Ruger action for custom rifle

[loiblb]

I see the 98 actions used for custom rifles but aimost never Ruger 77 actions. Why?

 

[rugerjunkie]

One thing ive always heard is about the rugers angled recoil lug and a lot of smiths thinking its a pain in the a$$ to work with and fit in custom stocks. I dont get it but im not a gunsmith either!

I have an extra factory stock and a new reamer in 25/264 waiting for a build. All I need is an inexpensive donor rifle. I have a gunsmith willing to do the work. My problem has been keeping all the donor rifles ive bought as is. They were good buys but i cant bring myself to tear em down!

 

[wunbe]

Aside from the 98 Mauser actions, lots of Rem 700s are also customized. Both have a wide array of high quality after-market parts that allow for many options in both aesthetics and precision shooting custom work. Ruger bolt guns do not have the same wide array of choices and the lack of a chorus of folks singing the praises of their custom 77s tends to discourage expensive experiments with them. And, finally, Ruger offers its bolt guns in a wide array of styled and calibers so the need to customize is not as pressing.

The same dynamics do not seem to affect those -- like me -- who love customizing #Ruger 1s.

wunbe

 

[22/45 Fan]

Probably the most common action for customizing is the Savage 10/110 family. They use a "washer" type recoil lug like the Remington 700 and the barrel nut system allows fast and easy barrel swaps with only a nut wrench, barrel vise or action wrench and go/no-go gauges.

With a short action Savage, you could have a 22-250, .243 Win, 260 Rem, 7mm-08, 308 Win., 323 Federal and .358 Win all on the same action, bolt and stock with just the appropriate barrels and 2 go/no-go gauge sets (one for the 22-250 and the other for all of the .308 based rounds)

A long action could be made into anything based on the 30-06 case just as easily (25-06 Rem., 270 Win, 280 Rem, 30-06, 35 Whelen or any wildcat on the same case)

 

[wunbe]

Rebarreling or reboring a rifle falls short of the entry level of customizing IMHO. It barely counts when you consider all that goes into a serious custom rifle. You need to add another 0 to the cost of custom rifle craftsmanship that dwarfs the shade tree skils needed to just screw on a new barrel.

wunbe

 

[Rumrunner]

Robar does or did do customizing on Rugers. One reason Rem 700's are customized more is because Rem sold actions and barreled actions. Less cost than buying a whole rifle just to discard most of it.

 

[22/45 Fan]

Rebarreling or reboring a rifle falls short of the entry level of customizing IMHO. It barely counts when you consider all that goes into a serious custom rifle. You need to add another 0 to the cost of custom rifle craftsmanship that dwarfs the shade tree skils needed to just screw on a new barrel.

wunbe

What you are describing is the extreme of customizing which attempts to turn the gun into a work of art. It is not what every one needs or wants and a much lower level of improvements at far lower cost is perfectly fine for many owners.

There is an entire spectrum of "customizing" between over the counter untouched to everything changed, improved and embellished.

 

[rugerjunkie]

The concept of just swapping barrels does not fall into the catagory of custom. That isnt any different than changing out barrels on a Thompson. If anyone thinks it is , they are very easy to please! I think custom also means more than bedding and floating a barrel. Improvements yes , but my definition of custom goes a lot farther than that.

On the lower end of custom you need to at least get into a rebarrel and maybe some machine work to true up an action. Right there is one main reason Rugers arent used more often. The recievers arent near as easy to chuck up on a lathe like recievers made from round stock like the Rem 700. Getting into custom wood , engraving , and other cosmetic custom options opens up another level entirely to the checkbook!! Someday before im done i'll have one done "my way"!

 

[wunbe]

Buckeye,

I was only remarking on the use of the term "custom" not criticizing rebarreling/reboring as viable options. I have plenty of simple Ruger #1 rebores myself and they work fine, once they are free floated and trigger worked. They just are not in the same league with the true custom guns that are made to my specs for accuracy, hard use, tasteful design, and quality craftsmanship. Anyway, they all go into the woods, no safe queens among them.

wunbe

 

[Kudu m77]

I would use one in a heart beat. But as some of the guys said, there are not a lot of aftermarket parts available, but that does not mean that you cannot build a great rifle from it.

Only once you know what the end product should do, then you will know how much modification and new parts will be needed.

Pieter

 

[OIF2]

Nothing wrong with a 77 Hawkeye action for a custom job. It's controlled feed with integral scope bases and comes with steel bottom metal. Some people whine about the angled action screw, but it's a non-issue. Here's a .30-06 that was rebarreled (24" factory contour), trued and tuned. Bolt handle, floorplate and triggerguard were Cera-Koted, bolt body engine-turned. It's a nice rifle that groups well. Rings are low Leupolds in matte. This has become my #1 go-to rifle. And it didn't cost a month's salary.
Bob



Floorplate/triggerguard were Cera-Koted, which matched the matte-blue perfectly and got rid of the Ruger bird.


Factory straight-grained walnut stock with nice color; exactly what I wanted for a using field rifle. A 1" red decellerator Pachmayr pad was added.

 

[rugerjunkie]

Very nice rifle! I have a question about the hawkeyes since ive not bought one yet. Are the grip caps plastic? I have replaced a few of the plastic on my stainless rifles which is easy enough since I dont need to refinish the stainless once i fit them.

 

[22/45 Fan]

On the lower end of custom you need to at least get into a rebarrel and maybe some machine work to true up an action. Right there is one main reason Rugers arent used more often. The recievers arent near as easy to chuck up on a lathe like recievers made from round stock like the Rem 700.

That's another benefit to the Savage action, they are round actions with a separate recoil lug can be trued up and cleaned up just like the Rem. There are a couple of good gunsmithing shops that specialize in them and the results are very satisfying. From there on only your checkbook is the limit.

 

[rugerjunkie]

22/45,
Im sure that is the case but I can't get past the fact that I find Savage rifles ugly and clunky! I have never held one that felt good in my hands. That alone will keep me from ever buying one no matter how good they shoot.

 

[No-1]

Nothing wrong with a 77 Hawkeye action for a custom job. It's controlled feed with integral scope bases and comes with steel bottom metal. Some people whine about the angled action screw, but it's a non-issue. Here's a .30-06 that was rebarreled (24" factory contour), trued and tuned. Bolt handle, floorplate and triggerguard were Cera-Koted, bolt body engine-turned. It's a nice rifle that groups well. Rings are low Leupolds in matte. This has become my #1 go-to rifle. And it didn't cost a month's salary.
Bob

And the bolt handle is on the correct side.

 

[22/45 Fan]

22/45,
Im sure that is the case but I can't get past the fact that I find Savage rifles ugly and clunky! I have never held one that felt good in my hands. That alone will keep me from ever buying one no matter how good they shoot.

That's a perfectly good reason, personal preference. The newer ones with the smooth barrel nut look a bit better but none of them are things of beauty.

 

[Ruger338-06]

Ruger M77 Tang Safety 338-06





I have a second Ruger M77 Tang Safety I had turnrd into a 280 Remington as well

 

[loiblb]

Ruger338-06 that TS looks great. Where did the stock come from?

 

[Aeroscout9]

Looks like a Boyd's?

Good looking rifle.