I saw a used Ruger 77 -- the early one with tang safety and red butt pad -- in .257 Roberts for sale for $395. The rifle is obviously used, but sound and in good condition.

Is this a good price?

In my opinion it is a good price. My Roberts shoots like a dream and is one of the best calibers for small deer and for young people learning to hunt. I also use mine occasionally for squirrels as it is small and easily carried in the woods.
Buy it.
Frank

it's likely a price you can retrieve in a few days if you wish to sell again.

If I recall correctly, the early M77 Roberts were built on a post-flat bolt long action, which gives you a lot of latitude in bullet and load selection. On the other hand, early M77's were built with a variety of barrels from outsource manufacturers and the quality and accuracy varied significantly.

As a Lefty who actually prefers a bolt on the right side, I naturally like the ambidextrous tang safety of the old model.

$395 should buy you a rifle in excellent to mint condition. Anything less than 90+% on the blue and wood should go for less.

Prices vary quite a bit from region to region of the U.S. In Oregon, I consider $395 a "normal" asking price for a M77 in 85% to 95% condition. Personally, I'd be willing to pay just a little more for one of the older tang safety models, and especially for any flat bolt model, chambered for a cartridge I really wanted. On the other hand, in Arizona I've bought a fair number of Rugers for about $50 less on average than I've had to pay in Oregon......

About five years ago I paid $400 for an older M77 (tang safety) in .257 Roberts. I forget what they call the model - black forend tip and short barrel... It came with a decent leather carry strap, serviceable scope, and two boxes of ammo. Seems like the price you post is reasonable.

[QUOTE]Personally, I'd be willing to pay just a little more for one of the older tang safety models, and especially for any flat bolt model, chambered for a cartridge I really wanted. QUOTE]

I agree. I'm thinking that the Roberts was never made in the flat bolt version, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days and I could be wrong. As DesertRam's post points out, there was also a lightweight model (I'm sure this one would be o the short action). Just reminds you that there are getting to be a lot of variations and short runs of calibers in this gun, which has been around since about 1971 or so.

BTW: I just picked up a fresh copy of Stoeger's Gun Traders Guide. Not worth the paper it's written on. Lots of errors in models, dates, and calibers, and the premium it gives to rare calibers like 6.5 and .350 Remington magnum in the M77 are WAY below market. After a few glances, I chuncked the book in corner, but I ought to burn it lest someone get the idea that it bears some relationship to reality.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

I'm thinking that the Roberts was never made in the flat bolt version ...

What is the flat bolt version. How is it distinguished from other versions?

Sorry to jump the thread, but since Ruger knower's seem to be showing up. Ruger's website shows that at one point they chambered a rifle in 416 Taylor and I thought it was the 77, anybody ever see one or know if this was true?

Thanks.

Red
PS
I saw a tang safety in 7x57 once at local show for 450 I thought it was worth it at the time. I liked the location of the tang safety as well.

I will say this of the old Rugers in .257 Roberts:
My 1976 ("Made in the 200th year of American Liberty") Ruger 77 just refuses to shoot worth a hoot. With any load!

A gunsmith friend of mine once told me I'd have to rebarrel it if I wanted it to shoot well. He knew I couldn't afford that and told me not to waste any more $$ on anything else (I'd already had it free floated and bedded).

Still have it, still doesn't shoot worth a hoot (even with a Leupold 2.5 x 8 on it)! One of these days I'll probably sell it!

And now I just picked up an older 77 in 7 x 57 Mauser from about the same time frame (same crappy barrels!!). Sure hope I got 1 out of 2 lucky!

I just got an early M77 Tang safety model last fall. It's in .250 Savage and came with a Timney trigger. We had to look close to find a small scratch and the blueing was great. Shoots both 75's and 100's very accurate. Paid $400, and it's my favorite rifle.

C1PNR, I'll buy that gun cheap, in my opinions most factory guns have crap barrels anyway. Rebarrel it and you will love it.

Be careful with used Rugers.

Their barrels can be hit or miss accuracy-wise from one gun to the next.

Too many times I have seen guys come in the store wanting to dump a gun they have too much money into because it shot like crap.

-Spencer

I picked up an older Ruger tang safety a few months back in .270. Shoots cloverleaf holes with factory ammo. Wood an bluing is excellent

They seem to be a good deal

quote:

Originally posted by LE270:

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

I'm thinking that the Roberts was never made in the flat bolt version ...

What is the flat bolt version. How is it distinguished from other versions?

The first few years of production of M77's used a bolt that had a rather pronounced rearward dogleg and a flattened upper surface. After a few years it was redesigned to have less dogleg and a rounded surface. I liked the original design better, but that's simply a matter of personal preference, just as my preference for the tang safety.

quote:

Ruger's website shows that at one point they chambered a rifle in 416 Taylor and I thought it was the 77, anybody...know if this was true?

Thanks.

Red

Yes, it was true, and yes, it was the Model 77.
Having said that, it is highly unlikely any of us here will ever see one originally made in that chambering. Too few made, and worth too many bucks now. Long disappeared into RCA (Ruger Collector's Association) members' hands.

They also (for one month) advertised the Ruger No 1 (I'm not talking about the No. 3 now) in the No. 1-S model in 30-40 Krag. And they made a FEW. I ordered one the instant I saw the ad, got my order confirmed twice, once in 1970, and once in 1983 by Bill Ruger Jr. hisself, and gave them a check twice, but still never got my rifle. I know they did make a few because Lynn Laudice of Prescott, AZ, who was VERY tight with the Rugers, sold a couple of them from his collection in the later '80s, for just over $3-Large apiece at that time.

As to the advisability of buying used Rugers, I have a vault full of them, and have never had one that just wouldn't shoot accurately with anything. Of course, I am calling 5 shots in 1-1/4 inch at 100 yards with selected handloads, "good enough" for hunting rifles.

I HAVE had a few of them, though that took me a LONG time (like several years) and a LOT of off & on experimenting to find what they liked....and even then it wasn't always with a bullet I would take hunting.

But, I've had the same experience with every other make of hunting rifle, too...except maybe Marlins. I have never found Marlins to be superbly accurate, but I have never had even one of their lever guns that I couldn't eventually make shoot 1-inch groups with some combo.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

The first few years of production of M77's used a bolt that had a rather pronounced rearward dogleg and a flattened upper surface. After a few years it was redesigned to have less dogleg and a rounded surface. I liked the original design better, but that's simply a matter of personal preference, just as my preference for the tang safety.

Thank you.

This one is not the flat bolt version. It does have a long action, long enough for 30-06 length cases or even longer.

C1PNR:
I had the same problem with the Ruger .257 Rbts. I bought in the mid 70's. What little I worked with it, I just couldn't get it to shoot. Finally, after doing nothing with it for years, I decided to rebarrel/rechamber to .257 Imp. I sent it to Kreiger & had them rebarrel & chamber. They also cryo treated it & blue printed the action. I have a Canjar set trigger on it and a Leupold 4.5 - 14 Vari xxx Tactical scope.
I now get very close to 3/8" groups consistantly with that rifle using the Hornaday 75 gr. V-max. I can't believe it. Did I try making a silk purse out of a sows ear? Yeah, probably but I've never had a rifle as accurate as this one. I'll likely never get my money out of it but it's not for sale and I've wanted a .257 Imp. for sometime. If ya got the money it's something you might want to consider.
Best of luck in whatever you decide. Bear in Fairbanks