The early Ruger 77s did not have the best barrels on them. Later they bought a GFM Rotary Forge and started hammer forging their own barrels and they became much better. I have had two MkIIs (260 Rem) and like others say the triggers are not target grade but can be replaced and you can live with them. One did not shoot well till I lapped one lug down enough so both lugs contacted the receiver and then it started shooting.
Insofar as bedding the synthetic stocks be advised I am not aware of any bedding material that will adhere to the stocks. I had a good friend who was a stock designer at Remington and he told me that there was nothing that would stick to them. I had one with a laminated stock and that was best shooter.
I really like the MkII Safety. I would say it is the safest in the industry.
If anyone runs up on a early model missing the slide on the tang safety it is likely stolen. I had a good friend who wanted a good trigger and only way I could make it good was to put a piece in the trigger that made the trigger think it had the safety installed. That made it into a nice trigger. When I showed it to him he was hesitant but after he tried the trigger he was in love with it. I told him the new safety was carry rifle with empty chamber or the bolt raised. At any rate his house was broke into (Aiken County) and the rifle was stolen. He did not have the serial number recorded but I can identify the modification I made to it.
Now if anyone is looking for something unique I have a Ruger 77 Prototype sniper rifle made for Royal Canadian Mounted Police in my collection. Heavy barrel (458 Mag Contour) roll stamped by Ruger. I conducted accuracy trials on it at the request of Steve Vogel (Bill Ruger's son it law) who was a good friend. They sent me the rifle and Fed Match ammo, I shot it at 100 to 300 yards and sent them the targets. I asked Steve if I could buy the rifle and they told me to keep the stock, send barreled action back and he gave me the price, I sent them a check and then they sent it to FFL holder and I went and signed for it and put it back together. It has a all brown laminated stock on it. Have not shot it since. Had it like 30 years. Guess it's time to sell it.
Last edited by Hummer; 09-16-2018 at 08:16 AM.
Distinguished Rifleman High Power & Smallbore Prone, Presidents Hundred (Rifle), US Palma & Dewar Teams , Formerly US Army Picatinny Arsenal Small Cal Wpns Lab, Spec Projects Group Dover Devil Cal 50 Machinegun , Small Arms and Ammunition Test Director Aberdeen Prov Gnd, Member Int Wound Ballistics Assn., consultant to Fed Law Enf Tng Ctr, Glynco, US Border Pat, Defense Crim Inv Service, Army Munitions and Chem Cmd, Army Wound Ballistics Lab, NRA Life 1972, AC4HT, Firefighter 1, Shriner
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