I finally got to the store to compare the two in hand from what was on the shelf. I made sure they were the same caliber and barrel length (7MM RM 26in). The Ruger is noticeably heavier, but $100.+ cheaper.

The salesman also tried to tell me that the Ruger was a poor shooter out of the box. I dismissed that as "puffing" for my $100. The Win hasn't much reputation for shooting out of the box either.

If I had the extra $100., I would go for the Win 70. If I didn't have it, I would buy the Ruger and not look back...

You also get scope rings and the integral bases with the Ruger, so it's even cheaper. The only thing I've done to my Rugers is change the trigger. If you choose to do that, make sure you know what you are doing so you don't screw up the first time, like I did!

Gentlemen,
This is a good question. I must go with the Ruger. I have a M77 MkII in 7mm Rem Mag, and yesterday, I shot a 0.4" group with hornady 175 grains. It will shoot better than I can, as it consistently shoots minute of angle or better with anything but Remington core-lokts. The trigger is a bit stiff though...

The integral scope rings are great, and the new synthetic stock is far superior to the old one..

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
www.slatesafaris.com

I've never fired a Win 70. I do own a Ruger 77 in .270. I can cover three shots with a quarter @ 100yr. I think that's accurate enough for hunting.

Winchesters are my favorite (Supergrades!!!), but I just bought a new Ruger in a 35 Whelen. It shoots a 3 shot group that you can cover with a penny. This is out of the box with NOTHING done to it. Best shooter I've got.

I like Model 70's better, but I have gotten better out of the box accuracy from Ruger, sorry to say.

Longbob
The Ruger in 35 Wheelen, is that a new model in factory configuration ? I didn�t know that Ruger or any other for that sake, had the .35 Wheelen on their list.
If so, I gonna order one right away !!

Regards Arild

I've seen a few dud Rugers but most shoot pretty good with a little trigger work. For the money you have a decent rifle with excellent customer service I might add. Try that with a factory Win. sure-shot

Out of three rugers I've yet to get one that grouped better than 2" at 100 yds. Now they're putting the unadjustable trigger on them and setting them at 10 lbs. requiring you to spend an extra $100 to get the trigger fixed. I've yet to have a problem getting a winchester M70 to shoot under an inch and the trigger is adjustable by me to an easy 3 lbs. I won't buy a rifle from a manufacturer that tries to saddle me with a 10 lb trigger and tells me not to adjust it. It's an easy choice between the ruger and the winchester. Winchester wins hands down. Much more value for the money.

Arild, it was a special run by Ruger for Davidsons. I believe it was only 150 rifles total. I got one of them. I would have bought everyone that I could have gotten my hands on. They went fast!

Longbob,

Davidsons has quite a few left to my knowledge, I talked to them the other day and the salesman said there was a plentiful supply remianing to my surprise.

They had a second run I believe. They are blued, open sights, and that God awful boat paddle stock. I was going to change the stock and trigger until I shot it. All I can say is "Wow!" This gun is testimony to shoot it before you do too much gunsmith work.

Longbob / Bill
Many thanks for the info, I will be talking to the Norwegian dealer tomorrow and see if he could get hold of one for me.
The Davidsons you mention, is that a gun dealer chain or somthing ?
The more info I can give the dealer the better. Appreciate any info you my have my friends.

Best regards Arild

Arild, I believe that they are a wholesaler to the dealers. This is their website http://www.galleryofguns.com/ Hope it helps.

I've not shot my Ruger m77 .30-06 much, but I did get one handload to do 2" @ 200 yards. (150 gr Rem RNCL pulled from .30-30 rounds, IMR 4895 powder, 10 year old CCI -200 primers and old Remington brass).

100 gr Speer "plinkers" and 130 gr flat points didn't group well, and factory Winchester ammo was horrible (The bullets weren't even seated to the same depth in the same box).

I may work up some "real" loads soon, but have young kids(0 & 2.75 yrs) and can't get to the range often.

I like my Ruger, but liked my old Rem M-700 better - I like the Ruger price, though, especially for stainless.

Got a Ruger .338 Magnum M77 MK-II (CRF stainless), with the "boat paddle" stock. This thing is so ugly that it is cute; just like a moose, I guess!

Moose are very large targets, so I don't worry too much about accuracy at the range. Those first two bullets are the ones I worry about the most, and from a clean barrel they print within 1" from each other at 100 yards. The third one prints about an inch to the left, and from then on all others print in a large circle around the first two.

However, for some reason every time I aim this rifle on moose, the bullet hits exactly where it needs to. It just flattens moose, and most of them with one shot. I have used 230-grain FS bullets so far, and this year I killed another moose with a Federal HE 250-grain Nosler Partition. Super accuracy may be helpful at the range? I have no idea, but this rifle has paid for itself a great number of times. The fact is that if I ever decide to buy another big game rifle, it will have to be another one just like it (minus the stock).

After reading this thread today, I got on the phone and just now purchased one of the Davidson's Special Edition Ruger 77's in .35 Whelen. (For those of you in the Houston, Texas area, that might be interrested in one, I ordered mine through Mombasa Trading Company. http://www.mbogo.net/ ) I should have the rifle in 3 or 4 days. I can't wait! My thanks to Longbob and Bill for sharing the information about this rifle!
-BOB

I�m afraid that I�m not that lucky. According to my contact with two Ruger importers here in Norway, Ruger dont sell those rifles other than to Davidsons.
One of them are checking with a contact in the USA if he can get hold of one, but then there is the export licence and all that sort of things. Envy you guys the easy approach to firearms you have.

But I still have a slim hope as long I have not got the thumb down as yet.

Jeez, I�ve been looking around for an originaly chambered 35 Whelen for quite a while.

Arild

BF, great job! I hope you are as lucky with yours as I was with mine. I put a Leupold 6x36mm fixed. It fits this rifle perfectly.

[This message has been edited by Longbob (edited 10-05-2001).]