Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles M77 tang safety trigger pull

Well,

I finally broke down and bought a Lyman trigger pull gauge. It is probably the best investment that I have made in long time. I knew that trigger pull weights on these older Ruger's were poor but I never dreamed it would average over 8 pounds!! The worst part is that the sear set screw is adjust out to where it is practically falling out!!

Never fear as I have a Timney waiting to be put in it...I just need the time to mess with it.

Those older Rugers have completely adjustable triggers, and do not need an aftermarket unless you are trying to go very low.

Be careful when you install the Timney, as you will need to mill some room in the stock and trigger guard. The stock work can be done with a dremel tool, but the trigger guard is best done with a mill or a drill-press with a good vise. The trigger guards are (mostly) made of aluminum alloy and are easy to crack if you're not careful. I know this because I've broken a few of them. The last time that I checked, Ruger didn't carry the trigger guards, but Jack Frost in Rapid City, SD, has them.

If given a choice, I prefer the Timney triggers in the tang safety Ruger 77s that I'm going to shoot much. I probably wouldn't install 1 in a collectable Ruger 77, because of the mill work necessary to fit the new trigger.

Jeff

Another option is just get a Rifle Basix sear. It will allow you to go below 2 pounds, if that is what you want.

What would be considered a collectable? I've got a M77 UltraLight Carbine in .243(18.5"bbl,iron sights,black tipped forend,etc). Oh,and that trigger "adjustment" screw does absolutely nothing on mine. Bought it for my daughter yrs back.

til later

On the old Rugers, a spring swap will help with the trigger weight. Otherwise its not to bad. I have 4 TS. One has a timney and three have mildy tuned triggers with the spings replaced. I don't have a guage but my guess is some where in the 4lb range. Not quite what I would want for shooting groups but pretty good for general hunting. I have a another timney in the basement but haven't felt the need to install it.

You description sounds like a 77 RLS (Rife, Light, Sights). Since it was a cataloged style chambered for a common cartridge and not in NIB condition, I'd call it a shooter and either keep playing with the existing trigger or go with a Timney and its associated modifications.

Jeff

While you may have a decent older 77 trigger, mine is not so great. I have the set screw just about adjusted OUT and it is still at around 8 pounds.

Thanks for the heads up. I will keep this in mind.

Yep,your right Jeff. Borrowed a Blue Book and looked it up. My 88 Gun Digest lists it as a UltraLight Carbine.Wasn't really considering altering it as it really doesn't get used much. Did check the zero on it today.
280RemFan said his trigger gauged at over 8lbs? Mines every bit of that! And as I said before that adjustment screw on mine does nothing. Got a friends M77.257Roberts I'm working a load up for and it's the same way. The triggers are consistent but HEAVY.

til later

The set screw in the trigger on old 77's just works on the trigger return spring. To really adjust the trigger it's necessary to take the action out of the stock. The sear engagement and backlash are adjustable with screws in the trigger housing. My 77 has a perfectly solid and safe 3-lb trigger that hasn't varied in over 34 years. It helps to have a schematic of the trigger group. Of course the best bet is a gunsmith or advanced tinkerer who knows what to do for you. Still, anyone with a spoonful of sense can figure it out for himself with a diagram. Old Ruger ads from the early 70's had a great color x-ray of the 77 action...it's what I used to figure out how to 'fructify' my trigger.

Appreciate the info ss. Not really concerned with mine but will mention it to my friend for sure. He's got another M77 in .300 Winchester Magnum that he says has an even heavier trigger.

til later

I guess I've been lucky. I own 2 M77's. One an original year M77 in .25-06 new in '68 or '69 and has a great trigger. Another I bought when the MkII's came out in .30-06 because I liked the old style tang safety - this would have been in the early 90's and it has a decent trigger as well. Not as good as tuned jewell/timney or something but perfectly acceptable for a hunting rifle.

As far as I know, MK II's do not come with the tang safety. I thought that only the old Model 77 comes with the tang safety and also with an adjustable trigger.

Alfredo

Back in the day when the tang-safety M77 was Ruger's current bolt gun adjusting the trigger by cutting one turn from the trigger spring was a common fix. I recall reading about it in at least one issue of Rifle magazine, IIRC the article was about a M77 in one of the not ordinary cartridges.

jim

Anybody have or know where to find a schematic and/or instructions on how to adjust the TS triggers?

I think what I said wasn't clear. I bought an old model M77 with tang safety when the MkII's came out when they still had the old ones on the shelf - because I hated the new MKII's. Never owned one and never will.