Ruger M77 Mark II all weather bolt action

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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I'm interested in getting this rifle. I only know what I've read on Rugers website, and I'm doing some research on Google tonight. I like the idea of "all weather", but do I really need that finish? Ruger is a good name, their P series automatics are practically indestructible, but does the same go for this rifle? Also, which caliber should I get it in?
 
.30-06 Springfield

I'd get a Weatherby myself or a Browning A-bolt. For the price of the Ruger I'd go with a Winchester Model 70. However I know people with Rugers that love them and they have a good reputation
 
Cartridge ? for just deer 7-08,270,308 ,30-06..For larger elk and moose also , 30-06, 338,7 mag.
 
Ruger makes a nice rifle. It's a modernized version of the Mauser non rotating extractor action and I like them a lot.

Just me, but I prefer the 260 Remington and 7mm08. Both are derived from the same parent case, the 308 Winchester, with better long range potential, using the right bullet(s), and lighter recoil than the .308.

Good luck however you go.
 
I got to handle/shoot an M77 Mark II (stainless synthetic, don't know the exact model) once. Its a nice gun. Felt like it might have a decent balance. This one in particular had a bipod on it so it was hard to really tell. Trigger was fairly good. Bolt worked pretty smooth. You could definitely do a lot worse.
The one I shot was chambered in .223 remington. For here in ohio where deer hunting is shotgun/muzzle loader only, I would go with the .223. Only about 8" of drop out at 300 yards, so you're good for any shot on varmints that might present itself around here, accurate and fairly cheap at about $12/40 rounds.
If I was in an area that offered big game hunting with rifles, or had a range where I could routinely shoot long distance I'd probably go for something more along the lines of a .243. Good compromise, because you can shoot lightweight bullets and smack varmints, or load up heavier and take deer.

Ruger makes very reliable guns, and I've never had a complaint about any of them I've handled. I've also never bought one, because everytime I set out to I found something I liked better at a better price. YMMV. I'd probably go for a Savage if I was in the market for a centerfire bolt action rifle right now.
 
my bud has a ruger 77 .308 SS w/a fibre stock, its a nice rifle, accurate, seems pretty heavy duty to me.

i like remington 700's better though, for the $$.
 
Matt Shade said:
I got to handle/shoot an M77 Mark II (stainless synthetic, don't know the exact model) once. Its a nice gun. Felt like it might have a decent balance. This one in particular had a bipod on it so it was hard to really tell. Trigger was fairly good. Bolt worked pretty smooth. You could definitely do a lot worse.
The one I shot was chambered in .223 remington. For here in ohio where deer hunting is shotgun/muzzle loader only, I would go with the .223. Only about 8" of drop out at 300 yards, so you're good for any shot on varmints that might present itself around here, accurate and fairly cheap at about $12/40 rounds.
If I was in an area that offered big game hunting with rifles, or had a range where I could routinely shoot long distance I'd probably go for something more along the lines of a .243. Good compromise, because you can shoot lightweight bullets and smack varmints, or load up heavier and take deer.

Ruger makes very reliable guns, and I've never had a complaint about any of them I've handled. I've also never bought one, because everytime I set out to I found something I liked better at a better price. YMMV. I'd probably go for a Savage if I was in the market for a centerfire bolt action rifle right now.
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Hey Neighbor!

My Ruger MkII Stainless is from about 13 years ago. Solid rifle for sure. Have hunted in the snow with it and of course...no rust. You could probably put the thing in the dishwasher to clean it with no harm...lol. My trigger was pretty heavy. Ruger tried to lawyer-proof it. Current Ruger's may be the same, or better, I don't know. I installed an aftermarket trigger in mine to improve the pull weight. My barrel also copper fouled heavily for about the first 200 rounds, then it hasn't fouled since.

I'd probably buy a Winchester Model 70 Classic/stainless if I was buying another big game rifle. But...I am happy with the Ruger. Savage is probably the best dollar value bolt-action rifle, but get what you want. You won't really go wrong with Ruger, Remington, Winchester or Savage.

Jeff
 
devo55 said:
Savage is probably the best dollar value bolt-action rifle, but get what you want. You won't really go wrong with Ruger, Remington, Winchester or Savage.

Jeff
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Thats why I would pick savage. A friend of mine has a model 12FV in .223 and its a heck of a shooter. Anything under 100 yards is pretty boring with it actually. Its a high quality peice, for less money.
And I would spend that money on getting a better scope:)

Thats something I forgot to mention before. Most rifles in this class don't come with any kind of sights. I've been through a couple cheap scopes now and its one of the most frustrating things you can imagine when the adjustments get stuck, or it won't hold a zero. Doesn't matter how good of a rifle you have when your scope is stuck a foot low and to the left at 100 yards:mad: I've also had issues with image quality, and eye releif on cheap scopes. If you plan on using your new rifle at all, you end up having to make the scope part of your budget. I personally like iron sights better for anything I can see clearly without magnification and wish iron sights weren't left out so often. At least then you could do some shooting out to 100 or 200 yards without having to buy a good scope.
 
being as you didn't ask....but....Remington .308 700 LTR. It's a bit more expensive than the Ruger, which is an excellent gun, but before you go plonkin' down yer donuts, do a side by side comparison.

The LTR is an elegant and extremely accurate rifle. By elegant, I do not mean like an exhibition grade, walnut stocked royal blued English rifle. I mean it is light, looks great and you can beat the stuffing out of it, and it will still shoot fine.

The rifle will probably cost you around $800 and figure around $500 for a good Leupold scope.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
being as you didn't ask....but....Remington .308 700 LTR. It's a bit more expensive than the Ruger, which is an excellent gun, but before you go plonkin' down yer donuts, do a side by side comparison.

........................
STeven Garsson
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I agree, the Remington 700P-LTR is an excellent rifle for the price. I have both the full sized 700P, and the 700P-LTR and prefer the LTR for field carry. It's also highly accurate.

You can get one here for about the best price anywhere.
http://www.sportingarms.com/

Search for the Remmy #5739.
http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/700pltr.htm

It's not a whippy barreled hunting rifle, but a 20" heavy barreled tactical rifle with a fluted barrel to keep weight down. It might not be what you want at all, but it's another option.:eek:
 
Kohai999, I am going to pick up a Remington 700 also now :D.

I've narrowed it down to 308 or 223. I really don't need the 308, the 223 would be enough and is cheap to shoot, I've got some time to decide.
 
If you shoot a .223 if just HAS to be from an AR-15;) Course the best .308 would be an M14:D I'd go with .308 or .30-'06 there's not much use for other calibers unless you what to go on Safari.
 
Get the Ruger 77 in 30-06. Mine (blued, heavy barrel) has killed 3 deer and one elk.
 
Re: caliber ...

I'd go with .308.

It's the most versatile in terms of the variety factory ammunition you can get. If you handload exclusively, that's less of a factor.

.308 works for just about everything. Ballistics of most factory loads are comparable (or identical) to .30-06, but you can get a shorter action for the .308, which I greatly prefer.
 
If you are going to hunt varmints(and that would probably be the only recommended reason) go .223.

.308 IS the shizznit!

Amazing things can be done with .223, but the bottom line is that you are looking at a 55 grain projectile vs. a 168 grain projectile that is arguably the most accurate projectile made (BTHP). If I were you the question would not be .223 vs.308 (this is all assuming you don't already have an AR-15 or similar) but .308 or .300 Win Mag, which is a true 1000 yard caliber.

Best Regards, (and sorry to possibly bring up more questions than answers)

STeven Garsson
 
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