Author Topic: When Did Ruger Start Hammer Forging? (Read 887 times)

Haywire Haywood · « **on:** November 27, 2005, 09:05:28 PM »

I have an M77MkII lefty in 30-06 and I was wondering if there was a way to tell if it was Hammer Forged or not.

thanks,
Ian

safetysheriff · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2005, 04:27:51 AM »

haywire'

how's things?

i think it's only in the last couple of years they advertised it in their catalogs, but they've been making their own barrels for some time now.

i recommend you call ruger for an exact date when they quit buying their barrels from Wilson, and when they started hammer-forging. it'd be my guess that they've been hammer forging for a length of time already, because ruger is known for metal that will Last! i'm guessing that they never did button rifle their barrels, but i could be wrong.

take care,

ss'

oneb · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2005, 02:42:19 AM »

They have been making their own barrels since 1983.

oneb

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2005, 03:43:33 AM »

Thanks, my 77MkII has always been a mediocre shooter, was thinking of having it rebarreled with a higher grade barrel to something like a 35 whelen or other '06 based case so I wouldn't have to have the bolt face modified. Lots of calibers to choose from.

Ian

mountainview · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2005, 08:23:28 AM »

HH - one way (and I doubt you'd want to do it) is to take a slice of the metal and look at the grain flow. That would tell you if it was forged or not. A better way would be to contact Ruger and ask them for more info.