Ruger M77 MK2 trigger

[daddywpb]

I posted this on the Gunsmithing forum, but I thought there might be some people here that would be interested. I got my rifle a couple months ago, and it's a great gun with exception of it's heavy, creepy trigger pull.  My wife bought me a Timney replacement for Christmas. I filed and fitted as best I could and could never get the trigger and safety to work correctly. I sent it back and ordered a replacement trigger made by Rifle Basix. I simply removed the factory trigger and spring, replaced them with the Rifle Basix parts, and put the action back in the stock. It is smooth, crisp and light. The pull weight is easily adjustable from the bottom of the trigger without removing the action, and the safety works perfectly with no adjustment. The only thing I didn't like was that it wasn't stainless like the factory part, but it works so well I can certainly live with the finish.

[Zachary]

I generally leave customized work, especially trigger work, done by a gunsmith.  That's not to say that just about anyone can work on a trigger and do it safetly, it's just that, to me, it's too much of a risk that I'm not willing to take.  If I ever did such work, then the thought of the gun accidentally going off because of some mistake I may have done would always be in the back of my mind.

I was also somewhat surprised to hear that the Timney did not perform as well as the Rifle Basix trigger.  That's a first for me, so I'm glad that you did in fact post this on this board because a lot of people find interest in replacement triggers.

Zachary

[daddywpb]

The Timney is also adjustable for overtravel, etc. The Rifle Basix is only adjustable for pull weight, and it can be made to go off with a light breeze blowing on it. Even then, the bolt can be slammed home without the rifle firing. I have it set for about two pounds. It uses the factory sear, but overtravel, if there is any, is so slight that I don't notice it. The creep that was in the factory trigger is also gone. It breaks crisp and clean, and has made my Ruger the perfect rifle for me.

[WildBill]

I had a timney trigger but on my m77,the safety will hit the inside of the stock,just hollow it out a little to let the safety turn free. The trigger job made the gun a shooter.

[BruceP]

I have the Timney in my mkII 257 Roberts and all I had to do was file down the sides of the trigger housing and the top of the safety post until the safety would swing all the way and that was it. It's the best trigger I have on any of my rifles.
BruceP

[DON IN VA]

I have a new M77 that I acquired a couple months ago primarily because it was a special edition with a beautiful circassion walnut stock.....but that's where it ends other than their classic good looks because the trigger is atrocious.  It breaks, per my RCBS guage at a feathery 6.5 lbs.
I've tinkered all my life with guns but always steered clear of triggers, but I've reached the point where I believe I can do this.  I plan to install one of the aftermarket triggers also.  Was leaning toward the Timney but this thread has made me want to check out the RifleBasix version.
But here's my main question:
Can anyone post a link or suggest a source for a good schematic of the M77 particularly the trigger in detail.
 The reason is,  that while I have the rest of the winter to tinker with it,  I'm going to experiment,  dry firing of course,  with dressing up the factory trigger myself before I do the switch.  I figure since I'm planning to replace it anyway,  I could only bugger it up beyond repair, and I sure won't gain any experience by just removing it and letting it lay around in a box somewhere on my bench.

[daddywpb]

I didn't say the Timney was a bad trigger. My opinion is that it's not worth the extra work, and modifying factory parts when you can get the same results by dropping in a new part.

Don in VA,
Here's a link to instructions for adjusting the factory trigger. I read it and decided not to go that route.

http://www.centerfirecentral.com/77trigger.html

[SD Handgunner]

I have worked with over a dozen Ruger m77 MKII's over the years (both mine and those belonging to friends). On one I put a Timney Fully Adjustable Trigger in, and after a little remodeling it fit fine and was full adjustable to a super feeling trigger. If I remember correctly the stock had to be relieved to achieve clearance for the over travel stop. Other than that the trigger had to be fitted to the safety (per the instructions with the Trigger).

However in following instructions at the link posted above I have been able to get the Ruger Factory Trigger feeling just as good as the Rifle with the Timney. Follow the instructions VERY closely, and pay particular attention to the angles. I have found a few factory triggers that on the top were not cut square. When this happens it can be a real pain to get things straightened out and square. (Note, the entire top of the trigger does not need to be straightened out and square, but rather just the portion that contacts the sear). However the end result is well woth the trouble.

In the end for those not wanting to tune the factory trigger, or that do not have the confidence to do the job themselves there are a couple of solutions. #1 print out the instructions and take them with the Ruger to your local gunsmith and I am quite sure for a modest few he will be able to obtain a trigger pull you are satisfied with.

#2, for about the same $$$ you can purchase an aftermarket trigger and follow the instructions to the letter and have the same end result, butwith a Trigger that is adjustable.

Larry

[Coyote Hunter]

I have reworked several trigges, including two M77's and one M77 MKII.  The MKII was exceptionally easy.  No need to do anything on mine except polish up the mating surfaces, which made a good trigger a very good trigger.

Tomorrow I will be reworking the trigger on my buddy's M77 MKII before we head to the range.  I figure 30 minutes tops and part of that will be spent enlarging the barrel channel a bit more and sealing with polyurethane.

[cfmpilot]

FYI, yesterday I installed a Rifle Basix trigger ($69) in my .22 Hornet. It was a fairly easy job, which required a little metal removal to fit properly. It was all self-explanatory. Now, I have a 2 lb. trigger. Excellent!