Question about a Stainless M77 mk2 shipped in 2000. In .260 Rem.

[southernbuck101]

Ok.
I admit, I'm a Stainless M77 junkie.
From that 1st skeleton stock 3006 I bought the same year my daughter was born.

They had just hit the market, and I HAD to have one.

It's put at least 1 good buck on the ground every year but 1,for the last 31 years.
Next came the all weather 22lr, 223,
7.62x39, 308, and they just continue to follow me home, to the point I'd really have to sit down and think about how many stainless Hawkeyes, mk2s, heavy targets, guide guns,compacts,etc that I have.
Well, my second mk2 of this week followed me here today,from a local GS.
It's a threaded and capped muzzle,260 skeleton, numbered 788-007xx, from 2000 according to the Ruger website..
My question is, did the factory thread any barrels in that time frame?
This looks too professional to be an aftermarket job to me. As it has retained the muzzle crown when the thread protector is installed.
I've seen a handful of stainless skeletons,thru the years, that have had an adjustable compensator. Similar to the BOSS system , and just assumed it was done after it left the factory.

Therefore, I did not give it much more thought. Since I was generally financially embarrassed when those guns became available
So I decided to bring the question to the experts in the detail of all things Ruger.
I've not been on board here long.
But the knowledge I've absorbed in that short period of time is amazing. And thanks in advance to all who shares the knowledge.

 

[rugerjunkie]

I have never seen a factory threaded 77 or 77 MkII. The earliest threaded rifle I can think of from that time period was a 10/22 with an oddball 1/2"x20 thread if i recall made for the European market and some were sold here as overruns from that order. I had one for a while but sold it when
1/2"x28 became available.

Does that mean it never happened? No , but unlikely. It could have been an employee gun and done at the factory that way. My guess is you have a nice aftermarket job there. I wonder if a letter from Ruger would show if it was done as an employee gun or not. If factory, it would show on a letter.

Aftermarket threading used to be a detractor but I think otherwise now unless its a highly collectible gun. If it's done right by a competent gunsmith it adds value to me now that suppressors are more common.

 

[southernbuck101]

Thanks for your reply.
I'm leaning in the direction in what you said as well
It does pain me that someone did that to one of the rarer skeleton calibers, since I don't believe a suppressor is gonna do much in reducing the noise of a 260 round at normal velocity, and I don't think I'd want to risk a once in a lifetime buck on a subsonic round in that caliber..
But I'm a sucker for a stainless skeleton, and did not have that caliber other than a RSI mannlicher that's still in the box.
And I got it for way less than even I could believe.
So I'm happy with it.
And it's really hard to tell it has a thread protector at first glance.
Thanks for your input.

 

[rugerjunkie]

Remember they haven't always been high prices rifles. I won't call them rare because they were made by the thousands. At one time they had to almost give them away because nobody wanted the ugly ducklings. Funny how things change.

 

[southernbuck101]

Remember they haven't always been high prices rifles. I won't call them rare because they were made by the thousands. At one time they had to almost give them away because nobody wanted the ugly ducklings. Funny how things change.

You are correct.
In 1991 I paid about $360.00 for my first skeleton that I've hunted with every year since.
Wish I'd had the funds back then to buy every caliber with rifle sights or not, as long as they were stainless.
Fast forward 32 years, I do believe that some calibers are much rarer than others.
I have a 280,and now 260 currently. Also the 7.62x39 which don't pop up everyday.
Along with the standard calibers.
But the 2506 has proven to be unobtainum, or at least for my budget.
Would be great if someone reading this had one they forgot about, or dont use anymore, and would sell it to me for a reasonable price.

Or trade....
I have lots of Rugers.
And 98% are stainless.