Anyone ever build a custom off a Ruger 77 action?

Originally Posted By: RustydustOriginally Posted By: crapshootSemi-custom



Oooooooh! I like that. Tell us more please!

This was my dads rifle. The barrel was shot out. I was going to replace it and keep it looking factory but decided, why?
Sent it off to Christensen arms to have a carbon fiber wrapped barrel screwed on and factory stock inleted. Probably cost twice what the gun cost new.
Chambered it the same, 7mm RM. 9 twist, 26". Topped it with a Burris xtr II 5-25x50 on a 20 moa rail and seekins 6x4 rings.
 
Good enough. I have a tang safety M77 in .25-06 that I would like to make something else out of maybe. But hate to cannibalize a fine shooting gun just to make something else that I dont really need anyway.
 
Not long after 300 BLK came out I rebarrelled a 223. Made an awesome suppressed hog rifle and a great deer rifle for the kids. Controlled feed Mauser type extraction avoided the issues then prevalent with rebarrelling other brands. I've always thought about rebarrelling a tang safety model, but I can't decide what caliber. Maybe a 338/06 one day.
 
Originally Posted By: Rustydust But hate to cannibalize a fine shooting gun just to make something else that I dont really need anyway.

When in doubt, always refer to rule #1 and rule #1 clearly states "need" NEVER has ANYTHING to do with it. Heck, if I only bought or had guns built based on "need" I'd have one h3ii of a lot more room in my safe and LOTS more room on the shelves in my gun room. I, often, have to remind my wife, need, has NOTHING to do with a new purchase or build.
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I think you may have been out in the sun a little to long today.
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I wore out several barrels on a tang safety in 6 Remington, regular varmint barrel weight, they shot 5/8" groups at 200 yards.

Then went all out Putting a Benchrest light varmint 26" long, 12T, on a McMillen Hunter Class stock. I shot bug holes with that rifle. I went to sell it and just about had to give it away. No one wants a custom rifle on a ruger action....at least back a few years ago.
 
Not yet, but have seriously contemplated one as I luv Ruger stainless Mark II/Hawkeye actions. My zytel-stocked 223 I've recently found out is too valuable to start messing with, so I'm on the hunt for suitable stainless gun to toy with. Thinking of a switch-barrel set-up just becuz. There had been one here a few years ago camo'd up in a 17 Predator that I didnt buy and wish I would have.
 
I have two tang safety M77's that have been redone. One started as a 26" varmint gun in .22-250. I was rebarreled with a Douglas 26" tube, again in .22-250. That barrel was shot out and it was rebarrelled again. Now it's a .22-250AI sitting in a Boyd's Classic Hunter stock and is one of my favorite coyote rifles. The other has a Shilen barrel chambered for .257AI and sits in a Brown Precision glass stock. I love both of these rifles and will not part with them.
 
I have had several switch barrel Ruger tang safety and one Mark II. The tang safety were 22/250 AI and 243 AI coyote rifles, and the Mark II is a 6.5x47 Lapua. I also had several Ruger tang safety models in 6 Rem that was rock chuck and p. dog guns.

They shoot great but be aware that if you try to sell them, there is very little demand for a custom Ruger and you will NOT recoup anywhere near as much of your money.

I really love the old Ruger tang safety actions due to the ability to tune the triggers way down, not to mention the tang safety that is right by your thumb.

You hear all kinds of BS on how a Ruger custom will not shoot good, but that is a bunch of nonsense. The quality of barrel, and the quality of how the barrel is chambered is the key, not to mention the quality of the stock.

With the switch barrel 243 AI, I had a McMillen hunter class stock inletted for the Benchrest light varmint contour, 26" barrel with a muzzle break. The barrel was a 12 twist and I was shooting 70g Nosler ballistic tips at 3800. It took a kid 7 shots to get into the Varmint Hunters 1000 yard club that I took p. dog hunting. This old ruger shot three shot groups below .250 with a 12x-32x scope with a tuned trigger of 1 lb, with three inches of the barrel bedded in front of the lug.

Previous to this rifle, I had a coyote rifle built on a Ruger tang safety, with the factory ruger walnut stock opened up for a #5 contour that was 26" long, 12T, Hart SS barrel, zero freebore, 243 Win chamber. This rifle would shoot .250 three shot groups with 80g Sierras at 3400 which was my favorite coyote bullet at the time. 80g Bergers shot just as well in this rifle, but they did not blow big enough holes in the coyotes to suit me, not had the loud, "PLOP" sound that I loved to hear so much.

So, Custom rugers will shoot, but you will suck hind tit when it comes to selling them. As usual, the gunsmith you choose will have a LOT to do with your success.
 
I know you ask about the model 77. But a few years ago i wanted to be the first one to build a Ruger American. Yea a lot of people told me it was a waste of time and money. But after i got it done i love that gun. It Is very accurate. And i really like the 243ai. The Pac-Nor barrel really looks good on it and is what gives it a lot of the accuracy. But like ackleyman said i could not get anywhere near the money out of it that i have in it. But i knew that when i built it and i have no desire to sell it.
 
Lots of folks building off the RAR as well as the Savage Axis. Evidently they are good solid actions and you are always going to have those that ask "Why". Just smile and say cause I can!! I actually like the looks of the RAR action and there is getting to be a lot of parts available for them to.

LOL when do we ever get what we have invested in them?
 
I knew a guy who once his 77 in 243 was pretty much shot out he saved the action and had a heavy Shilen barrel in 243 attached, was a good shooting gun if my memory serves me.
 


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