Ruger mod-77 impulse buy!

[Mblhopo]

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*

 

[CajunBass]

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.

 

[s&wchad]

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

 

[67tempest]

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.

 

[Lonegle57]

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.

 

[Mblhopo]

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

 

[Mblhopo]

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

 

[BAM-BAM]

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.

 

[mckenney99]

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.

 

[Jessie]

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

 

[kraynky]

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).

 

[federali]

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.

 

[Mblhopo]

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*

 

[Gene L]

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.

 

[Mblhopo]

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).

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

 

[mckenney99]

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.

 

[22hipower]

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

 

[andy52]

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.

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.

 

[Mblhopo]

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*

 

[Rubone]

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!!