Ruger M77 Compact Question

[Hatchee]

Anyone have an opinion on the Ruger M77 Compact?
I can't find another older Remington Model 7 (walnut stock, 18 in. barrel) in 308, and when I do, they're sky high. I just missed a decent one on GunBroker.
But the Ruger Compact comes in 308 and is pretty close
to the older Model 7's (walnut stock and 16 inch barrel)
and seems to be lots easier to find and a brand new one is
cheaper or competitively priced to the older Model 7 308's I'm finding. I've handled one and like the feel, just haven't had the opportunuty to shoot one.
I already know that a 6 1/2 pound 308 with a 16 inch barrel is gonna be a hand full!
What say you about the RUGER COMPACT,LIGHTWEIGHT OR COMPACT HAWKEYE?
Thanks in advance, PHILLIP

 

[jakeway]

I've been singing it's praises for two years. Do some searching here and you'll find posts. Bought a brand new one last year in 260 REM. This fall I bought another in 243, used, for $300 with scope.

Shoots excellent; the short barrel, even though it's a thin profile, is very stiff because of its length. So far I've shot at 3 deer with the 260 and two with the 243 and all were one-shot kills.

If the stock seems a little short for you, you can put a slip-on recoil pad over it to add another inch of pull.

 

[jakeway]

Another option is to get a Marlin XS7 and have a gunsmith cut and recrown barrel to length of your choice. I know someone who did that and price of gun with scope and gunsmith fees was still only $470 brand new.

The 16.5 inch barrel on the Ruger cost me about 200 fps, so a Marlin cut to 18 or 19 inches may give you the lighter weight and short-gun handling without sacrificing as much velocity. I bought mine as a "brush" gun, so loosing a few FPS isn't a big deal for me. If you're of short stature and want the shorter length of pull stock, go with the Ruger.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

I thought about it, but I just like the Model 7 too much. I'm still looking for one in .243 for a decent price.

As far as the .308 being a hand-full, you should try the Model seven in .350 Remington Magnum, the rifle with scope and loaded weighs in at 6 1/4 pounds. It is not recoil friendly.

 

[Hatchee]

All good input guys. I appreciate it.
Just hadn't talked to anybody that had shot one.
I imagine it'll come down to what I can find AFTER deer season!

 

[jakeway]

Here are some targets I shot with mine while working up a load.

260 REM.

 

[Hatchee]

jakeway, that's pretty impressive.

 

[Hatchee]

I thought about it, but I just like the Model 7 too much. I'm still looking for one in .243 for a decent price.

As far as the .308 being a hand-full, you should try the Model seven in .350 Remington Magnum, the rifle with scope and loaded weighs in at 6 1/4 pounds. It is not recoil friendly.

ratsnake; I gave my youngest son the older model, walnut stocked 243 with a Leupold 2x7. He's 20 and still hunts with it. I've been using a 243 youth model with an aftermarket stock (B&C) and I love toting it but the stock don't "feel" right. Instead of buying another gun, I may just spend the cash on a better/different stock and glass for the youth model.
I bet that 350 does "jump" a little!

 

[Hatchee]

I have one in 243 that I let my boys hunt with. Good gun, accurate too. They do require a trigger job though as all Rugers come lawyer-proof from the factory.

I saw a gray laminate today and liked it in person better than I meant to! I think I liked it so much because I'm just wanting something new/different!

 

[jakeway]

jakeway, that's pretty impressive.

I shot 6 rounds (two three-shot groups) with 40, 41, 42, and 43 grs of powder. If I stacked the targets on top of each other, all 24 shots were within 1 3/4 inches. That's impressive consistancy with such a range of powder charges.

With the short barrel, there was almost no velocity increase with 43 grs vs. 42, so I settled on 42. The first target in this post was the return trip to the range, with my chosen load, after adjusting the sights. The 2.5" high at 100 yards gave me a 3" point blank (all shots theoretically within +/- 3") all the way out to about 280 yards. Ironically, the longest shot at a deer I've had with it was only about 45 yards.

 

[Hatchee]

45 yards? That's just about right.
This one would be more for toting than shooting, but above average accuracy is always nice.

 

[jakeway]

I've got a Leupold 2-7X33 on the 260, and usually keep it at 2 power. Great for carrying around.

The two deer I shot with the 243 was when I was still hunting. One was 95 yards and the other about 85.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

I thought about it, but I just like the Model 7 too much. I'm still looking for one in .243 for a decent price.

As far as the .308 being a hand-full, you should try the Model seven in .350 Remington Magnum, the rifle with scope and loaded weighs in at 6 1/4 pounds. It is not recoil friendly.

ratsnake; I gave my youngest son the older model, walnut stocked 243 with a Leupold 2x7. He's 20 and still hunts with it. I've been using a 243 youth model with an aftermarket stock (B&C) and I love toting it but the stock don't "feel" right. Instead of buying another gun, I may just spend the cash on a better/different stock and glass for the youth model.
I bet that 350 does "jump" a little!

Hatchee: Search the classifieds on 24 hour campfire, I see model 7 stocks on there quite often and they are usually very reasonable in price.

 

[David Sapp]

Not mine, but on a local classifieds if someone is looking...

http://www.gunownersclub.com/listings/f ... 25357.html

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

Anyone have an opinion on the Ruger M77 Compact?
I can't find another older Remington Model 7 (walnut stock, 18 in. barrel) in 308, and when I do, they're sky high. I just missed a decent one on GunBroker.
But the Ruger Compact comes in 308 and is pretty close
to the older Model 7's (walnut stock and 16 inch barrel)
and seems to be lots easier to find and a brand new one is
cheaper or competitively priced to the older Model 7 308's I'm finding. I've handled one and like the feel, just haven't had the opportunuty to shoot one.
I already know that a 6 1/2 pound 308 with a 16 inch barrel is gonna be a hand full!
What say you about the RUGER COMPACT,LIGHTWEIGHT OR COMPACT HAWKEYE?
Thanks in advance, PHILLIP

The Ruger Lightweights with the black foreend tip are nice! I have one in .270.