Ruger 77 and the short mags

[hawk_driver]

Any issues with Rugers feeding the short mags? May pick up a M-77 in 7mm Rem shorty, just wanted to know if anyone heard of or had any issues.

 

[wwb]

The only feeding issues I've heard of are with the Winchester series of "Super Short Mags".

I'd stock up on brass if you're a handloader (or ammo if you're not) because aside from the .300 WSM, the rest of the short mag, super short mag, and short action ultra mag calibers are pretty much relegated to the "Historical Curiousity" section of the firearms world - and even the .300 WSM finishes a poor second to the original .300 Win Mag in terms of popularity. Check the current offerings by all the rifle manufacturers and you'll find that damn few of their offerings are available in the short mag calibers.

Brass and/or ammo for the short mags, which is already hard to find and expensive when you find it, is only going to get worse as time goes on.

 

[hawk_driver]

I had an early Win 70 that fed like crap, got rid of it. I have heard grumblings about the Rugers not feeding the 350 Rem Mag, so thought I would ask. I reload, so no worries there. I just really like Rugers, like oddball rounds, and thought this would be a great combo.

 

[CP]

I have .300 RSUM and had .350 Rem. mag. in Mark lls. Although one of Montana's best known gunsmiths spent some time working on the .350 Rem. mag., it never fed or shot to my satisfaction and it is gone. On the other hand, the RSUM has always fed pretty well for a short mag. Unlike the WSMs, I believe that the case length and shoulder angle on the RSUMs and RCMs are much better suited for the SA Rugers. Insofar as the CRF function is concerned, it also handles the #2 round (left side) more positively than the average over the counter Ruger. CP.

 

[stanimals2]

My 77 300RSAUM feeds and shoots well, I have no complaints

Stan

 

[mcknight77]

My M77RS .350 RemMag has been feeding fine for 35 years.

 

[mattsbox99]

My Ruger .350RM isn't that old, but it feeds just fine. Its my favorite medium bore cartridge.

 

[CP]

If you are running a 35 year old 77, it is a push feed, and that is an entirely different program than you encounter running short fats through a CRF SA Mark ll action. CP.

 

[mcknight77]

If you are running a 35 year old 77, it is a push feed, and that is an entirely different program than you encounter running short fats through a CRF SA Mark ll action. CP.

That's precisely the reason I haven't rushed out to buy a new one.

 

[valkrider8]

My Ruger MKII 350 mag. never had a problem feeding and shoots great. I had a MKII in stainless with a synthetic stock in 300 WSM that jammed on me every time. It was also the most unpleasant gun to shoot that I ever owned. The recoil could loosen the fillings in your teeth! Was happy to see it go in a trade I made.

 

[CP]

99, If your .350 feeds well, how positive is CRF function with a slow uneven stroke? Do you always have positive extractor control when the rails release the rounds? I'll bet not…

10x4 Mcknight77 CP.

 

[Silent Sam]

I have a MkII in 270 WSM that works properly (CRF), fast or slow.

 

[CP]

If you have a flawless CRF function without feeding issues in a Mark ll with a WSM round, congratulations to you Sam you own a rare critter. However, here is another test for you. Take a couple of dummy rounds (with a normal OAL) and load them. Try pushing the top round (#2) forward just to the point of rail release and then draw the bolt all the way back to the stop and then push forward again. In other words, you will be simulating a short-stroke in slow motion. If your bolt face does not pick up the down round on the forward stroke, you indeed have something more than a rare critter.

I am a Ruger guy through and through. But I also know that the touted CRF function on most of the over the counter Rugers, and for that matter on Winchesters and Kimbers, is part time only. I grew up in the 50s and ran surplus 03-A3s and P-17s for hunting rifles and they worked as advertized. If you have not had the pleasure of operating a true CRF World War 1 battle rifle, it is a treat you need to give yourself. CP.

 

[CP]

If you have a flawless CRF function without feeding issues in a Mark ll with a WSM round, congratulations to you Sam you own a rare critter. However, I have another test for you. Take a couple of dummy rounds (with a normal OAL) and load them. Try pushing the top round (#2) forward just to the point of rail release and then draw the bolt all the way back to the stop and then push forward again. In other words, you will be simulating a short-stroke in slow motion. If your bolt face does not pick up the down round on the forward stroke, you indeed have something more than a rare critter.

I am a Ruger guy through and through. But I also know that the touted CRF function on most of the over the counter Rugers, and for that matter on Winchesters and Kimbers, is part time only. I grew up in the 50s and ran surplus 03-A3s and P-17s for hunting rifles and they worked as advertized. If you have not had the pleasure of operating a true CRF World War 1 battle rifle, it is a treat you need to give yourself. CP.

 

[Silent Sam]

I have had to adjust feed lips and stone bolt faces on a few to get them working properly. I haven't touched the 270 WSM though. I have never tried to intentionally double feed any rifle so I don't know if it will pass that test. I was raised on 30-06 length actions and shoot magnum length actions regularly and have never had a problem short stroking a bolt. I doubt I'll start doing it with a short action.

 

[mattsbox99]

99, If your .350 feeds well, how positive is CRF function with a slow uneven stroke? Do you always have positive extractor control when the rails release the rounds? I'll bet not…

10x4 Mcknight77 CP.

Turns out you are wrong. It feeds fine. It extracts fine and it ejects fine.

I don't get why you are so intent on trying to make it fail. I don't shoot or hunt with jerky slow motions, the gun works great when you run the action like its supposed to.

 

[CP]

My intent was simply to point out, for the sake of a discussion, that most of the over the counter Ruger CFR rifles do not function as advertized. Obviously, this forum is populated with some folks that have perfectly tuned CRF rifles and never encounter circumstances that won't allow them to cycle their actions in perfect form. Clearly, this is the wrong place for me to have a discussion about remedies that apparently no one needs. CP.

 

[Canazes9]

I don't think CP is "intent on making it fail". Feed problems w/ CRF and short magnums is pretty well documented, a quick google search will turn up a bunch of reading. CRF rifles (Ruger or otherwise) that "have no feed problems" with these cartridges usually are feeding well because the CRF function is not operating properly. I think CP is suggesting that if your rifle is feeding a short mag very well, then perhaps you should carefully examine it's operation to insure that it's controlled round feed is operating the way you think it is so that it won't let you down when you need it most.

How big of an issue that is to you is your call. One of the "claims to fame" for CRF is a rifle that it won't jam from an attempted double load because you short stroked it in a panicky moment when a big bear is charging down on top of you or a similar sort of situation. That is not the place to learn that you have a problem w/ your CRF rifle! These problems are part of the reason that Ruger came out w/ the new 338RCM and 300RCM chamberings - they do not have rebated rims or belted cases which cause the feed problems in short action CRF rifles.

David

 

[mattsbox99]

My intent was simply to point out, for the sake of a discussion, that most of the over the counter Ruger CFR rifles do not function as advertized. Obviously, this forum is populated with some folks that have perfectly tuned CRF rifles and never encounter circumstances that won't allow them to cycle their actions in perfect form. Clearly, this is the wrong place for me to have a discussion about remedies that apparently no one needs. CP.

None of my Ruger 77 MKIIs have ANY modification to the feeding mechanism, so accordingly they are all broken.

 

[Silent Sam]

Boy you guys are tough... To the OP - I wouldn't base my decision on buying a rifle/cartridge based on internet reports. Failure to feed is a different issue than an advertised CRF action working as a push feed action. Many out of the box 'CRF' rifles don't pick up a cartridge out of the magazine directly under the extractor as they should. Ruger's extractor is beveled so that it will snap over the rim as you close the bolt. That is why you can feed a round directly into the chamber. You can't do that with an original Mauser action for example. So you may have a rifle that functions fine but is not truly controlling the round from the magazine all the way to the chamber. Many don't care or know enough about how it should work to worry about it as long as it feeds, fires and extracts/ejects. If I bought a rifle and it wouldn't feed it would be sent back. I have had a few MKII Rugers that did all those things just fine but they were working as a push feed and so far I have been able to tweak them enough to be CRF without totally screwing up the feeding process. I wonder what Ruger would do with that type of customer complaint? They do advertise CRF and just because it 'works' doesn't mean it's right.