Hi Guys

I am new to the wildcat world so bear with me.
I have a .308 win on a Ruger M77 mk 2 action dated 1969.
It has a 22" Bull barrel fitted
I am playing with the idea of reboring the rifle to something bigger, perhaps a .375 Whelen or .375-08
Any ideas you have will be much appreciated.
Kind regards
Ian

quote:

Originally posted by Vlam:
Hi Guys

I am new to the wildcat world so bear with me.
I have a .308 win on a Ruger M77 mk 2 action dated 1969.
It has a 22" Bull barrel fitted
I am playing with the idea of reboring the rifle to something bigger, perhaps a .375 Whelen or .375-08
Any ideas you have will be much appreciated.
Kind regards
Ian

The 77mkII's weren't out in 1969. If it has the safety on the tang it's an original 77, if the safety is on the side by the bolt handle it's a MKII. Some of the original 77's weren't noted as having accurate barrels. As far as a big bore caliber you may want to look at the 338 Federal (338-308), or the 358 Win. If it's a short action (308), you'll have to stay with a short caliber. Good luck. Paul.

Hi Paul
Sorry you are 100% correct, the Mk2 was typed out of habbit.
It is indeed accurate, with the bull etc but I am going to be building a new .308 in a more practical configuration for all day use and want to try and maintain the old girls appearance etc if I can.

If I was to open the action up about .5" and go for the biggest case she could take, what would you recommend then. The idea is to get at least the minimum DG ballistics out of her in a short action.
I believe the M77 action is very robust, will it handle the bigger cartridges and recoil?
Chat soon
Ian

I think from 1968-1972 Ruger was using Douglas barrels. After that they used Wilson barrels till the early 90s.

Starting with serial # 780-76042 they were using their own barrels.

Mine is 74-07179

quote:

Originally posted by Vlam:
Mine is 74-07179

Your rifle was made in 1979

http://www.ruger.com/service/p...tHistory/RI-M77.html

What is the magazine length? Assuming a 3" magazine...
How about a 405x57? 300 grain 405 bullets @ 2,200 fps should be a nice stalking gun.

Magazine 78mm
can be expanded to +-98mm
Are there any of the 416 derivatives that could work, maybe even the taylor or ruger

a vote for 425 WR

what work will it need to fit?

Well your box is 3.07" to start so anything based on the 308 case would be the easiest. A 376 Steyr would be close at 3.11" If you can infact increase to 98mm that is 3.85" then with stopping at 3.4 your get the various 06 based like the 35 & 375 whelen. Open the bolt and get the taylor, Ruger etc. Open the box to 3.85 and the bolt and you can build anything from the H&H case.

The 425 WR is 3.3" long with a 308 head size.

Thanks Paul
So the 425 may just make the most sense in terms of ease of build.
That 376 steyr, does it perform well enough for DG
Ian

The Steyr will do high 2400s maybe 2500 with a 300gr and 2625+ with a 270. Case capacity of the Steyr is around 80grs the 375Whelen around 72 and the 375 Taylor around 88

quote:

Originally posted by Vlam:
Thanks Paul
So the 425 may just make the most sense in terms of ease of build.Ian

There were at least 2 problems incountered when using .425 WR brass. Both makers that were available (15 years ago) were to soft to be used on a wildcat at pressures beyond what we consider appropriate and safe today. There were numerous extraction problems. Charles Huntington of RCBS fame fully agreed. Also incountered were feed problems resulting in the need for mucho rail and follower work; a real pain in the patoot.
IMHO if you are going to keep the barrel go with the standard .358. roger

A 425 WR is a funny duck but in the same way was making a cart fit to an action solution.

It is a classic and now with CZ making factory ammo and guns it would be neet.

400 whelen and 376 Steyr would be the easiest all the way around with the edge to the steyr for factory ammo.

The easiest and probably least expensive would be to have it bored out to make a .358 Winchester. 308 brass is everywhere to resize or fireform into .358 for your new project.

quote:

Originally posted by 303carbine:
The easiest and probably least expensive would be to have it bored out to make a .358 Winchester. .

I strongly second that notion!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MuskegMan:

quote:

Originally posted by 303carbine:
The easiest and probably least expensive would be to have it bored out to make a .358 Winchester. .

I strongly second that notion!!!

amen

If your going to start opening up the action, then for similar money consider wider not longer, something on the WSM case, maybe a 375 or 416 WSM.

Length won't be a problem then

regards
S&F

I f you are going to open up the bolt face to belted magnum dimensions of .532 and then you then whant a big bore the tjing that no one has mention for a possability is the 450 Marlin.

With that big bull barrel you would have the beff to make a real short range boomer. I'd have the barrel cut and crowned at not more than 22 inches, and maybe even to 20, or 21 inches. See how it balances.

If you go in this direction you'd make good use of that heavy barrel and stock, and you could seat your bullets out for a long 2.8 plus seating length, and there are many good .458 bullets up to about 400 grains, that would make good use of the extra case case capacity you would have. Your smith would just have to run a throater in a bit after he finished chambered.

I'd make darn certain to a good bedding job of the action with Steal Bed or Devcon.

It would also make a great cast bullet gun. You would have something very unique, and a real hummer. You'd make use of the bull barrel, stock etc. Even those great Ruger integrel scope mounts.