Uncle Alvah
Bearcat
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2011
- Messages
- 12
On another forum, regarding the accuracy of older M77's vs. newer ones, this statement was made:
Is that true?
Is that true?
Model 77 barrels
- Thread starter Uncle Alvah
- Start date
Sugar River
Buckeye
Yes.
The early No 1s used Douglas. Later on, all the rifle barrels were being made by Wilson Arms in CT.
Around 1990-91 Ruger gradually phased in production from their own in-house rotary hammer forge. The quality of barrels thus made is very high, IMHO.
Pete
The early No 1s used Douglas. Later on, all the rifle barrels were being made by Wilson Arms in CT.
Around 1990-91 Ruger gradually phased in production from their own in-house rotary hammer forge. The quality of barrels thus made is very high, IMHO.
Pete
Eddies M77
Bearcat
Sugar River said:
But where were the early 77 bbls. made? I have also read that the early ones were hit and miss. The only early one I had which didn't shoot good was a 7x57 Mauser, but I never tried but one kind of factory ammo before I traded it so can't say the bbl. wouldn't shoot.
mattsbox99
Hunter
The early 77s were Douglas with Wilson being later. I think the barrels were fine, but on the 7x57 and a few other cartridges, the throats were really long because ammunition was made with long round nose bullets. Accuracy suffered when using ammunition with spitzer type bullets.
Sugar River
Buckeye
I would agree about the 7x57. They cut the throats to accomodate the old 175 RN. Accuracy with other bullets suffered unless they were seated "out" to get closer to the lands.
Pete
Pete
chet15
Hawkeye
mattsbox99 said:
The throating would have been Ruger's issue though wouldn't it? I always thought the barrel makers provided the rifled barrel stock and Ruger chambered the round and other machine work?
Maybe Ruger's M77 and #1 barrel issues have not been a "maker's" issue (Douglas, Wilson, etc) at all. Wouldn't those issues have been Ruger's?
On the barrel stock, had always heard though that Ruger sometimes purchased "second" quality barrel blanks from Wilson.
Chet15
Eddies M77
Bearcat
Interesting stuff-when did they (or did they) correct the throat on the Mauser as one day I would like to get another one.
sp
Single-Sixer
Somebody told me that at one time Ruger paid about $35.00 for a Wilson barrel.
Possibly my selection of used Ruger M77 was facilitated by the fact that previous owners could not get these rifles to shoot so they sold them, possbily to buy Rem 700's and made used M77 available at good prices.
I restricted my self to calibers such as .308 and later when long actions were available .30-06. None of them shot well enough for serious varmiting or long range targets.
After buying up six rifles I had them rebarreled with real good results - .22-.250's, .220 Swift, 7mm-08, .30-06, and 6.5-.308.
I gave most of these rifles away but still have the 6.5-.308 only because it is a "funny caliber", "one of them foreign guns" and nobody wants it.
Possibly my selection of used Ruger M77 was facilitated by the fact that previous owners could not get these rifles to shoot so they sold them, possbily to buy Rem 700's and made used M77 available at good prices.
I restricted my self to calibers such as .308 and later when long actions were available .30-06. None of them shot well enough for serious varmiting or long range targets.
After buying up six rifles I had them rebarreled with real good results - .22-.250's, .220 Swift, 7mm-08, .30-06, and 6.5-.308.
I gave most of these rifles away but still have the 6.5-.308 only because it is a "funny caliber", "one of them foreign guns" and nobody wants it.
Kudu m77
Single-Sixer
This was shot with South-African ammo, cheaper than any Win or Rem ammo 180g at 110 yards with a Wilson barreled Ruger. The barrels still had to pass some kind of quality check by Ruger.
mattsbox99
Hunter
Exactly Kudu, it was the nut behind the trigger that caused the vast majority of accuracy problems.
Chet, yep that is what I'm getting at, the barrels were just fine. Both Wilson and Douglas are in business today and they both make quality products. While the 7x57 is the only one I know for sure, but there could be others out there that simply have lon throat issues.
Any of us that truly hunt know that you don't need a .05MOA rifle to harvest a deer. My nephew can't hold steady enough to shoot better than a 6" group, he got his first deer on the first shot.
Chet, yep that is what I'm getting at, the barrels were just fine. Both Wilson and Douglas are in business today and they both make quality products. While the 7x57 is the only one I know for sure, but there could be others out there that simply have lon throat issues.
Any of us that truly hunt know that you don't need a .05MOA rifle to harvest a deer. My nephew can't hold steady enough to shoot better than a 6" group, he got his first deer on the first shot.
sp
Single-Sixer
A snap judgement/view of Kudu m77 group shows 6 shots in a bad group or 2 really good 3 shot groups.
Is this an example of "clumping" ? - this has happened to me with poorly bedded rifles that want to shoot good but can't because the barrel and action shift in the stock from shot to shot.
Possibly, I have had unfortunate accuracy experiences with older Rugers and when tested at the range with factory Rem 700's with a variety of ammo the Rugers have not done as well.
We are talking about accuracy and barrel quality not durabilty, reliability, stock design, and function - in this case I would go Ruger.
Is this an example of "clumping" ? - this has happened to me with poorly bedded rifles that want to shoot good but can't because the barrel and action shift in the stock from shot to shot.
Possibly, I have had unfortunate accuracy experiences with older Rugers and when tested at the range with factory Rem 700's with a variety of ammo the Rugers have not done as well.
We are talking about accuracy and barrel quality not durabilty, reliability, stock design, and function - in this case I would go Ruger.
