Ruger 77 RSI .308

[358 Hawkeye]

I bought a nice Ruger 77 RSI to keep my 358 Hawkeye company at the range , I hope it shoots as good as it looks. 8)
I really like the way the full stock looks, it's my first RSI and I hope it will have more of the same kind of rifle, but in different calibers.
One in 7x57 would make me believe in Santa again...... 8)

 

[Boxhead]

If it shoots as well as my son's 243 you should be quite pleased.

 

[358 Hawkeye]

I bought a nice Ruger 77 RSI to keep my 358 Hawkeye company at the range , I hope it shoots as good as it looks. 8)
I really like the way the full stock looks, it's my first RSI and I hope it will have more of the same kind of rifle, but in different calibers.
One in 7x57 would make me believe in Santa again...... 8)

I finally got a chance to hit the range with the RSI 308, I got it to shoot 3/4 inch group with 165 Hornady Interlock's.
I loaded some 130 grain Hollow Point Speer's with a full charge of H335, damn is that noisy out of the Ruger short barrel. I got lots of muzzle flash in broad daylight through the scope. I tried some 190 hornady's as well, they shot into an inch, but about 1.5 inches left of the 165's.
It sure looks nice next to the 358 Hawkeye in the safe. I have a friend who wants to sell me a Ruger Number 3 in 45-70, it looks like I may have another Ruger to keep these company......

 

[Con]

358 Hawkeye,
Played with mine yesterday and with no load development shoots around 1.5MOA with a 150gr plinking load. Perfectly adequate for hunting and greater precision is tough with the wide duplex on the VX1 1-4x.

Now don't laugh ... but the 256 Mannlicher made its reputation with short barrel and 160gr. In similar vein, I've ordered some 220gr Woodleigh's to try this season.

Ruger has discontinued the model, and I'm trying hard to resist grabbing another as they're a wonderful little rifle ... but in my opinion not suited to the 243Win or long chamberings. A 250-3000 would be sublime!
Cheers...
Con

 

[Silent Sam]

They still make the RSI as a Hawkeye. I have a MKII in 308 that loves cheap Rem Corelokts so much so I haven't bothered loading for it. One of my favorite whitetail rifles. Lose the scope, get a NECG peep and have some real fun.

 

[resident]

I have an RSI in .308 purchased back in the mid-80's.
I agree...it's an exceptionally beautiful rifle/carbine...but.... I've always been disappointed in it's accuracy.
You guys talk about 1" groups...but at 100 yds mine will only shoot 2.5" groups with factory ammo, which includes Rem 150 PSP and NATO FMJ's, which is what should be it's favorites.
While this is sufficient as a hunting-rifle...I'm disappointed in it despite my pride of ownership (looks and quality of finish) due to it's less-than-wonderful accuracy.
I'm told that it's a much better rifle in .243 and that the .308 has always been one of Ruger's least-accurate calibers (in this model.) A reputable gun-smith has offered to re-bed it, believing that Mannlicher-style bedding is critical in .308 due to barrel-resonance. But I don't want it messed-with.

If I could trade it for a similar condition (like new) .243 ....I would.

 

[358 Hawkeye]

I have an RSI in .308 purchased back in the mid-80's.
I agree...it's an exceptionally beautiful rifle/carbine...but.... I've always been disappointed in it's accuracy.
You guys talk about 1" groups...but at 100 yds mine will only shoot 2.5" groups with factory ammo, which includes Rem 150 PSP and NATO FMJ's, which is what should be it's favorites.
While this is sufficient as a hunting-rifle...I'm disappointed in it despite my pride of ownership (looks and quality of finish) due to it's less-than-wonderful accuracy.
I'm told that it's a much better rifle in .243 and that the .308 has always been one of Ruger's least-accurate calibers (in this model.) A reputable gun-smith has offered to re-bed it, believing that Mannlicher-style bedding is critical in .308 due to barrel-resonance. But I don't want it messed-with.

If I could trade it for a similar condition (like new) .243 ....I would.

I heard about the accuracy problem with full length stocks before. So, I had a well known local gunsmith take mine out of the wood and look at it. There was four pressure points starting at the chamber area all the way out to including one at the metal cap on the end. He said that the first shot would be on, then after the barrel heated up it would wander because of all the pressure points. I never shot it before having it "fixed", but it was the best thing as far as acuracy goes to have the small amount of work done. I think over the years the wood collects a bit of moisture and will swell causing the pressure points that give the accuracy issues. I would do it again, it doesn't hurt the price or originality of the rifle.

 

[mcknight77]

I have an RSI in .308 purchased back in the mid-80's.
I agree...it's an exceptionally beautiful rifle/carbine...but.... I've always been disappointed in it's accuracy.
You guys talk about 1" groups...but at 100 yds mine will only shoot 2.5" groups with factory ammo, which includes Rem 150 PSP and NATO FMJ's, which is what should be it's favorites.
While this is sufficient as a hunting-rifle...I'm disappointed in it despite my pride of ownership (looks and quality of finish) due to it's less-than-wonderful accuracy.
I'm told that it's a much better rifle in .243 and that the .308 has always been one of Ruger's least-accurate calibers (in this model.) A reputable gun-smith has offered to re-bed it, believing that Mannlicher-style bedding is critical in .308 due to barrel-resonance. But I don't want it messed-with.

If I could trade it for a similar condition (like new) .243 ....I would.

As you know, every rifle is different. My M77RSI in .308Win will shoot .5MOA or better with 47gr of W748 and a 150gr NPT.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

2.5" 100 yard groups with factory ammo really isn't all that bad in my experience.

If I can't cut "factory" group size in half with my handloads I figure I'm doing something wrong, not the rifle. My first handloading experience showed me how much the individual gun and its ammunition work together as a system. Once you get that system figured out you can do a lot with simple load tweaking.

I get about 2-3" groups from factory ammo with my Savage 12BVSS in .243. With my handloads they are almost always sub MOA if I do my part, as they say. Some have even been one-holers, but those are more luck than skill, I'm afraid.

Factory ammo sucks for accuracy, in my experience. Even the "match" stuff is nowhere near as consistent as what a handloader can accomplish. They have to make their stuff work "ok" in a variety of guns, where you have the ability to create ammo that your gun actually likes.

-- Sam

 

[guidedfishing]

agreed my RSI in .308 will hold sub 1 in with just about anything I put in it. 165gr Hornady BTSP will literally go right on top of each other with a stiff load of IMR 4064.

Good luck
GF

 

[JTGant]

I couldn't find a 1-RSI in 7 x57 in my area, but my local FFL could find was a new one in 270 Win....needless to say....it went home with me.
I'm happy (partly caus' the vast majority of my rifles are 270)....on top sits a Leo 4.5-14xx4mm SF 30mm tube gloss scope.

5/31/2012 Rev.....
Found a 7x57 1-RSI thru one of the local dealers.... last one.... was actually a few dollars less than I paid for the .270 model.... it'll be here Monday.... ordered the same scope ....
This one will be for my oldest grandson graduation's from the USNA next year.

 

[RJ556]

Wow! RSI's, "one holers, .5" groups. 3/4" groups? You guys must have some fine RSI shooting skills. I'm going to have to get one of you guys to teach me how to shoot a Ruger RSI. I did not realize that these carbines produced target grade accuracy.

 

[ClintV]

RJ,
some of them will, some of them won't.

I have a No.1 RSI I picked up off the board here, partly because I've always wanted a 7X57, partly because I wanted another Mannlicher. I did not have expectations of stellar accuracy, based on the other No.1s I've owned. All of them would go into 1.5"-2" with some load work, but none has been a one hole rifle. I guess I got lucky, this 7x57 will keep three darn near touching every time, and that is with CHEAP Privi-Partizan 150s. I'm so impressed with the way this rifle shoots with this ammo I do not intend to even try reloading for it.

I just wish I could get it's big brother (7 mag No1) to shoot half as well. It'll put the first one right where I want it every single time, the next 2 are anybodies guess. :? (the first one is the only one that really counts anyway....right? 8) )

 

[PAShooter]

My 77 RSI .308 (1980s tang safety) shoots nice groups @about 1''. I was always surprised at how well it shoots. That short 18 1/2" barrel has something to do with it. The very thin barrel requires a long time between shots for grouping. This was my go to deer rifle in PA woods for a long time.

 

[RJ556]

ClintV, it sounds like you did get very lucky with that 7x57RSI. That 7x57 is a great caliber to have a good shooter in. I have a Lipseys Limited Edition stainless M77RSI in 7x57. I haven't shot it a whole lot, but some. It likes heavy bullets. With factory 154 and 175 grain loads, I have got some groups between just over an inch and an inch and a half with a scope mounted, which I am happy with. Off of a rest, I can keep several shots in 2.5" or so with XS ghost ring sights, which is the sights I plan to hunt this gun with.

 

[4Sixteen]

Here's my .308 Mark II International. It shoots sub-MOA consistently after the Jard trigger kit retrofit. It has a Bushnell Elite 3200 fixed 10x scope and the barrel is free floating.

The 3 shot 2" group shown is at 250 yards, the load (as always, safe in my particular rifle only) is 42.5 gr of H4895 with 180 gr Remington core-lokt spitzer bullets, BR2 primers and Winchester brass 8) -

 

[pamtnman]

Bought a 99% RSI .308 six months ago from a guy selling it in the local newspaper. Just had a Timney trigger installed. Now it's going to the range. Hopefully it'll have accuracy that matches the new crisp trigger. A couple of crates of Chinese .308 fmj should be enough to get it sighted in.

 

[gregs45auto]

I bought a ruger rsi in 308 several years ago. Poor accuracy, Regret it would not qualify in the same class as a smoothbore musket. I traded it for a remington model 7 in 308. My other rifle is a tang safety 30-06. greg

 

[pamtnman]

I bought a ruger rsi in 308 several years ago. Poor accuracy, Regret it would not qualify in the same class as a smoothbore musket. I traded it for a remington model 7 in 308. My other rifle is a tang safety 30-06. greg

Not to quibble or question your decision, what do you define as poor accuracy? Poor enough to get rid of the gun.

I'm looking for nothing better than 1" at 100 yards, and I'm happy with 2". Was your gun performing worse than that?