Have a nib Ruger M77 stainless in the zytel stock in 308. Scope it and hunt it or sell it and buy something else. Have the rings and a compact Leupold 2-7 ready to go on. Have many other option in the safes to pick from.

Milfhunter

Use it

If you like the gun and want to hunt it go for it. If you think you would like something better then sell it. You might be shocked what a NIB M77 All-Weather brings on GunBroker.

Sell it!

Much as I like M77/Hawkeyes, a NIB Zytel would likely be turned into something else. Just economics. After all it may not shoot all that well, and having had one like it, I recall that narrow butt “improves” the recoil.

I’d maybe sell just the stock and then throw a cheap Hogue on it or take the money and buy a nice stock and a Timney trigger.

I sent my 260 back to Ruger and had them mount a brown laminate. I like it much better now.

Sell it then purchase something you like.

Or sell the stock. I sold mine here.

I’d just sell the stock and use the money for a new stock.

It might bring some ridiculous money new with the box. You could put it on gunbroker with a high starting price and maybe get enough out of it to buy a nicer rifle. I know where there's a new proof elevation 20" carbon barreled 308 marked down to $2380.

I'd sell the ruger and pick up that proof or a waypoint if I wanted to stay 308. Or just get something in whatever clambering you want. That ruger should bring enough to get a custom action and a shouldered prefit barrel with maybe some change towards a stock.

I sometimes wonder why I keep my old boat paddle stainless 7 mag. It's nice but if it were new with the box I'd put it on gunbroker. I like my old stainless laminate 7 wsm m77 better than my boat paddle 7 mag. Although if I find a boat paddle short action stock I'll probably put it on my 7 wsm. I like the 22" barrel on the wsm.

Bb

If they kept the Zytel stock, you got screwed..

Sell it and buy a Tikka and a nice scope with the money.

I had one in 22-250 that was an excellent shooter..shot some pd's and coyotes with it and 3 antelope in 1 day all 1 and done . It had a factory short 22" barrel very loud it was slow twist.but handled ww 64 gr power pt bullets really well and 63 grn sierras. Sold it for 3 times what I paid for it. Still have 1 in 223 and 308 both good shooters. I see them as ultimate bad weather use outfits..mb

Is it a true CRF or one of the early transition models?

I did not send them the zytel stock, just the barreled action.

Already stated, I sold the zytel stock here.

Can someone please tell me why the boat paddle is in demand? I think they are ugly as hell.

Same here…

I have a friend that guided elk for years with one in 7 mag. He has lots of stories about it including rolling his horse over it and he swears there is no more durable or reliable rifle.

He always had an older Japanese made Tasco world class on it and it held up too. I've watched him shoot several elk with it using just ww 150g pp factory ammo. I chonied that factory ammo for him and it was a consistent 3150 fps and grouped well. Not much for a BC but he wasn't looking to shoot past 500 anyways.

I found a nice clean one in 7 mag several years ago and picked it up. I've never shot it but hang onto it just in case something ever happens to my friends rifle. He will be heart broke and then I'll hand him mine. You know you've got gun nuttiness bad when you're picking up spare rifles in case a friend needs it one day.

Bb

I'm not saying they are bad rifles. I have one in 300 winmag that I picked up about a dozen years ago and never shot.

I just think that stock is butt ass ugly.

Ok, that is good. The last zytel stock I sold was off of my 300wm. I sold that stock for around $425.00 on ebay. I don't mind the looks, but the recoil pads are garbage, you used to be able to replace them with a limbsaver, but those are now discontinued and hard as hell to find. The factory pad doesn't soak up any recoil, so the magnums are not fun to shoot. I've replaced some magnum's boat paddle stocks with laminates as well. The Hawkeye all weather synthetic stocks aren't bad though, if a guy was wanting a factory synthetic/plastic stock.

Want to sell the stock?

Joel I’ve got one my Whelen and one on my 6mm and I love them.

No, since I have the original box and it’s a “real” one will keep it as it left Ruger.

I mostly use one of two rifles, both stainless M77’s with Zytel stocks. I don’t care that they are ugly, they are strong, stiff and tough. I throw away the tire tread for a recoil pad and put a good one on it. No big deal.
Mine are 30-06 and 338 WM. Love them both. They’ve been used hard and held up. Looking for another Zytel stock. Short action and long action.

Mine are 223 and 243. Have Hawkeye Walnut Stocks on hand for both, special occasions, otherwise the Zytel is fine.

Use it for a season and you’ll never sell it.

That gun is worth a good penny still in the box. The SA stuff is more sought after. I have been collecting the zytel “paddle” stocks for some time. The 308 is one of the more sought after rounds

Opinions are like buttholes,
I'll be a butthole.


It's a Ruger, Zytel.


Folks are paying a hell of a lot more for them than they are worth, to me.
I'd suggest what Paul said.
For you, and your question.

I'd probably shove it in a corner and just buy a Tikka.
But that's why I have a good sized safe full of stuff that isn't used.🤫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

I sold mine and bought two really nice 1903 sporters but that’s me a lot of people would think that’s a bad trade. Pre 64 Winchester and 1903s make me happy Rugers don’t.

YUP!

The brown laminate stocks with checkering are the real Ruger 77 MK2 gems. Not a fan of the zytel.

I have the same rifle but with good glass on it. Would be the last one I ever sell. Use it for a season and it may grow on you.

Make sure and shoot it before you make your decision. I have had a couple of those that were surprisingly accurate, one a 308 and the other a 243. I used to think the stocks were ugly back about 20 years ago, but they have definitely grown on me.

I thought that the Hawkeye laminates were the only ones with checkering ?

This is one in 280 Rem.

Are you the original owner, was the rifle bought new ?

I have that exact rifle. They are some of the most rugged, reliable hunting rifles ever made. Mine is topped with a Leupold M8 4X, and it is one of my favorite rifles. I would think long and hard before parting with it.

Yeah that guns going no where.👍👍

🤑

I have had them all. They are tougher than woodpecker lips. I hunt with a 300 Win Mag and a 22 Win Mag.

They are getting to a cult like status. We all remember them sitting in shops for $400, brand new. Some of those guns are selling for $5-6K now. Yes, “selling” for that much. And there is no stopping in the demand.

The utility of them is gone. They are nearly pure collector guns now. Even though I use mine. 😎

I always thought that one in 338 Win Mag was a perfect Alaskan rifle.

They are a hot collectible these days!

I've got one similar to this but with the Grey laminate in 7wsm. People didn't like the wsm models because they had 22" barrels but that's one of my favorite things about it. It handles quite well with the light sporter at 22".

Bb

I had a dozen or so Ruger 77 Mk 2, I bought at our local Bi Marts. I bought the stainless models with the Zytel stocks, because they were $50 to $75 cheaper, because they didn't move well. Stock was considered Ugly by most consumers.

I replaced them with Boyd laminate stocks, back when they were like $100.00, in different color than the Brown laminate.

The Zytel stocks I just gave away to friends and/or a few folks on the campfire.

Back then, who knew what the price of them would end up being years later after they quite making them.

I've still got two short action one's left tho. One's on stainless 260 Rem and the other on a 243 Winchester.

Spray Painted them in a dark grey, and did a spray finish of light grey speckling over the dark grey spray paint.

Take either gun to the range and people are always asking if either are for sale.

Nope. Don't ask. Got use to them.

I can't count how many I've passed on overt the years because of that stock. Centerfires too. I was happy when the switched the stock over. Hard to believe they bring a premium now.

Have had quite a few over the years, they work! Wasn't looking for something to put in a picture frame, so the stocks didn't bother me. They're a rifle made for the elements, and do so very well.

Some people would pay handsomely for the paddle stock rugers. Me? I would equate that to paying to screw Rosie O'Donnell.....Never happen.

I much prefer the all-weathers with the “normal-looking” synthetic stock. Here’s one of my .308’s. Darned fine utility rifle:

Where are these people that pay $4-5k? I want to meet 2 of them!!!

Cash out . Price it high
Buy tikka and a nice scope and still have $ left over to buy another tikka .

In grad school in about 2004 I bought a new 30-06 like that except it had the high polish finish. It was on closeout at Walmart for $325. I let my friend and classmates use it to go deer hunting with me and then he really wanted to buy it from me so I sold it to him for the same $325. I couldn't make money off a friend.

I'd had another about 4 years before that that I had remarried with a silent stainless to 338-06. I probably should have kept that one too. I also had a 264 like that I should have kept.

I think I still have the higher polish 30-06 barrel off the one I put a shilen on in a box somewhere. Probably should have sold it instead if packing it around for 25 years.

Those all weather's were a good rugged all around rifle too.

I'd like to find one of those short action stocks for my 7 wsm.

Bb