Anyone use Ruger 77 action for build?

[Duckman208]

I just came across my Ruger M77 in the safe and just got to thinking about using the action to start a build. The rifle shoots great stock but it's a .243 win and it doesn't like anything over 95gr. I haven't used the gun much in years and was just thinking about building it into a long range yote gun maybe speed goat or deer. I like the action but I just haven't heard of anyone building on one. If anyone has any experience using these actions for LRH builds I would love to hear how your projects turned out and more importantly if you would recommend this type of build. The gun is ideal as it sits for my wife and kids but just got the gears turning when I came across her today. Thanks for taking a look and your input in advance.

 

[chainsaw]

There aren't many bench rest shooters using 77 actions.I have been told the reason is the funky angled front action screw setup.That doesn't mean it isn't worth rebarreling though.I also know a guy that has one rebarreled in 220 swift that shoots VERY well.He had a Hart barrel put on it and it shoots 5/8" groups on a good day.

 

[Duckman208]

Thanks Chainsaw,
I suppose I should just start with a trigger job and see where that leads. It's good to know that others are having luck with the action.

 

[FEENIX]

Thanks Chainsaw,
I suppose I should just start with a trigger job and see where that leads. It's good to know that others are having luck with the action.

Trigger and better stock is definitely a start. I have a M77 MKII that shoots well within 1/2 MOA with factory loads. http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f22/ruger-m77-mkii-facelift-range-report-40952/

Don't be discourage, check out this thread >>> http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f37/blueprint-ruger-action-87247/

Good luck!

Ed

 

[MachV]

I've got three Ruger M77 tang safties I use. We may not winn a bench rest competition but they all shoot as good as I can drive them!
The first used to be a fair shootin 243 sporter that got a facelift with a new 8 twist 22-250 barrel and a Boyds stock. I like the long range ability of the 75grain max but sometimes miss the handy little 243 it used to be...

The second is a 7mag that has only been bedded,trigger tuned and a better recoil pad put on it. I've kicked around the idea of rebarreling it but its become my go-to big game unit and has done eveything I've expected of it and more......

The third is a full blown custom in 338Edge. The angle lug has been ground off and a remington type lug added along with a trigger and Richards stock. I have to pull the bolt to get a loaded round out.

This is what it looked like when it was a 308Baer. the 338 barrel has a Holland brake and a Sightron 20x with 150MOA of travel sits on top.

 

[J E Custom]

The Ruger has a reputation for being difficult to predict performance because of the angled lug.

When they are good, they are realy good, but when they are not,WeeeLLLLL.

I think I read somewhere that Jim See with center shot rifles Has the Rugers figured out, so you
might give him a call and talk to him. (He is one of the better gun smiths on this site and will
help you).

There are little tricks to building an accurate rifle and you need someone that has lots of them for
the Ruger 77.

I liked the idea of cutting off the angled lug like MachV did and setting it up like a Remington and
will have to try that method on the next Ruger 77. (I do Savages the same way with no barrel
nut and a larger shank with a shoulder to set the headspace and have had excellent results) That
may be "THE" trick that makes them all predictable.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Duckman208]

Thanks for all the great info gentlemen. The threads that Feenix posted explain the unique challenges with a 77 and how they are addressed. Makes since that you don't hear about a lot of builds on them.

MachV, you have some great lookin shoooters there and I'm tempted to build something like your 22-250.

J E, I'm sure there is really no way to predict how well , or how much work it will take to get there but in your experience if the gun shoots well stock will it require as much truing. I know there is probably no hard fast rule. I hate to go to work on a gun that already has very good accuracy just for the sake of putting a fast twist tube on.

 

[436]

I just came across my Ruger M77 in the safe and just got to thinking about using the action to start a build. The rifle shoots great stock but it's a .243 win and it doesn't like anything over 95gr. I haven't used the gun much in years and was just thinking about building it into a long range yote gun maybe speed goat or deer. I like the action but I just haven't heard of anyone building on one. If anyone has any experience using these actions for LRH builds I would love to hear how your projects turned out and more importantly if you would recommend this type of build. The gun is ideal as it sits for my wife and kids but just got the gears turning when I came across her today. Thanks for taking a look and your input in advance.

I built two calibers on the M77 action, one in .308 (early heavy barrel on a butter spoon) the other caliber in a 6mm Rem also a HB version for Chuck hunting. The .308 was a Douglas and the 6mm Rem was a Shilen.. Both shot great but the 6mm Rem was a death machine.. Along with about a metric ton of Chuck's, it took two very nice bucks at considerable distance.
Good luck on your build.
436

 

[MachV]

MachV, you have some great lookin shoooters there and I'm tempted to build something like your 22-250.

If I had that one to do over I would have went and found a different gun to do it with=I miss the little brother to the 7mag! I would also not let just any smith put the barrel on, just like horses and wives a good smith is worth his weight in gold and a bad one aint worth spit!!!! I also would have opted for a little shorter magnum contoured barrel and kept the original stock. The varmint contour works good off the bench but is a little heavy for calling.
This is what it looked like in the factory stock.

Getting the action to fit the Boyds stock was quite the adventure and still not completely finished.

 

[J E Custom]

Thanks for all the great info gentlemen. The threads that Feenix posted explain the unique challenges with a 77 and how they are addressed. Makes since that you don't hear about a lot of builds on them.

MachV, you have some great lookin shoooters there and I'm tempted to build something like your 22-250.

J E, I'm sure there is really no way to predict how well , or how much work it will take to get there but in your experience if the gun shoots well stock will it require as much truing. I know there is probably no hard fast rule. I hate to go to work on a gun that already has very good accuracy just for the sake of putting a fast twist tube on.

In my experance a good shooting rifle has a good barrel and the trueness is fairly good.

A poorly smithed rifle will normally shoot poorly even with a good barrel.

It takes a good barrel, good smithing and good loads + a good shooter to make an exceptional
rifle but in my opinion the heart of a good rifle is the barrel. you can be a top marksman and
have the best smith and loads, and with a poor barrel it still will not shoot great.

Just changing the barrel does not guarantee accuracy but it is part of the system and in most cases a
good after market barrel will improve the accuracy.

At some point one component may only make a difference of .050 thousandths but enough of
these improvements can take a 1/2 MOA rifle to a 1/10th MOA rifle.

As far as truing , I have never found a factory action that was perfict and did not need some truing.

J E CUSTOM

 

[dmstepien]

I have a .5moa 77. It was built by Terry Cross and according to him it is the
only Ruger that will leave his shop. He mentioned the funny angles and said he only built it because the gentleman was very nice and willing to wait. It has Krieger barrel, pillar bedding, Canjar trigger and is in .308.

Not finicky at all about its diet.