M77 Mark II .30-06

[JohnBrainard]

Good morning!

I just picked up a Ruger M77 Mark II .30-06 in excellent condition. The guy I bought it from put a Boyds laminate stock on it and a Timney trigger. It also came with a silver Swift 3.5-10 scope in silver to match the stainless barrel. I was in the market for a CZ 452 America 17HMR, but I couldn't pass up the .30-06!

What kinds of groups do you guys get at what ranges with your similar guns? I haven't shot it yet, so don't know what it's capable of. The weather here has been pretty awful.

Do people generally avoid posting pictures of their guns on this forum? I would have liked to have seen a sticky thread for people to post pictures of their Rugers, but expected to see a sticky thread in the Customs forum.

Thanks,

John

[mikedb]

We are in the same boat.  I just got a new All Weather 06 before Christmas but aside from gettin it on paper at 25 yds I have not done any grouping yet because of the weather here.  I have heard good things about this gun and cartridge.  I hope it groups as good as my Model 70 30.06.  I got the Ruger to take out in bad weather so my m70 is a semi safe queen.

[JohnBrainard]

My Ruger is my "queen" right now. I have a Beeman HW97 air rifle and the Ruger.

A quick search turns up that Winchester no longer makes the Model 70. When was yours made?

[mikedb]

My Ruger is my "queen" right now. I have a Beeman HW97 air rifle and the Ruger.

A quick search turns up that Winchester no longer makes the Model 70. When was yours made?

I think in 1995.  It was made right after they went back to the Mauser type extractor from the push feed.  Because they are not made anymore is why I got the Ruger so when the weather is bad or the brush thick I will use it with the synthetic stock.  I do like my Model 70.  The wood looks like it was just under the cut off for the upgraded gun.  Great figure.  You do have a good start to a collection. The trigger that was added will be nice.  Great cartridge too.  I like the older rounds.  Reloading components and ammo are cheaper and you can find the ammo anywhere.  My other "hunting rifles" include 30.30s and a 45/70.  After Winchester announced they would no longer make teh 70 I ran out and got a 375 H&H Safari. It is just sitting in my display cabinet.

[hunting1]

Mine shoots outstanding with 165 H-Sp and 57.5grs H4350. Congrats on your new toy!

[JohnBrainard]

Thanks hunting1!

I'm not all that familiar with ammunition yet. Is that a hand load or factory load?

[Coyote Hunter]

...I just picked up a Ruger M77 Mark II .30-06 in excellent condition. ...What kinds of groups do you guys get at what ranges with your similar guns? ...

The only gun I have that is similar is my .300 Win Mag, and its blue rather than stainless.  But I have a stainless heavy-barrel MKII in the VT config and several slide-safety M77's.

Contrary to those who think Rugers can't shoot , I find accuracy to be quite good.  With the exception of the .30-06, all are sub-MOA, some are half-MOA and the VT is quarter-MOA.  THe .30-06 was something I picked up at a gun show last November.  So far I've only shot fatory loads through it and its grouping 1-1/4" at 100.  Will be back home in a few weeks and will work up some handloads for it.  Curious to see if that improves the accuracy. 

[klt1986]

Here is mine in .30-06, with a Leupold Vari-X 2, 3-9x40.

[mikedb]

...I just picked up a Ruger M77 Mark II .30-06 in excellent condition. ...What kinds of groups do you guys get at what ranges with your similar guns? ...

The only gun I have that is similar is my .300 Win Mag, and its blue rather than stainless.  But I have a stainless heavy-barrel MKII in the VT config and several slide-safety M77's.

Contrary to those who think Rugers can't shoot , I find accuracy to be quite good.  With the exception of the .30-06, all are sub-MOA, some are half-MOA and the VT is quarter-MOA.  THe .30-06 was something I picked up at a gun show last November.  So far I've only shot fatory loads through it and its grouping 1-1/4" at 100.  Will be back home in a few weeks and will work up some handloads for it.  Curious to see if that improves the accuracy. 

1.25 MOA for a big game hunting rifle is quite satisfactory. 

[JohnBrainard]

Here are a few pictures of mine.