Ruger M77
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2009) |
| Ruger M77 | |
|---|---|
 Ruger M77 MK II .270 WIN | |
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | L. James Sullivan |
| Designed | 1968 |
| Manufacturer | Sturm, Ruger & Co.[1] |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications (Ruger M77 Standard) | |
| Mass | 6.75–8.25 pounds (3.06–3.74 kg)[2] |
| Length | 42–44.75 inches (106.7–113.7 cm)[2] |
| Barrel length | 22–24 inches (56–61 cm)[2] |
| Cartridge | .204 Ruger .44 Remington Magnum |
| Caliber | Various |
| Barrels | Various |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Feed system | 3-5 round integral box magazine[2] |
| 30.06 Cal SAR (Search and Rescue) Rifle | |
|---|---|
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin | Canada |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Diemaco |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.2 kg (7.05 lbs) unloaded 3.34 kg (7.37 lbs) loaded, extra rounds in butt |
| Length | 88.9 cm (35 inches) unfolded 64.44 cm (25.37 inches) folded |
| Barrel length | 36.83 cm (14.5 inches) |
| Cartridge | .30-06 Springfield |
| Cartridge weight | 180 gr |
| Action | Bolt Action |
| Muzzle velocity | 823 m/s (2,700 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 5 rounds, Integral box magazine |
The Ruger M77 is a classic American bolt-action hunting rifle, produced by Sturm, Ruger & Company. It was designed by Jim Sullivan during his three years with Ruger. The rifle features a traditional Mauser-style two-lugged, controlled round feed bolt action with an external claw extractor, a three position safety, integral mount bases and angled action screw to secure the stock to the mechanism.[3]
History and Design
Designed in 1968, the Ruger M77 was intended to offer a quality bolt action rifle at a competitive cost, back in the day when the Remington model 700 success made Winchester redesign its Model 70 in order to reduce manufacturing cost, resulting in a new push-feed version, criticized by the costumers.[4]
From the beginning, the Ruger M77 was intended as a modernized Mauser 98, though numerous changes were made. Bill Ruger, noticed the opportunity as rifles were not being made around a controlled-feed action anymore. He had wanted to use investment casting in place of a forged receiver. The Sullivan-designed bolt dispensed with the Mauser blade type ejector and instead used the simpler plunger style of ejector. A two-position tang safety and redesigned trigger system were also designed from scratch.
Perhaps the most novel feature of the M77 is the only one that has not been redesigned, the angled action screw. The front action screw of traditional bolt-action rifles draws the receiver directly down against the stock. The M77 uses an angled screw that draws the action down and to the rear, tightly bedding it against the stock.
The rifle started gaining popularity among hunters and shooters helped by Jack O'Connor, who became one of its great proponents. His last rifle was a custom Ruger M77, chambered in .280 Remington and stocked by Alvin Biesen.[5]
Variants
The M77 has undergone one minor and two major redesigns.
M77 Tang Safety
The first Ruger M77 rifles were not built around true controlled-round feed mechanisms, but push feed actions provided with a Mauser-style external extractor. Barrels were not made by third parties, causing certain accuracy issues in some rifles, which had a shotgun style two position safety. The first change involved incorporating a proprietary scope mount milled integral with the receiver. The first rifles had simple rounded-top receivers drilled and tapped for separate scope mounts.
M77 Mark II
The M77 was retooled almost entirely and reintroduced in 1991 as the Mark II. A true controlled-round feed action The safety, bolt, and trigger were mildly redesigned. The claw extractor was retained, but the bolt face was opened up to allow controlled-round feeding. The plunger ejector was replaced with a Mauser style blade ejector. Finally, a three-position safety, similar to the Winchester M70 pre 64 rifle, allowed the bolt to be operated while the gun was still on safe, making unloading of the rifle less hazardous. Ruger also eliminated the adjustable trigger that came stock on the original M77.
Along with the introduction of the M77 Mark II, Ruger starts manufacturing its own rifle barrels, eliminating accuracy inconsistency claims experienced in the former Tang Safety models. A broad spectrum of new chambers are released too with this new rifle, from the .223 Remington up to large magnum calibers such as the .375 H&H Magnum, .416 Rigby and .505 Gibbs. One of the most iconic variants of the M77 Mark II was its All-Weather Model popularly named the "boat paddle" stock model, praised among Alaskan hunters and guides.High-end variants, as the M77 Ruger Safari Express Rifle (standard length action) and the Ruger Magnum Express Rifle (long magnum action), provided with circassian walnut stocks and express sights.[6]
M77 Hawkeye
In 2006, Ruger introduced new features and a new name for their rifle, the Hawkeye. Major changes were made to the trigger system and the stock was recontoured, but otherwise the rifle remained unchanged.[7] The LC6 trigger addressed complaints from consumers about the Mark II trigger to make it safer than the earlier design.[8][9] The LC6 trigger is lighter and smoother.
Along with the introduction of the Hawkeye, new dangerous game cartridges are released: The .375 Ruger and the .416 Rugerproviding slightly improved performances and being more efficient than the .375 H&H and the .416 Rigby respectively. But that can be chambered on standard length actions.
Hawkeye Variants
- Hawkeye Standard
- Hawkeye All-Weather
- Hawkeye African
- Hawkeye Alaskan
- Hawkeye Compact
- Hawkeye Compact Magnum
- Hawkeye Hunter
- Hawkeye Long Range Hunter
- Hawkeye Long Range Target
- Hawkeye FTW Hunter
- Hawkeye Predator
- Hawkeye Magnum Hunter
- Hawkeye Guide Gun
.30-06 Cal SAR (Search and Rescue) rifle
The SAR Rifle, .30-06 caliber, RUGER, Model M77 is a rifle designed for use by Canada's search and rescue technicians (SAR Techs) and aircrews. The SAR Rifle is designed to be a compact survival rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield. The rifle is based on the standard Ruger M77 Mk II rifle but the barrel has been shortened to 14.5". The orange coloured buttstock has been modified so that it can fold along the left hand side of the stock and it also can hold six additional rounds of ammunition. The rifle is issued with a special case that has been designed to attach to the search and rescue technicians' parachute harnesses.
Gunsite Scout rifle
To develop the Gunsite Scout, Ruger worked closely with Gunsite Training Center in the development of the rifle, in order to meet the criteria of the modern scout rifle set forth by Jeff Cooper. The rifle is chambered in .308 Winchester, weighs 7 lb (3.2 kg) and sports a 16.5" barrel and black laminate stock. It features ghost-ring iron sights, flash hider and a picatinny rail for optics mounting. It takes a 3-, 5-, or 10- round box magazine.[10] The Canadian and Australian version of the Ruger Gunsite has a stainless steel barrel and action with an 18-inch barrel without the flash hider.[11]
References
- ^ Peterson, Philip. Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values: The Shooter's Guide to Guns 1900 to Present (16th ed.). p. 427.
- ^ a b c d "Ruger M77". Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
- ^ Massaro, Philip. "An Ode to the Ruger 77".
- ^ Massaro, Philip. "An Ode to the Ruger Model 77".
- ^ Card, James (2012). "Jack O' Connor Last Rifle". gundisgest.com.
- ^ Zent, John. "The Ruger Model 77 Turns 50".
- ^ "Ruger News".
- ^ M77 Recall
- ^ "New Bolt Action Hunting Rifle Trigger Mechanisms".
- ^ "Ruger's New Gunsite Scout". Guns. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ "Arma-coat.ca HomePage". Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
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