Ruger Rifles

[roc1]

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I am considering a new Ruger rifle and am wondering what is the general consenus of them as far as accuracy and overall worth compared to others? I would look at the #1 or a M77.I have CZ Remington Savage Marlin now. I have heard good and bad about Rugers. I love there revolvers but have no experience with there rifles.It would be a hunting rifle caliber is open for now. Maybe 308 or smaller just a decent rifle for hunting and target shooting.
Thanks for input
roc1

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've owned a number of ruger centerfires as well as others on your list
and with the exception of a 77/22H I have yet to be disappointed in thr least. Quite simply the ruger 77MkII in any variation is my favorite hunting weight rifle action

 

[dakotasin]

you won't go wrong w/ a ruger.

personally, i hate the scope mounting system you're stuck with on ruger rifles but concede some people like it. i think they are a little heavier than they need to be, but overall they are a solid rifle.

 

[Slamfire]

I have an 80's vintage Ruger #1 in 30-06. It vertically strings its shots into 2" groups at 100 yards. Others report later #1's to be more accurate. A single shot has its limitations, namely, it is a single shot. I never had any function problems with mine, though if I were to purchase another, it would be in a larger caliber.

Of the single shot rifles out there, the Ruger #1 is one of the best designs.

I have one Ruger M77 in 308. I am impressed with the design, it is a safe rifle with features to protect the shooter against gas release. I like the buffered bolt stop and I like the wing safety. I like that it is controlled round feed, and that the magazine box is a little longer than other brands. I can feed 190’s from the magazine, something I cannot do with other makes. I had to adjust my two stage trigger, that was difficult to disassemble. Once I stoned out the burr, my trigger is match quality. I never had any function problems. My action is slick and smooth with an easy bolt lift. The rifle was reasonably accurate out of the box, but it turned out to be a tack driver after glass bedding. This Ruger barrel is good.

 

[ColeK]

I own 4 Ruger rifles:
No. 1-A in a .257 Roberts bought NIB and it shot 1.25” OOTB w/ factory ammo.
No. 1-B in a .270 Weatherby bought used and it shot 1.25” w/ factory ammo.
M77 MkII in a .25.06 Rem NIB and it shot 1.25” OOTB w/ factory ammo.
After a little trigger work and with handloads these 3 rifles shoot MOA or better.
This year I bought a Hawkeye .30-06 NIB and it shot just a tad over an inch w/ factory ammo.

 

[JimmAr]

Rugers are awesome for hunting.. I would never have one for a target rifle though.. hit and miss inconsistent accuracy some shoot well some not so much.

 

[browningguy]

I have an older RSI in .308 that is incredibly accirate for the first three shots using the Hornady SST factory load.



My favorite Rugers are the No. 1 A light sporter, which is the most elegant rifle, or the 77 RSI for a bolt gun.

 

[dubbleA]

Ruger makes a decent rifle, though aftermarket products are a bit scarce.
Never bothered to shoot this 270 Win so I cant say how it shoots. Probably a waste of a good scope, it just takes up space in a safe. as I have plenty of other 270's to use.

 

[ECVMatt]

I really like Ruger rifles. I think the M-77 is a well thought out design. SlamFire sort of said it all. I have several M-77's and they all shoot great. I would not hesitate to buy another.

Buy one a give them a try.

 

[ricebasher302]

Most of the bolt hunting rifles aren't free floating barrels. I think.?? I kind of lean toward a floating barrel. I've seen several newer models string shots. Kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I've never heard anything bad about the overall quality and dependabilty of them, though.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Since we're posting pics......

This rifle has taught me to be a believer in not worrying about the barrels free float or not. This gun is box stock, I don't ever recollect having the action out of the stock.



and yet this rifle shoots some astoundingly good groups! And best of all for a hunting rifle is it has NEVER thrown a flier.

 

[kanook]

I've got a couple of them. Never had a problem yet. As Krochus stated, I have only had to take one out of its stock to have the barrel threaded. if you don't like the scope rings, a company sells a flat top weaver style base that attaches to the Ruger base.

 

[flipajig]

As stated you cant go wrong with ruger i have 6 of them and all will shoot better than i can..

 

[Coltdriver]

I have a #1 in .243 that I had modified to Ackley Improved. Total tack driver.

You can cure any verticle stringing in a Ruger by bumping the shoulder back on your reloads. I have owned a half dozen #1's and a #3.

I also have an M77 in .308. I used the optimum charge weight method to dial in the load and it too is a tack driver.

The #1's are incredibly strong. Look in any reloading manual and they will list 45/70 loads that are exclusively for #1's.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

I've got 5 Ruger M77s from .223 to .338 WMag. All will shoot 1 MOA or less at 100 yards if they like the ammo and I do my part. The .223 has turned in some half-MOA groups.

The .338 is the old push-feed with tang safety Mark I. The rest are all Mark IIs. Rugers are certainly good enough for hunting and informal target shooting. They are somewhat sensitive to how the action screws are tightened when removed and replaced in a stock.

My older 77/22, though a trim looker, was never accurate. Heavy and inconsistent trigger and possibly other problems. On impulse it was sent off to Clark Custom for a new, heavier barrel plus a general tune-up. Now it looks even better, but I haven't had the chance to shoot it yet It's my only "custom" rifle.

 

[Rokman]

I have the same .30-06 all-weather rifle that Krochus has and it wouldn't shoot worth a darn. I put a Houge stock with the full-length aluminum bedding and it shoots great. I have the exact same rifle in .22-250 and it shoots fantastic with the factory stock. They are both fantastic rifles.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I have an M77 in 308 from the mid 70's, box stock. It shoots about 1.5" with federal powershock ammo.

Were I to take the time to build a custom load for it, I'm sure an inch would be doable easy enough.

 

[pwillie]

I have a Ruger #1 in 257 Weatherby,with a custom boss system.SST with a composite stock,trigger work,set @ 2.75.Heavy rifle.I would only buy another #1 in a heavier caliber.

 

[cal74]

I've got a 70's model No.1a in 30-06, Early 90's Boat paddle stocked 77mkII, another boat paddle 77/22 mag, and recently picked up a Hawkeye stainless .204

All of mine shoot very well, triggers on the later versions are all a touch heavy.

My .204 was sighted in after 2 shots, and shoots teeny little groups. They are a little heavier, but oh well. I like em as much as anything else.


I've got five pistols I believe also, never had any problems with any of them either.

 

[JWF III]

dubbleA, that's a beautiful piece of wood you got on that gun.

In my limited experience, they're like any other manufacturer. It's just a shot in the dark as to which one (actual gun, not model) you get. I have several friends that swear by them. I have a couple that despise (sp? it's still early) them. Here's just a couple of examples...

One friend bought one of their varmint models in .22-250. Heavy 26" barrel, he had the trigger lightened up before he even scoped it. He went through over a dozen factory loads, from every manufacturer, and never found one that would shoot less than 2 1/2 MOA. He had quite a few different people shoot it. The scope was checked several times, and even removed and reinstalled a couple even though there was no problem found. He tried other scopes, to no avail. It was even looked at by several different (paid, professional) 'smiths. No one could figure out what was going on. He traded it, at a loss, for a CZ, he couldn't be happier now.

Another friend bought one of their compacts in .308. First thing I thought when I handled it was too light, too short (of barrel), too light of barrel contour, it's going to "pattern" like buckshot. Well, every single ammo that guy has tried has shot 1 1/2 MOA or better. Many in the 1/2 to 3/4 range. His only stipulation when he goes and buys ammo before the season is "Give me the cheapest thing you got." It still shoots more than adequit for deer hunting.

The only thing that I've really noticed about Ruger 77s is that with the owners there's no middle ground. They either love them or hate them. And this is a direct result of the performance of the guns. They too have no middle ground. Either they shoot great with almost any ammo, or they shoot like **** regardless of ammo.

Wyman

 

[SwampWolf]

The only thing that I've really noticed about Ruger 77s is that with the owners there's no middle ground. They either love them or hate them.

Yep, I suppose so...I love 'em.

 

[RainDodger]

I'm a middle-grounder. I have never, ever been a Ruger fan. One day I ended up with a very early M77 in .30-'06, after a trade. Since it was/is in flawless condition, I decided to shoot it before trading it away for something I wanted. Well.... it is still in my safe, surrounded by much "classier" firearms! That little M77 is a keeper. Great action, excellent trigger pull and pretty regular 1 MOA groups. The bluing is gorgeous - I don't know if newer guns are the same or not. Mine is in a Bell & Carlson composite stock, but I have the factory stock for it and have never used it, as it shoots better than I can in the B&C. I don't much care for the aluminum floor plate and trigger guard, but hey, that's a minor thing if it shoots well, which it does.

So I'm a Ruger owner and I'm not overly fond of Rugers. I guess that says something about Rugers.

 

[RainDodger]

... oh, and I forgot to add... dubbleA: when I saw that wood on your .270 above, I wet my pants. Very nice.

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm unimpressed with the fit and finish of the new Hawkeye. The action feels like dragging a hammer through gravel. A new bolt gun from Ruger is no longer on my list.

No. 1 is a different story... I like them. And it's not like they have any competition.

Winchester's new guns are pretty nice, though, if you want a change.

 

[RainDodger]

I once had a #1 in .243. Gorgeous wood but I couldn't hit anything with it. I finally traded it off. They do have competition, but not new competition.... I have a Browning B-78 in .22-250 that I'll never part with. It's fine competition for any #1.