I've come across a Ruger 77 MK II in 7x57 topped with a Bushnell Elite 3000 3x9 scope. Both rifle and scope are "like new." I doubt that it's even been fired. Asking price is $500. Anyone have any thoughts on the price? 7x57's are scarce in my area, especially in "like new" condition.

The price is right if that is what you want.

It would most likly be a very nice hunting rifle ! Its a good cartridge a good rifle and a good scope.
I would put a timney in the ruger and hand load the round. My 7X57 is a CZ and it eats H-414 for lighter bullets and RL-19 for the 160 and up...tj3006

That's about what I paid last year for my '73 model 77 Ruger in 7x57.

I haven't had a chance yet to wring out the barrel for accuracy. As I understand it, some of the older Rugers had really trash barrels.

Here's hoping yours and mine are both MOA shooters!

That price is about on par. The 7x57mm is a handloader's dream. You can take a cartridge which is so-so in factory loadings and turn it into a fine big game cartridge. Like Thomas Jones, I own a CZ 550 in 7x57mm. I use H414 powder, Remington cases, Federal primers and Nosler Partition bullets to get well below sub minute of angle and well in excess of 2,800 fps velocity. With the 162 grain Hornady SST and the same powder, the cartridge averages 2,815 fps and puts three rounds into less than a half inch at 100 yards. Not too shabby for a 113 year old cartridge. I have used my 7x57mm on whitetail deer, mule deer, antelope, coyote, wild hog, javelina, a wild turkey in Texas where it is legal to shoot them with a centerfire rifle and elk. At no time did I experience any problems with it. I too hope that Ruger is a tack driver. The best of luck to you ... Tom Purdom

These Rugers in 7 x 57 are often cheap, because the previous owner probably couldn't hit squat with it...

They are long throated and if you load factory ammo or handload ammo and seat the bullet deep accuracy is non existant... it will throw them all over the place....

H 414 is a good powder... but I have the most accurate and versatile powder and load is with IMR 3031... I load 40 grains of it, behind everything from a 139 grain Hornady to a 175 grain bullet... MV is 2750 for the 139 grainers and 2650 fps for the 175 grainers....So point of impact with the change in bullet weights is marginal at best.....

The 40 grains of IMR 3031 i have found to be the majic load in a 7 x 57 Ruger.. and have others tell me the same when they got theirs to finally shoot worth a darn....

But remember, unless you seat the bullet to magazine length.. it is all a wasted effort on these long throats....

cheers
seafire

I've got a Ruger 7x57 and find that it hasn't been the most accurate of rifles. Seafire, would you let me in on what COL you use with the Hornady 139 grain bullets? I haven't tried 3031 with this rifle but will give it a try.
Having a good starting point for COL should save me some time and effort.

Thanks

I find that you should not downplay a rifle as "inaccurate" until you exhaust all ammo options. As an example I will use two Mannlicher-Schoenauer M72 s in 7x57mm, a rifle and a carbine. Neither rifle would shoot well with 140-150 grain loads, and I was disgusted, then switched to 160 and 175 grain loads and the groups suddenly grew smaller. I have gotten 3/4 inch groups with the carbine and 160-162 grain bullets. The 7x57mm is a handloader's paradise, that's for sure

LLS
Mannlicher-Collector

seafire's expereience parallels mine. I bought a M-77 in 7x57 in the 80's and it about drove me nuts. I could n't get it to shoot anything with the exception of Remington factory loads with the 175gr. RN bullet. It literally would shoot that load into .75" all day long. At the time it didn't fit my purpose so I sold it.

The point is if it is an older rifle it may not be any good with the lighter bullets that make the 7x57 shine in my opinion.

Mark

On of my best hunting loads for my 7x57 is:

Bullet: Nosler Partion-150 gr
Case: Winchester
Powder: IMR 4350 46.4 grs
Primer: CCI 200
COL: 3.00

The above will do .75 MOA regularly, and 5/8" in ideal circumstances ( me, the gun gods, and the moon and stars in alighnment )

Buy it!

quote:

Originally posted by Reloader2:
I've got a Ruger 7x57 and find that it hasn't been the most accurate of rifles. Seafire, would you let me in on what COL you use with the Hornady 139 grain bullets? I haven't tried 3031 with this rifle but will give it a try.
Having a good starting point for COL should save me some time and effort.

Thanks

79 to 80 mms....

cheers
seafire

I decided to buy it as a Christmas present to myself. Since I intend to take this rifle on my next trip to Namibia in '07 for sprinkbok and smaller I have plenty of time to get an accurate load tuned up.

akpls....

i own a Ruger in 7x57 and have had great success with it using both the Hornady 139 SST and the Swift 160 grain A-Frame. my COLs are right at 3.06 for both. both rounds shoot very well. i get around 1.5 inches from both. a bench shooter could probably do better, but i am not one and i have never had a shot at game where i needed anything more. an excellent rifle in an excellent chambering. you'll love it. i'd buy it for $500.

just a word on this long throat issue..... a long throat in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. an improperly cut long throat is a bad thing as is an improperly cut short throat. the key here is "improperly cut". i have shot several long throated rifles in my life and have never had one that shot poorly. one of the best rifles i have ever shot was a Model 70 that had been set up in a 9.3x62mm. that particular rifle was chambered by Clif LaBounty and had a 1.25 inch throat.... which must be considered a long throat. i have had similar experiences with a .30-378 Weatherby, as well as several 8x57s. they all shot very well. i'm sure that some guys have had bad experiences and there stories are worth telling and listening to. but their experiences are with rifles they have shot and do not encompass ALL rifles as i am sure they will agree. as you can see, my experiences are in the exact opposite direction. ya pay your money and ya take your chances. good luck.

quote:

I haven't had a chance yet to wring out the barrel for accuracy. As I understand it, some of the older Rugers had really trash barrels.

The Ruger M77 7X57mm that shot these groups was made in 1972.....

quote:

With the 162 grain Hornady SST and the same powder, the cartridge averages 2,815 fps and puts three rounds into less than a half inch at 100 yards. Not too shabby for a 113 year old cartridge.

Funny, My first rifle, a 700 7mag with stainless barrel-OLD original ADL......shot best with 160 Sierra's at 2860fps......accurate-deadly