Impulse buy - M77 Mark II picture added

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

wbwanzer

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Messages
1,249
I have been thinking about getting another rifle for the fun of it. I certainly don't need another rifle. Been thinking about something in .243. I don't hunt, so anything I get would be used for punching paper. I don't shoot competitively so I don't need the most exacting of rifles. As a matter of fact I was think budget entry level gun. You know; T/C Venture, Browning AB3, Marlin X7, Mossberg Patriot, Ruger American.

My normal method of operation is to research the heck out of everything before I buy it. So for the past few weeks I've been searching on the forums and on Google for reviews and comparisons of these rifles. I was going around in circles with which one was the best for the money. Then yesterday I stopped in at my LGS for a look. I asked what they had in .243 and was shown a Ruger M77 Mark II. It was on consignment but it looks to be new. It's the skeletonized or 'boat paddle' version of the Mark II. The barrel is like a mirror inside. It had a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5X10 scope on it also. $599 seemed like a decent deal. I played with it for about ten minutes and said 'I'll take it'. :eek: That hadn't been on my radar at all. But I was pretty sure that the M77 was at least a step or two above the level of rifles that I had been considering.

The M77 seems well made and solid. I think the Mark II version is controlled round feed. So hopefully I didn't do too badly for having stepped outside my comfort zone and making a spur of the moment decision.

IMG_20151128_150209746_zpsenxknycn.jpg
 
Last edited:
Ruger American = COMPACT

I own a few rifles = yea a few.

But the Ruger COMPACT American is the one that is LIGHT and fun to hump.

Also its a shooter in .308 and will shoot better than I can ---- all day.

If your recoil shy,or just want to shoot lots = look at the .243 for sure.

The other Ruger,the American that is not a compact is a good buy if your not woods humping [ hunting ].

This was MUCH cheaper than the Ruger Scout Rifle that I bought,and MUCH lighter too.
 
M77 will do you well. So will that Leupold.

Neither are the top of the market, but spending more will just get you... less money!

Good buy, in my opinion.
 
The mark ii triggers were lawyer approved. I improved my own but there are aftermarket options.
I also glassed my boat paddle stock, that shrunk groups down considerably.
 
The trigger is about the only thing about the MKII rifles I don't like, except for that particular stock, both of which can be fixed or lived with. IMO you paid on the high side but it will serve you well for as long as you or your heirs care to shoot it so initial cost is really irrelevant.
 
Now that I've had a little more time to play with it, the trigger is a little heavier than I would like. I would guess it's around 5 lbs. I looked up the serial number on Ruger's site and the rifle was made somewhere in the 1994 to 1995 range.
 
I just picked up an M77mkII yesterday! Mine's a compact in .243, wood and blued, might as well be new. Weighs practically nothing. I gave 500 for it, only problem was no rings (no sights either, of course). Hoping it shoots good enough for deer hunting next year, hehe. Trigger on mine's about right, but with a little overtravel.
 
I dont think 599 is on the high side for a boat paddle 243 ruger. Hang on to that thing.
 
That Leupold scope alone is worth $400 or $500 bucks (from a quick search online).
 
That is the exact rifle my uses to keep me busy processing deer. Her scope is an older vxII 2-7. I kind of like the boat paddle stocks.
 
You got one hell of a deal. I want to be the guy at the gun stores that tells everyone "your rifle is only worth $50 more with a Leupold, Nikon, Burris or Weaver classic scope on it." Those guys have a closet full of scopes at home. If someone thinks you payed too much for your skeleton stock Ruger they probably run tascos. Nice rifle.
 
It had a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5X10 scope on it also. $599 seemed like a decent deal.
Click to expand...


That Leupold scope alone is worth $400 or $500 bucks (from a quick search online).
Click to expand...


I don't recall seeing that description of the scope this morning, was that added later? I'd say you did quite well given the scope.
 
A VX-3 would sell new for around $450-$500. If this is a VX-3 he got a very good deal. It is listed as a Vari-X-III, which is the long discontinued version which would sell used for around $200.

New Hawkeys with a better trigger are selling for $450- $499.

http://www.cdnnsports.com/rugerr-m77r-hawkeyer-243-all-weather.html#.VlqDq79KV5c.

For $599 he got a good rifle at a fair price, maybe a bit on the high side, maybe not depending on exactly which scope is actually on it.

Those "boat paddle" stocks are either love em or hate em. I don't much care for them but they do have a cult like following among a small but vocal group of shooters.

The trigger can be improved upon by someone who knows what they are doing.
 
That looks like a very good deal to me. I dropped $605 including shipping and FFL fee last summer for a stainless laminated Hawkeye in .308 (from CDNN) plus a Redfield Evolution 3-9X40 for $190. I have a stainless Mark II in .338 win mag that has the non-boat paddle stock that is a great shooter. I do like the Hawkeye trigger a little better. If you don't like the boat-paddle stock, a later model will fit.
 
I likewise can't tell if it's a VX3 or a Vari-X, but I think either way the deal's OK. The Vari-Xs have gotten more expensive of late.
 
I love the MKII allweather rifles, they're just a good looking rifle to me.
The trigger is pretty terrible as it comes from the factory but can be vastly improved with little work and without compromising the safety.
There's an online step by step on improving it if you're up to it.
http://centerfirecentral.com/77trigger.html
 
I think you did great. Plus, it feels good to finally have the research and homework part out of the way. Now you can get down to what you really want to do...shoot.
 
That gold colored ring around the front of the scope says 'Vari-X III 3.5X10'. I don't know how old the scope is, but there is not a mark on it. The 20 year old rifle doesn't have a mark or scratch of any kind on it either. As I said in post #1, I had not researched this rifle so I knew nothing about it. It looks brand new. I was surprised to learn that it's 20 years old.
 
Have not shot it yet. Just picked it up yesterday. Possibly one day next week. I've got a 45 minute drive to my range.
 
I don't have a single VX3 but have a number of the older VXIII as well as other variable & straight power Leupolds. I guess I'm old school but I think I'd prefer the old model if given the choice, why is the VX3 better, or is it?
 
I was just fooling around on GB looking at M77 Mk IIs. There is a used 'boat paddle' just like mine but in 25-06 Rem with no scope. There are 16 bids and it's up to $1000. :what: Either those folks are nuts or I got a heck of a deal. Or maybe 25-06 Rem is some sort of rare caliber in an M77. I don't know.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
Ruger M77 Mark II
Replies
9
Views
628
rbernie
rbernie
N
  • Locked
Trigger & Accuracy of the Ruger M77 and M77 Mark II
2
Replies
41
Views
19K
rangerruck
R
C
  • Locked
Ruger M77 Mark II Compact: Experience?
Replies
8
Views
2K
BruceRDucer
B
JRWhit
  • Locked
Value of a Ruger M77
Replies
9
Views
1K
palmrose2
P
H
  • Locked
ruger m77 mk
Replies
5
Views
417
Art Eatman
A
Back
Top