Deciding Between MKII Stainless w/syn Stock or Zytel Stock

[n4rod]

My local pawn shop has 2 different Ruger 77 MKII stainless rifles in .243 caliber. I haven't had the chance to handle either one for weight or barrel length. Only looking at them on line. I'll go in next week to check them out.

One has what I would call a "standard" black synthetic stock. The other has the Zytel type stock I had on a stainless All-weather 77/22 a couple decades ago. Both rifles are used but in excellent condition with no boxes. Neither rifle has a scope, but both have the original rings. There is a considerable price difference between the two. The one with the standard stock is $550. The one with the Zytel stock is $950. I know the Zytel stocks were only made for 4 or 5 years and are a little more scarce, but this price difference is more than I expected. $400 more for the Zytel?!!

I don't know of any other differences between the guns. Whether one is considered a lightweight, or what. Anyone have any experience with these different models and is one decidedly better than the other?

Thanks,

Rod

 

[22/45 Fan]

"Zytel" was DuPont's marketing name for several grades of Nylon so it's a "synthetic" stock also. The stock material doesn't begin to justify the cost difference.

 

[rugerjunkie]

Neither of Rugers synthetic stocks are all that great. And the Zytel stocks were probably cranked out by the thousands so anyone cslling them rare is either smoking something , ignorant on the subject , or simply fishing for a sucker since there has been crazy prices paid for some of these on occasion by people with more money than sense.

I'll fess up here and tell...
Less than a year ago I jumped in on the zytel stock craze. I sold at auction one of mine that was nib and although they had to twist my arm a little , let it go for just shy of $2k. Had less than $500 in it. They sold cheap when new and Ruger couldn't hardly give them away. I turned that into 3 more rifles! So don't be that guy and fall for the craze. Although I wish I had bought a truckload of them to help feed these guys and their insanity!

If you are really wanting one , go for the standard synthetic. It will probably be an ok shooter and if you want to upgrade later , get a wood , laminate , or reinforced synthetic stock for it.


Btw...the blue book is even showing higher prices on the skeleton stocked models because of people who pay $1k-$2k or more for a $500 gun...

 

[Rocdoc]

Ive been seein the takeoff zytels have increased a lot in price, I used to buy empties for $50 each a few years ago.