Flatbolt 77R .308

[Cedar Creek]

My son and I went to the Tulsa Gun Show today and I brought home a really nice 1970 vintage flatbolt 77R in .308. I'm really excited about getting some ammo loaded and trying it out! I have a Leupold Compact 2-7 to go on it; should be a really good whitetail deer rifle.

I saw quite a few nice older Ruger rifles. I looked at one 77RS in 6.5 Rem Mag priced at $1675. I have one that's a little nicer than the one I looked at that I have been deer hunting with - may need to rethink that.

Cedar Creek

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi nice find I have only come across 3 or 4 308 flatbolts and only seen 1 in 6.5 and it was priced about the same I do not have ethier in my collection

GRAMPS

 

[mcknight77]

My guess is that that .308Win flatbolt will shoot very well. And, yes it makes a great whitetail rifle.

 

[Cedar Creek]

I shot it yesterday evening and it has a light, crisp trigger. I shot a load using 150 grain Hornady bullet with Varget powder - it was OK. I was getting the rifle sighted in and shot about a dozen shots or more before shooting a couple of hundred yard groups. The first was about an inch and the second opened up more. The rifle has a slim barrel contour and I think it heated up on me.

I will work on some different loads tonight. I need to get some more powder next week when I get a chance to go to town.

Cedar Creek

 

[mcknight77]

I've had good success (MOA or better) with 47gr of W748 and the 150gr Nosler Partition in several different rifles.

 

[plumbcrazyjr]

i have one in 6.5 and one in 350 looking for a 458

 

[mcknight77]

A flatbolt in .458Win would be exceedingly rare.

 

[R77PA]

I actually nver heard of a 458 flatbolt. I know anything is possible but has anyone ever heard or saw one?

 

[plumbcrazyjr]

i a sorry for my ignorance in the post the 6.5 and 350 are flat bolts i am looking for a 77 african in 458

 

[mcknight77]

The 6.5 and .350 cover a lot of hunting territory. I have both also, but use the .350 more than the 6.5RemMag. I need to dig it out of the safe and work up some loads for it.

 

[chet15]

I actually nver heard of a 458 flatbolt. I know anything is possible but has anyone ever heard or saw one?

No. The .458 doesn't begin to show up until about 71-10xxx. There are two in .416 Taylor known with the sn's of 70-71165 and 70-71644, but these have round bolts. These two are also probably considered prototypes for a large bore M77 as the "regular run" of .416 Taylors (if one could call 12 guns a regular run) didn't occur until 1976.
There may be a prototype .458 earlier than the two earliest known .416's, but if the two .416's were prototype of the large bore, then ????
Chet15