wierd accuracy issues,m77 ruger

[49willys]

Ruger m77 tang safety in 338wm,floated barrel.2 shots nearly touching,next 2 shots nearly touching but 3"high and a little left.next 2 shots back to where first 2 hit.what in the world is going on?scope is tight.its an older burris 3x9x40,did the 338 recoil knock something loose inside?please help!

 

[Slamfire]

Have you bedded the action? Those Ruger M77's have a tiny recoil lug, and Ruger uses angry beavers to chew the wood out of the action area. The wood to metal fit was, and last I saw, poor. Lots of round for the action to slide around. The angled front action screw makes for great advertising, but it won't hold the action in place. If you have not completed bedded the action, then the thing is sliding around inside the stock, each shot. Which, depending on how much clearance you have between barrel and barrel channel, the barrel may be touching the barrel channel, and differently, between shots.

The 70's M77's, the barrels were the best barrels $15.00 could buy. In my opinion, they were crap. Ruger now makes their own barrels, and their hammer forged barrels are good. So, depending on the vintage, the barrel quality is not very good.

The final quess, is that a 338 Win Mag is a monster, and maybe a little flinching has developed?

 

[49willys]

no,I havent bedded it,I'll look into that though.Iv owned 5 m77's from the mid 70's and mid 80's.never had one that didnt shoot good,maybe I just got lucky.I hope I didnt get a turd this time,its a realy nice rifle

 

[Blue68f100]

I had problems with a Burris scope several years back. But it was more scattered. Make sure the base is tight, besides the rings

 

[jmr40]

Burris scopes have a reputation for being rugged, but even good scopes have a usable lifespan of around 30 years. If it is that old or older this may be the problem.

Ruger does not recommend free floating. It CAN be done, but the angled action screw doesn't play by the same rules as conventional rifles. Unless it is done by someone who knows how to work on Ruger's it can make things worse.

The 70's M77's, the barrels were the best barrels $15.00 could buy. In my opinion, they were crap. R

And then there is this. Prior to the 77 MK-II introduced in the early 90's Ruger purchased barrels from outside vendors. Different barrels at different times came from different barrel makers. Some could be quite good, others were junk. It's hard to predict how well any of those old tang safety rifles would shoot.

 

[49willys]

upon further inspection,there is a faint rettle inside the scope.I threw a leophold on it and will give it a try tomorrow.fingers crossed.

 

[beag_nut]

What is a "rettle"?

 

[troy fairweather]

No need to bed the action.
1. Hey the front screw as tight as possible by hand, think ruger wants 90 inch lbs
2. The rear screw tighten like normal, the middle almost finger tight so the plate Closes.
3. When tightened down the mag box has to move some, if not make it so.