Three New Rifles for Deer Season

[marksman13]

I did some trading today and picked up three rifles for deer season. Got some scopes mounted and I’ll try to get them zeroed next week when I’m off work.

First up is a rifle I’ve wanted for a while. I’ve got a Ruger No. 1 in 257 Weatherby Magnum and love it, but I’ve been looking for a bolt action to compliment it. A buddy of mine had a Remington 700 LSS in 257 Roy, so I traded him out of it today. The trigger is going to be replaced and I mounted a Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50 on top. More magnification than I usually like in a hunting rifle, but I’ve got a couple specific spots I’m going to hunt with this one and I think I’ll be fine with the 6X minimum.

Next rifle is something I’ve wanted since I was a kid. One of my dad’s best friends always hunted with a Ruger M77 International in 308 and Dad tried for years to buy it for me, but the guy wouldn’t sell it. I’ve only seen one M77 International locally in my life besides that one and it was a 243 which didn’t really interest me at the time. This one is stainless which is growing on me and chambered in 7mm-08. It came with a gloss-finished, silver Leupold Vari-X II. It’s going to look pretty sweet next to my stainless No. 1 International in 6.5x55.

I picked up the third rifle for my wife, daughter and eventually my son to use. It’s a Ruger M77 Compact also chambered in 7mm-08. I stuck a Leupold 1.5-4x24 on top of it to keep it as compact and light as possible. The truth is, I’ll probably use it more than they will when I hunt the thick stuff. It’s a slick little rig.


I don’t know which one I’m most excited about, but if that 257 Weatherby shoots like I hope it does, it will get a lot of use this season. I’m glad that I found that M77 International and I really hope it is semi accurate as I’ve heard some horror stories about those guns not shooting well at all. The M77 Compact is probably going to live in my truck during deer season for those opportunity hunts that come up now and again. Pretty good day overall.

 

[NR53]

You did good. I like them all, especially the International, cause I've got one just like it in 6.5 CM.

 

[Captcurt]

You did good. I have had all of the above in different calibers. My favorite was the Compact 77 in 260. It was the perfect whitetail gun for my style of hunting. The International was on my want list for years. Tried it, didn't like it, got rid of it. Had and liked the 257 Rob and the Rem 700, but the 257 Weatherby is an awesome round. Only used it on a couple of deer, but they hit the ground hard.

 

[AK Hunter]

Great looking rifles now the only problem is choosing the one you are going to hunt with. LOL

 

[marksman13]

Great looking rifles now the only problem is choosing the one you are going to hunt with. LOL

Lol. I’ve still got several that never got blood on them last year.

 

[ThomasT]

I like em'. I don't know if you already shoot 7-08 or not but if not you are going to love the round. I have one of the early Remington model 7s with 18" barrel and walnut stock in that caliber and its one of the best deer killers I have. Maybe just because it gets used so much. I loaned it to a 15 YO girl to use on a school sponsored youth hunt and she killed 4 deer with 4 shots. She was using reduced power loads and Sierra 120gr spitzers intended for Specialty Pistols.

Nothing better than a new gun. Except three new guns.

 

[LoonWulf]

Good looking Critter Gitters!

Ive been playing with my 7-08 some lately, and so far I cant tell if I like It or the Creedmoor better for a light rifle.....I'm leaning 7-08 just cause I like 7s better than 6.5s.

 

[marksman13]

I like em'. I don't know if you already shoot 7-08 or not but if not you are going to love the round. I have one of the early Remington model 7s with 18" barrel and walnut stock in that caliber and its one of the best deer killers I have. Maybe just because it gets used so much. I loaned it to a 15 YO girl to use on a school sponsored youth hunt and she killed 4 deer with 4 shots. She was using reduced power loads and Sierra 120gr spitzers intended for Specialty Pistols.

Nothing better than a new gun. Except three new guns.

7mm-08 is one of those cartridges I’ve never owned, but I’ve always wanted. Or if I have owned one, I don’t remember it.

 

[marksman13]

Good looking Critter Gitters!

Ive been playing with my 7-08 some lately, and so far I cant tell if I like It or the Creedmoor better for a light rifle.....I'm leaning 7-08 just cause I like 7s better than 6.5s.

I think my 6.5x55s and 257 WMs will always be my favorites, but this little M77 Compact is going to become a favorite around my house if it shoots.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think my 6.5x55s and 257 WMs will always be my favorites, but this little M77 Compact is going to become a favorite around my house if it shoots.

Those are fantastic choices!
I still need to get hands with a 257wby.
I have very little experience with WBY cartridges in general, tho Ive gotten my first recently, but its a .270 lol.

 

[marksman13]

Those are fantastic choices!
I still need to get hands with a 257wby.
I have very little experience with WBY cartridges in general, tho Ive gotten my first recently, but its a .270 lol.

I had to pass up a Ruger No. 1 in 270 WM a couple days ago. I really want one. Can’t really explain it other than I like oddball stuff.

I just counted up and I have 8 rifles in the safe that need to be blooded this season. Mississippi allows 3 bucks and 5 does per season, but I won’t shoot more than 4 unless I run across someone whom needs the meat. We’ve still got plenty in the freezer from the five I killed this past season.

 

[LoonWulf]

I had to pass up a Ruger No. 1 in 270 WM a couple days ago. I really want one. Can’t really explain it other than I like oddball stuff.

I just counted up and I have 8 rifles in the safe that need to be blooded this season. Mississippi allows 3 bucks and 5 does per season, but I won’t shoot more than 4 unless I run across someone whom needs the meat. We’ve still got plenty in the freezer from the five I killed this past season.

I need to spend more time with my .270wby, its got a kinda insane freebore and im way under pressure with the powders I expected to use. Im hoping I can get it shooting here in the near future, but ive got a pile of other projects going at the same time....It really the only .277 cartridge Im interested in right now.
I really only hunt with 2 of my rifles unless I really get a hankering to carry a different gun, even tho theres really no limit to how many animals or how often I can go......dunno why really, just always end up using the same guns.

 

[marksman13]

I need to spend more time with my .270wby, its got a kinda insane freebore and im way under pressure with the powders I expected to use. Im hoping I can get it shooting here in the near future, but ive got a pile of other projects going at the same time....It really the only .277 cartridge Im interested in right now.
I really only hunt with 2 of my rifles unless I really get a hankering to carry a different gun, even tho theres really no limit to how many animals or how often I can go......dunno why really, just always end up using the same guns.

Most of us are creatures of habit. Honestly, I carried a bunch of different rifles last year because I had so many Ruger No. 1s I wanted to try out and it became a challenge. I figure my M77 in 6.5x55 is going to become my go to rifle at some point because it feels so good and it’s plenty accurate for a hunting rifle. Plus, I really like that little 2-7X Leupold that’s on top of it. I need to put it on the bench and see what it will really do, but the group below is five rounds standing, off a tripod at 200 yards. That will kill any deer I’ll see inside of 200.

 

[LoonWulf]

Good shooting!

 

[Pat Riot]

Next rifle is something I’ve wanted since I was a kid. One of my dad’s best friends always hunted with a Ruger M77 International in 308 and Dad tried for years to buy it for me, but the guy wouldn’t sell it. I’ve only seen one M77 International locally in my life besides that one and it was a 243 which didn’t really interest me at the time. This one is stainless which is growing on me and chambered in 7mm-08. It came with a gloss-finished, silver Leupold Vari-X II. It’s going to look pretty sweet next to my stainless No. 1 International in 6.5x55.

That is such a good looking rifle.
Congratulations on all 3, but that M77 International is especially nice.
I have never actually seen one in real life.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Nice selection!
My .257Roy is a Vanguard w/24”bbl. It cries for a 26”tube. Even still, it hits 3,600fps and under 1-moa (3shots) with Reloader25. Use Norma/Weatherby brass ONLY. Others have reduced case capacity and greater neck run-out. The Hornady 100gr Interlok and 117gr BT Interloks are outstanding. They have been used in Weatherby factory ammo for decades (Loaded by Norma for Weatherby).

My Ruger #1 is a RSI in 7x57. It suffers from the DEEP throat for which they are notorious. However, with the 140gr Hornady Interlocks seated long over 47.0gr of IMR4350 accuracy is as good as I could have hoped for. 2,700fps and 1.5moa (3-shots). It’s short and handy in a tree stand, but feels like an iron pipe and needs either a looong scope or a long eye-relief scope. Not my favorite rifle.

My 7mm08 is a Remington Mod-7 w/20”bbl. It’s a darling!
It has a “fast” barrel. Took quite a bit of tweaking to shoot decent but is is now my favorite rifle. It’s not quite as accurate as my Mod-7 CDL in .260, but the extra 100fps and larger diameter makes it a harder hitter than the .260. My preferred load is a150gr Nosler (partition or ballistic tip) over Reloader17 for 2,850fps. It wears a brown/tan laminated stock and I drilled a 1”x 8” hole in the butt lightening it noticeably. With a Leupold 2.5-8x scope it’s a marvelous package.

My Wyoming hunting buddy previously hunted mule deer and elk with either a .270win Steyr or .300win REM M700. He now only uses a Ruger M77 Carbine in 7mm08 he inherited from his dad.

I think you’re going to need another freezer!

 

[Dale Alan]

Great collection of Rugers , interesting models and calibers . Good snag on those three you picked up recently . Congrats.

 

[WisBorn]

Congratulations on the new Rifles! Enjoy the hunting season. It's always fun to hit the field with a new rifle/bow/shotgun/handgun.

Can't wait to hear about your success with the new tools....