, and I am a sales guy???!!!



Cheers and Good shooting

seafire

I also have the tang safety version and love it. It only shoots around 1.5", but that'll kill any deer alive at reasonable ranges. What it lacks in tack driving ability, it more than makes up for in 'neat'.

I'd sure love to find an RSI in 6.5x54. I had a couple of original Mannlicher-Schoenaurs in that round that sadly were stolen. It was a good round that I felt was better than the .243 for deer. I sure did take quite a few with those two rifles. Like a .243, that 6.5x54 doesn't kick the snot out of you.
Paul B.