Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles I like the Ruger 77 but.....

Why did Ruger have to make the safety so small on the 77’s? My Kimber swing safety is perfect and so is the model 70. I actually always preferred the Remington 700 type 2 position the most but have become accustomed to the swing safety. When I worked in a shop in Kodiak we were selling.300 Winchester mags and .375 H&H Model 77’s to guys for hunting brownies and I always wondered if they would be able to get that safety off in a hurry if the need ever arose. Is it just me? And has anyone ever come up with an aftermarket larger safety for the77?

Look for old models with flattened bolt handle and tang safety or just the tang safety, those were wonderful rifles. The safety location is perfect. Certain calibers are outstanding in terms of handling and balance the .35 Whelen being prime example.

I have no issue with the size.

Agreed. I cheat the safety by popping it out slightly if I'm expecting a quick shot.

Phil Shoemaker, 458Win here, posted a picture several years ago where he used Devcon to build up an extended tab on the Ruger safety. Along the lines of his famous "Ol' Ugly" in aesthetic value but he's all about results.

Here's the thread fwiw but the picture of this is long gone.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/5726077/1

ditto

My buddy suggested hunting with it at the half way position but I like Phil’s solution better. Someone needs to invent a screw in knurled extension that goes in the top to make it stick up a little higher.

Always hunt with them in the middle position.

No reason to leave them all the way back. It is just as safe in the middle position as it is when full rearward.

Sell the Ruger and go back to the Winchester. That is what I did.

thats what she said

I would like them more if they were as accurate as the American rifles. Especially the predators

I’ve owned and hunted several MkII’s and Hawkeyes (including two MkII’s currently) and the safety lever has never been a problem.

Same here but I don't particularly care for them either, preferring a tang or side lever safety.

I own eight or nine Ruger bolt guns and the safety has never been a problem as I never use them.

I always hunt with the bolt on half cock. It's a simple matter to lower the bolt with the thumb if game is spotted. If I'm going through thick bushes or climbing a fence I close the bolt on an empty chamber.

Rhe Ruger swing safety has never bothered me. Most of the time I have it in the "Fire" position over an empty chamber, which makes the manual of arms the same as my other bolt rifles regardless of safety type - load and fire.

I never gave it a thought until I read your post. The only safety issue that I ever had with my Mk ll was the "click" when I pushed it off that put a nice 8 point into launch mode. It made a simple shot into a tougher one when he stopped in the brush farther out. I've since learned to hold the top of the safety and let it down easily and silently.

Didn't happen according to many of the "experts" here. Deer do not spook due to metallic clicks. But then alot of "experts" are fuggin dummies and aren't really as experienced or knowledgeable as they think they are.

I once owned a Browning BLR in 308 WIN - I racked it real easy one morning (being stealthy) and didn't realize I missed chambering a round until I fired it on an empty chamber at a doe standing about 50 yards away - she launched like a rocket when that CLICK sounded off! Sat there laughing my A$$ off at my own dumbness. Used to own a Ruger M77 MK-II in 257 RBTS, after many years of owning both Winchester M70's and old, M77 blue bolt/tang safety Ruger's I never grew to like the MK-II safety.

When hunting, I always use my thumb and forefinger to move the safety to fire to keep down noise, unless the jig is already up.

Bolt-mounted safeties can be longer without sticking out too far.

That doesn’t work when still hunting......way too much movement and noise. I made the “click” with the safety on my Kimber a couple of years ago and watched a buck shiver all over when he heard it. Fortunately I made the shot.