Author Topic: How do you like your Ruger M77 MKII VT. Target Grey S/S. (Read 3829 times)

gt40 · « **on:** January 31, 2007, 04:53:22 AM »

I just bought a Ruger Target Grey VT. in .220 Swift. Haven't shot it yet and am wondering about your experiences with yours and what I can expect from mine. I have put a Bushnell Elite 4200 8-42X40mm on it that I got from "The Optic Zone" for $ 439.oo delivered. It was about $100 less than any other place I checked out. I also had it in 4 days. Here is the link. http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3287 Thanks in advance.

daddywpb · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2007, 10:58:11 PM »

I would be interested in comments about this rifle also, especially the trigger. I'm considering one in 22-250.

Cecil · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2007, 03:10:18 AM »

I own one in 22-250 and its a tack driver and I really like the two stage trigger.

stanimals2 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2007, 02:34:32 PM »

I have one in 243 and I love it,I shot a 3 shot group last time out at 200 yds you could cover with a dime

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2007, 12:14:41 AM »

I own a Ruger M77VT in 220 Swift and another in 22ppc.
They are very accurate. The PPC has had the first stage of the trigger removed and adjusted to about 8 oz. The two stage trigger on the 220 Swift is just over a pound.
The weight is abit much if you want a carry rifle.

gunblade · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2007, 08:37:36 AM »

I've got one in .308. Had a Harris bipod and a Leupold 12X scope on it and it was a shootiong machine...loves de-linked 7.62 machine gun ball. I sold the scope and bipod and want to sell the rifle and replace with a 77MKII in 30-06...just more useful to me than the target rifle these days. But the VT I have is a great shooter with a nice trigger...I'm sure you'll be happy with yours.

gt40 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2007, 11:39:06 AM »

OK guys,
I think I am in "LOVVVVVE with my Target Grey .220 Swift. I hope I am reading the results of my stepping the .50 gr. Bergers correctly. We had problems getting the cronograph to give accurate readings. I also think that it must be true that with Moly coated bullets that the velocity drops off because of less fiction. With maximum loads of Varget were about 3,600 fps. No pressure signs at all.
To recap what I did was to load from minimum to maximum in 1 tenth grain increments. I also was breaking in the new barrel at the same time. This may have caused the groups to be a little erratic except one.(?) I ended shooting the last 10 shots ( heaver weight powder charges ) with out cleaning the barrel. Before that I cleaned after every 5 shots except for the first 10 which I cleaned after every shot. The day before I started the break in with 25 of the .40 gr. Moly Bergers.
The target was at 200 yards. Weather was around 40 degrees with little wind. Shots 14 + 16 + 19 were touching making one hole. Shot 20 was 1/8 " away. I am pretty sure that I flinched on #15 + #17. (# 18 ?).
So at 200 yards I have a 9/16" group With a spread of 7 tenths grains of powder between the spread. # 14 + # 16 were in the same hole.
Now I will load up some 5 shot groups with the same powder charge to test my hopeful (

?) results.
Keep your eyes peeled for my next experiment. We will see if this stepping is going to work or if I need to do it over.

gt40 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:11:15 PM »

I'mmm Baaack,
Well today I took 50 rounds of 5 shot groups starting at 35.1 grains of Varget with 50 gr. Berger Moly Varmint bullets. Each 5 shot group was increased in 1 tenth grain increments of powder. I started shooting with the 35.1 grain group and shot 2 five groups then a cooling off of the barrel. Then progressed to shoot 8 five groups and had to quit because of it getting late.
I ended up with some nice groups and a couple of not so nice groups and one unbelievable group. I will list them from #1 thru # 8.

(--5 shots--) (--------4 shots---------)
# 1 = 1/2" size minus the flier = 5/16"

# 2 = 1 1/4" size minus the flier = 3/4"

# 3 = 3/4" size minus the flier = 5/8"

# 4 = 9/16" size minus the flier = 5/16"

# 5 = 1/2" size minus the flier = 1/4"

# 6 = 5/8" size minus the flier = 5/8" (same)

# 7 = 1 1/4" size minus the flier = 3/4"

# 8 = 3/16" size minus the fliers = 3/16" (same)

I could keep subtracting shots until I end up with .0" group sizes, but that wouldn't be very scientific.

There are two more 5 shot groups to be shot. This does not look very scientific, but all the groups were fairly round. I still have to load more and hoping that I can reproduce the 3/16" group again.

Now the part that makes me feel good. There were 4 other guys that were shooting on the 100 yard range. One was using an old Russian bolt action. The other three were shooting what looked to me like top of the line Savage heavy barreled rifles set up for bench rest shooting. One was a 6mm BR. another was a .308 and the last was a .223. The .308 averaged about 2". The .223 averaged about 1". The 6mm BR. averaged about like my Ruger MKII VT Target Grey .220 Swift not counting my 1/16" group. That guy explained how the Savages can change their barrels without a gunsmith and how accurate they are. He also valunteered some info on the Swift not being very accurate and how hot the barrel gets and that the 6mm BR. doesn't get the barrel hot. His rifle did have a very heavy barrel compared to my Ruger.
Then we went out to get our targets. He wanted to compare them. His mouth dropped especially since he had been told that this was the third day I had shot it and that I was just starting to work up a load. He also admitted that he had never shot a group as small as my new Ruger did.
Oh well, only time will tell if my Ruger will out shoot my old .243.

gt40 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2007, 11:06:39 AM »

I'm getting the same size groups with 55 gr. Bergers at 200 yards. I am very happy about what it will do.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2007, 02:24:21 PM »

I'm glad you like shooting moly bullets

gt40 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2007, 05:10:33 PM »

Hairtrigger,

Does that comment mean you do not like using Moly coated bullets? I know that it builds up, but seems to be saving my barrel. I can use max loads and not get any preasure signs with 55 gr. Match Bergers and IMR-4064. I have found that "Goof-Off" spot remover from Homedepot cleans it out very easily.

"Aim small miss small",

gt40

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2007, 01:34:24 AM »

I was given some moly bullets and had a hard time getting the stuff out of my barrel

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2007, 06:08:37 PM »

Mine is a .22-250. Haven't spent much time shooting groups but one that sticks out was 4 shots into 0.5" at 200 yards.

sms1717 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2007, 04:08:36 PM »

I have one in 25-06 and it shoots well, I don't reload so I'm trying different factory ammo to see what groups the best I too like the trigger.

Quote from: gt40 on January 31, 2007, 04:53:22 AM

I just bought a Ruger Target Grey VT. in .220 Swift. Haven't shot it yet and am wondering about your experiences with yours and what I can expect from mine. I have put a Bushnell Elite 4200 8-42X40mm on it that I got from "The Optic Zone" for $ 439.oo delivered. It was about $100 less than any other place I checked out. I also had it in 4 days. Here is the link. http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3287 Thanks in advance.

Chip99 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 18, 2007, 12:49:27 PM »

I've had mine for about 12 years now. It is a 308. Don't shoot it much any more, after I got a 5 shot group in one hole, if I remember right it was .482. Just had it out of the safe today looking at it and decided I'd better take it out again and see if I can shoot it as good as I did back then. I had a Moyers trigger put in mine and it makes all the difference in the world. Set at 2 pounds, and it is sharp and crisp. Scope is a Burris 6X18, with the round circle in the center of the X-hairs.

Snow · « **Reply #15 on:** November 26, 2009, 02:13:29 AM »

i know this is an old thread but i love my 22.250
ive hit golf balls and clay birds out to 500 yrds with 53 gr
matchkings with imr 4064

and there is some great info on here
ive been reading for days already

abigdiesel · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2010, 03:09:39 PM »

Just in case we need some re-assurance for these guns, here are my two cents: Bought my VT in 97', 22-250, put a 8.5-25 leupold target dot scope on her and have not missed anything I point it at, period! It will shoot dime size groups with factory remington varmint rounds and even a few one hole targets with handloads. IF I had one complaint, it would be weight. Scope, bipod, and gun puts her around 13 lbs. I use my 77 mkII .223 all weather for field carry, alot lighter at 8.5 lbs. I love my Rugers!

Inrut24/7 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 01, 2010, 02:07:57 AM »

I picked one up in 22 ppc that looks brand new, shot very little. And love it so far, Second time to the range I shot a .221 100 yard 5 shot group, It still has the factory trigger and is not bedded.

.221 5 shot group measured outside to outside minus bullet diameter.