Accuracy expectations from a Ruger M77?

[swashington]

I have a new MK II in 300 WM that is an absolute tack driver. Half MOA at 100 yards using a lead sled. My 308 scout rifle is at 1 MOA. Not sure why everyone wants to put the M77 down but they are great rifles.

 

[Trophyhunter01]

My old 270 tang safety model, early 70s, is very picky on ammo type and if shot more than a handful of times without a total cooldown starts to wander quite a bit. If I had to build one up my personal choice is a Remington 700 donor action vs a Ruger to start.

 

[CBeck]

Good luck with the rifle. I have several m77 mkII and Hawkeye and love them all.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Mine is an early ‘70’s .270. It shoots 130 gr Core Lokts at 1” at 100 yards. Killed a pile of deer and hogs with it.

 

[wesheltonj]

I inherited a M77 tang safety in 270. First shot always on, second and there after not so much. They have a trigger part recall, I have the replacement trigger part that I will have installed. But the real problem with those guns are the barrels. Not sure who made them, but fairly worthless when hot.

 

[Captain Jack]

My tang safety M77 in .280, which I recently sold, would consistently shoot 1-1.25” groups with hand loads. It had been professionally bedded, but not free floated. They’re solid rifles, if you have one that shoots well.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I have a Ruger M77 mrkII in .30-'06.

Likes: Not expensive, controlled round feed, three position safety, smooth operation & moderate weight.
Dislikes: Trigger a bit rough and complicated, some barrels are rough and others fine. action design is homely. Barrel too short.

 

[codofish]

I borrowed a friend's M77 tang safety in 338 win mag. It was less than one inch MOA with the 250 grain Nosler Partition hand loads he worked up for it. It got my elk for me and started my love of the 338 win mag. Nice smooth action too. I think they are a lot of gun for the money.

 

[RedTag]

Be sure to check the safety function and be aware of the trigger recall.

https://ruger.com/pdf/m77.pdf

Ruger - M77® Product Safety Warning and Recall Notice

 

[Bonk]

Excellent rifles. Every M77 I’ve owned has been capable of at least 2 MOA using off the shelf ammo. I have a box stock 25-05 that shoots .3 MOA.

 

[Fatback]

I have had good luck with M77 Mark IIs. They are a little more available in left handed versions, which is a plus for me. I’ve got them in 25-06 and 30-06. I have also had a 9.3x62 and 35 Whelen made out of 30-06s. All four will shot MOA or a bit better with factory ammo. The ones I’ve come across have been affordable and solidly built.

 

[Sabre]

You ever notice that almost everyone on the internet shoots 1 MOA with almost all their rifles, but when you see people at the range almost no one shoots 1 MOA?

 

[RedTag]

You ever notice that almost everyone on the internet shoots 1 MOA with almost all their rifles, but when you see people at the range almost no one shoots 1 MOA?

100% true! My favorites are those whose rifles shoot “sub MOA all day”, although I am not sure if they mean the straight 24 hour time span, or if they mean sunrise to sunset, or the standard 8 hour work day… but in any case we must admire their ammunition budgets and impervious shoulder muscles.

 

[Nhoro]

You ever notice that almost everyone on the internet shoots 1 MOA with almost all their rifles, but when you see people at the range almost no one shoots 1 moa.

Soon several people will be along to correct you. I started a thread a while back with a video from a YouTuber who offered good money to anyone who could shoot a 1 moa group. No warm up, just take your gun out the car and first 5 rounds at 100 m. I lost count of how many tried. And it was all chassis rifles with brakes- no wood stock hunting rifles. I am pretty confident that all of my rifles are more accurate than I am from any hunting rest.

 

[Sabre]

Soon several people will be along to correct you. I started a thread a while back with a video from a YouTuber who offered good money to anyone who could shoot a 1 moa group. No warm up, just take your gun out the car and first 5 rounds at 100 m. I lost count of how many tried. And it was all chassis rifles with brakes- no wood stock hunting rifles. I am pretty confident that all of my rifles are more accurate than I am from any hunting rest.

Yeah, I fully expect a lot of "corrections". I had also seen that series on youtube as well. Someone did finally end up being able to do it. If I remember correctly it was a fairly young kid with his father's expensive custom chassis rifle after the father had shot and done well but not succeeded.

The thing is, most people will say their rifle shoots "sub MOA all day" after getting a couple 3 shot groups to group sub MOA, while ignoring some of the other 3 shot groups that were over 1MOA, "I jerked the trigger on that one".

 

[Desaad]

I have an M77 that I purchased new in 1970. The caliber is 350 Remington Mag, and it's the most accurate rifle I have. I load my own so I'm able to tweak it and to this day it still shoots 1" groups at 100 yds. I've never done anything to it other than working on different loads to get the best accuracy out of it.

 

[Flbt]

I have had a few. Ul and normal m77
The ul 2 shots in a row they will start to move around.
I did have a 25-06 that no matter what ammo I gave it it looked like a shotgun at 50ys on a paper plate
My wife 6mm will put 3 shots touching at 100yds
Over all 2 in and under at 100yd

My 6mm will do about 1 1/4
My wife picked the best of the 2 because it has nice wood

 

[channelkat]

We made the trade, but we have to wait a couple of weeks to get it home because WA sucks. I am excited to see how it shoots. Really hoping we can find some range time to test her out before I move. Worst case scenario I come back here and start looking for good gunsmith in the SW to bed it and perhaps change the barrel. Even then it seems like it would be a bargain rifle for the price. Son will have a much nicer rifle than I started off with (Winchester 670, no frills but never gave me a reason to complain).

 

[Elkeater]

I think your kid will like the rifle. I opened up the barrel channel and glass bedded might M77 mark II, as well as installing a timney trigger. Mines in .300 Win mag and and will park three 180gr accubonds inside less than .75” with ease.

 

[RedTag]

We made the trade, but we have to wait a couple of weeks to get it home because WA sucks. I am excited to see how it shoots. Really hoping we can find some range time to test her out before I move. Worst case scenario I come back here and start looking for good gunsmith in the SW to bed it and perhaps change the barrel. Even then it seems like it would be a bargain rifle for the price. Son will have a much nicer rifle than I started off with (Winchester 670, no frills but never gave me a reason to complain).

If the barrel is a dud you’ll have the opportunity to rebarrel to .35 Whelen.