My new "still hunting" rifle.

[Tenntrapper]

After selling my little 243, I needed a new, lightweight, compact rifle for still hunting.
This is what I brought home...today.
Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact 7/08. CRF action with 16.5" barrel. Wood and blue.
Mounted a Leupold VX Freedom 2-7x33 scope...I should be about good to go. Obviously, I will need to sight it in and start working on a load for it. Should be fun!!

 

[Shag]

VERY nice! Looks light and fast, with easy point and shoot ability. Perfect choice! I love still hunting!

 

[Wade195]

Perfect set up in my opinion.

I have the Ruger American compact in 7mm-08 with the Leupold 2-7x33 scope, with Hunt-plex recticle.

It's not a M77, but I love mine.

 

[Tenntrapper]

Perfect set up in my opinion.

I have the Ruger American compact in 7mm-08 with the Leupold 2-7x33 scope, with Hunt-plex recticle.

It's not a M77, but I love mine.

I wanted a compact scope and the 2-7 was about an inch shorter and an ounce or so lighter than the 3-9. Got lucky...had that scope been any shorter, it wouldn't have fit in the rings...

 

[Tenntrapper]

Perfect set up in my opinion.

I have the Ruger American compact in 7mm-08 with the Leupold 2-7x33 scope, with Hunt-plex recticle.

It's not a M77, but I love mine.

Does you American have a 8.5" twist? What ammo does it like?
My plan is to load some 154g Hornady RN (discontinued) for it. Figure it will be a short range gun....so BC is irrelevant.

 

[Harold Money jr]

The only thing I'd change is put a shorter set of rings on it. Otherwise I consider it a perfect gun!! Beautiful, Ruger makes a handsome gun!

 

[Antler Daddy]

After selling my little 243, I needed a new, lightweight, compact rifle for still hunting.
This is what I brought home...today.
Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact 7/08. CRF action with 16.5" barrel. Wood and blue.
Mounted a Leupold VX Freedom 2-7x33 scope...I should be about good to go. Obviously, I will need to sight it in and start working on a load for it. Should be fun!!

View attachment 216280

Very nice? Is it new or a used gun?

 

[Tenntrapper]

The only thing I'd change is put a shorter set of rings on it. Otherwise I consider it a perfect gun!! Beautiful, Ruger makes a handsome gun!

Yeah, I thought the same thing. Where do you get factory Ruger rings? They are two different heights.

 

[Tenntrapper]

Very nice? Is it new or a used gun?

It's new

 

[TboneD]

She's a beauty! Pretty much my thinking for my Ruger American Predator with 18" barrel in 308 Win. I just took a Redfield 2-7x33 off my other brush gun, my Marlin 35 Rem, and used some thin bases and low rings so now I have a great cheek weld on a rifle that only weighs 7 pounds with the scope.

 

[ScLowCountry]

Ive always wanted a m77 compact in 243. A friend had one. It was such a sweet handling gun. The short barrel makes for a heck of a muzzle blast. Wear ear pro

 

[Wade195]

Does you American have a 8.5" twist? What ammo does it like?
My plan is to load some 154g Hornady RN (discontinued) for it. Figure it will be a short range gun....so BC is irrelevant.

Yes that's the twist.

It loves the Hornady Whitetail 139. I've not shot anything else.

 

[Harold Money jr]

Trapper,
I just googled it and Ruger has a chart online. Still, a beaut of a rifle.

 

[Remi]

You'll only need one ring. You'll need a low front and you can move the front to the rear. You'll need a Ruger 3B low


https://shopruger.com/searchprods.asp?searchstring=scope+ring&pagenumber=1&val=0

 

[Tenntrapper]

You'll only need one ring. You'll need a low front and you can move the front to the rear. You'll need a Ruger 3B low


https://shopruger.com/searchprods.asp?searchstring=scope+ring&pagenumber=1&val=0

I haven't looked at the "list" yet, but is it as simple as...the next bigger size is on the rear?

 

[Remi]

Take the ring off the front and put it on the rear and order a 3B for the front.


The rings should be marked so you should have a 5B on the rear and a 4B on the front right now if they are factory.

4B to the rear and a 3B on the front will give you lows. That's what I have on my MKII 30/06.

 

[Tenntrapper]

Take the ring off the front and put it on the rear and order a 3B for the front.


The rings should be marked so you should have a 5B on the rear and a 4B on the front right now if they are factory.

4B to the rear and a 3B on the front will give you lows. That's what I have on my MKII 30/06.

Cool...thanks. Just ordered a 3b.

 

[DaveTN]

Where do you get factory Ruger rings?

If you haven't yet found what you want...

Warne Scope Mounts manufactures all Ruger scope rings in the United States and, attesting to our craftsmanship, offers a lifetime warranty on all models. Like Ruger, Warne Scope Mounts has decades of experience in the industry. Our commitment to excellent manufacturing through the use of premium materials has made us one of the best-reviewed, most-trusted names in the business.

https://warnescopemounts.com/scope-...factures all,lifetime warranty on all models.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Looks like a great lightweight setup for stalking.

 

[Derek]

I love it! Perfect set-up. I have an older Ruger RSI in .308 with a 16.5 inch barrel. I have a Leupold 2-7 on it also. Same length as my Winchester 94.
It's pretty close to the perfect set up for me.

 

[megalomaniac]

7-08 was my thought as well for an ultralight all day long still hunting rifle.

I opted for a Rem700 Mountain Titanium, replaced the bolt shroud with an ultralight Callahan, the topped with 1pc Talley lightweight rings and a leupold vx3 2.5x8.

Couldn't believe it, but it shoots half to 3/4 MOA despite it weighing less than 6.5lbs fully rigged. The 140 BTs do great on deer at 708 velocities.

 

[Gravey]

Good looking set-up! I have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye .270 that goes with me most of the time. Love it!

 

[Tenntrapper]

The only thing I'd change is put a shorter set of rings on it. Otherwise I consider it a perfect gun!! Beautiful, Ruger makes a handsome gun!

Better??

 

[Harold Money jr]

Buddy, that is a thing of beauty!!! It's perfect.

 

[Remi]

Better??

View attachment 216668

The lows are perfect on the rugers with 32-40mm scopes.


Great looking rifle

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Bought the same rifle back in November, for the same purpose as well as a starter rifle for my 5 yr old. Topped it with a vortex viper 2.5-10x44. I'll load for it eventually, but it loves the American whitetail, and will shoot around 1/2-3/4" groups if you let the barrel cool off good between shots. It does well for 2-3 shots then it starts opening up which is normal for these little rifles.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Bought the same rifle back in November, for the same purpose as well as a starter rifle for my 5 yr old. Topped it with a vortex viper 2.5-10x44. I'll load for it eventually, but it loves the American whitetail, and will shoot around 1/2-3/4" groups if you let the barrel cool off good between shots. It does well for 2-3 shots then it starts opening up which is normal for these little rifles.

How do you like the BOG tripod?

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

How do you like the BOG tripod?

It's pretty nice, I've used it with my son, but it's mostly used to shoot off the back deck

 

[DaveB]

Some Suggestions for your 7-08

These area a bit difficult to find.....But the red tips are out there. Very highly recommended. Ask https://www.tndeer.com/members/deer-assassin.11039/

or, you may want to consider the 140 grain class.

We shoot these in our 7-08 and 280. Very very good poison. Both calibers should be very accurate--Our Axis in 08 and Venture in 280 are way more accurate than I can shoot.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

Great Set up. Should serve you well. Hard to go wrong with 7mm 08 and Leupold Scopes. Leupold Scopes usually once you site them in unless you change loads or they get bumped you seldom have to adjust them ever again.