I like the 77s, my first one was in .280 (1977) and I started handloading then too. Its trigger left much to be desired! I tried one of the first "Ultralights" (308/20" bbl) around '83, but I couldn't hold it still with its 5# trigger pull, off it went. Years later tried another tanger/338 win mag...3" was its best, off it went. I had a MKII in 338WM that shot one type of factory ammo exceptionally...had issues with handloads. I had a Hawkeye 77 257 roberts...2" shooter, a Hawkeye All Weather in 338 Federal was great...just not enough "oomph" for me. I'm now waiting on my Hawkeye 338 RCM 22" model from the smith. I hope its a shooter. To me Rugers are built like a tank, may or may not shoot, and kinda heavy in wood stock models, but worth the "trying it out" time. Nowadays you can get aftermarket triggers or work on existing, ( I'm not a trigger tinkerer...to OCD! ha)
