Ruger 77RL Ultralight

[ACP230]

I shot a doe last evening with my Ruger 77 RL Ultralight., one shot at about 30 yards, one deer. (There was a special season in Menominee County, a farming section of Michigan's U.P. with an average of 70 deer per square mile.)

The 77 is one of the modest number Ruger made in .250 Savage. It has been the most consistent "deer shot, deer down on the spot," rifles I have. It performed perfectly again yesterday. I didn't hunt deer last year due to health problems and had to scrabble for reloads. After sighting-in I had four left, but I only needed one.

The Ultralights, with their black forend tip, short barrel and light weight are some of the best handling and best-lookng 77s Ruger made. Mine has some figure in the stock which I regard as an added bonus. The 77 shows that it has been in the woods a time or two, but it also looks like a rifle that someone cares about.

It is also quite accurate for the first few shots. I used to get two shots touching and the third about an inch away with Remington factory 100 grain Core-Lokt loads. My reloads with the same bullets and H4895 haven't been as accurate, but they have killed deer too.

I bought the rifle used out of a local store many years ago. I knew when I saw it sitting in the rack that the answer to the question, "What's that Ruger 77 chambered in?" would be ".250 Savage." It is one of the best rifle purchases I ever made.

Anyone else shoot one of these?

 

[Elkslayer]

I bought one new in1984 for my 6 month old daughter. She is almost 20 now and still loves the light little Ruger in 250 savage.

It is a great little rifle.

 

[Colt46]

Hunting partner uses one in .30-06

He's done well with it. A dream to carry all day in the Sierra's. Sessions at the range tend to leave my shoulder bruised. I'm a tad shy of its recoil. Darn good gun, though.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Always liked that TYPE rifle - - -

My first was a 77S, "roundtop" in the original, limited run of .257 Roberts. It came with a sort of medium-heavy barrel - - Not a bull or varmint barrel, but far heavier than the standard sporter tube. When I swapped for it, I really didn't know much about the various .25 bores, and made the trade largely to accomodate a pal. This has been my most consistently accurate field rifle ever. It shoots Sierra 100 gr flat base bullets over a healthy charge of IMR 4350 with almost uncanny consistency. With the heavy barrel and mild recoil, it is very easy to place bullets with great precision.

Elder Son calls it my "death ray" rifle. Both he, his wife, Younger Son, and about three friends all took their first deer with it.

I've been using a 77R in .30-06 since the mid-70s. Bought it at Fort Worth Gun Show to have as my all around rifle and it has done yeoman service since that time. Dead-standard, with a fixed four-power scope - - It groups an honest 1-1/2 inch with Sierra 165 boat tails. I occasionally try a new load, but I'm happy the way it is.

An old hunting buddy bought a 77RL in .30-06 some years back. It always miffed me a little when that rifle outshot my heavier '06. Him, me, or Elder Son shooting - -Just grouped a bit tighter, regardless of the far-more-noticible recoil and muzzle blast from the shorter barrel. The original owner (a left-hander) decided to sluff this fine rifle in order to get a southpaw .308 last year. I couldn't stand to see it get away from "the family," though, and I paid his asking price. It still kicks pretty hard, but it's sure a lot easier to carry.

Same pal had bought a 77RL in .257 Roberts not long after getting the LW '06. He never could get it to shoot. I mean, it was a 3.5-inch gun! We messed with loads, bedding, sight mounts, sent it back to Ruger - - They said it was within specifications, which really left a bad taste in his mouth, over their customer service. Never got around to slugging the barrel, but we always wondered if the barrel was of wrong bore, and mismarked. He finally got disgusted and sold it cheap to a guy who wanted to rebarrel it .

Oh, yeah - - - My chest finally healed up after a bunch of thoracic surgery and reconstruction. I had sold off my .338 Mauser, and decided I didn't own anything that REALLY kicked, so I bought a used .338 WinMag 77RS. . . .

I have no first-hand experience with the .250, but I DO like the Rugers and the quarter-inch bore.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Jaywalker]

Mine's a M77 RL in 270. I like it so much that I'm considering spending the equivalent of a new rifle to convert it to a caliber that won't beat me to death off the bench and that will be a little more accurate. Discussion here.

Jaywalker