M77 ,tang safety, vertical stringing

[Kemmer]

I have decided to do something with my older M77 in 220 swift.  I get vertical stringing of my shots after the first round. The barrel to stock fit is tight at the front of the stock.  I'm thinking about inletting the stock a little in the front.  Any thought on this?  Perhaps a better way of reducing the vertical stringing?  The rifle is about 98% and would like to keep it that way.  Thanks for any input.

[lucky guy]

I have decided to do something with my older M77 in 220 swift.  I get vertical stringing of my shots after the first round. The barrel to stock fit is tight at the front of the stock.  I'm thinking about inletting the stock a little in the front.  Any thought on this?  Perhaps a better way of reducing the vertical stringing?  The rifle is about 98% and would like to keep it that way.  Thanks for any input.

That sounds like the place to start, and if you do it carefully it won't hurt the value or appearance of the rifle. 

[Silvertp]

Kemmer, sounds like you are on the right track to me in terms of a rifle that strings its shots.  You might be able to try a few other things first such as placing a shim under the bbl just in front of the recoil lug...enough to get the bbl floated without altering the bbl. channel.

Another option would be a shim to place upward pressure just behind the tip of the forearm.  This will shift your point of impact but watch to see if it groups better.

Also make sure your front action screw is tight.  My old tang safety rugers always seem to do better with the front action screw tight. 

Question...is this a firearm that you have shot much before and it just started stringing?  Or a new project for you?

Silvertp

[Kemmer]

I bought the Ruger a long time ago new.  Shot it a few time (maybe 20 rounds) put it up for a few more years and decide to start shooting it this month.  I think the total round count is somewhere around 50-60 rounds.  My first shot is dead on then the point of impact raises about 1-1/2".  The rest of the rounds are right there with a warm/hot barrel.  I let the barrel cool off and the point of impact goes back to the first location. 
 I will check the screws for tightness and see if it helps. I may try shimming the rifle before I open the stock up some. 

 I need to finish my Savage build first, gotta love them model 14's it's getting a new 338 Federal barrel.

 I want to get the 220 swift ready for coyote hunting after deer season.
 
 Thanks for some good ideas, it's too good of a caliber to let sit in the safe.

[STUMPJMPR]

My Ruger was throwing a pattern.  I thought the barrel was bad after flooding.  Turns out the stock warped slightly and put some extreme pressure on the front of the barrel.  I relieved it until it was almost floating.  Today, I shot a 3 shot group that was 1.5" in a vertical string.  I'm going to relieve it until I can pass a piece of paper through without it touching.

[Silvertp]

Kemmer...based on your history / explaination I think the bedding should do it for you.  My guess is once the bedding issue is handled you might benefit from some addnl load development as well.  Make sure you let us know if this works out for you.

A brazillion years ago I had a.220 Swift heavy bbl tang safety Ruger 77.  It shot wonderfully and I made some amazing shots with it.  I had a lapse of good judgement one day and traded it with folding $ on a Ruger #1.  Now Ive got a Swift with tang safety and sporter bbl.  Its not quite the tackdriver but still a miss is always my fault. 

The Swift has always been my favorite go to long reach varmit gun.

Good shootin to ya!

Silvertp

[tuck2]

I free floated the barrel on my old tang safety Ruger 220 Swift and it stoped the vertical groups. I load 37.5 Grs of IMR 4064 powder into Winchester cases with CCI BR-2 primers. The 50 gr Nosler solid base spitzer bullet  is set at .030 free bore.  AOL is 2.727 inches. MV 3806 ft/s. Since free floating the barrel I get 100 Yd five shoot groups that are 1/2 to 3/4 inch.

[Darrell Davis]

Yep, FLOAT and glasbed!!!!!!!!!!!

That is the only way to go with a "hunting rifle."

Oldest son had a heavy barrel - tang safety - 6mm that had issues until I bedded and floated.

I like to bed first, and then float as this keeps the action stable until the glas sets up.

Floating/bedding is SOP on all of my hunting rifles, up to and including any #1 which might happen to grace my gun rack.

I have seem rifles where the group size was cut in half with nothing more then this treatment.

Properly done, the biggest plus for the bedding/floating direction is consistancy of impact point even if group sizes are not decreased.

Keep em coming!

CDOC