Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger 77 screw torque

The latest issue of Rifle has a write up on the Ruger Hawkeye Hunter. John Haviland quoted the action screw torques and tried the mid screw set at snug and then set to 60 in/lb and the rifle shot better. I'm not doubting Mr Haviland but has anyone else here found their 77s shoot better with the mid screw tight?

No, usually the middle screw should just be snug. Not real tight per se. Similar to the model 70. This is on my glass bedded 77's. I also don't torque to the suggested 90 inch pounds on the front action screw either. When they are properly glass bedded, you don't need to torque them that tight. Front about 60 inch pounds and rear about 45...

Middle screw just barely touching in all mine, front at 65 and rear at 50 post bedding.

With MkII’s and Hawkeyes, front angled screw farmer tight (my torque driver only goes to 60), rear screw set at 40, middle screw barely snug. Tightened in that order. Has worked on all such rifles I have owned and I’ve never needed to bed one set up in this manner. I’m a big fan of Ruger Mk II’s, and this works for me.

I do the same with my Rugers. 60-55 in/lbs front and 45 rear, Barely snug for the middle screw and the mag box free floating.

You may not "have to" bed them, but once you start, you'll find your rifles shoot more accurately, more consistently and don't change poi over time. I'll generally cut the group size in half after properly glass bedding a 77... Also, you are risking cracking your stock, if you do not glass bed them. Especially the heavy kickers...

Dave,
You are right on with the free floating mag box.

BSA,
Thanks for the tips, but all my Rugers have had and currently have Ruger synthetic stocks so I haven’t worried too much about cracking the stock. And I no longer shoot “hard kickers”. I don’t have the need for anything bigger than .308 Winchester or 7mm-08.

Good info....thx for sharing.

I had a 77 that came from Ruger whose front screw was set to either a gazillion pounds or loctited Red. I had to send it back. Last few synthetics were just tightened normally and all shot well.

Loose front screw will act as a slide hammer and break stock. Which is why I glass bed my Ruger 77,s, and keep the front screw tight. Had several that quit shooting well and front screw had loosened. Noticed some Ruger 77,s had a dimple on screw threads, perhaps to keep them tight?