Ruger 77 Mk 2 - experiences?
- Thread starter JockStalk
- Start date
I have an old .308 that was s/h at the back of an RFD’s gun room. Made circa 1990. Very cheap, shoots well (under 1” at 100m), never had any reliability concerns. The Ruger ring mounting system works well for getting a scope mounted low.
Light, accurate enough, cheap, good internal capacity (4+1) cracking safety and a good action. All in all, great for stalking.
I’d say be careful when buying extras (rings, butt pads, stocks, triggers etc.) you can very easily spend more than the rifle trying to turn it into something it’s not. But if you want to, the platform has been around so long, there is plenty of aftermarket bits ‘n’ bobs. Easily what I shoot most of my deer with, because it’s so convenient. I will likely do something silly like spend money on it one day.
Light, accurate enough, cheap, good internal capacity (4+1) cracking safety and a good action. All in all, great for stalking.
I’d say be careful when buying extras (rings, butt pads, stocks, triggers etc.) you can very easily spend more than the rifle trying to turn it into something it’s not. But if you want to, the platform has been around so long, there is plenty of aftermarket bits ‘n’ bobs. Easily what I shoot most of my deer with, because it’s so convenient. I will likely do something silly like spend money on it one day.
doric_prince
Well-Known Member
It was my first stalking rifle, hand me down from a friend, when I was starting out. An old Thing in .243 that had culled many a deer before I got it. Worked a charm on my first red stag at 180m. nothing wrong per say with it. I Just updated it with a modern modular rifle And suppressor. Always reliable for me.
I owned a number of Ruger MkII's in the '90's. Fine for red deer, but not accurate enough for roe deer. I parted with my last Ruger MKII in 260 Rem in January 2006. All the triggers required fettling to make them shootable. The custom rings are a pain. I had an opportunity to go Remington instead of Ruger in '99 and didn't. That was a mistake. I liked the 3 position safety.
Regards
JCS
Regards
JCS
I really like mine. It's really nicely made with a really good polished and blued finish and a shiny stainless bolt. I like the feel of the action and also the 3 position safety.
There aren't loads of scope mounts available and pillar bedding was a bit tricky with the angled front receiver screw. I don't think there are a lot of aftermarket stocks available for it. Mine needed bedding for consistent accuracy.
It's probably my favourite rifle (and cheapest by far).
There aren't loads of scope mounts available and pillar bedding was a bit tricky with the angled front receiver screw. I don't think there are a lot of aftermarket stocks available for it. Mine needed bedding for consistent accuracy.
It's probably my favourite rifle (and cheapest by far).
Had a VT in 243W, it was cheap, had a rubbish trigger but knocked deer down & was pretty darned accurate - when I zeroed it I was able to put bullets through 308 holes in the target. Had a 1:8 twist barrel so shot 105gn A-max.
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
I had one in 350RM . It was very accurate and reliable . I did have to clean up the trigger a bit , but nothing that required too much work . They're good , solid rifles .
AB
AB
I’m mulling over a build on rem action or ruger.
Will go Rem build
Get best of both worlds, American Rifle Company has controlled round feed actions which feed from AICS magazines, integral picatinny rails yet fit Remington 700 aftermarket stocks and triggers.
Should probably expand on that - Ive handled a couple of 77’s but not had one in use for any length of time. Seen a lightly used example and very inexpensive for what it is, so I can see the value and why people like and hang onto them.I’m mulling over a build on rem action or ruger.
Will go Rem build
I know, after living with Remingtons for so long, I’ll want to ‘upgrade’ bits and that seems a bit more hassle with a Ruger. Also swapping thermal glass over - if the mounts are fiddly, will likely just bug me.
I’ve a mcmillan stock here, sunnyhill floorplate, trigger and moderator so all I really need is a barrelled action. And maybe some time settling the parts together.
So it was really balancing up a whole rifle for what will be half the price to me, more or less, compared to a build as I have many of the bits already. Probably not a fair comparison, but wanted to expand - I like the Ruger and if the above was not the case I’d probably give it a go.
landkeeper
Well-Known Member
Great rifles I've had a couple ,triggers are horrible, but a Timney soon sorts that !
I had a vt heavy barrelled one that was as accurate as any rifle I've ever shot
I'd have another in a flash
boyds stocks are another simple upgrade
I love the ring mounting system they are in my experience rock solid and return to zero when off and on
The beauty of it is buy a high a low and a medium in 30mm &1" and you can almost mount any scope you wish
Weigland do a pic rail that uses the ruger mounting and its very good
I had a vt heavy barrelled one that was as accurate as any rifle I've ever shot
I'd have another in a flash
boyds stocks are another simple upgrade
I love the ring mounting system they are in my experience rock solid and return to zero when off and on
The beauty of it is buy a high a low and a medium in 30mm &1" and you can almost mount any scope you wish
Weigland do a pic rail that uses the ruger mounting and its very good
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6pt-sika
Well-Known Member
I’ve owned about twenty of the Ruger 77 tang safety guns and liked them all . I’ve also owned half a dozen of the 77 Mark II 3 position safety guns . Two of the Mark II’s were the heavy barrel grey metal laminate stock deals one in 204 Ruger and the other in 6mm PPC both of them shot tremendously well . The 204 shot just about anything you put in it down around the1/4 MOA range factory or handloads , the PPC was equally accurate but I only shot handloads in it . The few 77R MarkII’s I’ve had shot well enough for deer but nothing to excite a paper puncher .
Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
My brother has a MK11 in .220 Swift flavor, laminate heavy barrel, and it's accurate. He has had it from new 35 years ago, the barrel is still fine despite the number of rounds he has sent down the barrel, he only cleans it when it starts to lose accuracy 
. See 5 shots at 110 paces of the bonnet of his motor with a front bag.
. See 5 shots at 110 paces of the bonnet of his motor with a front bag.
You are half way there with quite an investment already made. So are the parts for the ruger or a Remington? It’s not immediately clear.
If they are for the Remington that’s definitely the way I’d go.
For the scope swap on the 77 you will be better off with a picatinny rail. There are a couple of options available.
REED Resolution Ruger M77 Short Action Rifle Calibres Picatinny Rail
REED Resolution Ruger M77 Picatinny Rail REED rifle rails are UK engineered and manufactured into a Lightweight Picatinny rail scope mount. It is designed to fit directly and exactly onto your Ruger M77.
www.opticswarehouse.co.uk
Ruger M77 Britannia Rails - MM Sporting
Ruger M77 Britannia RailsBritannia Rails Ruger M77 Centrefire , M77 Hornet RailBritannia Rails Ruger 10/22 Extended, Universal Rear or Back, Aluminium
www.mmsporting.co.uk
Thanks for the picatinny solutions
Yes the parts are all Remington. There’s a rem 700 I’m interested in, but not sure on some of the details yet from seller. Once those are clear I’ll be able to decide. A build would give me exactly what I want though. Decisions…
Thanks for the picatinny solutions
Yes the parts are all Remington. There’s a rem 700 I’m interested in, but not sure on some of the details yet from seller. Once those are clear I’ll be able to decide. A build would give me exactly what I want though. Decisions…
Plenty of Remingtons come up for not a lot of money. You could buy an SPS and fit your parts and see how you get on.
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