I keep reading this thread, and I keep looking at Ruger's website.
It seems that some folks are confusing the suspension of the rotary-magazine 77's to an all out discontinuance of all 77 rifles. First, the rotary magazine 77's, eg: 77/22, 77/44, 77/357 are a completely different rifle than a genuine Ruger 77. I kind've wished Ruger had not used the 77 as part of the model designation for these rotary mag guns, since they have nothing in common with the original or any variation of the Model 77.
Next, I still see the Hawkeye as still being very available in Ruger's website. Maybe splitting hairs, but I consider the Hawkeye as a Model 77, in spite of some cosmetic and manufacturing changes.
Lastly, I think some folks confuse the mediocre-to-dismal accuracy of the rotary mag 77's to rifle-caliber M77's. I have had exceptional accuracy performace from the majority of my 77's and/or MkII's. So, agreeing with the assumption that the new American Rifle series is inherently accurate, I will not agree that it is across-the-board more accurate than a M77, a MkII, or a Hawkeye or Gunsite Scout. So, I for one, would still absolutely rather own any M77 over any American. And, I absolutely still prefer the M77 box magazine over any chintzy plastic removable magazine in a hunting rifle.
So, for those lamenting the passing of the 77, I don't see it as being gone. It remains in Ruger's catalogue, and I can buy a Ruger Hawkeye, brand new, every day of the week,
WAYNO.
It seems that some folks are confusing the suspension of the rotary-magazine 77's to an all out discontinuance of all 77 rifles. First, the rotary magazine 77's, eg: 77/22, 77/44, 77/357 are a completely different rifle than a genuine Ruger 77. I kind've wished Ruger had not used the 77 as part of the model designation for these rotary mag guns, since they have nothing in common with the original or any variation of the Model 77.
Next, I still see the Hawkeye as still being very available in Ruger's website. Maybe splitting hairs, but I consider the Hawkeye as a Model 77, in spite of some cosmetic and manufacturing changes.
Lastly, I think some folks confuse the mediocre-to-dismal accuracy of the rotary mag 77's to rifle-caliber M77's. I have had exceptional accuracy performace from the majority of my 77's and/or MkII's. So, agreeing with the assumption that the new American Rifle series is inherently accurate, I will not agree that it is across-the-board more accurate than a M77, a MkII, or a Hawkeye or Gunsite Scout. So, I for one, would still absolutely rather own any M77 over any American. And, I absolutely still prefer the M77 box magazine over any chintzy plastic removable magazine in a hunting rifle.
So, for those lamenting the passing of the 77, I don't see it as being gone. It remains in Ruger's catalogue, and I can buy a Ruger Hawkeye, brand new, every day of the week,
WAYNO.
