Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Opinions on Ruger M77 Mark II Ultralight .30-06

One of these popped up locally. Early 1990s production, .30-06, 20" barrel, wood stock, very light and quick handling. Interested in opinions of these, not M77 Mark II in general but SPECIFICALLY the UL .30-06.

Do they generally shoot well or not?
Do they have a known bullet weight preference?
I assume recoil is stout, is it manageable or just ridiculous?


Also, thoughts on pricing? Its banged up a little, not a lot, does not have a scope.

Thanks

I've got 2 of the Ultralights, though not in 30-06. One is walnut/blue 223, the other is a stainless Zytel stocked 270. Both are easily sub-MOA shooters with my handloads. I just love the weight and handling of them. The 270 will let you know it when you pull the trigger, but it's not terrible with a Limbsaver on it. I figure the 30-06 would be manageable in the recoil area, but I'd try to stick with lighter bullets if it will shoot them well. I'm betting it would be pretty tough with 180s.

As far as price, it'll depend on whether or not the seller realizes that it's a rarer model and not just a standard M77. That was the case with both of mine. I got the 223 first, and even I didn't realize what I had bought until I got to doing some research. When the 270 appeared in a local pawn shop priced like a standard boat paddle 270, I snapped it up because I realized it was the much rarer UL version.

GREAT GUN….900

I am not sure ultralight and M77 should be used in the same sentence and a I am an M77 fan.

I have not had many of the UL models but my last one was a .270 and shot poorly. I am sure it could be made to shoot but it was sitting in a laminate stock I wanted so I parted it out.

I don’t find the recoil to be an issue but mostly shooting bigger boomers these days so might be more noticeable to some.

You’re making me nervous jud, still ain’t shot that 270 yet. Mounted the scope, been sittin in the safe.😆🤞

I shot my first elk and Mule Deer (In Idaho BTW) with one. It liked 180gr Winchester Failsafe ammo. I did not hand load at the time. It was a great rifle. I do not remember it being super accurate or the opposite. It shot well enough out to 350yds for me to be happy with it. Recoil was there but not memorable. I traded it for a Winchester Model 70 Classic in 7mm Rem Mag. I wish I would have kept the Ruger.

Shoot one in 30/06 with a stiff charge of H 4831 SC, with a 220 grain RN, and it will CERTAINLY get your attention....

I have owned multiple of these rifles chambered in 223, 243,270, 308 and 30-06. I love the way they handle and i like the action and also the Ruger scope mounting system but I could never get one of the 8 Ultralights i owned to shoot to satisfy me, they were all 1.5-2.0 moa shooters and that was with my best handloads, it was very frustrating for me as I have reloaded for dozens of bolt action centerfire rifles and have always been able to come up with a load or two that would shoot MOA or better.....Good luck...Hb

This is where I'm at. I love the feel of it and I imagine its a delight to carry, but I wonder about accuracy. I also found out the local example does not come with rings, which is a bummer and maybe a pain.

Full load 150's got my attn and it went down the road to be someone else's problem..mb