Ruger M77 problem .243
 

I need some help. I have a Ruger M77 in .243 caliber. It is a cycling problem.
symptoms:

I cannot get just one case to seat in the magazine unlessI fiddle with it three or four times. WhenI finally get it seated in the mag,I cannot cycle it without it popping out of the gun. It is not cycling shells very well. The bolt rarely grabs the case no matter how many are seated in the mag. Any suggestions???

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Did you buy the gun, new or used? Have you checked the bolt face for any kind of damage?

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

pic coming soon

What is "tang safety"???

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Tang safety, is a safety that is on the top of the gun right behind the bolt, as opposed to being on the side of the gun.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Like, the safety on a Savage.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

It has a tang safety.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Sounds to me that your mag feed lips are bent/damaged. "Fiddling" with it you are seating the round too far forward and as you try to close the bolt it pushes the round too far forward and out before it can grab ahold of it.
Not to put anyone down here, but the fellows over at RugerForum are pretty good at these kind of questions, a few ruger 'smiths hang out there.
And you have the older M77, "tang safety" looking at your pic. Still nice rifles.. if that turns out to be your problem contact Ruger and they'll help ya out.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Yeah, your best bet, would be to have a smith look at it, or ask somebody who knows a little bit more about that particular model. Sorry I coudln't be more help, haugenna.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

I will call Ruger tomorrow.I should just trade it off for a tikka lite 243. I am seriously considering this. What is this gun worth? It has some pitted rust on the outside of the barrel. The gun has scratches in the wood. It was left in a cabinet for a few years without treatment. The gun was handed down from my dad.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

You might get $300-$350 for it. You should probably trade it and put some money towards a Tikka Lite.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

You can try about that.. think I saw one on THR or TFL going about that range.. but it hasn't sold yet. Main issue is the barrels from the older ones don't have a good rep, even though most were fine and still are. A few bad ones slipped out and played havoc on rumors...
If it wasn't so close to Xmas, I'd just might offer you a lil' sumthin' sumthin' on it as a Ruger .243 is my next rifle goal. To be honest, I think the mag feed issue should be a relatively easy fix.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

The heck with it. I am buying a tikka tomorrow. Anyone interested, make me an offer on it. Rings included.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

your feed lips guiding the rounds to the chamber are bent out of whack....this would prevent the rounds from staying in the mag and allow them to pop out prematurely when feeding...an easy fix for a gunsmith to do....dont sell the ruger short just yet....plus the older m77s are kinda nice....how does it shoot anyway - besides the feeding problem?

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

FLcracker...

Shot the 55 grainers from Winchester supreme decent. Not too proud but decent.I am burning through the rest of the ammo now and going to start handloading.

What are feeding lips and could I fix them?

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

update:

I have to load two in the magazine just to get them to stay down. I load 3 fine and 4 fine. A fifth fits and stays down and is in proper loading position. When I cycle the fifth it pops out before I can cycle it in. Number 4 works great, number 3 works good, wont grab number 2. When 1 and 2 are in the magazine, number 1 is loose. Keep in mind on the order....number 1 is put in with an empty magazine. Maybe I will try the smith tomorrow and then the gun store.

Anyone got any ideas?

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

I agree with some of the latter statements, its probably your magazine feeding lips, I'm pretty sure a smith will be able to fix that for a small fee, and then, after he corrects this problem, you need to make sure that you really want to sell it, because, you never know, it could be a pretty decent gun, once the bugs get fixed.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Tell you what...I'll give you $200 for it....Just let me know....

After I get it I'll let you know what's wrong with it....

PS...I own a 1980 model Ruger .243 that I bought new....I've got a pretty idea what has happened....And...I'll also bet that the gun will group well...With the right ammo...

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

My guess is the the mag spring, that Z-shaped spring under the follower has been bent or otherwise messed with.

I took a 77 to the NH plant because a "smith" lost safety parts when doing some work for me. While at the plant I mentioned that after firing a shot or two,the unfired PSP bullets left in the mag were slamming into the front mag wall and getting damaged. I was told it was the mag spring.

That could explain why the follower is not bearing properly against a cartridge or two, and they seem loose. I can't say for sure why a cartridge would pop out, but it could be a related problem. Trying to recall what the mag lips look like, but can't. Also can't see how those would get damaged, if they exist at all, they do not come out of the gun when you unload via the DBM.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Try this...I bet that at some point the barrel was removed from the stock and the magazine box (D-27 in the Ruger Operator's Manuel) was put in wrong...
Make sure the taper on the box goes to the front...While you are at it, make sure the Magazine Spring (D-33) is installed properly...The "hump" should be on the left, so the last 5th cartridge is on the right of the magazine...

I prefer the older "tang" safety Rugers to the newer 3 position safety...The trigger on the tang safetys can be adjusted and I prefer the tang type safety. Its easy, quiet and fast...

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Hmmm..the hump is to be on the left???? The hump has two tapers one steep and one not so steep. With the hump on the left the steeper of the two is in the back....and the bolt catches on that. Also, I don't see a "magazine box". Its just wood on the side. The barrel has never been removed.Gettin closer to that tikka.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Unless you bought the gun new, you don't know if the barrel has ever been off the stock....A Ruger M-77 with a tang safety has a magazine box inside the cartridge well...I own one, my brother owns one, both have it and if yours does not....There is your problem.....

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Ah Hahhh!!!! Now we're getting somewhere! Correct. Every 77 I've ever owned, and that's afew, have had a magazine box. They HAVE to, to work properly. Without that box to guide the follower it's just flopping around in there. No wonder you're having problems!! Get a smith or get online and order the part yourself.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Yup thats the problem. I went to a gun shop today and looked over a few Ruger M77s. I couldn't tell you where that box is now. A little history on the gun. My father bought it new many years ago. It has never been to a gunsmith. He may have taken it apart to clean it and forgot to put it back in. How hard is that procedure? Looks like two screws and I am done. Anything I should be concerned with?

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Actually, three screws...The larger front one that holds the barrel to the stock and two smaller ones on the trigger guard...No real suprises except the front one is tightened good and tight with a larger screwdriver and the smaller ones on the trigger guard, just snug up good...I'm sure someone will chime in with the specs (I think its 65 inch pounds on the front and25-30 on the rear two)...I don't own an inch pound torque wrench...Just do it by feel....

btw...Tighten the front one first, then the rear two...

While you have it down, I'd clean the trigger area as well...

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

NC,

Thanks for your help. Its at the smith now. Screw it, I am just gonna leave it with him. I saw on the Ruger website that it was around $4 for the box and about the same for the spring. Hopefully the guy doesn't try and give it to me. We shall see.

Thanks again for the help.

Nate

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

It's 35 in-lbs minimum and 90 in-lbs maximum on the diagonal screw; 30-50 on the trigger guard screws. Keep your diagonal screw tight and it should shoot well enough for hunting. The torque values are there for someone that wants to get that last little bit of accuracy out of their rifle. Or for someone that wound up with one of the occasional lemons. Just chiming in.. ;) I plain forgot about the mag box myself.. [&o]

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Dont ya love this site at times like this. Glad everyone helped you figure it out.

RE: Ruger M77 problem .243
 

Even though, me and haugenna, have had our differences, I'll still help him out the best I can.