Author Topic: What about Ruger? (Read 1009 times)

The Sodbuster · « **on:** May 02, 2005, 12:01:08 PM »

I read comments from others regarding various makes of rifle. I generally read good things about Savages (can't argue there, I've got 2 of 'em) and Winchester and Remington (got one of those too, although I see some criticism about recent Remingtons), but very little about Ruger.

I don't own and have never shot a Ruger (don't care for their selection of calibers and models for leftys) so I can't say anything about 'em. I do like that they come with scope rings and no seperate bases needed. In my opinion, given the prevalance of scopes on todays hunting rifles, any rifle made without iron sights should have a scope base as an integral part of the receiver. And although I feel this way, I don't own any rugers or CZs.

Was just wanting to troll for others opinions.

Val · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2005, 12:36:41 PM »

I have an older Rugger M77 which is about a vintage 1983 or so rifle, with the tang safety. This rifle is in .243, very accurate and I like it very much. I can't speak to the recent Rugers.

TNrifleman · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2005, 12:53:48 PM »

I have two Ruger bolt action rifles of recent manufacture. One is an Express Rifle in 270 Winchester. It is beautiful and very accurate. The other one is an ordinary 77 chambered in 223 Remington. This one is very nice also; it is somewhat older than the 270, but accurate and well made. I had to put a Timmney trigger in the 270, the 223 factory trigger is fine as is. There is nothing wrong with Ruger rifles in my limited experience.

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2005, 01:35:40 PM »

The newer Ruger M77's are great with the exception of the "lawyer" triggers on them. Easy enough fix by installing a Timney Adjustable Trigger and throwing away the original one(remember to forget where you tossed it). The ring system on the Ruger's is about the best going. Once sighted in you can remove the mounted scope and re-place it without loosing POI. I also prefer Ruger's Customer Service to that of Winchester and it's way ahead of Remington's(which doesn't hardly exist). Ruger's are great rifles. Lawdog

Zachary · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2005, 03:08:27 PM »

I own about 20 or so bolt action rifles, but none of them are Rugers. Why? I just have never really warmed up to 'em. For the money, I just can't see myself buying a Ruger over a Tikka.

I do own a Ruger .22 semi-auto though.

Zachary

MickinColo · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2005, 04:03:26 PM »

Ruger centerfire products (without a lot of help) can never be serious target quality rifles. With that said, I love the No. 1 and the 77.

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2005, 06:14:34 PM »

I have been shooting Ruger M77's since about 1980 or so. In fact the Ruger M77 is my all time favorite Bolt Action Rifle.

Yes the newer ones have a not so good trigger that is not adjustable. However like has been said a replacement can be easily installed by the owner, or a competent gunsmith can rework the Ruger Trigger to a nice pulling trigger.

I must be lucky, or maybe just not so hard to please as I have never had a Ruger that I could not make shoot to my satisfaction. Yes some required some tinkering to find that just right load. The one thing I have found with the Ruger M77's I have worked with is most shot better when the barrel is free floated (and none ever shot worse after free floating the barrel).

I think they are a solid, well built rifle that just needs a little refining / tweaking. That is not a problem for me as I am a tinkerer (if that is a word), and enjoy doing such things myself.

Larry

Ricci Price · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2005, 01:33:37 AM »

I have a m77 all-weather in 243win (the one with the skinny black stock)with 3x9 vx2 leupold . I have had this gun a little over 13 years & have shot a truck load of deer with it, it has never let me down (never missed with it,one shot one kill). I have never shot factory ammo out of it either everything has been reloads from 70grn-100grn. I always loaded it good enough to kill deer but I never knew its potential until recently I loaded up some 100 grn bullets for it that will shoot one hole 5 shot groups @100 yrds.,maybe not a target gun but it will shoot. I did float the barrel on it too.

lilabner · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2005, 06:13:35 AM »

An old tang safety Ruger in 25-06 is the most accurate sporter weight with full power hunting loads that I've ever owned. Sub half inch groups at 100 yards with best handloads. I bought it used and often wonder why he wanted to sell it. Only thing I did to it was a trigger job. However, I've seen Rugers that were mediocre in the accuracy department so it seems to be the luck of the draw. They normally need trigger work but it is no big deal for a good gunsmith. The scope mounting and stock design are strong points IMO. If you don't mind ugly, you may have better odds of getting a good shooter in a Savage or prettier but for more money, a Tikka.

lowertroll · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2005, 09:56:10 AM »

I have a variety of Rugers. Old 77s, #1, 10/22, Red Label, Mini-14 etc. IMHO: they have cleaner lines than most others (including Tikka), are very reliable, all shoot okay and many well, yes their customer service leaves most others behind, and yes sometimes tweaking is needed. They are a solid, and well built American product----don't see too much of that anymore. For the leftys, consider rebarreling. I prefer the older tang safety model 77s, but have never owned the new model.

poncaguy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2005, 01:04:14 PM »

I have a tang saftey 22-250 that I love, always been super accurate. My next rifle, after a new Stevens 200 in 25-06, will be a Ruger 77 in 260 Remington. I always buy American firearms, have a Winchester Super Shadow 270 WSM, Savage 17 HMR, Encore 7mm-08 and P90 and P95 Ruger Pistols.

JDK · « **Reply #11 on:** May 03, 2005, 03:35:42 PM »

I own 3 Rugers- 2 bolts and a #1. My older tang safety 77 (250 Savage)is not the most accurate rifle I own and usually shoots 1 3/4 to 2 inch groups with factory ammo. I like the rifle and for hunting here in Maine it more than meets my needs. I suspect it was an out sourced barrel and I got one that doesn't shoot that well.

I also have a MKII in 7x57 which is proving to be very accurate. I have shot groups with both 140 gr. core-lokts and partitions that were in the .8-.85 inch range and it really is a rifle that will shoot MOA all day. Very good with factory ammo and the factory trigger.

And finally, my #1 shoots as well if not slightly better than the 7mm Mauser. It is an older model and has a very nice piece of wood also.

I'd guess that I have to say my experience with Ruger has been positive. They fit me well and the ones that I own shoot acceptably well to wonderfully well. Yes, the trigger needs some work but I am of the opinion that if you have a Ruger that shoots well, you have a decent firearm that will last a lifetime of hard hunting.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2005, 06:13:18 PM »

I agree with Lawdog the Rugers are great except for the trigger which is easily fixed with a trigger job or by a replacement trigger. Got a M77 in 7mm Mag in 81 and now have a M77 in .257 Roberts, a M77 MKII in .300 Win Mag and a M77 MKII VT in .222-50. My brother has a couple and my hunting buddy has another. All are excellent rifles and very good shooters.

Trigger-wise Ive given homespun trigger jobs to three of my Rugers with very satisfactory results. Very easy, too. The .22-250 M77 MKII VT (Varmint Target) came with a two-stage trigger that is a dream to use. The point is a replacement trigger may not be necessary. Heck, none were all that bad to begin with.

I also agree about the Ruger scope mounting system being very strong. Used a mule and two logs to prove it, got two broken ribs in the process. The rifle never lost zero even though it broke my fall.

The one-piece bolt is another plus. You wont ever read about the handle coming off.

Then again, Im unabashedly prejudiced.

USA Varminter · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2005, 08:07:28 PM »

I've also had really good luck with ruger's products. The 77 rimfires have some small issues w/ tolerences between the barrel shank and the reciever's throat. Which can lead to difficulties w/ freefloating and such, but is fixed easily enough through either new barrels or locktiting the shank.

I think one reason you hear very little about rugers is because people buy them and use them, they shoot, very few issues. But they're not popular actions to upgrade for BR or other formal target work. Mainly a hunter's rifle.

I have several uncles who own several rugers they are happy with, and my 14 year old female cousin just got a compact in 7mm-08 and has been loving it.

If you are looking for a good quality American made rifle they are not that expensive in comparison to other brands and have always impressed me with quality and accuracy. (some tinkering included but it always is.)

Muskie Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** May 05, 2005, 10:04:55 PM »

For what it is worth,I had an older ruger with a tang saftey in 338 win.mag that I constantly got less then 3/4 inch groups with at 100 yards,using 250 gr.nosler partitions and just about any reload that I worked up.Do they shoot?I would have put that Ruger up against anyone out there.I did have trigger work done on it and it was sweet.Don't get me wrong.I also own Remingtons, and Winchesters in bolt action rifles,each has their own pro's or con's but all to me are good.I think that with the production rifles out there,it is a crap shoot.You can get a good one or you can get a bad one,but most can be made to shoot nice groups.Now with cars and trucks,don't get one that was made on Monday or Friday.