RE: Ruger M77
For the better part of five years I carried an older SS Ruger 77 (skeletonized synthetic stock) while in Alaska. Though it was chambered in a different caliber, (.338 Winchester Magnum). That rifle spent many miles riding in an ATV gun boot and quite a number " a foot" with me. It gave me great service and I never experienced any problems or malfunctions with it. I had it topped with a 2.5 X 8 Leupold Vari-X III and the combination proved more than accurate enough to take advantage of all of the .338' s range. The load most commonly carried in it was Federal Premiums with 250 grain Nosler Partitions.
I had the trigger " cleaned up" by a competent gunsmith....and had him install a " standard swivel stud" on the forend with a spacer and nut inside the forend to secure the stud. This allowed me the use of a Harris bipod on Caribou hunts if I so desired.
All in all I was very confident with the rifle and pleased with its performance!
Good luck with your new rifle!
P.S. You got any more good buddies looking for a " new buddy" ? (Haha)