Ruger 77 flat bolt in 5.6x57

Just purchased a flat bolt in 5.6x57 to try the cartridge. I have never seen any ruger in this caliber and wonder how rare the chambering is? Factory barrel but unique way of engraving the caliber. Trigger pull is outstanding and I understand early flat bolts used Douglas barrels. The groups thought?
Thanks
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/265146000/265146558/pix767289693.jpg

It appears NOT factory on the surface, the only verification that the gun left the factory like is, is to get it lettered. What is the s/n??

I note that the barrel is a Ruger Proof marked barrel, and as the 5.6 X 57 is a.224 caliber, and the case is a decedent of a 7X 57 or 257 Roberts, a .224 barrel would have come from the factory in a short action, things appear to be tight.

Interesting and confusing, but the letter either will straighten out the confusion, or start a real discussion on why this chambering has never before appeared or been discussed. Should be fun.

I just had a question answered by Ruger Research. This M77 currently in 5.6x57 originally left the factory as a 220 swift. So that makes it a long action, right? I also discovered a Canjar trigger on it. I guess it did not take much to ream for the 5.6x57. I thought the 5.6 parent cart. was a 270?

It is not a factory chambered rifle. Somebody milled the original rollmark off the barrel and put their own markings on it. You will note that Ruger has never milled a part of the barrel to put on a caliber rollmarking (too much work, too many steps). The Number 1 started out being marked like that, and of course this continued through all of Rugers long gun models through today.
Chet15

220 is a short action, the little 5.6 is a descendent of the 7 x 57, which begat the 257 Rob.

220 is a short action, the little 5.6 is a descendent of the 7 x 57, which begat the 257 Rob.

Does it have a heavy 26" barrel or the medium weight 22" barrel?

It's a altered M77V flatbolt, originally in .220 Swift.

Jimmy: My light barreled 77 tang safety 220 Swift has a 24" light profile barrel.

Reading Burke he doesn't mention a 22" barrrel?

Ross

As Chet commented on, this was NEVER a method of caliber deiesignation used by Ruger at the factory. Pretty easy to say "Rechambered wildcat" just looking at it. Font is also something Ruger has never used.

Back in the late 70s I built a 22-4000 (.224-7x57AI) grossly overbore for a .224 but sort of fun with a 90 grain VLD bullet and a fast twist barrel. Not very versotile though. I pulled it and made something else a few years later.

RWT

Caveat Emptor & do your homework.