Ruger 77 tang

[pantannojack]

Life can booring sometimes If I don't get a new/old rifle once and awhile; If all my money is not used up on outboard motor maintainence. I'm sure some of you might understand.
My new/old prospect is a Ruger 77 tang safety in 338 WM. Why not go for the gusto? I quit looking at Rugers years ago but since have not had satisfaction after spending way too much on semi customs. So I ask: did the bbls Ruger put on these guns sufice in both weight conture and length to support the hoped for magnum performance or are they just standard bbls with a stamping which reads "magnum"? Has anyone had accy success with a Ruger magnum of factory stock bedding lately? What will I use it for? Entertainment. That is all a rifle is good for anymore in north Idaho, unless you own a bottom farm with resident herd.
I once had a pre 64 m70 in 300 H&H with 26" bbl I believed to be necessary even though it felt "long".

 

[hoochbear]

Ruger 77

My 1979 30.06 M77 is sweet and reliable.
dont know much about long shots cause my longest to date is only 160 yd.
pair it up with a nice OLD Redfield 3x9 Low Profile Accutrac.
that's love!
I picked Ruger over Rem or Win because:
My friends buy Wins and Rems-- I must make amends.
LOL
shorter barrel-gets in and out of places better. less whippy. I'm short too.
hinged floor plate-it doesnt make sense to work that tip thru the action
and a clip slammed home is...noisy.
good reputation-getting better with every made in America!
Ruger mounts included- you cant get much closer to the bore.
I abhorr paying for separate rings and base.
And wrestling with those Weaver style monts will almost drive you to drinking. A friend's Savage 24 with Weaver base and rings fell from standing up position onto a linoleum kitchen floor. Loosey Goosey. Yea.
Dont drop mine. Not afraid to occasionally use scope as carry handle.
The simpler, the better.
In 1979, Gun $215 plus used Redfield $150.
Kids gave me a nice leather sling for Christmas. Two good soft cases.
Gun and Scope a Rock Solid combo.
25 years on the Redfield. Know a trustworthy Repair Center? Need one. Fogged plus Range Indicator floating.
Not giving up yet, a 2x7 does for now.
Also added a small Harris Bipod for field work.
I dont run with the pack.
Maybe 1 new firing pin a decade.
Cheap Scot-never cared for using anything but Remington Express Core-Lokt. Did back down a little, from 180 gr soft points in the woods to 150 pointed soft points all the time. Less kick. Die just as dead, with either, and with either heart or spine shot, never run over about 50 yards.
Some deer present their whole side on the run. BAD Decision. The Widefield Scope gives a virtually built in lead.
Have a 10/22.
Would like my next Ruger to be 77/22.
Far as I'm concerned, Ruger Rifles are the way to go.
Hope to add sidearm too.
Above plus 12 g Browning Citori and 12g Rem 1100 round it out nicely.
30.06, 12 ga and .22. Simple enough? Yup.
Good luck on your magnum!

 

[Lloyd Smale]

My God why did you sell that 300 h&h!!!!!

 

[35 Whelen]

I love the old Ruger 77 tang safety models. I currently own two and "co-own" another with my Dad; a 6mm Remington, a 280 Remington and a 308 Winchester. I owned one in 220 Swift for years. I usually bed all my rifles, but have yet had to bed a Ruger and they were, and are VERY accurate rifles all easily shooting under 1" with handloads. I wouldn't mess with bedding it at least until you've shot it.

I actually once owned an old 77 tang safety in 338 WM. I bought it from a lady whose grandfather had owned it. He had lived in Colorado and evidently was a rabid elk hunter. This rifle was amazing. If ever a firearm could talk, this one could have told many, many hunting stories. I've never had my hands on a rifle with so much character. It showed wear that could only happen from LOTS of time in a saddle scabbard, countless trips up and down mountains, and cumulative months of being carried through the elk woods.
The bluing was worn from opposite sides of the barrel for the full length of the barrel, and the exterior of the muzzle at the bottom of the barrel was extremely worn from being slid in and out of a saddle scabbard countless hundreds of times. The points of the checkering at the grip and on the forend were worn completely smooth I suppose from lots of shooting and handling. There were scratches and gouges in the wood that only a hunter whose been up and down mountains and pushed his way through spruce trees and slipped on rocky slopes would recognize. The bluing was completely worn off the ball of the bolt handle from the bolt having been cycled God only knows how many times. The finish was completely worn off the bottom of the trigger guard I'd guess again from being in a saddle scabbard for most of its life.
The finish on the right rear butt portion was worn nearly to the bare wood, appearing to have been rubbed over and over on something like possibly a horses hindquarter. (This part of a rifle typically is exposed when the rifle is in saddle scabbard)






The ol' girl came to me with a couple dozen handloaded cartridges and a partial box of Winchester 250 gr. SilverTips. Before advertising the rifle, I fired a couple of 100 yd. groups with the factory stuff:


A perfect example of why I never bother to bed Rugers.

I sold the rifle for a handsome profit, and have regretted it ever since. Sorta like that girl you only dated a couple of times, but wish you'd have never let go....

35W

 

[BrocLuno]

The only model 77's I'm interested in are Tang Safety

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have been the proud owner of a tang safety Ruger 77 in .243 for almost one month now.
I got it for the wife, who wants to try her hand at deer hunting. So far, I love it. It balances very well, and it plenty accurate, getting 1.5" groups with factory ammo with no problem. I'm sure the rifle would do better if it had a better shooter behind it. I've taken a doe with it this year already. I'm ready to start rolling up some handloads for it and see how much I can shrink the groups to.

I know you wanted opinions on magnums and this one isn't, but just in my limited experience, I wouldn't hesitate to buy an older Ruger 77 for a second. I'm wanting a bolt action .280 and when I get the funds, I'll be looking for another Ruger I think.

 

[rozziboy18]

I have been the proud owner of a tang safety Ruger 77 in .243 for almost one month now.

dang it paul you copied me!!!

j/k

im a proud new owner of a pawn shop m77 243 tang myself, payed 200 for it and a redfield 2-7x30 tv scope. brought it home tore it apart restored the stock (blue was perfect), put a new 4-12 redfield on it. its one of the most accurate rifle i have ever owned with hand loads with 3 shots touching at 50 yards. i have yet to put my hads on a old tang safety ruger that dident shoot like awesome, most of them need a real real real good cleaning mind you. my 243 was fouled out by copper!!!!

but a small price to pay, these old m77's clean up like prom queens!
a few pics

 

[hoochbear]

OOH

I am NOT easily impressed.
But then, a good ol Ruger.
btw nothing like the first 2 shots usually printing closest together, is there?
Guess that makes the 2 shot group really tight, eh?.
The zero holds pretty good from year to year. Blame that on the Ruger Mount
And the Redfield Scope.
Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays
And a Prosperous and Safe New Year
hoochbear in West Ga
Home of River City, Fort Benning, TSYS and the Aflac duck.

 

[hoochbear]

RE Ruger
Prom queens come forth but once a year.
Cheerleaders perform year round.
Now that's reliable.