Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Re-barrel M-77 or retire it.?

Guys,
Back in 1992 my wife and son gave me a Christmas gift of a M-77 MKII in .308 with a Leupold VX-2 2-7 scope. The rifle was my yearly go to Michigan deer camp rifle, which I left with my buddy up there, so I didn't have to fly with it.

I had 11 months to shoot it before going, which I did. I broke in the barrel and shot different ammo to see what it would shoot best, since I didn't reload rifle ammo. Best group I could get at 100 yards was in the area of 2.5 inches. That was with Federal Premium 168 BTSP. Yes, minute of Whitetail! The longest shot on a deer for its career was 93 yards. I shot a boat load of deer with it. So, since it was a gift and my son shot his first two deer with it, I will not sell it.

Since retiring to AZ a few years ago and now driving everywhere I decided to bring the rifle "home" and work on it, to see if I could get it to shoot better. Free floated then bedded the action. Had the muzzle re-crowned. No better. Also, replaced the trigger years a go with a Timney. No improvement.

I'm a good shot with my own 200 yard range on my property and I shoot several times a week, if not daily.

Any other experiences with the M-77?. I have a #1 in 7x57 that shoots cloverleaf groups all day, no matter what you feed it.

I like the rifle and was hoping to use it here in the west (If and when I can get drawn for an AZ deer tag!!) Yes, once again, it shoots minute of deer! But...."only accurate rifles are interesting"

I have lots of other rifles I can use but don't be afraid to chime in with your opinions.

If I re-barrel what would you suggest? 1:10? I would be shooting anything from 150-168 grain bullets.

Maybe re-barrel to 7mm-08?

Or simply retire it?

My current go to rifles are my #1 in 7x57 and a custom .280 built on a M700 action.

Let me know what you think.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Respectfully,
Dave

I'd have it re-barreled to a 7-08 with a 1-9" twist.





Travis

Actually, after re-reading what you already have, I'd make it a .243.



Travis

Pay attention to what he typed and get yer pants on.

+1 but AI.

If I ignored what you already have, I'd say make it interesting and rebarrel to .284 Win.

Split the difference and make it a 260 Rem

I have a 7x57 barrel from an M77 for sale $55 shipped if you're interested.

I would go with a fast twist .243 something or other. Light enough recoil to enjoy shooting it, and it would be a great platform to learn to shoot long distances in windy conditions.

Normally I would say a fast twist .264 something or other, but since you have .284 covered, I went for some more contrast.

Now that you are retired and need more hobbies... get it rebored to 358 Winchester for shooting cast boolits.

They changed over from the tang safety Ruger to the MKII in the early 90's I believe. Which version do you have? It has been reported that some of the tangs came with dogcrap barrels.

I would also suggest you float the mag box before you decide you need a new tube.

Well if you want a medium bore then JeffG's 7x57 barrel looks like a good low cost idea if it will work on your short action. I'd do that before a 7mm-08 since you already have the reloading setup. You could be up and running for not much more than a C note.

1. Get some different ammo.
2. Change the scope.
3. Bring a screwdriver that fits the guard screws to the range with a roll of black electrical tape.

Try it with the different ammo and scope first.

Then if that does not do the trick take it out of the stock and put a tape shim under the barrel near the forend and if that does not work then in other locations in the barrel channel.

Try shooting it from a rest but also hand held like you might when hunting.

Shut

ThEE

Fugg

Up.

Thanks,
Travis

Uh, his rifle is a .308 WCF -- a short action. A 7x57mm won't fit a short action Ruger.

Ruger rifles of that vintage were either really good or really bad..
I had one about the same vintage a ss alweather( boatpaddle) 308. I loved the look and feel of the rifle but was absoultly horrible from the bench.. Best hand loads would be in the 4 inch range. That rifle ranks as one of the worst shooting rifles I have ever owned. I could out shoot it with a 30 30 lever gun.
Since I liked the rifle I did a bedding/float job and laped the lugs.. Brought it down to about 2 inches. This was my first gunsmith project and ended up selling it because any further work was beyond my abilities at the time. The guy who bought it from me thinks it is deadly as he kills a deer with it every year.
Since then I have worked on several rugers of that vintage and found they are able to shoot with factory tube. Although those barrels are not the best. If all other variables are eliminated you might have a shooter. One thing I always find on rugers is poor ring alignment. Which binds the scope and stresses the action..
A new barrel won't fix that..
Either way you decide to go make sure you go through the action and scope first.

You could rebarrel with a Remington takeoff. The threads for the Ruger are a bit smaller so it can be machined to fit.

One favorite of mine I have done many times is to take a 7 Rem mag barrel set it back 1/2" or so and re-thread for Ruger then chamber to the fat 284 win cartridge which requires far less setback than narrower cartridges like the 7-08. 7 Rem mag takeoffs are very common.

Another favorite would be to use a 243 takeoff re-thread and re-chamber for 6mm/284. The larger diameter chamber dresses up the 243 chamber perfectly.

I used to pay around $125 to have a barrel installed. Now do it myself. Have no idea what the current rate might be. Rem takeoffs are generally cost $50-$80 .

To the OP:

First, congrats on your retirement ! I hope it is long and enjoyable for you. Regarding the rifle, If there is sentimental attachment to it, the sentimental option would be to go back to a .308. Given that you have the 7mm slot covered, if you do not choose .308, I would drop down to a .243. My family has killed a couple dozen KY White tails with 95gr Nosler Partitions over a medium load of Varget. To the best of my knowledge, all have been thru and thru shots.

Regardless of which option you pick, PICTURES !

Dave
Sorry you have soooo much time that you have to shoot daily.

I have several R77 tang safety Rugers.
As noted above, make sure the box mag is just loose with the 3 screws tightened.

I make a brass tube pillar for the center screw. When I snug up the middle screw the tension/bow on the action is then always the same.

I also make sure there is room in the bedding at the front of the action lug to allow a little forward movement.

I also run a finger of bedding up the channel in front of the lug for about 4 inches. If not happy with how gun shoots then, sometimes removing an inch off of the finger will improve groups.

The 243 Win is a good whitetail caliber if re-barrel, but the 260 always sounded cool to me also.

Hope we can rendezvous in W.C. this fall. My son will be coming to hunt again.
Tim

Also make sure that when the bolt is closed the handle is not touching the stock anywhere.