Ruger M77 30-06?

[Scot7167]

Just bought new ruger M77 and just did the 10 break in shots with a good clean between rounds and was called from the range. Mounted the Nikon buckmaster 4.5-14 on it. Wasnt shooting for super accuracy but more to get broke in quickly but was very satisfied with how it grouped after getting it zeroed 1 inch high at 50 yds. My question is does anyone own this rifle that can give me their honest feedback on it? I am 55 years old and only been shooting for 2 years so a prepubescent in the sport compared to many of u. Other than owning some mosin nagants this is basically my first decent purchase in a bigger game rifle. I hope to start hunting next year and hope this rifle is going to be all it was said to be by my friends behind the counter at the gun store. Basically i am wanting to get reinforcement that i made a wise choice. Also is the nikon buckmaster a good fit for this rifle? I just heard about this forum today and registered right away upon hearing great things about it and am anxious to hear your valued opinions.

A wise man once said "You cant strengthen the weak by weakening the strong"-(Thomas Jefferson). A truism that our country's leaders need to grasp.

Again thanks in advance for your help and wisdom

Scot7167

 

[Big Z]

The Ruger M77 is one of my favorites. A bit heavy, but very stout and reliable and I really like the looks of them in a nice wood stock too. One of the most (if not thee most) accurate out of the box sporting rifles I've ever shot was a 77 Mk2; a 25-06 that held groups around 3/8" at 100yds from a bench. The 30-06 is a plain vanilla cartridge, but it can do it all. You made a great choice for a hunting rifle IMO.

The Nikon Buckmaster is suited perfectly fine for hunting. I'd probably rate it at the higher end of entry-level. Not great but not bad either.

 

[Scot7167]

Thank you so much for that feedback. I appreciate it so much. It was the type of response I was hoping to get but wasn't sure that I would. I am feeling even more excited about my purchase. Again thank you big Z for your feedback. The rifle I did some trading for and think I did pretty well on that but the scope was out-of-pocket and was pushing my budget little bit but I went for it and I am grateful to hear that it was a decent choice too. I'm already happy to be a member of snipershide

 

[4000fps]

If I were dropped off into the middle of nowhere, and could only bring one gun to survive it would be a Ruger M77. They are built like tanks.

 

[Scot7167]

Awesome. Feeling better about my decision all the time. I wanted this to be THE rifle that i would shoot the rest of my life and it would go into my will for my son and he can get something he can take pleasure in after i am gone. Maybe even into a generation past him.

Thanks 4000fps.

 

[Barrel Nut]

Hunted with mine since 1985...with a Leupold vari-x 3 ....been a great hunting rifle...not a tackdriver...solid moa rifle...that thing has put a lot of meat in the freezer

 

[Bender]

The 30-06 is the best all round cartridge to have. It will kill any big game in North America. I have used it on elk for years. 150g for deer and up to 208g for anything else. Ruger makes some of the most reliable guns period. Just like stated above. If I could only ever have one rifle. The R77 in 30-06 is near impossible to beat. Shoot it well. Be proud of your purchase.

 

[g2gjoe]

No buddy, you didn't make the wrong choice. More ruger m77's have been strapped under Cessna airplane wings in Alaska than any other rifle. And for good reason.

 

[Expert684]

I have three M77's all in .308. One is a custom tactical build using a Gunsite Scout action and mag system. The thing shoots 185 Bergers 3/8" at 200 yards. No BS. The are great guns.

 

[jcann]

I bought a Ruger M77 in 7mm mag for $185 in 1979 when TG&Y was going out of business. Hunted with it for years taking elk, deer, and antelope. Never once did it fail me in the field. I traded it off at Third Generation Shooter Supply in 2012 for $325 to purchase my sons Savage 260. I would say I made a good purchase.

 

[ivankonev]

The Ruger M77 MkII is the the most solid feeling bolt action I've ever had. Another said it earlier, they're built like tanks. Mine was never very accurate though. The Ruger 30-06 I had I retired in favor of a Savage. The Ruger 77 MkII has that pencil thin barrel and a non-adjustable trigger (you can buy upgraded adjustable triggers for it however). I would never trust hunting with it on anything over 200 yards out, even though I had an adjustable trigger and upgraded stock. The Savage still shot MUCH better even just out of the box. The action of the Ruger bolt is so wonderful I was thinking about re-barreling it with a match barrel, but it would likely end up costing more than another new Savage.

 

[Cascade_Sherpa]

Over twenty years ago when I was 16 years old my dad bought my older brother and I each Ruger m77 mark 2 rifles in .300 win mag. Mainly because he hand loaded all of our ammo and he already hunted with a win mag so the choice was easy, he knew that we wouldn't use our hunting rifles for plinking at rabbits and squirrels with the stout recoil the .300's delivered. Mine rifle was a handsome blued and walnut stocked gun with the tang safety and I was super proud of it. My brothers was stainless with the infamous black synthetic stock that was dubbed "the boat paddle" by many, but he was just as proud of it.
Those rifles were carried for at least a decade and a half, in backpacks, trucks, etc. They made some amazing shots for a couple teenage kids, and plenty of misses as well. They were plenty accurate enough for deer and elk hunting, but i will never forget the surprised looks all my dad's buddies had when on many occasions he would let us boys "waste some ammo" shooting at distant rocks when the hunting slowed.

That old m77 was a constant companion for many years and more memories associated with it than I'm likely to ever have with another rifle, in fact, hopefully one of my boys will want to carry that heavy old cannon around for ten or twenty years and make some memories as good as the ones I've had with it.

 

[Scot7167]

My most sincerest thanks to all the great responses. I feel great about my choice. I guess there have been some upgrades in design that have improved the quality of the M77. I was most concerned with the trigger. Tho it is not adjustable it is one of the smoother pulls i have experienced and it is reasonably light. I really like it as it stands. I look forward to getting to know this rifle inside and out.

I have started to reload and will get dies soon for 30-06. Anybody worked up some favorite loads that i should consider?

I am actually overwhelmed at the response that I've got on this thread and again I appreciate it very much. You all take care

 

[Scot7167]

G2gjoe, I lived in Alaska in Anchorage for about nine years and during that time I never did hunt. And now that I'm into the shooting sports that almost sickens me that I did not hunt up there. It is a paradise that I wish I I had taken advantage of. I regret it to the depths of my soul. But I did fish the hell out of it up there. That is where I found my great love for the outdoors. I remember that fondly but I would dearly love to have that nine years back.

 

[Scot7167]

After sighting in at approx 1.9" high at 100 as data from box showed, I shot a 3 round group of 1" at 200 yds at almost dead bulls. I am jacked beyond belief. I was only hoping to get that kind of accuracy. Never thought i would manage it. For a newbie i am pumped. Then the wind came up and had to pack up. Damn i wanted to continue. Can't wait to get out there again. Yee fn haw!!

 

[Graham]

If I could have only one rifle, it would be in 30-06.

And there's nothing wrong with that rifle. It's not a competition gun, and it's not upgradable, but it works well for what it was designed to do.

Use it and enjoy it!

 

[rafsob]

I just recently sold this one:



It was pretty, but wasn't a shooter!

 

[brodriguez88]

I just recently sold this one:

View attachment 40361

It was pretty, but wasn't a shooter!

I absolutely love my m77 international chambered in .243win. It has taken countless deer. May not be the ultimate sub MOA gun but it shoots just fine, has no problem taking deer at 200 yards with a 4x Zeiss, a hell of a straight shooting rifle, and with its size there is no issue transporting around woods.
<a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/user/Quagmire817/media/photo1-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/Quagmire817/photo1-1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo1-1.jpg"/></a>

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I have two Ruger 77RSIs, one in .308 and one in .270. Both shoot sub-MOA and, given their weight, size and handiness with Leupy VX3 2.5-8x36 scopes, are wonderful hunting rifles. I was going to use the .308 with 180gr AccuBonds this late elk season but didn't draw a tag. Love the rifle and it's one of my 2 go-to rifles.

FH

 

[ratrod54]

I have an M77 Hawkeye in 300 Win Mag and I love it. I have drug that rifle through a lot of shit in Colorado hunting Elk and never had an issue. It is a hunting rifle and very good for that purpose. Someone said it was a bit heavy and I would have to agree but I still haul it around every year. I think you made a great decision.

 

[Phye2003]

I have a m77 mkII and while the only factory parts left on it is the stock and action i love the rifle. Will shoot 1/4 -3/8 inch groups all day at 100 yards. Its chambered in 243 imp. And wears a buckmasters 4.5-14 sf mil dot scope on it. Those scopes are good for the money i have two and have put them both thru a lot. Have use them to shoot 100 - 1000 yards. I adjust the scope for different yardages and at the end of the day when i take it back to the 100 yard zero and shoot to check it, it is always back to zero.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Greg Langelius *]

My Son-in-Law has the M77 MK1 .30-06 sporter that I inherited from my eldest Brother. It may be old, but it harvests at least two deer every year. I have its twin chambered in .280 Rem, and I love it. There is a fraternal triplet, too, a Varmint weight .280. My most accurate .308 was a MKII 77VT. It's twin was a .22-250 that put a sizeable dent in the local chuck population.

My own 30-'06's are a Pre-WWII Garand, and a Mod 70 sporter that took 3rd in the 1997 NJ State Sniper Championships with me behind the buttpad using FGMM 168gr.

Greg

 

[Scot7167]

Thanks to all for great replies again. Havent checked in for a bit. I am especially excited about the responses about the Buckmaster scope. I hope mine lasts and performs as well as those i am hearing about. Was hoping to get out to the range today to play with my M 77 again but of course wind blowing like hell. I am going through some major withdrawals

 

[jcann]

Thanks to all for great replies again. Havent checked in for a bit. I am especially excited about the responses about the Buckmaster scope. I hope mine lasts and performs as well as those i am hearing about. Was hoping to get out to the range today to play with my M 77 again but of course wind blowing like hell. I am going through some major withdrawals

Should have went out anyway, if your hunts are like mine seldom are they perfect weather conditions. Windy days will teach you a lot and sometimes it's your limitation.

 

[Scot7167]

Good point. I am new to this and new to this Rifle so I thought I would do it on a calm day to get it finished sighted in first but after that I think going out on windy days is an excellent idea. I do need to learn how to adjust for the wind etc. Good advice. Thanks