In the UK the M77 Mk II represented a solid and well built rifle at reasonable money, however - with the exception of the VT - the one gripe was the heavy trigger. The now obsolete 77/44 in 44 Magnum being the only exception, which was a bit specialised. The Mk I and Mk II could only be filled through the action and showed a hinged magazine floor plate to my knowledge Ruger has never offered a detachable magazine system in a centrefire bolt-action. Naturally blue and walnut was also available.
#RUGER SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP M77 FULL#
They also offer full stainless steel guns, which I always thought visually came off a bit flat looking and soon marked up. On this model they also introduced a finish called Target Grey, which is a sort of alternative stainless. The M77 T got a complete face lift with a new heavier, 26” barrel and a very nice, heavy laminate stock, which resulted in the Mk II VT (Varmint Target). Ruger also took the opportunity to re-think some of the stock/model options with a black synthetic design that I have never liked, due to its permanently fitted stirrup swivels and horrible, dished-in butt section. Not quite as fast or slick as the Mk I but the ability to unload in safe mode is certainly useful. This gives three position: forward – FIRE, middle – SAFE with bolt operation and rear – SAFE with the bolt locked. Gone (sadly) was the tang-mounted unit to be replaced with a Winchester-type swinging lever on the right of the bolt shroud.
Ruger eventually moved the M77 fullbore design forward into the Mk II essentially the same rifle, but with a revised safety catch arrangement. Given the cost of fitting out say a Remy 700 with decent mounts this represents good value for money too. Available in normal and high mounts, they include a set of 1” as standard with every rifle with the option of 30mm if you so desire as extra. They also offer their own, dedicated scope mounting system that requires no rail or other separate bases, as they attach directly to the top of the action. Ruger are also experts in investment casting and believe it or not, all their fullbore and rimfire receivers are made this way. My friend Edward Horton (Director) of Viking Arms Ltd (Ruger importers) still has a Mk I International with full-length Stutzen-style stock and rates it highly to this day. I owned the heavy barrelled M77 T (target), which was one hell of a shooter. The resultant Mk I was a huge success for the company and in terms of popularity in the USA was right up there with Winchester and Remington. Ruger, however gave it their own personal touches with an ambidextrous, tang-mounted safety catch, a cranked and scalloped bolt handle and cleaned up the bolt shroud. The large, external sprung extractor and twin lug bolt being a design that’s hard to beat. Action-wise it was/is a copy of the Mauser M98, which is probably the wellspring for the majority of US and European-manufactured sporting rifles. Now being officially termed as an ‘old git’ my memories of Ruger fullbore rifles go right back to the original M77 Mk 1.