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| one of us |
The ones I looked at had poorly polished barrels, with an uneven finished, even dished out some from the buffing wheel. | |||
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| <Dogger> |
I have a Ruger M77 Mark II chambered in 7x57mm Mauser. Trigger is OK, a little stiff and heavy. But it shoots great! The rascal shoots inside an inch at 100 yards with Frontier brass, CCI magnum primers, 48 grains of H414, behind a 145 grain Speer HotCor flat based spitzer. I like the Mauser action. I have no familiarity with the older M77s, other than stories I have heard that the barrels were of uneven quality because they were outsourced, they were push feed, they had tang safety. [This message has been edited by Dogger (edited 01-29-2002).] | ||
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| <Loren> |
I bought mine in 2000 (boat paddle stock SS rifle). It shoots OK (~1.5" at 100 yards with factory and handloads). The light barrel heats up really fast and still has visible machining rings in the bore( you can hear and feel them when using a nylon bore brush). The synthetic stock is well fitted and does not shift point of aim over temp/humidity. I really like the safety, the trigger is ok for hunting (and improves with large doses of dry firing - or maybe I'm just getting used to it). The fit of the bolt to action is not on par with a REM 700, but it never binds or sticks. Overall I'm satisfied with mine. I bought it for hunting and it's rugged, reasonably priced and shoots good (not great). I am dissapointed with the stock (ugly beyond reason and worthless recoil pad) and the barrel interior. Overall, though, I don't think I'll buy another. | ||
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| <jd_1> |
I only own one M-77 and it is the old style. I have had the MkII and diden't like it. I do not like the 3 position safety (too clunky). The fit and finish isin't as nice as the MkI . As far as accurecy goes the MkII was fair for hunting, 1.5 @ 100 yards (.338 WM). My MkI us a tack driver at .5 to .3 @ 100 yards (.25-06) if I do my part. I am mainly a Remington man. That would be my suggestion if you like your MkI. The safety will be much easier to get used to and you can order a bolt shroud from Brownells if you don't like thr new "J" lock system. | ||
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| <Bill> |
I have an ultarlight 270. It probably has the nicest looking piece of wood ever put on a Ruger. The gun is great until you shoot it, then  .I doubt I will ever hunt with one. The reason I bought it was because I herd great things baout them over here. Next tiem I will get one with the boat paddle stock so I have an extra oar if my boat motor craps out. ------------------
[This message has been edited by Bill (edited 01-29-2002).] | ||
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| <harkm> |
Bill, why will you never hunt with it? Is it inaccurate or just too large a caliber for a lightweight gun? | ||
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| One of Us |
I have an mk11 with the paddle stock & s barrell (30/06), it always shoots in 1 inch for the first 2 then the third one takes the group to 1.5 or 1.7. I think there serviceable and there reasonably priced. Regards PC. ------------------ | |||
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| <rugerman> |
I have owned 4 MKII's total. My first I bought in 1992 was a MKIISS in 270 Win. It would shoot anything you put in it at .75" groups at 100 yards. The second one I bought was a MKII 7mm Rem. Mag. in blued barrel. It was real particular. It would group good at slower speeds, .75 to 1". When you sped it up to where a 7mm Mag. was supposed to shoot, it would shoot the bullets I wanted to shoot at about 2" to 3" group. I kept it about 5 years while shooting it at the slower speeds. Last year I got a MKII SS in 7mm Rem. Mag. and it shoots the Barnes 140gr XLC at 3,230 fps in a .75" group at 100 yards. I just got a new MKII SS in 280 Rem. and it will shoot Ballistic Silvertips in a .75" or less group at 100 yards. I do my own trigger jobs on the guns and have about a 2.5lb trigger on them. For the price and the advantage of the scope rings coming with them, you can't beat them. If you need higher scope rings, don't take the new medium rings out of the box, just call them and send them back and they will send you a new set of high rings. | ||
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| one of us |
I have 2 MK IIs. One is the laminate/stainless in .338 win mag. The other is the new style composite stock. I have absolutely nothing but good to say about the accuracy of either. I did full length bed the .338 and smoothed the trigger a peach... but it has never failed to provide good groups at 100 or 200 yards with hand loads. My reloading notes show that I have fired over 1,140 rounds through this rifle. (Just a tad more than the average hunter might!) The 22.250 has the newer composit stock on it and is all I could ask from an accuracy stand point. I only shoot handloads through it; it has given up .5 or less 3 shot groups each time! (3 shot because of the sporter contour barrel.) The only problem I have with either is this...I had to spray closed cell foam into the butt of the rifle to quiet it down. It was too noisey with a sling for wintertime dog hunting; the cold seemed to make the stock sound like a plastic gong. Function on both has been great; I have never had a problem feeding etc. while in the field. I will purchase another with confidence. I will also bed stock, do a little trigger work, and work up loads. best, | |||
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| <Bill> |
harkm, I guess I was a little vague. The gun shoots like crap, I like to thnk of it as a shotgun with an ic choke at 100 yards The best handload I can get out of it is maybe 1.75 moa. The trigger is awful and proabbly the worst on any factory rifle I have owned. I don't see why I should put any more money into it. At some point it is kinda like putting a $100 saddle on a $50 horse.
[This message has been edited by Bill (edited 01-30-2002).] | ||
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| <303hunter> |
I've got a .338 mk2 walnut/blue coming, should be here any day. Hope I get a good one! In an ideal world one shouldn't have to hope for a decent rifle that costs that kinda money. | ||
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| one of us |
I only have and use one big game rifle, a .338 WM Ruger MK-II (boat paddle type). I bought this rifle in 1992 when Ruger was producing these rifles with a semi-CRF bolt. Later I sent it to Ruger and they replaced the bolt with a CRF one, and yesterday I replaced the stock with a Hogue Rubber-Overmonded which fit perfectly. I replace the trigger with a Timney's, but in reality a good gun smith can work the trigger in accordance with instructions found in the Internet (a Yahoo search of "Ruger M77 Trigger" will get you to the instructions). This is what I like about this rifle: I only paid $399.00 for it (new), it is very rugged, and very reliable. The stock is very tough, and to me it is just a "working" rifle or a tool that I have great confidence on. It drops a moose for me each year, so I am very pleased with it. Would I buy another just like it? You bet (another .338). [This message has been edited by Ray, Alaska (edited 01-30-2002).] | |||
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| <k wood> |
I have Rugers both old style and new and like them all. I've had to tinker with some of them to get them to shoot. I've been able to get them all to shoot 1" or better. For the price they are a great rifle. | ||
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| one of us |
I got a 30-06 on sale in '95. It is the MKII ss/s boatpaddle. Had a nice laminate stock made for it, bedded and floated the barrel, tricked out the trigger. I guess it is not just a stock rifle now but it has before it's surgery and still will shoot an inch or sometimes much less with most any ammunition. Many loads go to the same poi. This I have been told is a rare rifle. I also have a 300 wm that shoots well after a trigger job. This trigger was attrocious comming from the rack. Must have been about 10 pounds. Several times I thought the safety was on. You just had to stand firmly on the trigger and it would go off. After a smith worked it over is is about 3 pounds and groups small. All in all I like ruger products and the innovations Bill Ruger put out there. He gave us the production model 416 Rigby and the ss/s O/U shotgun as well as the host of single action revolvers. Ruger was one of the first and strongest to bw willing to fight the lawsuits under the Clintonites. GOod company, good product. I will try to support them. Good hunting "D" [This message has been edited by D Hunter (edited 01-30-2002).] | |||
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| <jeremy w> |
I have a MkII all weather (boat paddle for the old folks) in .270 win Shoots great with a variety of different ammo. Holds up even better under extreme amounts of use. | ||
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| one of us |
I have serval all are ok just as good as stock rem. or win. the last one I shot a ss 338 all weather will put 250 rem into less than a in at 100 2.5 at 300. As with all mass produced guns and with some custom guns some shoot better then others If you want under one in. all the time most need work. I find the Rugers a very good value for the money. | |||
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| one of us |
quote: DITTO!!! | |||
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| one of us |
Generally, I've had good luck with Rugers. I own a No. 1 single shot in .375 H&H and several M77s. I've got the standard grade M77 MkIIs in .30-06 and .35 Whelen. I also own M77 Magnums in both .375 H&H and .416 Rigby. I like them all. Are they perfect? No. What rifle is in this price range? They aren't $4,000 Dakotas. But I think the Rugers are good rifles for the money; even the fairly expensive Magnum models. It's odd to me that there seems to be more talk about what's wrong with Ruger rifles than some other brands. Well, I also have a new Winchester Model 70 Classic Safari Express in .458 Win Mag. What's wrong with it? Well, the iron sights are not vertical; they cant to one side. The secondary recoil lug on the barrel is also crooked and looks like it was attached to the barrel by a gorilla with a welding torch. The bedding also is pretty lousy. Plus, it doesn't shoot groups; it shoots patterns like a shotgun! (Yes, I've tried several different bullets and loads. I handload.) All this for "only" $1,100!!! I think I'll pass on any future purchases of Winchester (USRA) rifles. | |||
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| <harkm> |
Bob, I love my Ruger 77 Mark I. It shoots great and looks nice. The new Mark II's are the ones I am questioning. The one I looked at was cheap looking to say the least. The wood wasn't finished and didn't look as nice as the Winchester 70 IMO. Having said all that, I would choose the better shooting rifle for sure. Shooting consistency as well as craftsmanship consistency are the things I look for. Well, from what I saw, the craftmanship on the Ruger Mark II looks cheap but if they shoot nice then I will still pick the Ruger. Do your Ruger Mark II's shoot consistently? | ||
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| one of us |
Some of you guys are a little hard on those Ruger Mark I's and II's don't you think? I believe they make one of the finest lamp shade holder's you can buy. Well, at least, that's all I've ever been able to figure they are useful for. | |||
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| one of us |
The last time I went looking for a new rifle I was apalled at the crap in the gun stores. This includes Ruger MK II, Winchester, Remington, and Weatherby. Sakos are put together pretty well, but I finally bought an old style Ruger. I fixed the trigger, barreled it with a Douglas, bedded it, refinished the stock and for about the same price as those crappy rifles in the store I have a beautiful tack driver. I enjoy tinkering anyway. ------------------ | |||
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| one of us |
Gentlemen, I love my Ruger M77MkII. Mine is in 7mm Rem Mag with a hogue synthetic stock. It shoots sub-MOA with many different loads. It has also hunted with me in North America and Africa and has always worked. $399 at Bi-Mart is a great deal tolJoel Slate 7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm | |||
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| one of us |
harkm, I agree with you that the 77 MkIIs are not finished as nicely as the earlier 77 "MkI"s. I think Ruger has gone too far in trying to keep their price down and cut back too much on quality control the last few years. Personally, I don't think I'd go as far to say that the new 77 MkIIs look "cheap" but I agree that they are rather plain. Of course, one man's junk is another man's prize. Yes, the stock finish is plain but at least the wood is still real walnut. I've noticed that the quality of wood, on your average priced rifle, has really gone down the last 10 or 15 years. Of course, IMHO, with the world population now approaching 6 billion (it's doubled in my lifetime and I'm 47) forests with good hardwood are becoming more scarce. I think this is one of the reasons that synthetic stocks are so popular with the manufacturers (besides the stability, strength issues of a synthetic vs. wood stock). Also, the new trigger that was introduced with the 77 MkII isn't great. But that's not hard to cure. A replacement trigger isn't that much money. Also, there are gunsmiths around that can clean up the factory trigger to where is decent. Having said all that, I still prefer the standard grade M77 MkII to the current, standard grade Winchester Model 70s. Others here will disagree, but that's my opinion. Some people like Chevy trucks and some like Ford.... I just recently purchased my 77 MkII in .30-06 and I haven't even shot it yet. So, I can't comment on that one. My 77 MkII in .35 Whelen is a real shooter! I'm getting 1" or better groups (100 yds) with Hornady 250 gr RN and SP. I like this rifle so much that I decided to have some custom work done on it. It's at the gunsmiths now where it will have a new English walnut stock fitted with hand rubbed oil finish. Also a new trigger, replacement of the alloy floor plate with a steel one, and a few other things. So, I guess it's really a matter of personal choice/taste. Like cars, and other things, there wouldn't be different brands and models if we all agreed on the same thing. BTW: Check out one of the Howa rifles the next time you have a chance. The wood stocks are crappy but the action and barrel are real nice. The Howa Lightning (synthetic stock) sells for about $300 here in Houston. It's a LOT of gun for the money. The Howa action was used on the Weatherby Vanguard rifles. The Howa is not CRF but it does have a healthy (M-16 style) extractor. They're worth a look. -Bob F. [This message has been edited by BFaucett (edited 01-31-2002).] [This message has been edited by BFaucett (edited 01-31-2002).] | |||
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| one of us |
I've got a blued/Walnut M77 and two SS/laminated MkIIs, love'em! I think the fit, function and finish are good on all of them. Have several other Ruger models besides those, and have never had any problems with any of my Rugers. Definitely my favorite "overall" gunmaker, and made in USA.... Bill | |||
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| <Jagermeister> |
I think that technically speaking, the m77 is not a mauser or CRF action, even though it has the claw. It has to with the bullet being pushed along the ramp, rather than actually being held by the extractor...ask ALF about it, if he's ever here, otherwise, you could find out on the Afrika forum. | ||
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| one of us |
I have a M77II in 6.5X55 that has taken many deer. While it is no tack driver it does just fine for deer and coyotes. ------------------ | |||
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one of us |
I have a M77 MkII in 30-06 and it took a while to come to terms with but I now like it very much. The gun is fairly choosey about ammo but will perform very well with the ammo that it likes. The drawbacks are that the thin barrel heats up fairly quickly and the poi migrates when it gets hot. The other complaint is the Ruger lawsuit proof trigger. Mine came in between 6 and 7 pounds and had plenty of creep. I could move the trigger twice without dropping the sear. I put a Timney trigger and have had no problems since. The blueing on the gun is excellent and the stock is functional. I like Rugers idea of scope mounts that achor the scope directly to deep notches in the receiver. I also like the three position safety. Chuck Graber | |||
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| one of us |
Jagermiester: There are two types of Ruger bolts, both with "claws." One bolt is CRF, while the other one is "push-feed." Somewhere in the early '90's, Ruger produced those semi-CRF rifles, but people started asking for true CRF bolts instead. In 1993 I sent a new "semi-CRF" rifle to Ruger so they would convert it to CRF. They did some work to the rails above the magazine, and replaced the bolt with a CRF one. They returned my rifle with two bolts, a CRF and the original semi-CRF one. New Ruger bolt-action rifles are CRF. | |||
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| <robsguns> |
A lot of Ruger people here, thats nice. I just want to say one thing. Everyone seems to have a problem with the stock on the MKII, it may not be pretty to some, but I like it. Like everything else, if you dont like it, buy something else. I have no problem with the finish on any of my Rugers either. On another site, everyone is bashing the looks of the Ruger Super Redhawk, I personally think that they are just lacking something else to talk about and decided to climb on someone's wagon. There is nothing ugly about them. I dont like the looks of almost all other manuf. grips, but really like the Ruger's, that doesnt mean a Smith's grip is ugly. Come on people, stop complaining... | ||
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| <cohoyo> |
my hunting patner has one of thoes mk2 butt ugly ss/syn. rugers in .300 win mag. It shot 1" groups until he took a 9mm pistol bullet and taped it in various positions up and down the barrel. now it shoot better than any hunting rifle i've ever seen. He carries a target around in his wallet with 10 shots in about 4 inches. i went down and got a wood/blued one in left hand but I have not shot it yet. | ||
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