I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

Been shooting the M77 Mark II in .300WM for a few years now with satisfactory results. But last season into this year my groups have become more and more erratic. By this I mean one hole will be touching the 10 ring, the next might be in the 7, and third could be wherever. They sort of wander. I haven't changed my shootong style at all. I zero at 200. I haven't changed ammo. I'm not sure what's happening but the gun has become "unpredictable". It's within' close for some guys, but I like the 10 ring at 200 and haven't been getting it at the range. So it's no longer trustworthy.

What could have happened?
I hear and read stories about how Rugers are not the gun they used to be since the son took over and the quality has gone down. I've had this rifle for several years and the accuracy I could once depend on seems to have wandered off.

Any ideas?
New barrel?
Scrap it for a new gun?

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I had two Ruger M77 with the tange safety that the stock swelled on them. When that happened I was shooting all over the place. Firts on was a 338win mag. Had it glass bedded and problem was solved. The other one a 7mm mag. I traded for a Remington model 700BDL.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I'll bet the gun is ok, I have a tang Ruger and my brother does as well, nothing wrong with a Ruger...

The nice thing about Rugers is that you can get to each scope mounting screw to check it...That's the easiest thing to eliminate...As mentioned, remove the bolt and clean the barrel, I would also check the screws that hold the barrel to the stock, the front screw should be tightened first and the tighest, the rear screw should just be snug...

I have also seen rifles that quit grouping their "favorite" ammo, I'd try a few more brands...

Finally, check the scope, either replace with another that you know works or try shootinng a square to see if your scope is holding zero.

If all this checks out, let someone else try shooting it.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

Agreed. I would clean itthoroughly with mynormal solvent of choice then hit it with a dedicated copper removing solvent like: sweets 7.62, Barnes CR10, etc.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I would follow the process shown above as well. This was happening to my Dad's 300Wby, which ultimately required a new barrel. He was never good at keeping his guns clean...

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

Butch's bore shine. Clean several times. Make sure you get the chamber/throat. Try again, and you might try different ammo. The barrel might've broken in and doesn't like the old ammo. If things don't improve, things will start to get interesting :DYou might glass bed, recrown, or rebarrel.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

years back when i wanted a 300 win mag one of the things i saw in a review is that the barrels can get burned out after something likem1000 rounds. dont know if its true.i would check the bedding-scope - and mounts. use copper cleaner and a good bore light. after that get a gunsmiths opinion.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

Don't be afraid to havea 'smith at least LOOK at it. I had a similar problem with my 7 mag a year ago. I mean, it was shooting EVERYWHERE but where I aimed. I would be fortunate to keep 3 shots on a sheet of notebook paper at 100 yards. Went through a bunch of of the 'usual suspects' as far as trying to figure out the problem. Finally took it to a gunsmith who figured out there was a tiny 'bulge' near the end of the barrel. Must have had a bit of dirt/ice/snow/whatever in it at some point when it was fired, which created the bulge. The 'smith cut off the last 1.5" or so of the barrel, recrowned it, and $55 later I was back to shooting MOA with factory ammo.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

Good stuff everyone. Thanks. I am religious about cleaning guns after shooting, or even taking them for long walks. It has a synthetic stock (all weather model) and piller bedding (on any Ruger) looks like it would be a nightmare! The scope gets checked regularly. And it's a Nikon Monarch, good quality.

I just noticed that I can not slide a dollar bill between the barrel and forend of the stock! A neighbor suggested it. Could that cause irradic shot placement?

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

If you have uneven pressure from the stock on the barrel, the gun tends to shoot erratic, and the more you shoot it the barrel warms up and creates even more pressure on the stock. It will continue to shoot worse the warmer it gets, usually. Free-floating may cure it. I generally like about 1 1/2 to 2" of the barrel solid bedded, and the rest free-floated.
Another thing that comes to mind is the question of do you know if the lot numbers of your factory ammo have changed from when it used to shoot OK? If you have an old box from the "good" ammo around maybe holding empties, you may want to check the lot nos. with the new stuff that is giving you trouble. I've had guns turn from great shooters to barely adequate just with lot no. changes. Not terribly erratic, just not what it used to be. Handloading usually remidies this when the right combo is found for the gun.
You say you clean your guns faithfully, but unless you are using a good copper solvent like Sweet's regularly, you could have a copper build-up problem that will definitely affect accuracy.
As was mentioned before, keep your guard screws tight also.
Just a few things to think about...............

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

The fact that you cannot slide a dollar bill between the fored of the stock and the barrel means nothing, UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN that the dollar slid in there OK last year when the gun was shooting OK! Maybe the stock was always touching the barrel out there.....

IF the barrel bedding has changed, it might account for erratic shooting. However, a synthetic stock should NOT be weather sensitive. As everyone has already stated, buildup of bullet jacket fouling in the bore might be responsible. Cleaning will cure that.

However, there are a number of other possible causes, such as one or more loose scope mount screws, a loose guard screw, a change in ammunition, etc.

Do you load your own ammo? If so, are you using the same load that shot well previously? Powder from the same can, bullets and primers from the same box, etc.? If you use factory ammo, are you using ammunition from the SAME LOT of factory-loaded ammo that worked OK last year?

Even a change in LOT NUMBERS of the same kind of ammo from the same maker can shoot very differently. This is one of the reasons why tailored handloads are better.....

There are other factors that affect where a bullet hits at 200 yards besides ther gun and ammo. Things like wind and mirage, for example.....

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I am using new ammo. I don't roll my own and this box has been in use since last summer when I started my fall "sight-in" shooting. I'll try another box/lot. I check scope and mounts often. Probably the first thing I'll check being the most obvious. My bore cleaner has been the Outers Nitro Solvent. "Removes metal fouling & powder residue. Good? No good?

I was reading some stuff on Chuck Hawkes rifle site and a product was mentioned called 'David Tubb's Final Finish System'. Anybody try this stuff? Sounds effective and interesting. The article claimed a significantaccuracy improvement. It basically is a system where you shoot rounds that are provided in order to lap or polish the barrel. The .308 kit used as an example came with 75 rounds in 5 different levels of polish. What a concept!

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

No, No, No. You do not want to use the Tubb Final Finish or any other fire lapping compounds in your bore, at this stage. You have been shooting that rifle for a while and the bore is broke in. Any lapping at this stage will only shorten your remaining barrel life or completely finish it off, one or the other.

The bore solvent you are using is OK for powder residue, but to get to the really stubborn copper out, you will need something like Sweets 7.62, Barnes CR10, or Montana X-Treme. If it needs further cleaning or copper removal, try a little J&B Bore Cleaning Compound.Then clean the again with one of the copper removingsolvents.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

No The ruger barrel is not free floated that is a technic that is used when bedding the action. The barrel chanel is sanded to remove wood so that only the action support the gun. The barrel free floats to improve accuracy. The synthetic stock has a slight swell at the fore end so a dollar will not slide down

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I agree with 1-shot! Those "fire-lapping" things scare me. About the only abrasive I am not afraid to get in my barrel is J-B Compound. Use a proven copper solvent like one of thos 1-shot listed!

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I thought this was an interesting topic because I am experiencing the same problem with a Savage 30-06. In the case of my rifle I am convinced it is the scope. I know the Monarch is a dependable scope but all scopes can fail due to parallax/erector assemblies etc.. Shifting point of impact. Do you have another scope you know is good?

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

Joe...You can check that scope by "shooting a square"...This will verify that its doing what it should do....

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

NC, could you explain a little more about shooting a square. My Savage simply quit grouping with same ammo lot #s and everything else. I checked over everything similar to the way you described in your earlier response. Thanks

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I don't trust mine either that's why i got rid of it.

They are bargain guns IMO. Not a serious weapon anymore.

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

Joe...Here's what you do....Make sure all screws are tight, use ammo that you know groups well...

Put a target up at 100 yards, shoot 2 shots....
Adjust scope 4 inches right and 4 inches up, shoot 2 shots...
Adjust scope 8 inches left, shoot 2 shots...
Adjust scope 8 inches down, shoot 2 shots...
Adjust scope 8 inches right, shoot 2 shots...
Adjust scope 4 inches up and 4 inches left, shoot 2 shots, and these 2 should go into your 1st group and you should have shot a square around your initial 2 and final 2 shots....

This lets you know that your scope is tracking well and returning to zero when put there...The times I have done this, I didn't have to go all the way around the square if the scope was bad, it showed up pretty quickly.... Good Luck

RE: I don't trust my Ruger . . .
 

I just checked my m77 all-weather. Mine is a .30-06. A dollar bill will not slide under the barrel. my gun is a year and a half old.

My groups suffered recently because of the crappy bushnell scopeI had on it. I had it repaired, but replaced it with a Leupold and now my groups are better than ever.

Hope your rifle is not the problem.