I have been wanting a .243 for a while now but cant decide on which rifle to get. i have researched many different rifles and i like the ruger M77 the most but have read many bad things about their accuracy. Is this true?
-akhunter177
I've owned over a dozen Rugers over the years, and only had a problem with one
(7mm-08). Overall, the accuracy and reliability of Ruger rifles has been very very good, if not outstanding. I currently have a Ruger carbine in .358Win. that, using factory
ammo, will group 5shots at 50yds into no more than 1/2" when I do my part.
My .308Win. (mod.77RSI) seems good for 1" or less a 50yds with several different loads.
I'm still experimenting with this one to decide on the best load.
When I lived in Wyoming I recall another .308Win., a 25-06, and a .243Win. I had.
All would shoot into less than 1-1/2" at 100yds. (the .308 had the action bedded, and
free floated the barrel).
With the newer Rugers (MK II), you may need to have the trigger pull weight lightened by a gunsmith, or replace the trigger with a good Timney, etc., but that's up to you.
Triggers on the new models are not readily adjustable as they were on the old ones.
Remember that each rifle is sort of an individual when it comes to the ammo that will shoot best in it. Try several different loads to find what shoots best in your particular gun.
Good luck.
I think the accuracy problems you've heard of relate to the time in which Ruger bought their barrels from many different outside sources. Some of the barrels were of poorer quality than others. Ruger for the last few years has made their own barrels and doesn't outsource them anymore. My Step-Dad has a MKI in 7MM Rem. Mag. out of the box with no tweaks this gun shoots Winchester Supreme ballistic Silver-tips under 3/4" of an inch. I say out of the box because he bought the rifle for a hunt that never materialized and it sat in the box for over 10 years without being fired. I put a Leupold scope on it for him and lined it up. The gun also shot Winchester 175 gr power points under 1". I fired these because this is the box of ammo he got when he purchased his rifle.
The one good point given by another response is that you will want to replace or have a gunsmith work on the trigger of a MKII. They are pretty horrible from the factory. I also have a cousin with a 7 Mag in a MKII. This is the most accurate factory rifle I have seen other than varmint weight small caliber rifles. His gun out of the box with Federal Premium 150 gr. Sierra Bt's was an honest 1/2" grouper. He loads his own and routinely shoots the 140 gr Barnes X in 1/2". I think you will do well with the Ruger.
own 5 Rugers, love em all!!! On the 2 I shoot the most, I did have timney triggers installed to improve MY accuarcy a little, but other than that, get it and just just shoot it!! If you can spend a little extra get the Stainless/Laminate stock, beautiful gun!!!
While Ruger bolt-action rifles of the past may not have been shining examples of accuracy because of sub-standard barrels made by sources outside Ruger, the MKII's are all made with barrels made in-house at Ruger's plant, and all seem to shoot well.
Here's a picture of a typical group shot from my Ruger M77VT MkII .22-250 Rem (handload, 50gr Nosler Ballistic Tip BT, 35.7gr H-Varget, CCI BR-2 primer and W-W case):
I have my fair share of Ruger M-77's. All that have been fired shoot very well.My 7mm RM didn't like Federal Premium Ballistic Tips. It shoots Rem 150gr CoreLokts pretty good. I agree if you get a MKII you need to plan on getting a trigger job done, A friend has done several of mine and they now break @ 3-3.5#'s Big improvement. As far as worrying about Ruger's accuracy I wouldn't let it worry you a bit.Ruger has one of the best customer service & service depts in the business.If there is a problem with a Ruger they'll make it right
Ruger Redhawk
__________________
**** NRA Patron Life Member ****
I bought my M77 in 25.06 over 20 years ago. Still my favorite rifle. Try different rounds until you find the one your rifle likes best. Just about every round I tried groups from 3/4" to 1 1/2". Now an old box of obsolete Imperails was far worse.
Ruger accuracy
