Does anybody have any experience with one of these? I got the itch for a short light shooter and can't afford the Big Sky or any other Kimbers right now. In looking at the the 7/8ths version of the Ruger 77R, I'm struck with the lack of a caliber selection or three...mainly the lack of a 260 or 7-08 in either stock & metal color and why'n the world Ruger would offer a 270 & 30'06 in the 20 " barreled SS/syn but not a 308Win as I'd thought that would be a no brainer for a 6 1/4 lb answer to the other LWT's on the market and my all around first choice winner. I do like the idea of a 6 1/2 lb 257Bob in the wood/blue configuration as shown in the catalog. So right now my primary interest in either a 6 1/2 lb 270 SS/syn or a 6 - 6 1/4 lb wood/blue 308.
OBTW how much horsepower loss is to be expected dropping the 270/'06 rounds from a "normal" 22" length ...more than 100fps from the generally accepted load tables? I would assume that the 308 will loose less velocity in the short tube with the necessary powder changes available as long as I stay with the 165/168 gr bullets and under. Are there accuracy issues with the thin pencil sized tube as long as it's kept fairly cool?
What I'd like to accomplish is a back up elk gun -to either a 300Winnie or my 9.3x62 , a easier to carry long walk in the woods spot and stalk shooter that will come in at least a pound plus nekkid or more under my current crop of CZ's, Tikka WTHunters & the heavy azzed for just the gun & scope 8 1/2lb M70 300Winnie. I liked the fit and feel when I pawed a couple 77RL and 77RLFP guns earlier today at Gander Mountain much better than a Tikka T3 Light and a much more expensive Kimber 84M 7-08, and like the idea of the CRF and positve ejector having had problems over the years with early Ruger tang safety's & Remmy ejection buttons...but understand that the lawyer'ized Ruger trigger will likely need to be replaced to get that great adjustable Tikka feel. Any ideas what these cost? And do these LA caliber's need a Decelarator/something or is the factory pad sufficient for working off the bench for short strings during load development? Any comments appreciated.
Ron

I've had one of the 20" blued/wood .308's for over a dozen years now and have been quite pleased with it. I mostly handload, and it'll drive 165's 2700 and change. With some fiddling with loads you should be able to get sub moa groups. I've never gotten a 3 shot 1/2" group, but 3/4" and a tad under is not a struggle.

I'd love to see an allweather version of it. I just got an all weather 350 rem mag, and it's definately a shooter, but not a feather weight.

There was a post a littel bit back re Rugers and controlled round feed. I tried my 7x57 FW and by golly, it ain't CRF! But it is a darn nice rifle and will shoot an inch or better.

Paul ...after owning 12 or 15 tang safety MK 1's back in the 60's and 70's I moved on to other brands after I had to have the last 77's button ejector drilled and replaced ...but I later used a buddy's MK 1 and forgot about it after shooting SAKO's for 13 years...much to my unfortunate surprise. I know I know ... SAKO is not a true CRF but they will hold a round under the extractor a hell of a lot better than a Remmy or Ruger MK 1. I was trying to unload the MK 1 in a driving rainstorm that blew in just as it stated hailing big time bad...while standing 1/2 in and 1/2 out of the back seat of my Suburban while sliding the down the slick clay slope of a county road that was built up at about a 45* angle 3-4' higher than the bar ditch below...to satisfy the local Hwy Trooper we were fueding with before we headed a mile down the county road to the bunk house, I dumped the MK 1's floor plate, opened the bolt and thought I had dumped the live round out of the chamber about the time I got hit in the head with a hailstone about the size of a big walnut and said screw it...and closed the bolt while holding the trigger down out of habit ...BAM!!! the gun goes off laying upside down in my back seat, deafens me, rips the seat cover off the seat burning a groove in the foam below, and blows a hole just underneath the arm rest in the opposite back door...as my partner was crossing the pasture fence behind me...a minute or two longer and he would have been on the other side of the truck doing the same thing unloading his other 77 MK 1 ...still not too dang funny but almost made me quit hunting for a while it spooked me so bad...and drove the LEO's crazy when I would pull next to them at a stop light in a fully blacked out Suburban with the bullet hole all peeled out OUT BOUND at eye level to them. First and last time any gun I've ever shot had a round drop off the extractor leaving the round loose in the receiver. NO I don't like push feed guns anymore.
Hopefully this will be the only gun accident I have ever had and reinforced to me all the safety issues I used to beat into my kids. No the MK 1's ARE NOT A CRF GUN! THIMMK AHEAAAD and be Careful.
Ron

I was with a friend that had an Tang safety Ruger in 6mmRem...

We were out coyote hunting and she had it in the floor of her Ranger, with the barrel pointing upward...

Even tho the safety was on, I brushed it with my leg sitting in the right seat and it went off, blowing out her rear window in her little Ford Ranger Pickup...

Made me jump like hell.. and I am dam glad it wasn't pointed at my head...

I don't trust a rifle safety even... when I travel with a rifle in the vehicle, I always have the bolt open and a round not chambered...

Even when I hunt a lot in the field, I walk around with the bolt open, and when I see some game to shoot, I then chamber the round...

It may be a few seconds lag time on my part, but it keeps a firearm from accidently discharging...

which is worth it in my book...


seafire

Verhoositz
I've had Ruger M77's since they first came on the market, my dad bought a flatbolt in .284 as soon as he saw one in the stores and we still have it ( now my 12 year old boys gun ) since I've had both the tang safety and the wing safety and I've never had a safety issue or extraction issue with any of them. I must admit I'm not a big fan of any gun that you have to take the safety off putting it in the fire position to open the bolt but that is nothing peculiar to Rugers.
I currently have a Ruger Ultra Light in .257 Roberts ( wifes gun). This thing operates flawlessly and shoots sub MOA and sometimes .5" three shot groups which for me is great for a little sporter. My brother has the same Ultra Light in 30/06, this gun shoots very accurate as well but I must admit this gun kicks with authority at the bench. Luckily the gun isn't picky and it doesn't take much to get 180 grain bullets of all kinds to shoot well so bench time for this gun is not extensive.
All in all I think they are a fine weapon and I would have no qualms about owning more of them ( I currently have 3, my brother has 4 ).
The trouble you previously had with the accidental discharge of the Ruger, in my humble opinion, was not something to be blamed on the rifle. A rifle is never "unloaded" until visually inspected by the operator and proved to be "unloaded". Pulling the trigger "out of habit" once you have "unloaded" a weapon sounds like a "bad" habit to me and something I'd never teach my kids or advocate in any way.
Just my opinion and I'm sure I'll catch hell for it, I stand by my words nonetheless.

Snellstrom ...I agree that this was purely operator error on my part ...and why I got spooked so badly that I had become so casual and inattentive in this part of the all important empty chamber safety inspection before putting a gun in the truck.

The bolt closing/trigger hold back habit comes from demo'ing firable weapons in a retail/SHOT Show/wholesale buyers meeting well lit and dry setting for 12-13 years where it is easy to verify the empty chamber ...without getting the shit beat out of you in a hailstorm or several inch's of water in the truck from the 40-50mph driving rain storm while trying to run uphill to stay in place as you slide backwards down a slick muddy clay bank to stay out of 3-4' waist deep in water bar ditch events of that day ...to relieve longterm pressure on the firing pin spring and prevent someone from snapping the trigger and damaging the firing pin on an empty chamber...and should never be taught to a novice or inexperienced shooter.

In hind sight, as Seafire mentions, I've adopted the "just leave the bolt" open attitude and had even considered it as a way to get out of th weather faster and even leave the live rounds in the magazine well - prolly would have if I had been alone that day - but I thought I would be courteous and make some room for my hunting partners gun to be laid across the back seat...and closed the bolt. Still my bad no matter which way you slice it.

But accidents happen when we loose focus and can happen to anyone...I knew better in that circumstance and let avoiding the weather events become my primary focus. But I no longer have to be content to buy guns that are not CRF ..and won't on any gun designed to be taken in the field and out of a controlled environment. JMHO
Ron

Well enough Verhoositz...........

So are you getting the Ultra Light or what?!
I am an advocate of them for sure I think I've seen them available in .223, .243, 257 Roberts, .270, .308 and 30/06. They would do well to put one in 6.5x55, 7x57, 7mm-08, .260 as well as what they do offer. I must admit the 30/06 is a punisher but a joy to carry, lots of power in a small package!

Gotta sell my dealer on the idea of swapping some stuff around but yes I think I'll wind up with one of the these before too long. My dealer is baby sitting a CZ 22-250 that came in with my name on it after I left him another NIB CZ 270 that I had left over from a trade deal to sell since he was out of any 550's at the time in late January. I've never been back -400+ mile round trip to this dealer for me and I don't need to pick up the 22-250 right now anyway, and he wants to my Tikka 695 270 for a special customer...so we'll see what he can come up with on the deals I propose and where he has to go to get a Ruger. He buys CZ direct and his prices are pretty good for a small country dealer in Central Texas. He took on Kimber this and Praise the Lord did not have one in yet when I last down there. Ive known the guy for 25 years and helped him get in business - toted his billing a few times in the early days and shipped him what he needed to stay alive, slept and ate at his house and so on. I had a bushell basket of non insured 4 figure medical bills hit this spring from one of my kids that included 2 CAT scans, a MRI and a MRA plus 6 trips to a neurologist and two short hospitalizations - and that ain't over yet either as I've got one more surgery of my own plus some more skin cancer drilling for oil on my nose to schedule, so cash is tight and the truck need new tires...and I need another rifle like I need another sidesaddle. Like I said trade goods and asking for what you want 'cause I lived thru worse so far and done ok coming up with stuff. thanks all
ron

I've owned one in 06 for many years. Great little rifle. Only negative is lite contour barrel strings groups when barrel hot. Shots from cold barrel are bullet hole on bullet hole from rest.

I have a nephew who's Browning pencil barrel '06 gives groups that looks like a double ought pattern when the barrel gets hot ...so that is to be expected. The good news I hear from you though is the Ruger LW's cold barrel performance...it only makes the load development curve take a little longer to keep the barrel cool enough to not turn into a fire hose like the little Browning does on the 5th or 6th shot off the bench with no breaks in between. He finally listened and got what he expected out of the gun.

Unless you plan on Elk hunting get the little wood and blue one in the Roberts. I think you will like it. I must admit I had a hell of a time playing with mine till I got it to shoot well, but I get 3100+ with a barnes 100 grain t-shock and right around an inch.
Droped a mule deer with it last year and would never feel underguned with that on if game is no bigger than about 300 LBS.
I agree it seems silly to make that one in 30,06 and .270 but not 7mm08 260 or .243.
i would love to hear a coparison of an RL.308 and 30,06 woth the same bullet weight, I'll take the .308 myself in that little rifle, kick less and probably shoot just as fast.
Any way the ruger RL is very easy to carry and with a little free float , a timney trigger and a dab of glass under the front of the reciever and mine is a dandy deer rig with the 2.5X8 leupold...tj3006

TJ Yes I'd like to be able to use this one to back up as an elk gun, or to hike with in elk country if we aren't using transportation to a drop off point. I moved away from a 257 Bob years ago to a 270 before bullet technology is what it is today and in a LA would prolly go there instead..but I liked the idea of a 308 being a tad lighter until somebody sez that he thought the LA balanced better...so when I get down to Dallas next week on business I'll hunt around until I can find both length guns and try and make a decision about the fit feel and caliber selection for the first purchase then. If it works out the way I think it might I'll switch over to the wood/blue and a SS/syn with both in the same caliber...308, 270 or 7-08 all would fit that bill in a boring but efficient use of assets...but only the 270 is offered in both guns. Then concentrate on something "better" than my 9+lb all up 300Winnie - ie lighter & more accurate and "the" designated Elk gun in the battery - to go between the 77RL's and my 9.3x62 CZ American . I've got physical and budget space for a 4 gun battery and want to have something to take anywhere anytime ...could wind up with the two RL's, the 9.3 and a 416 LOL!if I can squeeze 2700 out of a 250gr'er 9.3x62 like I saw some guy talking about...or convert that one to a 9.3x66 SAKO or the 9.3x64 Brenneke to get that kind of speed. First things first though with the 77RL's. Find a pair of 308's if at all possible or settle for a pair of 270's that I have 10 years worth of reloading supplies for...that's the first question.
Ron

I have around 17 Ruger 77s and never had a problem in the old or new model.I have shot the crap out of my 338 win mag Ruger 77.It still shoots under 5/8" or less at 100 yards.I did pick up three new old trigger guard yesturday.

OK, I talked to the dealer down in central Texas yesterday and we have worked a deal on the NIB CZ 22-250 American he's holding that I have already paid for.
What I need from you guys is to see if anybody knows the location of a Ruger 77 RLFP in either 308 or 7-08.
I know that RSR had a special run made of this model in a 7-08 last year and then later in the spring of '05 had some sort of falling out with Ruger and no longer carry the line. I saw pic's the RSR "Special" on one of the auction sites yesterday and while's it neat I would not be a player at the prevailing upcharge prices for one.
So if anybody knows where can find a NIB Ruger 77 RLFP, which is a Lighweight 20" barrled sS/Synthtic in a 308 MK II please let me know.

I want to get a pair of the same caliber with one in the SS/syn & the other in a wood/blue, and the 308's wood/blue RL's are still in open distibution, beyond the 308's a pair of 270's are the next best choice for me, and available in open distribution in both LW configurations.

Too bad Ruger puts all the 308 based calibers I'd like to have in the super limited market for a little 16 1/2" barreled youth sized Compact or I might be a player on more than just this first pair. I think they are missing the boat with a couple other LA calibers too like a 6.5x55 and a 7x57 in the RL's. A 6.5 would be a soft sweet shooter for sure...and a LW 7Mauser would a classic combination. I'm told the muzzle blast out of 16 1/2" 308 is "memorable"...Yeah I'll bet thats a true statement!
Ron

My curiosity has to ask.... if you want something that isn't made in the caliber you want....

If you have the action you want it in, or can get that, why not just take the action and have it rebarreled in the caliber you want???

You got what ya want and also have a barrel that is usually more accurate than the factory screws on there...

Just a thought...

cheers
seafire

Seafire you are spooky!...as I was writing the last post out it occurred to me that I could prolly find a couple used RL's in some flavor and do just exactly that ...untwist one barrel of factory origin and decide what I want and go again with little or no major hassel.
We'll see what pops up with the quest for a pair of 308's...or a pair of 270's and learn to play those toys first...and make a judgement then about is this for sure the direction I want to go in a short light shooter. Cheapest easiest way to is with factory stuff and tweak that, but like I was lamenting about Ruger not offering some of these other calibers...I could see a under 7lb all up 350RMg or 338Federal off of a pencil barrel SA platform at 20"s or maybe a 7Mauser or 280 in a LA...or god help me to have faith in my ability to withstand recoil...a LA RL in a 7-7 1/4 lb all up carbine length 338WMg, 9.3x62 or 375 Taylor. Can you spell "lead sled" for the necessary load development bench work? LOL
First things first.
Ron