Ruger M77 .308 ..?..

[.45mac.40]

Just picked up a NEW..NEVER been FIRED !! .308 !
Attached w/ a (Vintage) Weaver V4.5 scope,
Leather, 1-2" military sling.
..Went surfing last night, and found out about the screw, recall notice.
(Have one on the way from Ruger, Prescott AZ.)
Will this Ruger .308, work on varmints and larger game ? In other words, will this Ruger shoot straight enough ? (OR, should I trade it for an AR- DPMS .308 ? ?
Thinking about setting up a RCBS, starter kit to reload smaller bullets. (ie: 110 - 125s....?)
Thanks for any input, education I need !
Mac

[A-R]

since it has a "vintage" scope, I assume this is one of the older M77 models with the safety on the tang instead of on the side of the frame by the rear of the bolt?

My only experience with a Ruger M77 is my buddy's .270 he loaned me for my first deer hunt last year. His was built in 1976 and has the tang safety. It does NOT like modern ballistic tip super-expensive ammo. Throwing it all over the target - 4-inch spread at 100 yards. But it LOVES good ol' fashion 130-grain Remington Core-Lokt lead tip. Sighting it in at the range, I fired back-to-back three-shot groups at 100 yards with that ammo in which all three holes were touching, ran a boresnake down the barrel, and packed it up. The very next day I killed my first two deer with it.

I now have my own bolt-gun, a Savage Model 11 in .308 and I've done some sub-MOA groups with it, but nothing as good as the cloverleaf pattern that gun did. I bought the .308 after multiple knowledgable folks told me it was the best all-around cartridge for just about anything that roams north American. I also have an AR-15 that I can use for smaller animals - coyotes and such, possibly even smaller hogs. But for most anything else I plan to use my .308

[Sidro]

You have a fine rifle in an excellent caliber. I have shot everything from prairie dogs to elk with my .308 so it is an all around caliber. Mine likes 150gr bullets the best and only shoot factory now as I do not reload anymore. You can get along with the 4.5 weaver but will probably want ot invest in a quality 3x9 or 4x12 scope later on, play with a while as it is and then make that decision.

Mine is a Winchester model 70 and I have to .308 rifles by DPMS. The model 70 is my stand by for long shots or when I am in a slump and start missing shots. I have carried it for over 30 years so it is quite comfortable for me to shoot and figure out what I am doing wrong(usually looking thru the wrong part of the tri-focals).

You have a fine new rifle take it out and enjoy getting acquainted with it.

[.45mac.40]

austinrealtor
Yep ... thats why I was kinda bragging .. this rifle is in fact a M77, not a M77 MKll (I've had one of those, Syn. stock 30.06..looked at the web/Ruger site, last night ... Born in 1987 !) this beauty has never been fired, the American Walnut stock has not a ding in it.
The Weaver V4.5 (1.5-4.5) scope, looks brand new.
I think I hit pay dirt ! !
Not sure if I can load up some small bullets (110-125s ?) for varmints ..long ranges of course ... etc.
Checking our Reloading board / getting some ideas on how and what to reload.
Thanks for being here.
Mac

[lonewolf]

Varmint hunting with a .308? Isn't that varmint disintegration?

Sounds like a real nice rifle!!!

[LarryH]

Varmint hunting with a .308? Isn't that varmint disintegration?

S'pose it depends on what you consider to be a varmint. Feral hogs/javelinas would qualify in some circles.

[mr surveyor]

I have a M77 MkII in .243 with a Boyds Laminate stock...newer version rifle, with a somewhat inexpensive Nikon Prostaff 3-9X scope that will now shoot repeated sub moa groups. I don't know if the older M77 stocks bed the same as the newer MkII models, but suspect they do. An often , not well known secrete to tuning the M77...at least the MkII, is all in propere torque on the two action screws. When I first picked up the rifle (very lightly used) it was all I could do to shoot 3-4 moa at 100 yards, so went in search for answers. Don't remember if it was on the Ruger forum, or where, but the tip was in proper tightening the action screws....one being a trigger guard screw, the other being the barrel lug action screw. I don't remember now the exact inch/pound settings recommended for the Ruger, and my gunshop buddy didn't have a torque tool at the time that would reach the required max for the barrel lug screw (all he had were the basic rem 700 tool sets), so I did the next best thing. Tightened the trigger guard action screw to about 30 inch/pounds and then the front screw (with proper slotted driver) to "white knuckle tight". Instant improvement to sub 2 moa. Then experimented a bit with the screws at the range until I found sub moa. Later I had an old (o.k. ... older) guy tell me that that was pretty much the secret to redneck bolt action rifle tuning.....basically firmly hand tighten the trigger guard action screw, and bear down like a big boy on the front screw, and repeat till it maxes out in performance. Worked for me. I love the M77 style rifles.


surv

[.45mac.40]

Man, you guys are great .. !
I/m gonna' wait for the travel screw, then do the stock, tightening sequence that mr surveyor mentioned !
So who is rolling their own, with smaller than 150 gr. ... I want to do a little plinking and varmint shooting..


Mac