I've always appreciated the old school look of the M77 MK I, II, and the Hawkeye with the solid walnut stocks. There's something to be said for a classic design.
If memory serves; back in 1968 or so, when this rifle was first introduced to the buying public, it was called the Ruger "Ranger Rifle". Not the Mark One. I bought one of the last manufactured of these "tang mounted safety" beauties. Got it about 1989 or 1990. Chamber for the .270 Winchester, and it is still my favorite rifle! I'm a two time cancer survivor and in my 70's. And there are many in my family nearly FIGHTING already, about "Who should inherit" this great gun. Guess, at my funeral, we will have to hold a raffle??? 😂 (The trigger can be adjusted. BUT, you really want that done for you by a Professional Gunsmith)
It's actually a push-feed, not a controlled-feed. The Ruger 77 MK I extractor is based on the Mauser but it's still a push-feed design, the Ruger 77 MK II and Hawkeye design were changed to actual controlled-feed.
I still have the M77 I received for my 12th birthday. It's been 30 years since then and it still shoots excellent groups with various .270 Win factory loads till it gets hot, then it pushes the group to the right a bit. I recently upgraded the old scope and rings to a nice Vortex unit (6-24x50) and I like it more than ever! Great review on one of my favorite rifles ever! Thank you!
Even though it is a push feed my M77 is a wonderful rifle. It was a .270 but I had it re barreled to a .275 Rigby with a good twist and 24 inch barrel. It lays em right in there.
One of the nicest designed modern rifles. A friend had one in .270, it shot like a varmint rifle, despite having something wrong with the chamber or headspace. Even with factory loads, the bolt was hard to lift after firing, and you had to full length resize the cases, otherwise you could hardly close the bolt, and if you did, it needed a soft hammer to open it. It was under warranty and Ruger paid to get it fixed here in Australia, I can't remember how it shot after that.
That rifle is not controlled round feed. It has a Mauser style claw extractor, but look at the bolt face. It’s fully enclosed. A case head doesn’t slide up under the extractor. Instead, the bolt pushes the cartridge into the chamber and the extractor jumps onto the case head just as the bolt closes. Also, the ejector is a plunger like a Remington 700 or post-63 Model 70.
I have the Ruger M77 mk2 in 30-06. It was so inaccurate it was embarrassing. I read that if the mag well was tight, take it out and file it down till there was slight movement. Wow what a difference. Super accurate awesome rifle.
@@2012EvoXGSR My M77 was atrocious at the range. I mean really bad. I did some research. I read a post in a forum where it was stated that a tight mag well can be one of the problems causing this gun to be so in accurate. I had nothing to loose so I filed down the contact areas till it moved slightly when assembled. The difference is astounding. Ill free float it next.
Thanks for reviewing the great Mk 1 M77, which i have in .308. Correction though: it's push feed, and the butt plate and the trigger guard are aluminum, not blued steel (unfortunately).
Good review on the M77. The rifle you are holding is actually a model 77R denoting the iron sights. The standard 77 did not have iron sights nor did the 77V varmint model. The earliest versions were the flat bolt made in 1968 and 69, before Ruger changed over to the more elegant bolt on your rifle. Early M77s also had subcontracted barrel manufacturers of Wilson and Douglas, with Wilson being the barrels that had mixed accuracy reviews. Ruger later brought the barrel manufacturing in-house when they started producing their own hammer forged barrels. I have a 1969 flat bolt rifle that I love.
The M77 even though equipped with the claw extractor was not a true control round feed action. The bolt had a plunger style ejector. The bolt face does not control the round as it comes up out of the mag. Cycle the bolt slowly and you will see what I mean. It is a push feed action. Also, the M77 is not a Mk 1. There was no designation for that. The Mk II came along in 1991 and was a true control round feed action as the bolt did away with the plunger ejector and installed a blade ejector on the bolt release that was not present on the M77. I have one in 7x57 and I was fortunate because I have no accuracy issues. Sub MOA even with PPU ammo. I actually prefer the tang safety. So much more convenient.
Have a m77 in 6mm remington, 7mm rem mag and 30-06, used to have a bull barrel 243 they all shoot well for the first two shots. My 3rd shot was always a flier. But first two shots always touching.
Correction: The man most responsible for the development of the Ruger M77 was Jim Sullivan, following Bill Ruger's basic specification that it use an investment-cast receiver and bolt. The rest of the design was left up to Jim.
Just picked up a mark 1 chambered in 30-06 completely original (I believe) mine does not have the open sights. Has a vintage m8 4x scope. And the recoil pad is not hard plastic. (Reddish rubber that has hardened, still kinda soft.). Shot it at about 50 yards and stacked 4 in a row. Stock is almost flawless and blueing is nearly perfect. Paid $1000.
The M77 is not a control round feed. It does have the claw extractor but is a push feed action. The M77/Hawkeye is a control round feed and the three position safety.
Anything on the trigger recall and it having any actual reported problems? Have one in 300 win mag and have the set screw but haven’t done the swap wanna keep it original for as long as I can.
If you look closely you will see It is not a controlled round feed rifle; Ruger did not make it in response to Winchester changing the model 70 to a push feed. Bill Ruger had long wanted to make a bolt action high powered hunting rifle and this was his entry to that market. He made it a push feed because both of the main US competitors at that time had that as well, Remington and Winchester. But if one is curious, yes it will feed upside down. And sideways. The controlled feed versus push feed discussion was an enormous waste of ink and time.
1) One more bit of information about the particular rifle that you have is that your recoil pad is not factory original, but an aftermarket installation. You're wrong about the rifles coming from the factory with a hard plastic butt plate. In fact, they came with thin red rubber pads that did next to nothing to absorb recoil, especially from the medium-hard (about .30-06 on up) to hard-kicking calibers, and the problem got much worse with age because the rubber pad gets very hard with age, as much as a plastic butt plate. I should know because mine (.30-06) became very unpleasant to shoot off of the bench after I had owned it for 30 years, so much so that I finally installed a KickEez, which made a world of difference for the better. 2) One more thing, this time about the safety: Only a few of the first year production of the M77 had a safety that locked the bolt handle down, with the remaining years of them (mine) modified at Bill Ruger's request to have a safety that allowed the bolt to be operated while in "safe" position. 3) You're wrong about it having controlled round feed, as all tang safety M77 rifles have a claw extractor, but with push feed, using a spring-loaded plunger for ejection. Only with the Mark II variant of the M77 did Ruger introduce controlled round feeding, and that feature is also in the current incarnation of the M77, the Hawkeye.
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I've always appreciated the old school look of the M77 MK I, II, and the Hawkeye with the solid walnut stocks. There's something to be said for a classic design.
A classic rifle and one that was and still is incredibly popular where I live in New Zealand. The carbine version is particularly sought after 🇺🇸 🇳🇿
If memory serves; back in 1968 or so, when this rifle was first introduced to the buying public, it was called the Ruger "Ranger Rifle". Not the Mark One. I bought one of the last manufactured of these "tang mounted safety" beauties. Got it about 1989 or 1990.
Chamber for the .270 Winchester, and it is still my favorite rifle! I'm a two time cancer survivor and in my 70's. And there are many in my family nearly FIGHTING already, about "Who should inherit" this great gun.
Guess, at my funeral, we will have to hold a raffle??? 😂
(The trigger can be adjusted. BUT, you really want that done for you by a Professional Gunsmith)
It's actually a push-feed, not a controlled-feed.
The Ruger 77 MK I extractor is based on the Mauser but it's still a push-feed design,
the Ruger 77 MK II and Hawkeye design were changed to actual controlled-feed.
Interesting
Yup I have ab early MK I in 30-06 bought new in the '70s. Definitely push feed.
Some of the early MKII models were push feed as well. I've got one in left hand.
I still have the M77 I received for my 12th birthday. It's been 30 years since then and it still shoots excellent groups with various .270 Win factory loads till it gets hot, then it pushes the group to the right a bit. I recently upgraded the old scope and rings to a nice Vortex unit (6-24x50) and I like it more than ever! Great review on one of my favorite rifles ever! Thank you!
Even though it is a push feed my M77 is a wonderful rifle. It was a .270 but I had it re barreled to a .275 Rigby with a good twist and 24 inch barrel. It lays em right in there.
One of the nicest designed modern rifles.
A friend had one in .270, it shot like a varmint rifle, despite having something wrong with the chamber or headspace. Even with factory loads, the bolt was hard to lift after firing, and you had to full length resize the cases, otherwise you could hardly close the bolt, and if you did, it needed a soft hammer to open it. It was under warranty and Ruger paid to get it fixed here in Australia, I can't remember how it shot after that.
Good review. I bought my first new M77 in 1978… .270. Sold it in divorce disaster of 1980. Bought a new one in 1984. Still have it. Great. Shooter.
That rifle is not controlled round feed. It has a Mauser style claw extractor, but look at the bolt face. It’s fully enclosed. A case head doesn’t slide up under the extractor. Instead, the bolt pushes the cartridge into the chamber and the extractor jumps onto the case head just as the bolt closes. Also, the ejector is a plunger like a Remington 700 or post-63 Model 70.
I have the Ruger M77 mk2 in 30-06. It was so inaccurate it was embarrassing. I read that if the mag well was tight, take it out and file it down till there was slight movement. Wow what a difference. Super accurate awesome rifle.
Ok I need further details lol
@@2012EvoXGSR My M77 was atrocious at the range. I mean really bad. I did some research. I read a post in a forum where it was stated that a tight mag well can be one of the problems causing this gun to be so in accurate. I had nothing to loose so I filed down the contact areas till it moved slightly when assembled. The difference is astounding. Ill free float it next.
Thanks for reviewing the great Mk 1 M77, which i have in .308. Correction though: it's push feed, and the butt plate and the trigger guard are aluminum, not blued steel (unfortunately).
I’ve owned one in .270 Win for years. Had another in .300 Win. Mag once but traded it off. Fine rifles.
Good review on the M77. The rifle you are holding is actually a model 77R denoting the iron sights. The standard 77 did not have iron sights nor did the 77V varmint model. The earliest versions were the flat bolt made in 1968 and 69, before Ruger changed over to the more elegant bolt on your rifle. Early M77s also had subcontracted barrel manufacturers of Wilson and Douglas, with Wilson being the barrels that had mixed accuracy reviews. Ruger later brought the barrel manufacturing in-house when they started producing their own hammer forged barrels. I have a 1969 flat bolt rifle that I love.
Yea I have a early mark 1 in 243 win and one in 25-06.
It is not a controlled round feed
You are 100% correct, not until the mark ii were they real Mauser style control round feed .
The M77 even though equipped with the claw extractor was not a true control round feed action. The bolt had a plunger style ejector. The bolt face does not control the round as it comes up out of the mag. Cycle the bolt slowly and you will see what I mean. It is a push feed action. Also, the M77 is not a Mk 1. There was no designation for that. The Mk II came along in 1991 and was a true control round feed action as the bolt did away with the plunger ejector and installed a blade ejector on the bolt release that was not present on the M77. I have one in 7x57 and I was fortunate because I have no accuracy issues. Sub MOA even with PPU ammo. I actually prefer the tang safety. So much more convenient.
@@jonSmith-xv6tx I'm too old for magnums. not fun for me. can do the job with my 6.5 swede and ruger 7x57
Have a m77 in 6mm remington, 7mm rem mag and 30-06, used to have a bull barrel 243 they all shoot well for the first two shots. My 3rd shot was always a flier. But first two shots always touching.
Had one with red recoil pad in .300 Win Mag years ago, sold it for more than I bought it for to a Ruger collector.
@@brianklamer3328 I wish it would have been me hahahah
I have a M-77 in 7mm Rem Mag the blue steel is still in excellent condition
I have one too. Excellent rifle!
I have a M77 Hawkeye Grey Laminate in .223 Rem. that has the wing safety on the /bolt wich is fantastic!!
Another tidbit is the stocks were designed by Lenard Brownell, a Sheridan, Wyoming gunsmith.
Wow cool
Yep
Len made one of the prettiest rifle stocks ever designed when he did that.
Correction: The man most responsible for the development of the Ruger M77 was Jim Sullivan, following Bill Ruger's basic specification that it use an investment-cast receiver and bolt.
The rest of the design was left up to Jim.
It originally had a red Ruger butt pad.
How about telling us what cartridge the rifle you reviewed is chambered for. Some early M77'S had Douglas barrels and they were shooters.
Just picked up a mark 1 chambered in 30-06 completely original (I believe) mine does not have the open sights. Has a vintage m8 4x scope. And the recoil pad is not hard plastic. (Reddish rubber that has hardened, still kinda soft.). Shot it at about 50 yards and stacked 4 in a row. Stock is almost flawless and blueing is nearly perfect. Paid $1000.
Wow I got mine in 7 rem mag for $350. So I guess I got a good buy🤔😳
@edwardabrams4972 must of been a long time ago or someone had no clue what they had...
Nice rifle I guess you will keep this one for the long haul.
The M77 is not a control round feed. It does have the claw extractor but is a push feed action. The M77/Hawkeye is a control round feed and the three position safety.
What rings do you have on that M77. I need to pull my scope back some on my MK1 . Stretching to get proper relief
Anything on the trigger recall and it having any actual reported problems? Have one in 300 win mag and have the set screw but haven’t done the swap wanna keep it original for as long as I can.
There was a recall. Ruger will send owners a new screw.
Where did you get the scope rings I would love those!
Ya we need those rings!!!
If you look closely you will see It is not a controlled round feed rifle; Ruger did not make it in response to Winchester changing the model 70 to a push feed. Bill Ruger had long wanted to make a bolt action high powered hunting rifle and this was his entry to that market. He made it a push feed because both of the main US competitors at that time had that as well, Remington and Winchester. But if one is curious, yes it will feed upside down. And sideways. The controlled feed versus push feed discussion was an enormous waste of ink and time.
was the ruger mark 1 not trully a control round feed?
Excellent ' 💯💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Thanks ✌️
1) One more bit of information about the particular rifle that you have is that your recoil pad is not factory original, but an aftermarket installation.
You're wrong about the rifles coming from the factory with a hard plastic butt plate.
In fact, they came with thin red rubber pads that did next to nothing to absorb recoil, especially from the medium-hard (about .30-06 on up) to hard-kicking calibers, and the problem got much worse with age because the rubber pad gets very hard with age, as much as a plastic butt plate.
I should know because mine (.30-06) became very unpleasant to shoot off of the bench after I had owned it for 30 years, so much so that I finally installed a KickEez, which made a world of difference for the better.
2) One more thing, this time about the safety: Only a few of the first year production of the M77 had a safety that locked the bolt handle down, with the remaining years of them (mine) modified at Bill Ruger's request to have a safety that allowed the bolt to be operated while in "safe" position.
3) You're wrong about it having controlled round feed, as all tang safety M77 rifles have a claw extractor, but with push feed, using a spring-loaded plunger for ejection.
Only with the Mark II variant of the M77 did Ruger introduce controlled round feeding, and that feature is also in the current incarnation of the M77, the Hawkeye.
The only rifle the winchester model 70 couldn't take.
The m77 or model 70 in your opinion?
That's a tough one but I'd probably get an m70
Mark 1 not control round feed
Shortest range clip ever, LOL