Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles M77 Mark II

I recently picked up an M77 Mark II in 30-06. Rifle is in good used shape, with a nice Tasco Titan 30mm 3-9x42 FFP scope. I have not fired it yet but have dry fired it. To me the trigger feels quite good. Barely perceptible amount of creep, breaks cleanly, does not feel heavy at all. This is my first bolt gun, previously experience with various ARs, shotguns, 10/22s and various pistols, striker fired, SA, and DA/SA.

If this is bad bolt gun trigger, I’d like to shoot a good one.

Aim small, good sight picture, pull the trigger, don’t wait for perfection, send it.[img]http://https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/19088350/ruger-m77-mark-ii[/img]Photo here

It could be that some work was done on it.

The Ruger Hawkeye LC6 trigger was fantastic in my opinion.

You haven't any experience with a m77 mk2, that came right out of the box, do you?

Its a good rifle and that scope is better than most anything you could replace it with.
Enjoy it.

I do not, it might have an upgraded trigger.

No might about it. I had many Dart guns with better triggers as well as BB guns.

The MK-II trigger from the factory wasn't that great. I believe it was 2006 when they made some minor changes and renamed it the "Hawkeye" that they started putting better triggers in them. My guess is that someone worked on it, someone replaced it with the LC6 trigger, or you just got lucky.

I've got an early Ruger 77 MKII that's a lefty. Horrific trigger.

I have a bunch of 77 Mk2, and just removed the trigger and used a sanding stone to take off some of the metal and smooth it back up, and reinstalled. Only overdid one of them. So I paid $45 for a Dayton Traister trigger, and solved that problem.

The rest turned out just fine. I wouldn't part with any one of them I've got.

I just picked up a Mark 2 in 30-06 and the trigger is pretty dang good. It’s used, so I’m not sure if someone tuned her up or not, but it feels like about 3.5# with not alot of creep. Pretty much perfect for what I’ll use it for.

The MKII series triggers left much to be desired. Late in the series, around the #791 SN prefix (2005-2006) they started to transition to the LC-6 trigger, which would become standard in the Hawkeye series. If your rifle is in this late SN range, it’ll have the “improved” LC-6 trigger. If the backside of the trigger blade is hollow, its an LC-6.

That dog will hunt!

I shot a mk2 ruger in 30-06 from 1996 until last week. Gave it to a grandson. When I bought it I had a gunsmith work the trigger over, I floated the barrel, and had him bed the action. I don’t know how many deer that rifle put to sleep but it killed over 20 elk and never gave me a problem. I had a new Hawkeye in 308 win for about a year but gave it to another grandson. IMO, mk2s and Hawkeyes are some of the best rifles made. Well made, fully functional, and accurate enough for hunting. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another. As with everything, ymmv.

Yes, the MKII and Hawkeye is definately one of the rifles models on my "list" as being ideal. The biggest complaint I've got against these models of Rugers is that they're heavy but I have to live with that as a lefty.

That'll hunt. Congrats.

Threw it on a scale, 8.8 pounds as shown, will be right at 9 lbs loaded. It points and balances well.

That weight must be mostly in the stock and barrel. I took a .308 Mk ll stainless and made it into a 7 pound 2 ounce 7mm-08 with a Zeiss 30mm 1.5-6x42 scope. Brown Precision Kevlar Pound'r stock and Shilen #1 taper 20" barrel.

The weight of the rifle is fine for me. Not light by today’s standards, definitely a little easier at the range sessions.

Big storm and frigid temps heading our way, might be a bit before I shoot it.

What's the intended purpose? Hunting? Target shooting?

It's a good all around rifle to get going with a bolt action. My first bolt action hunting rifle was exactly the same gun, minus the Tasco. I knew nothing about scopes then. I went to the local mom and pop sporting goods shop and trusted the guy behind the counter to sell me the nicest hunting scope I could afford. At the time, that ended up being a Nikon Prostaff 3-9 x 40. To this day, I regret selling that rifle!

This will be a hunting rifle. Ohio was always a slug-gun state, recently allowing straight walled cartridges. I have a semi auto 350 legend for Ohio. A couple buddies want to expand our horizons so to speak. Kentucky or western states, hence the bolt gun.

Gary_3,

It may just be the picture, but is that a 20" barrel? Where on the barrel is the cartridge designation Stamped/roll marked, barrel or barrel shank?

That MK II could have a LC6 trigger. Between S/N 791-246XX and 791-717XX (Mid to late 2005) the LC6 triggers were transitioned into all M77 MK II rifles.

Thanks
Ed

I went and checked mine after seeing this and wondering why people ever complained about the Mark II trigger. My one M77 that I have ever owned is the late model Mark II with the LC6 trigger.

I’ve never owned one, guy on my lease does. He likes it

Serial number says this one is from 2000.

The barrel is 22”

I’m going to see if it likes Norma 180 bond strike extremes, if it does it will be a one size fits all load.

I only have experience with one MK II. It is my wife's in 6.5x55 and she is the 3rd owner of it. I bought it for her in 2002. She has consistently shot half inch and smaller groups with it. I rarely shot it since we had it fitted for her. Now the kids are using it and were having trouble with it because the trigger was too heavy. It was 6 lbs. Never new because it was so crisp. Now after having it worked on it is a crisp 3 lbs. My daughter used it this year to take an antelope at 90 yards and whitetail buck at 300. My wife may not get it back. I think you have picked a good rifle to start.

I've had quite a few of these. Solid, dependable rifles. In fact, just picked up another one, it too is in 30-06 and is a stainless/Zytel version. Pre LC6, so trigger work/replacement is the first order of business for it. You have, in my opinion, a very nice rifle! Get to know it and enjoy!

bought mine new in the late 90's/or really early 2000's - don't remember. Same scope and factory trigger. Lots of animals taken with that gun. Likes to shoot 150's over 165's. Guess I just got used to the trigger as I have never done any work to it.

Although largely nearly identical, the Hawkeye has some minor tweaks that make it preferable: a slimmer stock, steel bottom metal, and that LC6 trigger. Good new is that all that stuff can be swapped onto a MKII if you want to. The Hawkeye stocks are pretty nice actually, walnut or synthetic.

The Tangers get a lot of love, but the Hawkeye/MkIIs are excellent rifles, IMO Hawkeyes the best Ruger made.

I like the Ruger Americans, after they have finally cleaned up the product line.

but I still prefer a Ruger 77 Mk 2, mine are mainly stainless with a laminate stock. I have a dozen or more of them.

Not a Mark II, but I bought a M77 in 7mm Rem Mag in 1981. Good looking rifle. I was 21 years old, and it was the first rifle I ever bought. It shot horribly, splattering the bullets over a 10" circle at 100 yds. I sent it back to Ruger, and they eventually returned it to me, having made unspecified changes. It now shot 2"-3" groups. I again returned it to Ruger, but they sent it back to me saying "it was shooting within spec." I took a couple of deer with it, but soon after stuck it in the back of a closet and never shot it again due to the poor accuracy.






After that terrible initial experience, I avoided all Ruger products for 40 years. I finally relented when my left-handed wife spied a lefty Hawkeye in .223 Rem. on the used rack at a Cabelas. There are not a lot of left-handed rifles available, so I sucked-up my anti-Ruger stance and bought it. It shoots good, but nothing to get excited about.



I am not trying to tell people whether to love or hate their Rugers, I am just relating my personal experience.

Have a Hawk-eye in .223. bought it the year they came out,2006 I think. Walnut and whatever finish that is on the metal. Kind of a weird parkerizing/ matte. Never had it out of the stock and it'll shoot MOA out to 300. That's as far as my range goes. Trigger is acceptable enough that I don't feel the need to mess with it.