Wanted a.30-06 rifle and found this Ruger mod-77 but no nothing about Ruger rifles. hoping someone could tell me more about what I got. It's in really nice shape 98% I think it is an early one with the safety on top tang, It has a ebony forend on the stock and came with a BSA scope. Gave $600.00 for it ser#771-02530. Hope this helps dating it and whatever else you can tell me about it....Thanks in advance...……............………………….M*

Web-site says 1987.

I've never owned a Ruger centerfire rifle, but I've owned a 77/22, which I considered the best rifle I've ever owned. Mine was from 1984, the first year of production. Man that thing was pretty, and was just a squirrel killing machine. I'm really sorry I had to sell it when I was out of work for a year or so.

Now, I freely admit that I don't have a use for a "big rifle", but if I was going to buy a centerfire I would look for a Ruger.

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John 3:16 .

Ruger makes a quality rifle. I've got several M77 Mk II's, a .30.06 round top with sights and an "All Weather" .300 WSM. Looks like yours was produced in 1987.

Personally, I'd replace the BSA with a better scope.

Ruger M77 Serial Number History

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"I also cook."

I have a Ruger 77R (rings, no sight's) in 30.06 that I purchased new in the 80's. Nice rifle and accurate despite the rather slim barrel. Bought it to go deer hunting, sighted it in and then never went hunting, haven't fired it since. If I remember it was around $300 at the time.

Have had a couple of 77's in the past, found I like a single shot better. I dont ever recall a 77 having an ebony tip on forend. Early tang safety models had a red recoil pad. Mine were new in box in the mid 80's to early 90's. Later they went to a mauser like safety and a black recoil pad. Great shooting rifles.

Would that make mine a MkII also...………...............……..M*

Yes, It has a red recoil pad and ebony forend tip...………………………..M*

Have had a Ruger 77 International/mannlicher in .243 since the 80s..... w/ a little 1.5-4 scope on it..... nice Penn's woods rifle.

Great rifles. My first centerfire rifle was an older tang safety M77 in .270 Win. Bought it used from a local gentleman who could no longer hunt, replaced the Tasco scope he had on it with a Leupold VX-II 3x9. I've always used my 130gr handloads with this rifle and it shoots like a target rifle. I have taken a bunch of deer with that rifle and I've never need more than a single shot.
Later on I got hold of an older tang safety M77 Carbine in .308 and installed a Leupold VX-II Compact 3x9 scope. This Carbine strung shots badly until I glass bedded the action and free floated the barrel. Shoots very nice groups of 3 shots or less, but that little lightweight barrel gets really hot quick.

I have an 84’ish MkII in .270.
I really like it too. Very accurate with a 3x9 on top

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“Look life in its iron face”

I had a 7mm mag model 77 maybe 25 years or so ago, and loved it. But after losing my deer lease and all those bean fields, I traded it off for something else.

Then maybe 5 years or so ago I got really missing that Ruger and was in the market for a .270, which is how I ended up with the same ride you describe, but in .270.

I too was thrown a loop by the ebony tip, and started digging around. I think I have learned that Ruger made a lighter weight Mountain Rifle, that had and ebony tip. Mine is a shorter and lighter version of the old 7 mag, same tang safety, red butt, with the addition of factory sights and that ebony tip.

It's a great little rifle, and so handy. I'm thinking it's a 20" barrel, but can't say for sure without digging it out of the back of the safe. I think you have a unique and handy little rifle, and at a very good price.

If anyone knows any more about these ebony tip rifles, or can correct any errors, please jump in and tell us more. I never could find out how many were made, but I think mine came up as an '87 as well (I've got that written down somewhere).

While I've had mostly good luck with Ruger products, I did have a Model 77 in 7mm Mauser that did not group well. As I had other rifles to hunt with, I eventually sold the rifle.

I think I read somewhere the ebony forend tip means It's a light weight rifle maybe somewhat rare. And I think it has either a 20 or 22 inch barrel the scope has a 50mm objective lens, it seems alright, but could use a better one...……………………………….M*

Had one in 7 x 57. Like a fool, I got rid of it. It was accurate and in that caliber, pretty scarce. Had one in 06, which wasn't accurate. The 7mm was an older one, safety on the tang, had sights as well as rings.

Just measured the barrel and it is 20'' must be a lot like yours...……………………………………….M*

I believe most of the M77 have a pressure point on the barrel out at the end of the stock. I tried free floating my .270 barrel and accuracy deteriorated markedly. When I removed my temporary spacing material the accuracy returned.
The .308 Carbine showed totally opposite results, showing lateral stringing with the factory stock pressure point and when I free floated the barrel, the groups improved markedly (at least for 3 shots, then heat becomes an issue). Unfortunately my hunting group aged out and the Carbine still is unproven in the field, by me anyway.

I think Ruger called it the Ultralight although I thought that had an 18.5 inch barrel; might also have been called a "mountain rifle." Nice guns, had one a long time ago. As others have suggested, you might want to replace that BSA scope if you plan to do much shooting and hunting. The tang safety M77's are popular and haven't been made in a long time. I've had many Ruger's over the years, some were accurate, some not so much. My motto became "if your Ruger shoots well, keep it." The next one may not although I've had good results with some of their more recent products. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I have one like that also but it's a .308 it's a outstanding deer rifle, light and easy to carry and as short as a lever action saddle gun with a bit more punch.

Only shot 3 rounds out of it up in the air off the deck, shoots good with no problems have not had a chance to check out the scope yet...…….Thanks again for all the responses...………………………............…..M*

I really like 77s. Right now I only have my MKII in 300WM and a "Sporter" in 30-06 with a laminate scope. Very good guns, shoot well, hit at point of aim, and both of these were good deals. (I'm all about good deals!). The 300 is my go to Elk rifle and the 30-06 is a perfect Deer rifle, a bit shorter and lighter. Here is the Sporter with a nice little Muley buck. Woman bought it for her boyfriend, then caught him messing around! So I managed to get it for $350 with the scope and a hard case (she was only asking 400), and the 300 was a young guy who bought it for his first elk hunt, failed his hunt and his wife was all over him! He bought it in September with an added Weaver Classic scope and I bought it at
Thanksgiving time for $500 With less than a box through it. His wife wanted him to sell it and buy a side of beef!
I'd jump on another 77 at any time, and I am a Remington guy!!

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I hope those three rounds that you fired into the air didn't land somewhere they shouldn't!

How on Earth can you say it "shoots good" when your target was the whole atmosphere? You need to get to a proper range where you can safely fire at a real target.

You may also want to read a good basic book on rifles. I suggest Jack O'Connor's classic, The Hunting Rifle, 1970 or thereabouts. It probably also discusses the Model 77, which appeared in 1968.

His, The Rifle Book is another good read.

Model 77's have been improved. Ruger was outsourcing barrels and some were not too good. The action was also improved.

I bought a Ruger 77 .30-06 new in 1979 for $199 from Gibson's Discount Center in Cleburne, Texas to be my scoped .30-06 bolt-action rifle for a lifetime. It never did shoot well. It was good enough for the deer I took with it, but was ungratifying off the bench rest.

I sent it on down the road in in 1987 in favor of a well-worn pre-64 Winchester Model 70 from 1953. This rifle has rewarded me with wanting to shoot every decent hand load I fed it. One-inch or less 5-shot groups at 100 yards with every bullet weight from 125 grains to 220 grains. Only the pesky 110 grain spitzers opened up a dab to 1 1/4 inches. It's proven to be the lifetime .30-06 for me.

Bryan-

Maybe that's why the Model 70 is called, The Rifleman's Rifle!

Jack O'Connor's favored rifle, although he customized his.

Mine's a Featherweight Classic in .270. I like CZ and Sako, but think the M-70 is still the best production hunting rifle.

My son has a FN-made .30-06 M-70 Fwt. of current form that is scary accurate. It deserves its Zeiss scope.

No problem.....When shooting off the deck rounds fall across the creek into a 500 acre farm field where are 100yd range is, I just shoot 3 rounds to see if it works ok, Will check scope an see how well it shoots on the range....Thank you...………………………...M*

As others stated, the ebony forend suggests you have the Ultralight version, which while not "rare", are certainly not plentiful, either. Especially in the long action model. A very nice rifle. Personally, I prefer the Tang safety models to the later MK II version, though all are excellent rifles. I have several, from .223 to 7mm Rem. Mag, and am a sucker for one if priced Right or in scarcer calibers or configurations.

I believe you have a Model 77 RL which was sometimes referred to as an ultralight. The RL is a nice rifle with a thing barrel.

I had a string of bad luck with Model 77 rifles in 308. First one was a standard barrel in 74 and then two heavy barrel models in 1977. I really liked the feel and fit of the stocks, but the rifles just wouldn't group, even with match bullets. At the time, silhouette shooting was all the rage and I set the heavy barrel models up just for that sport, but alas, they got traded off.

I certainly hope that yours is a shooter.

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Keep your powder dry.

My Ruger 77 is the JR version.
.357 cal.
So far shoots pretty accurate with open sight and old eyes. Will put a small scope on it soon.
Only 150 rds thru it just picked it up 1/31/20




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Skinner Sights makes a nice little barrel peep sight for these. I mounted the Skinner sight and added a 1-4x20 Lupold scope and paracord sling....... great little utility rifle for Penn's Woods.

The sling is another addition I will acquire as well. Yeah a 4x was what I was thinking.



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My Ruger M77 MKII All Weather in .30-06 is my favorite go to deer rifle. It is very accurate off the bench and in the field. I've owned a number of bolt guns including a model 700 and model 70, which were good guns, but I much prefer the M77 and I have since traded off the other commercial bolt action rifles and have kept only the M77. One specific feature I particularly like is the three position safety on the Ruger, its much better designed than on the other models.

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Live long and prosper

In these threads I always suggest folks check out the CZ offerings.... they have 3 sizes of Mauser actions from rimfire to "big bore"....good to great wood and a great value for the money. I've accumulated 9 over the past decade.

I like the rimfires a lot .22lr..22mag and .17hmr .... but my favorite are the "mid-size" guns for 5.56 and 7.62x39.

I've always had a soft spot for the Model 77. Have a Mk II in 30-06 stainless with a 1.75x6 Leopold on it. Love that rifle

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Forum consigliere

Got a77-22H, a Hornet that's very accurate in one of my favorite calibers. All-weather, heavish barrel.

Jeff... I measured wrong It does have a18.5 in barrel also the scope is a 3.5x10x50...………………………….M*

I had an RL ,tang safety,ebony forend,(ultralight) in 243,weighed about 6lbs and I put a Burris mini 6x scope on it. The only gun I regret selling

I've never been much enamored with the Ruger 77 in any of its iterations, feeling that they were "less than meets the eye," but do have a '72 vintage 77 V in .220 Swift that I've long been fond of.

Seen here with a pre-war Winchester Model 70 .220 Swift that I also cherish for its shooting qualities.

I’ve got an older 77 in 270 win with the tang safety I bought for my father in 1979. It’s the most accurate 270 I’ve ever owned.

The tang safety was the feature that made the selection easy for me: I shoot sxs shotguns pretty exclusively and the tang safety makes quick handling a breeze.

If you’re shooting only at the range or from a hunting lease blind, the safety doesn’t make any difference. But if you’re still hunting or hunting from horseback here in the Rockies, when snap shooting opportunities often present themselves, the tang safety makes a big difference.

Too bad Ruger went away from the tang safety.

Have a 1982 Hawkeye, 24" bull barrel,red pad & tang in 308. that sat around for about 25 years until about 4 years ago.

Not being a hunter, I just used it for 308 load development in ar's because it seemed so accurate at long range with a bipod. (at least my version of long range)

I put on a mag bottom metal from CDI, (rip Jeff) and it has now become my only bolt action 308 as its dead on way beyond my ability.

I think its a great gun or that era model.

Puller-

The three position safety dates from 1937, in the Winchester M70. Ruger copied it.