Ruger 220 swift worth buying and shooting?

[treeseeker]

Hello, my father has a 1975 Ruger M77-V 220 Swift fitted with a Redfield 3x9 wideview with accu-range (200-600 yrds) of the same year. My dad bought the Ruger and scope new in 1975 and has never fired the gun. It sits in his display case and only gets handled very few times for a quick wipe down. The has not a mark on it and is truly 100%! Now I've been looking for a coyote gun and thinking of buying this gun from him. My question is... Is this a gun that is best left unfired or is it just "another gun"? He seems to think it's a collecter gun and if this is the case I'd rather not fire it. Thanks for any help.

 

[rowdy1972]

Well its not highly collectable,they made a lot of them.If it were 3 or 4 yrs older and a flatbolt it would be more desireable but its almost 40yrs old and unfired which says somthing for it.I guess if i were going to use it id be careful with it.

 

[picketpin]

As mentioned it's not highly collectble. It may be 100% but it isn't NIB once he mounted the scope and used the rings. There will be visable marks on the scope mounting area. That said it is a very nice rifle and frankly while you might lose SOME value by shooting it, not all that much unless you abuse it. This rifle fits into the catagory that can be fired and probably should. I know your dad loves it BUT he might have an unrealistic view of it's "value".

The Swift is a great coyote killer.

Ross

 

[treeseeker]

Thanks guys. I'm sure he dont think it's "highly" collectable, he thinks in a range of $800-1000. All i know is... there is NO WAY I could buy a gun and NOT shoot it for this long! He has many Ruger pistols and a few rifles from the 70's that are un-fired. Drives me NUTS!! Well thanks again guys for the input.

 

[golferboy426]

his range is correct at nice 22-250 just sold for 699 on gunbroker, the redfield is 150 at least

 

[four70nitro]

And the Swift is a great cartridge!! One of my favorites.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

Not a collector, so a gun I can't shoot isn't worth having.

$800 is more than I would pay, though.

 

[picketpin]

Geez, none of my business but if your dad bought it in 1975 and he was 25 years old at the time that would make him 60 or so now.

I'd just ask him politely for the rifle. ;-)

My son, age 33 has some nice Rugers, he's never bought one in his life.
Just figured that's what dads do.

I could adopt you I guess but I don't have a 220 Swift 77 "'V" I do have one of the light barreled "R"s. ;-)

Ross

 

[BearStopper]

Always liked the 220 Swift tang safety model with the heavy, tapered barrel. Seen a few for sale around here that were showing heavy use so I always passed at the 600.00 they were asking!

 

[Bitman]

Geez, none of my business but if your dad bought it in 1975 and he was 25 years old at the time that would make him 60 or so now.

I'd just ask him politely for the rifle. ;-)

My son, age 33 has some nice Rugers, he's never bought one in his life.
Just figured that's what dads do.

I could adopt you I guess but I don't have a 220 Swift 77 "'V" I do have one of the light barreled "R"s. ;-)

Ross

I agree 100%.
My 23 year old Son has 4 Ruger rifles, 2 shotguns and a Revolver.
All given to him by me, and I'm not 60 years old yet.
Ask him for the rifle, or offer to do chores for it.

 

[roofinspector]

While I have no interest in 77's myself, I would not necessarily place an early 77V in a swift as a just another rifle. The 77V in the swift has a following, especially upgraded with a Canjar trigger. The old Swift cartridge still has it.

I passed on a nice 77V swift last month for $450. Some folks express difficulty with bedding with Ruger bolt guns, but cannot comment further first hand.

Roof

 

[martyj]

I would not sell mine for that price. They shoot exceptionally well even with the heavier bullets. I don't part with rifles that shoot exceptionally well.
They love the Norma factory ammo if you don't want to reload.
I would not get to concerned about shooting 600 yards with it. It will do it but wind drift is hard to estimate at that range.

 

[treeseeker]

Geez, none of my business but if your dad bought it in 1975 and he was 25 years old at the time that would make him 60 or so now.

I'd just ask him politely for the rifle. ;-)

My son, age 33 has some nice Rugers, he's never bought one in his life.
Just figured that's what dads do.

I could adopt you I guess but I don't have a 220 Swift 77 "'V" I do have one of the light barreled "R"s. ;-)

Ross

Yes sir... He is 62 and I'm sure he would give me the gun if I asked. He has giving me plenty of guns. Not long ago handed me a 1975 Ruger #3 22 hornet that until then has been unfired. So I dont want to look to greedy. :lol: He still has a 76' Ruger #3 22 Hornet (200th year of Liberty) unfired so maybe thats why. :wink:

 

[1sparrow]

Bought my 77v TS .220 around the same year. Impresses me with every shot ! The Swift is still the one EVERY ONE compares too !!

 

[hadjii]

Someone commented on ruger rifles being hard to bed. I'm not a gunsmith, and having said that, I've pillar bedded 3 of my ruger rifles, 2 synthetic stocks and 1 walnut. After pillar bedding, I then bedded the actions, and filled in the fore-end hollows with pro-bed 2000. It wasn't really hard at all, and all 3 of the ruger 77's that I worked on will shoot sub 1/2" groups at 100 yards. I guess maybe people get a little scared of the angled screw, but it's really no more difficult than a Rem 700. I had a 77V in 220 Swift once. I went temporarily insane and sold it. Geez, I wished I had that one back.

 

[Cooperhawk]

My 77v Swift is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. I purchased it back in the late seventies and will probably never give it up. :D

 

[martyj]

You cant beat them if you reload. Gets a little pricey shooting a couple hundred rounds in weekend prairie dog hunting, but as far as fun goes it is hard to beat.