New M77 30-06 Hawkeye Hunter Going back (or not)

I posted a review here. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-ruger-hawkeye-hunter-30-06.857261/

As stated in the review, initially the bolt felt like 300 grit sandpaper but smoothed out after a while.

During that first range session the bolt was a bit tight but the rifle shot well. I was shooting reloads so I thought the tightness might just be due to case sizing. None of the casings were difficult to extract.

Last night I processed 50 cases by full length resizing, trimming and polishing. Prior to priming or loading I checked the empty cases in the Hawkeye Hunter. They felt exactly the same as the ones at the original range session. Friction to close the bolt on every casing and some it would not close.

I ran some of the cases in two other M77's and they functioned with no problems. I'm going to send the rifle back to get the chamber and or headspace checked.

Disappointing as it won't be back in time for my hunting trip at the end of the month.

Thanks Loonwulf and Eastbank. Glad I put it out there. I wasn't aware of small base dies.

I will try a box of factory ammo then possibly a small base die. Might allow me to take it on my trip at the end of the month.

jmr40 said:

I would try some factory loads before doing anything. Ruger has made an effort to improve their accuracy in recent years. I haven't owned a 77 series Ruger in a while, but I've owned, and still own several of the Americans. All of them seem to have chambers cut on the tight side of tolerances and I suspect that is at least part of the reason for good accuracy. I found that I had to bump the shoulder back just a tiny bit farther for my reloads in order for them to be a good fit in the Rugers compared to other rifles.

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Thank you all for your help. Turns out the problem was between the reloader and the chair...

After reading the replies I reset my die and ran some of the casings through. I cycled them through the rifle and 45 of the 50 worked fine. The 5 had a slight drag so I added another 1/8 turn and the remaining 5 chambered fine. Turns out I hadn't had the sizing die set down far enough.

Thanks again for your help!!!

Varminterror said:

This was the Ruger Hunter you were sent to review, yes?

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That would be nice, but no. I was looking for a new rifle and purchased it for the trip I mentioned.

A few photos of the rifle. Bipod was to hold it for picture taking. Scope is a Meopta Meostar R1 3-10x50.