Brand new Ruger American, or revitalize a ~40 year old M77?

[7mmShooter]

Hey guy, wanted to get a few opinions as I'm stuck and can't make a decision. I may be getting a new rifle soon, I'm looking heavily at the American, but my father has an M77 that he bought brand new back in the late '70s (has only had maybe 25 rounds fired to this day), it just sits in the safe unused... Me being a lefty, I would have to extend the LOP to be able to use it fully. The American being 70* throw angle I can use bone stock.

The only thing the American is lacking for aftermarket parts compared to the M77 from the searching I've done, is Prefit barrels, and an AICS detachable bottom metal.

Given this situation, what would you guys do?? Thanks for the help!

 

[RevJim]

Sounds like you don't have the cash for "what you really want", which would be, obviously, a left handed rifle. May I suggest you simply put a thicker recoil pad (and a spacer if needed) so "right now" you can enjoy your dad's old rifle. I hate to say "old" as my first Mod 77 was also bought in 1977! ha. They are good, solid rifles. IMO far better than the American. Then began saving your money, researching a lot and find the left handed model of whatever rifle you prefer ( excluding levers, pumps, semi-autos, you're good to go on those right now!) Buy it in the caliber you like and then shoot the devil out of it, hunt with it, caress it at night time watching TV, dry fire it every evening when you come home. In short, make it "your rifle" and you will be one satisfied Rifleman! ha. I've seen leftys struggle in this right-handed world, and it doesn't look easy to me! I've had to help more than a few buddies get hot 5.56 brass out of their shirt firing the M16! ha. I'm 63 and I know for a fact that "make do won't do" in the long run. You will spend far too much money, have more disappointments, and more frustration until you buy quality (what you really want) Good luck to you, and that Ruger will work just fine.

 

[7mmShooter]

Sounds like you don't have the cash for "what you really want", which would be, obviously, a left handed rifle. May I suggest you simply put a thicker recoil pad (and a spacer if needed) so "right now" you can enjoy your dad's old rifle. I hate to say "old" as my first Mod 77 was also bought in 1977! ha. They are good, solid rifles. IMO far better than the American. Then began saving your money, researching a lot and find the left handed model of whatever rifle you prefer ( excluding levers, pumps, semi-autos, you're good to go on those right now!) Buy it in the caliber you like and then shoot the devil out of it, hunt with it, caress it at night time watching TV, dry fire it every evening when you come home. In short, make it "your rifle" and you will be one satisfied Rifleman! ha. I've seen leftys struggle in this right-handed world, and it doesn't look easy to me! I've had to help more than a few buddies get hot 5.56 brass out of their shirt firing the M16! ha. I'm 63 and I know for a fact that "make do won't do" in the long run. You will spend far too much money, have more disappointments, and more frustration until you buy quality (what you really want) Good luck to you, and that Ruger will work just fine.

Thanks Jim, honestly for the shooting I do I prefer a RH bolt. Have a lefty 700 currently (been a **** nightmare, so hopefully I can get a refund from them, which would make this situation possible). I could turn that M77 into what I want as all the parts are available. Could do the same with a 700 in .270 as well, just put a couple spacers in. The M77 is in the ever classic 30-06 of course!

 

[RevJim]

Well...I wouldn't wish a nightmare on anyone, . But that Ruger, especially in 30-06, would be danged hard to beat!, and "Oh so easy" to get set up for you! I say, "go for it dude"! ha! Good luck to you Pard, Jim/

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thanks Jim, honestly for the shooting I do I prefer a RH bolt. Have a lefty 700 currently (been a **** nightmare, so hopefully I can get a refund from them, which would make this situation possible). I could turn that M77 into what I want as all the parts are available. Could do the same with a 700 in .270 as well, just put a couple spacers in. The M77 is in the ever classic 30-06 of course!

What exactly is wrong with the 700 that is inducing "nightmares"? I might be able to help...

Your 700 would be a walk in the park to customize compared to either Ruger. Nothing wrong with the Rugers, they just lack an aftermarket following therefore they are not as prominent. The 700 would be your best bet to customize and get shooting.

 

[7mmShooter]

What exactly is wrong with the 700 that is inducing "nightmares"? I might be able to help...

Your 700 would be a walk in the park to customize compared to either Ruger. Nothing wrong with the Rugers, they just lack an aftermarket following therefore they are not as prominent. The 700 would be your best bet to customize and get shooting.

Nothing wrong with the 700 platform, but mine... SPS LH 7mm Rem Mag bought new in Sept 2014, been battling feeding issues on and off ever since, sent it in to Remington 3x and it still isn't right. Chamber has been polished already twice, extractor was replaced, the entire bolt assembly was replaced... Had the floor plate and mag system replaced because it stopped feeding. Just had a chamber cast done to see what the dimensions are for that chamber, so I'm waiting to hear the results on that from a Smith friend of mine.

Results of said situation... Remington has agreed to either replace it with a new production piece, or refund my money back. I'm taking the refund if I can. My father has a 700 in .270 from atleast 20 years ago and the aforementioned M77 30-06. I'm torn between the two because all they would need to work for me would be a LOP extension (1 inch longer than stock lop confirmed with my father's 700 in 7mm Rem Mag). The 700 has way more options no doubt, but about the only thing the M77 Long Actions lack that I've seen is chassis systems (MDT does the LSS for the SA M77) and I haven't yet come across anyone doing bolt knob conversions for them, although I'd imagine it can easily be done.

The reason I want to do the M77 is basically just sentimental value of it having been in the family since new, and the fact that it does no good just sitting in the safe... Anyway, much appreciated and Thanks for the insight guys!!

 

[FEENIX]

The reason I want to do the M77 is basically just sentimental value of it having been in the family since new, and the fact that it does no good just sitting in the safe...

Good on you, IMHO, that's all it matters. Good luck!

 

[LPRoad]

There would be no question in my mind. Shoot Dad's old 77

 

[BountyHunter]

Shoot the 77 but leave it alone except for the LOP.

You are trying to take both guns in areas that they are not designed to go.

AICS magazine on Ruger American is like gold plated spinners on Chevy Vega. Just not right!!

IMO forget the tacticool junk on the rugers, unless you want to buy the PSR and they are coming out with the long action in late summer.

 

[7mmShooter]

Thanks LPRoad and BountyHunter, I think that's what I'll do, just change the lop on the M77 and customize the 700.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thanks LPRoad and BountyHunter, I think that's what I'll do, just change the lop on the M77 and customize the 700.

That sounds like a better plan. With all the accessories available for the 700, it would almost be foolish not to keep one you already own and customize it and blueprint and put a good aftermarket barrel on it with a properly cut chamber.

I have 2 old 90's model M77 MKII's, both all-weather stainless with the skeleton/zytel/boat paddle stocks on them...A matching set of 7mm's. One is a 7mm RemMag and the other, a 7mm-08. Both are sentimental to me, and considered collectors items today, so they live in the safe 99.9% of the time, but they have both taken quite a few deer back in the day when I hunted with them as my primary deer rifles. They are both extremely accurate rifles. If you have an accurate Ruger out of the box, leave it alone and shoot it like it is (a good trigger-job never hurts). If you have an inaccurate Ruger out of the box, sell it for something else. Just my thoughts.

The only modification I recommend doing to the Ruger M77 is having the gunsmith drill and tap the top of the receiver so you can mount a picatinny base on top, so you are not limited to using only those god-awful Ruger rings. It really opens up your scoping and ring options. Also, those old Ruger triggers can be stoned and tuned to be very crisp, just like an old Remington 700 Walker wide shoe trigger. But I recommend a professional gunsmith do this job.

Ruger M-77 Long Action Picatinny Rail Mounts (MUST DRILL & TAP RECEIVER) 0 MOA: EGW Gun Parts

 

[7mmShooter]

That sounds like a better plan. With all the accessories available for the 700, it would almost be foolish not to keep one you already own and customize it and blueprint and put a good aftermarket barrel on it with a properly cut chamber.

I have 2 old 90's model M77 MKII's, both all-weather stainless with the skeleton/zytel/boat paddle stocks on them...A matching set of 7mm's. One is a 7mm RemMag and the other, a 7mm-08. Both are sentimental to me, and considered collectors items today, so they live in the safe 99.9% of the time, but they have both taken quite a few deer back in the day when I hunted with them as my primary deer rifles. They are both extremely accurate rifles. If you have an accurate Ruger out of the box, leave it alone and shoot it like it is (a good trigger-job never hurts). If you have an inaccurate Ruger out of the box, sell it for something else. Just my thoughts.

The only modification I recommend doing to the Ruger M77 is having the gunsmith drill and tap the top of the receiver so you can mount a picatinny base on top, so you are not limited to using only those god-awful Ruger rings. It really opens up your scoping and ring options. Also, those old Ruger triggers can be stoned and tuned to be very crisp, just like an old Remington 700 Walker wide shoe trigger. But I recommend a professional gunsmith do this job.

Ruger M-77 Long Action Picatinny Rail Mounts (MUST DRILL & TAP RECEIVER) 0 MOA: EGW Gun Parts

Yeah, the M77 is already scoped so no worries there (pretty sure its the round top which uses 700 LA bases). The 700 I'm referring to customizing is my father's .270 which I will be buying off him once I get the refund from my 7mm SPS. Thinking of getting a MagnetoSpeed, Rear bag of some sort, order a couple hundred 165 Matrix, and get the Hornady OAL tool and comparator kit. Once that's done, who knows, maybe a scope or stock...

 

[ohiohunter]

That sounds like a better plan. With all the accessories available for the 700, it would almost be foolish not to keep one you already own and customize it and blueprint and put a good aftermarket barrel on it with a properly cut chamber.

I'd do this 1000x over before below.

Yeah, the M77 is already scoped so no worries there (pretty sure its the round top which uses 700 LA bases). The 700 I'm referring to customizing is my father's .270 which I will be buying off him once I get the refund from my 7mm SPS. Thinking of getting a MagnetoSpeed, Rear bag of some sort, order a couple hundred 165 Matrix, and get the Hornady OAL tool and comparator kit. Once that's done, who knows, maybe a scope or stock...

Will the current barrel handle the 165's? If so, has it proven itself accurate to even mess with? The chrono is a great tool, but realistically how important is it for a hunting rig and how often do you think you are actually going to use it?

 

[7mmShooter]

I'd do this 1000x over before below.



Will the current barrel handle the 165's? If so, has it proven itself accurate to even mess with? The chrono is a great tool, but realistically how important is it for a hunting rig and how often do you think you are actually going to use it?

I've been in contact with Marshall, and the 10 twist will run the 165s just fine (little lower BC but still quite a ways higher than say a 150gr and actually a little higher than the 170gr Berger) I'd use the chrono for checking velocity of current loads and for working up new ones. Hell, wouldn't be hard to get a takeoff in 30-06 if I wanted to either... Wouldn't be as good as an aftermarket barrel of course, but I've got plenty of 30-06 brass and there are some awesome options for 30cal projectiles! Unless someone has a 7mm-08 or 7mm Rem Mag they'd sell for ~$350-400