Ruger 77 MkII - what breaks in them?

[rbernie]

I seem to recall, but cannot find, a web site that was put up some years back by an African PH in which he provided commentary on the reliability of the commonly available DG bolt action rifles (circa early 2000s). I was talking to a friend about this, specifically because he is looking at buying a Ruger African and taking it afield. I recommended that he get feedback from folk that had seen field failures of the Ruger, to know what to address before going out-n-about with it.

So in the absence of finding that web site again, I'll ask here and see what comes back - specific to the Ruger 77Mk II, what breaks on them such that they are rendered NonMissionCapable? I'm specifically trolling for reliability issues, and not accuracy/fitment issues.

Anyone know of any actual failures?

 

[Welding Rod]

I don't have alot of experience shooting the guns, and none with the African specifically, but I have never seen a part break.

However I have seen my share of build / QC problems with them. I can detail these if you like.

I own some. I think their basic design for most cartridges is sound and can be a good value, but that the wheels fall off regularly in production where manufacturing and inspection is sloppy at best.

I would never buy a Ruger of any kind without giving it a very thorough inspection. Were I to buy another (unlikely since I tried the new Model 70s) I would it from a place like Cabellas that would take a problem gun back and handle all the shipping and so forth to get things right if there is a problem.

 

[Still Shooting]

I own 4 Ruger M77 rifles; 2 of them are Mk II's. Never had a field or range failure on any of them. I agree that some need a little "fussing" over them to get their best in accuracy. I have never had to send one back to the factory. At present, both of my Mk II rifles are 1/2 moa or less, depending on me -not the rifle- and so is the third (early) M77. However, I have not owned a Ruger 77 in an "african" caliber, so can't speak to the reliability of the "brutes".

None of the minor problems I have experienced have had to do with action, breech, or barrel. I have swapped out for Timney triggers on 3 of them, because the factory ones were heavy with long pull. I have had to sand clearance under the barrel in one early gun to get it to group well. Of course now, the 77 Mk II's have an adjustable trigger. Mine didn't. In a really heavy caliber, I think I'd definitely want to go for pillar bedding, and maybe some glass as well.

 

[registrar]

Why would you care? If it's for combat, you certainly don't want a bolt action. If it's for dangerous game, your guide/prohunter is backing you up anyway. If it's not for a $50,000 hunt at some rare critter in Timbuctu, the extremely unlikely breakage of parts is of no concern. If it is a once in a lifetime, big $ hunt, you need a spare rifle and scope, not spare parts that will probably need a shop and a smith to fit, anyway, along with 1-2 days of piddling around. The time and other pressures of a high $ hunt just pretty much force you to have a spare rifle.

 

[StretchNM]

I own 4 Ruger rifles and 2 Ruger pistols, manufactured between 1982 and 2009. None were inspected before purchasing and not a single one has a manufacturing or quality control problem. Some buyers may have had a problem or three, but that's the luck of the draw with any firearms maker.

This doesn;t answer your question, I know, but I attest you can buy a Ruger with the same confidence as you can with any other quality brand. If you get a problem from Ruger, it's fate, the same as if it were from Winchester.....or Tikka.....or Sako....or Savage....or Remington.

 

[mshootnit]

If you load up military brass to a max listed load or one half grain over, and seat your bullets to the lands, and possibly pierce a primer you can damage the bolt face. Don't ask me how I know. Other than that I have had no problems with my 3 rugers nor have I heard of any problems with other Rugers extensively used in my family.

 

[PGroenewold]

I don't know if it counts as a critical part failure since the gun still functions, but I have an M77 MkII in .300 Win Mag with a broken trigger guard/floorplate release assembly. It looks like it's made out of some cheap pot metal, and it broke at the thinnest part of the casting. Other than that, I have had no serious issues with my two M77s.

 

[usmc1371]

As I recall the only thing I have heard about "breaking'' on the Ruger African is stock splits by the cross bolt. I looked for the article about it but can't find it. I have read Alot of good things about the ruger african, they seem to be very reliable. I own two M77's and both of them have been outstanding.

 

[berettashotgun]

I ran when a 6mm remington chambered M77 tang safety factory varmint was shooting 100gr 6mm bullets a little over 4000fps. About 1000 fps fast!
I yelled at my brother, he said my chrono was bad, the bolt was just a tad "sticky" he finished off his 20 rounds and had a s.d. of 22. Brass was wasted.
Fast forward a few days later......
The rifle was still scary accurate after that reloading snafu.
I think the M77 is a very very strong rifle. with a recoil ENHANCING stock design.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

I bought a heavy barreled Ruger 77 in 1976 (.243 Centennial Edition) I had a FTF because of a bad firing pin (It would not project far enough forward to ignite the cartridge primer).
I called Ruger and got some B.S. I took the bolt back to where I bought the rifle (Carters Country-Houston). Carters sent the bolt back to Ruger, when it was returned, the problem was fixed..
Based on MY experience, I would add a spare firing pin to my Safari Kit.
I have three other Rugers with no problem ever occuring..
Needless to say, I would take the new rifle to a range for extended zeroing/testing..

P.R.

 

[ECVMatt]

I think the biggest fault that people criticize the Ruger action for is a lack of a standing or fixed ejector. Having said that, I have never had a problem with this on my numerous Ruger's

 

[SwampWolf]

I own 4 Ruger M77 rifles; 2 of them are Mk II's. Never had a field or range failure on any of them.

This is me, word for word! Though I prefer the tang safeties as found on the original Model 77s because I can access them more naturally, the 3-position ones on the MKIIs are a more "forgiving" design in terms of nds. As Still Shooting reported, despite lots of hard hunting, no problems ever with my Ruger bolt-actions. The design and build of the Ruger is robust in the extreme.

 

[rodregier]

Over a decade ago, I had some issues with mil-spec 7.62x51 ammunition primer ignition with my Ruger 77MKII. Switching to heavier Wolff striker (firing pin) springs solved the problem. Later research revealed that Ruger apparently increased the "weight" of the factory striker springs in subsequent production units.

No reliability issues or parts breakage other than my above experience. I went aftermarket for trigger and barrel to get the level of accuracy I wanted. Ruger's barrel sourcing/production has improved since that era, so today's rifles should be much better in that regard.