Ruger m77 question

[MagSav]

The gunshop has one on the shelf.  30/06 Mark II in excellent shape with a tang safety.  It has a Leupold vari-x II on top.  They want $470.00.  Is this a good price?   What year did they stop the tang safety?

[Hairtrigger]

Buy it.
I would only be guessing on when they stopped the tang safety but I would guess it was the late 1980's

[mcwoodduck]

Stopped making the tang safety in 92.  (1968-92) M77R
My Bluebook that is two years old says 325 for 95% and naked.  So the scope is worth the extra 150.
See if they will do that price out the door.
Also their negotiation will depend on if they own the rifle or if it is there on consignment.

[Ladobe]

The original tang safety Model 77R was made from 1968-1984, but that safety may have carried over into the MK II's.   Not sure if 1984 is when the MK II line started without digging out records in storage though.

[Hairtrigger]

I found this on Ruger's website


Rifle Types 
77/50 (manufactured from 1997 - 2004) 
Model 96 - 96/22 and 96/17 
Model 96 - 96/44
No. 1
No. 3 (manufactured from 1973 to 1986)
M77 Mark II Magnum
M77 Mark II Deluxe/Express (manufactured from 1992 - 2002) 
M77 (manufactured from 1968 to 1984)
M77 (manufactured from 1985 to 1992)
M77 Mark II (including Frontier Models)
M77 Hawkeye
77/22 & 77/17
77/22 Hornet
 

Then I cut the end off

[deltecs]

I happen to own and use one in Alaska.  It has been an excellent rifle.  Very accurate, flawless operation and well balanced with a scope.  If you can buy it out the door for $450 with the vari-x II scope, it is a good buy.  Most of these older Mark I are sold on Internet auctions around $400.00 without a scope alone.  The scope is worth over $150.00 alone.  I didn't know that Ruger ever made a Mark II with the tang safety.  I'd be interested in finding out for sure.

[MagSav]

I've never owned a ruger High power rifle.  You could be right about being a Mark I.  I don't remember now.  The Leupold scope was made in 2001 if that makes a difference.  When I look on Gunbroker the guns seem to be 450.00 on up to $700.  Is there a good year to look for like the pre 64 in Winchester?

[mcwoodduck]

I don't think so.
The M77 has three models so far.  All are push feed with positive extraction.
The first is the tang safety.  If it were Win this would be the pre 64 action equal.
the second is the wing safety MK II Same real action only with a three position safety so you can unload with the trigger disconnected.  Other than that nothing drastically different.
and the third is the 77/22 in the rim fires as well as 22 Hornet and 44 Mag.
I have a M77 R from about 1980-81 and has been a great rifle.  The one problem I had Ruger fixed it with out any fuss and sent it back to me in short order, less then two weeks.  The stock cracked.
I really like the speed of the safety on my Ruger and actually use it.  On the other rifles with the wing safety I carry them with the safety off.  In ready hunt.

[deltecs]

I think it is incorrect in that Ruger has 3 models all with push feed.  The Mark II when it first came out with the ridiculous stock was a push feed.  The later Mark II's are controlled feed still keeping the claw extractor.  The Hawkeye version is controlled feed.  I am not 100% sure that this is the case, and am willing to be corrected.  The old Mark I's are push feed but I've yet had a cartridge fall out even upside down and extremely slow bolt travel.  The cartridges are held by the magazine until they leap into the chamber.  I've tried and tried to make a Mark I, and I own 8 different versions, empty a case on the ground without being in the chamber first.  Obviously, this doesn't mean unlocking the magazine latch and dumping them in my hand on unloading the rifle.  And it doesn't mean short bolt throws.  It means normal operation of the bolt from stop to full close and out again. 

[begeberg]

I bought a Ruger SS with laminated stock MkII 30-06 with 3-9 burris fullfield scope for $375 last year. It looks brand new. The scope you are getting is a bit more expensive however. In Illinois, you can't use a highpower rifle for big game so there may not be the demand for them you see in other states where you could actually use one. Nice guns!

[Mr. Joe]

I think the newer the Ruger the better.  The tang saftey models are push feed guns where as the newer ones are controled round feed.  The older ones had great triggers though.  Ruger started making their barrels in 95, where as previous to that they were out sourced. I dont think that matters much as its still playing the odds to get a shooter as it is with any brand.

[tobster]

Earlier tang safety rugers did not have the "Warning: blah blah blah" stamped on the barrel. I have heard the latter refered to as "Warning Rugers". I think they started doing this in the mid 70's. Don't forget- a Leupold Vari X- 11 is not the same as a VX-11.
w

[mcwoodduck]

Went to a friends shop today and looked at one of the new Haweyes.  I was wrong.  I thought the only difference between the mk1 and mk2 was the placement of the safety.  It actually has a positive feed.  Cool.
Good looking rifle and the new trigger is crisp and light.
When my car killer check comes in I think one will be coming home with me soon.  The next question is what caliber.
Any suggestions?  I'm leaning toward 243 or 260.

[Ladobe]

... The next question is what caliber.
Any suggestions?  I'm leaning toward 243 or 260.

Will depend on your intended use for the rifle.   I bought both a 243 and 270 new in about 1974.   Didn't keep the 243 long, but still have the 270.   Has been very versatile for me on everything from prairie dogs to moose depending on which bullet I load for it.

[deltecs]

Went to a friends shop today and looked at one of the new Haweyes.  I was wrong.  I thought the only difference between the mk1 and mk2 was the placement of the safety.  It actually has a positive feed.  Cool.
Good looking rifle and the new trigger is crisp and light.
When my car killer check comes in I think one will be coming home with me soon.  The next question is what caliber.
Any suggestions?  I'm leaning toward 243 or 260.

I know some Mark II were not controlled feed, but then I thought Ruger changed them to controlled feed.  I'd sure like to know for sure.  The Mark II's in the ridiculous plastic stock were push feed, but later models with the wood stock I thought were controlled feed.  Anyone know for sure.

[mcwoodduck]

From what I saw both the stainless and the blued versions were controlled feed.  this was a new rifle and was the Hawk eye model.  Really nice trigger on it. 

I already have a big game rifle a few times over with 2 308's, a 338, 375 H&H, and 45-70's
What I'm thinking of is adding a Weaver 3-9X38 scope to a 243 or 260 to use for all the medium to big game or where I will have a hard on equipment hunt.   I think I want the plastic stock and the stainless steel.