Ruger M77 MII Free Float

[DLEB]

Do these rifles generally shoot better with the pressure point or free floated. It has a pressure point from the factory. I usually end up free floating most of my rifles but not sure about this one. 

[Hairtrigger]

Shoot it first.
I believe you will find the pressure point is good for a light barrel

[DLEB]

I did. Not good. 2 1/2" group. I figure it's the press point or a bad scope. It's a 7mm Mag. Very inconsistent with a couple different bullet wieghts.

[Cement Man]

I would sure eliminate the possibility of it being a scope problem before any surgery on the stock.

You might also first try increasing the pressure on the tip by inserting a business card or matchbook cover.  If incrementally and judiciously increasing the tip pressure helps, that can be made more permanent with some stock repair material/epoxy/glass, and sanding.  Like you already know, often the opposite works better: floating the barrel helps by relieving any pressure or contact with the barrel..  Pretty easy to do by sanding and resealing the barrel channel.

Just a suggestion that before you do any surgery, you might want to fool around a bit with that tip pressure.  Also, you might check your action screws, making sure they are correctly tightened in accordance with Ruger's recommendations.

[GANDER]

I free floated the barrel on my Ruger syn 22.250. It went for a 1.5 MOA gun to a sub MOA rifle. I would highly recommend doing it. If it is a synetic stocked rifle basically take the material off down to the line that is in the stock. This line is about 1/32" away from the barrel.( You will see what I am talking about). I am not sure if Ruger does this line for floating or if it is from the molding of the stock but either way I used this as a guide.

[Jerry Lester]

Like Hairtrigger said, shoot it first. Sometimes they shoot pretty daggone good right out of the box.

With that said though, I've found that more often than not, the Ruger 77's shoot considerably better when free floated.

[DLEB]

Free floating is done and is drying as we speek. I have got to work on that trigger next. 

[Coyote Hunter]

My rifles don't make it to the range until after they are free floated.

[OLDHandgunner]

Anytime someone brings a Ruger 77 to me with grouping problems it is usually too much pressure on the barrel at the end of the stock. If it is a older gun you will see a shiny mark where the barrel has been rubbing. It's easy to fix. Just take a sheet of coarse sandpaper, roll it up to fit the stock channel & sand it down carefully until you can slide an index card between the barrel & the stock. When I have the proper fit, I seal the wood with Tru-Oil so water doesn't swell the wood when out hunting. Free floating a barrel does not cure all shooting problems.

[3DTESTIFY]

DLEB,as you've found out, the Ruger 77 standard sporter weight barrel prefers free floating. But as Hairtrigger stated, the ultra light contour barrels perform better with tip pressure.

[DLEB]

Finished working the factory trigger and it's down to 3 1/2#s now. I can live with that. Will try to get to the range this weekend to see how the free float/trigger work affected the groupings. I'll post results. By the way, thanks to all for the responses.

[ctaylor]

i free floated my 223 and it went from shooting some loads good to very bad
but then went to shooting other loads better than ever
had to start over with loads
not sure if the free float job was the thing to do

[DLEB]

Range session went fine except I had a scope shifting so replaced with Simmons  Whitetail Classic 6.5x20x50. Will try the range again. Get the feeling this rifle will shoot 3/4" or less groups at 100 if the scope will do its part. Shooting 140 Ballistic Tip Winchester Supreme factory ammo.