Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger Ultralight 30-06

I bought this rifle seven years ago and finally took it out to shoot today. Wasn't sure what to expect out of it but it shot much better than I was expecting with some 150 accubonds at 100 yards. I really like the way it handles. Does anyone else shoot these. Have no idea how much velocity it loses from having a 20 inch barrel I'll have to chronograph it someday.

Here is a pic of my first group, first shot out of a clean barrel was to the right then all the rest shot fairly well.



Pic of the rifle.

Nice bought a 270 here couple years ago, still haven’t shot it. Love the way they fit/feel

Hard to imagine the velocity loss mattering within 300 yards?

Wish Ruger put out more like this and the walnut M77s... which is really to say I wish the market demanded that Ruger put out more one this and the walnut M77s.

I solved that by buying a take-off walnut stock for my AW .223. Came out very handsome IMO.

Nice looking rifle. Looks like a good one.

Very nice, and very scarce model. M77RL-DZ, should be in the 772-856xx to 895xx serial number range.

FPS, conservatively with a 150 Accubond I'd guess 2800 + or - a bit.

I know someone selling a stainless/synthetic model of one of these, but he's just a little too proud of it for me at this point in my hunting career. Very nice rifle though...

Yes your correct it's 771-623xx, when I bought it seven years ago I was looking for the walnut stock but this showed up on GunBroker. Did not know it was very rare. What does the DZ stand for? I really just enjoy that it's more than accurate enough and is a pleasure to carry. I just looked it up it was made in 1988.

I have the stainless/boat paddle version. I love mine and would never sell it. You will likely find that it gets to go hunting more than many of your other rifles do. I can’t remember the specifics l, but so don’t recall that mine gives up much velocity to my 06 that had a 22” barrel. It appears that your rifle shoots just a bit better than mine does. My cold bore shot stays perfect, but my next two are usually 1” to 1.5” to the right of the cold bore shot.

DZ = "Desert camo" laminated stock, colors of light reddish brown, light walnut and tan.

I had a new Untra Light .30-06 for a short time about thirty years ago. I probably fired no more than fifty rounds before trading if off. An incredibly poor shooter, good for about 3" groups at 100 yards. Glad to know they weren't all like mine. The same gun in .250 Savage shot quite well.

I have 3 M77 RL ultra lights, all tanger, in 257 Roberts, 308 Win and 260 Rem. The 260 was born a 243 Win, but I sent it to McGowen to rebarrel to 260 with an 8 twist. They are great handling little rifles that shoot up to 3 shots very well. After that, the thin barrels heat up, and accuracy suffers. So they're not bench guns, but first cold bore shouts always impact at POA. I'm always on the lookout for more.

I have one in 257 still sitting in the box.

Saving it for the daughter. Maybe.

257 Roberts on the left, .243 Win on the right.