Ruger M77 7x57, is this a mistake?

[PAUL_MAUSER]

If Ruger currently offered the 7X57 in it's M77 African I would snatch one up tomorrow. As it is, I'm considering a Ruger No.1 in 275 Rigby.

Maybe they will announce new distributor specials after the coming gun shows.

I was wondering that as well if there was any chance that could happen sooner rather than later. I really like those just don't have a want for the 35 Whelen or 280AI that's out there now. I would be all over one in 7x57.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I was wondering that as well if there was any chance that could happen sooner rather than later. I really like those just don't have a want for the 35 Whelen or 280AI that's out there now. I would be all over one in 7x57.

I'm assuming the new calibers are typically announced at SHOT Show which is next month so may not be a very long wait.

 

[50Gunner]

They are great little rifles, I bought my Wife a cherry clean little tang safety Ruger 7X57 a long time ago in case she ever decided she wanted to go hunting with me, but alas, she hasn't, the little rifle just sits in the safe gathering dust with it's gloss 2-7 Leupold scope in the factory Ruger rings.

It shoots great with ammunition i loaded over 30 years ago, old style 175gr Hornady round nose Interlock bullets over H-4350 powder, all in brand new at the time Norma brass cases, iirc they clock around 2418 fps.

 

[cash_tx]

Very nice looking rifles. Thats a consideration I have to take into account also regarding being content with using only heavy factory bullets as I'm not set up to reload.

On that note, most of the 7x57 ammo that I see on the shelves nowadays (at least in north Texas) is of the 139/140 grain variety; with only the occasional 160+ making an appearance once in awhile. That's worth keeping in mind, if you don't reload.

If I were going to budget $1,600+ for a 7x57, I'm not sure that an M77 would be my first choice, unless it just happened to have spectacular wood figuring in the stock. Instead I would look for one of the European manufacturers (such as a vintage FN) or a Winchester Model 70. I adore the 7x57 caliber, but the Ruger M77 is not one of the primary models that I associate with it.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I have a tang safety M77, though mine is .300 WM. It was my first ever centerfire rifle. I picked it up in Anchorage a lifetime ago. It came with a steel Weaver 2-7 scope, and was bought for $350. It's probably the most accurate rifle I own, even though I haven't hunted with it since 2009. It shoots everything I put through it very well. I have killed a crap-ton of caribou, along with a few moose and bears with it.

Like others have said... buy it.

 

[DG870]

Tundra Tiger - I see that you put a Limbsaver of your Ruger. I had a 77 tang safety in 300 win with the thin red recoil pad - hardest kicking rifle I ever had. I traded it for a 338 win mag - it was a softer shooter.

 

[50Gunner]

They are great little rifles, I bought my Wife a cherry clean little tang safety Ruger 7X57 a long time ago in case she ever decided she wanted to go hunting with me, but alas, she hasn't, the little rifle just sits in the safe gathering dust with it's gloss 2-7 Leupold scope in the factory Ruger rings.

It shoots great with ammunition i loaded over 30 years ago, old style 175gr Hornady round nose Interlock bullets over H-4350 powder, all in brand new at the time Norma brass cases, iirc they clock around 2418 fps.

On second thought, and noting your name [Mauser], i also have a beautiful DWM 09 98 Mauser 7X57 in high polished blued steel and walnut, it sits too, both rifles can be bought.

 

[TMac]

I might have a dealer search for one of the Lipsey’s 7x57’s from 2017 or so. Might be one someplace. That would check all your boxes.

The 4 of the 5 M77’s I've had were a mixed bag accuracy wise. One I have not shot,

NIB 9.3x62, the Lipsey’s special run from a few years back. I could not bring myself to shoot it or hunt with it yet. May never, probably should sell it. Nice rifle and feels very lively in the hand. I suspect the 7x57 version would have a similar feel.

A 257 Roberts ultralight model, 1.5moa with 120 partitions. Late 90’s manfu. Still have it. Sweet rifle, very delicate feeling in a nice way.

25-06 with the longer heavy barrel, never got it to shoot well, 3-4 moa, rebarrel candidate. Not bore scoped it, but suspect prior owner may have shot it to death. Will mess around with rebarreling it soon, then give it to a kid/grand or sell it.

Late 80’s 280 Rem 1-1 1/4 moa with most anything. But its barrel was not aligned with the receiver, so you had to use a scope with lots of wind age to get it on paper. Traded off to a gunsmith for another 280 and he rebarreled this one and probably sold it.

Mid-70’s 30-06 shoots under a moa often with favored loads. Mostly retired now, but can be recalled to action anytime.

I like how the M77’s feel and fit me well. I like them.

 

[cajunchefray]

Planning to purchase a new boom stick for mostly SE Texas whitetail but who knows whatever else in the future. The rifles and calibers I'm looking at are a FN made Winchester Super Grade in 30/06 and the other one is a caliber I have always had the fuzzys for is 7x57 but it's in a tang safety Ruger M77.

Been reading a bunch on both of these rifles and I'm starting to get into my own head, I think. Consensus is that the current Model 70s are excellent shooters from the factory. Unfortunately, I read a lot of horrible things about the early M77 Ruger's regarding accuracy and it seems many agree the 7x57's were particularly hard hit with crappy barrels from their outside vendor at the time and at least one case of a rifle so bad that the barrel was apparently screwed in off center and Ruger actually bought it back from the owner who wasn't even the original purchaser.

Am I just worrying too much about the details or is this founded from any of yalls experience regarding the early Ruger's and this caliber? I don't want to end up $4k into a rifle and scope and have a rifle that shoots patterns and not groups.

Check the serial number on that Ruger 77 tang safety for date of manufacture.

If I remember correctly, Ruger brought barrel making in house, hammer forged, in the mid 1980s. The random bad barrels went away.
Dave Scovill, editor of Handloader and Rifle magazine wrote a lot of the Ruger 77 in 7x57. First rifle he purchased in 1970s when he was discharged. Not accurate. He bought a later production tang safety 7x57 that shot well, and a Ruger 77 MK II that was accurate.

They are nice rifles, but I wouldn't pay $1600 for one.

Winchester M70, current production are really nice rifles. I know where you may be able to find an FN M70 featherweight in 7x57.

 

[rdog]

Planning to purchase a new boom stick for mostly SE Texas whitetail but who knows whatever else in the future. The rifles and calibers I'm looking at are a FN made Winchester Super Grade in 30/06 and the other one is a caliber I have always had the fuzzys for is 7x57 but it's in a tang safety Ruger M77.

Been reading a bunch on both of these rifles and I'm starting to get into my own head, I think. Consensus is that the current Model 70s are excellent shooters from the factory. Unfortunately, I read a lot of horrible things about the early M77 Ruger's regarding accuracy and it seems many agree the 7x57's were particularly hard hit with crappy barrels from their outside vendor at the time and at least one case of a rifle so bad that the barrel was apparently screwed in off center and Ruger actually bought it back from the owner who wasn't even the original purchaser.

Am I just worrying too much about the details or is this founded from any of yalls experience regarding the early Ruger's and this caliber? I don't want to end up $4k into a rifle and scope and have a rifle that shoots patterns and not groups.

Unfortunately the story about the vendor barrels on Ruger 77 tang safety models is true some oversized chambers & poor accuracy, not all, but some had this issue. Great looking rifles you would have to shoot one to know if it had this issue. i had 3, a 243 win, 7x57 & a 270 win, that i got second hand, the 270 s chamber was not good & re barreled it with a Shillen 1-10 twist & my son still has it.

The story is that with the introduction of the 77 mk11 Ruger made their own barrels i was good friends
with the Australian Ruger importer in the 1980s -1990s. & he had a gun smith that changed out bad barrels with replacement Ruger bbls under warranty on early 77s.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

Check the serial number on that Ruger 77 tang safety for date of manufacture.

If I remember correctly, Ruger brought barrel making in house, hammer forged, in the mid 1980s. The random bad barrels went away.
Dave Scovill, editor of Handloader and Rifle magazine wrote a lot of the Ruger 77 in 7x57. First rifle he purchased in 1970s when he was discharged. Not accurate. He bought a later production tang safety 7x57 that shot well, and a Ruger 77 MK II that was accurate.

They are nice rifles, but I wouldn't pay $1600 for one.

Winchester M70, current production are really nice rifles. I know where you may be able to find an FN M70 featherweight in 7x57.

I did see a M70 featherweight on GB from the same guy that has the high dollar M77. I believe he was asking $1999 for it if that's the same one you are mentioning.

 

[Sabre]

I have an M77 MKII 30-06 with the 3 position safety on the bolt.

I have had it for a very long time and have hunted with it a lot, so I probably will never be able to get myself to sell it. That said, I wouldn't buy another one.

Of all my rifles it feels like the least customizable and middling accuracy. I don't care for the integral scope rail at all. I want to be able to choose my own scope rings, and want to upgrade the scope on it without putting a really nice scope in Ruger's shi**y rings.

My barrel touched the stock and created inaccuracy. I opened up the barrel channel and that has helped quite a bit, but I have read that it's a gamble as some people, their accuracy gets worse. I got lucky and mine got much better. Even so, I have much more accurate rifles.

For $1,600 budget I would go with 30-06 and pick a different rifle as there are many nice ones at that price.

 

[cajunchefray]

I have an M77 MKII 30-06 with the 3 position safety on the bolt.

I have had it for a very long time and have hunted with it a lot, so I probably will never be able to get myself to sell it. That said, I wouldn't buy another one.

Of all my rifles it feels like the least customizable and middling accuracy. I don't care for the integral scope rail at all. I want to be able to choose my own scope rings, and want to upgrade the scope on it without putting a really nice scope in Ruger's shi**y rings.

My barrel touched the stock and created inaccuracy. I opened up the barrel channel and that has helped quite a bit, but I have read that it's a gamble as some people, their accuracy gets worse. I got lucky and mine got much better. Even so, I have much more accurate rifles.

For $1,600 budget I would go with 30-06 and pick a different rifle as there are many nice ones at that price.

Ruger rings produced in the last 15-20 years do suck. Poor machining. Rough surfaces, and more.

I purchase Ruger rings from the 1970-1990s era. Bill Ruger was still at the helm, quality products were sold then.

Things have changed.

Otherwise I buy Leupold rings.
I have not purchased Alaska Arms rings, all reviews are a very fine quality.
I would not let Ruger rings inhibit my purchase of a nice Ruger rifle.

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

Ruger rings produced in the last 15-20 years do suck. Poor machining. Rough surfaces, and more.

I purchase Ruger rings from the 1970-1990s era. Bill Ruger was still at the helm, quality products were sold then.

Things have changed.

Otherwise I buy Leupold rings.
I have not purchased Alaska Arms rings, all reviews are a very fine quality.
I would not let Ruger rings inhibit my purchase of a nice Ruger rifle.

Those Alaska Arms rings do look quite nice and are actually what I planned to go with if I end up going with a Ruger.

 

[Sabre]

Ruger rings produced in the last 15-20 years do suck. Poor machining. Rough surfaces, and more.

I purchase Ruger rings from the 1970-1990s era. Bill Ruger was still at the helm, quality products were sold then.

Things have changed.

Otherwise I buy Leupold rings.
I have not purchased Alaska Arms rings, all reviews are a very fine quality.
I would not let Ruger rings inhibit my purchase of a nice Ruger rifle.

That is a fair workaround. However, I would just prefer to get a rifle that doesn't have proprietary rings and instead has a picatinny rail on top that will accept almost any manufacturers rings.

One other thing that bothers me about my Ruger m77 is the more difficult trigger swap because of my 3 position bolt safety. IIRC that's not an issue with the tang safety ones though.

I don't hate the Ruger M77, and you (OP) likely won't if you get it either. I just would spend $1,600 on a lot of other rifles before I would a Ruger M77.

 

[Arctic97]

Daughter has used her 7x57 in Africa twice now with great results. Here with a Zebra she shot last month in Zim. One shot at 170 yards in chest as it was facing her. She was using handloaded Barnes 150 gr TSX. Pics here of recovered bullet from back in the stomach. I think you will love the Ruger if you decide to go that way.

Full weight retention.

Over 2x expansion diameter. From .284 to .581 for the 7mm

 

[Major Bonkers]

I had an M77 mk 1 (with the tang safety) in .308. It was a handy little rifle - I had the schutzen version - until it suddenly lost accuracy. Goodness knows why - I took it to two gunsmiths who were at a loss, and I sold the rifle on.

The tang safety is very convenient. All rifles ought to have them. They got rid of that feature for the mk 2.

$4,000 is hugely overpriced. Mine, bought in the UK, came with an old German 'scope and for around £350.