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Ruger M77 MarkII .30-06 specs/mods????

redbiker
ok, it's been suggested to modify my M77 as opposed to replacing it. Interesting idea, so I'd like some info/suggestions etc. on how to do this.
First, some questions on the stock gun, I believe it to be a standard M77, nothing fancy, wood stock, some etching, blued barrel, not bull or varmint or heavy style.
How much does the wood stock weigh? How about the stock barrel?
Per info from www.getgrip.com (Hogue Manufacturing's site): Is it a long action or short action? Pillarbed or Standard bed? What's the difference in those? They say they weigh in at 2.5 lbs. How much am I saving...
How much accuracy or range do I loose with a muzzle break. Is that the same as porting? or close to it? Does a break flash like porting? ruining eyesight for 2nd shots in low light situations?
Is there low weight ammo for varmints like coyotes, rabbits, etc?
Ok, I know .22 is better for wabbit season, but I can't carry 2 rifles during season and bringing home some wabbits is better than coming home emptyhanded...
Course, it's not a detachable mag, but it is emptied rather quickly, and reloaded as needed with different ballistic rounds....

Once again, all help, ideas, suggestions, opinions welcome.
Myles

Myles
Gunnison, CO
SA Mil-Spec .45 custom
Charles Daly 9mm HiPower
Walther P99 .40S&W
Taurus Tracker 4".357
Ruger Mark II, custom target.
Ruger M77, .30-06
Mosin-Nagant M44 chinese carbine w/bayonet
Marlin-Glenfield Model 100 .22semi
Western Auto Model 1894 .30-.30
"I got a gun for my wife, what a trade!"
"panic, chaos and mayhem, my work here is done"
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • redbiker
    MORE QUESTIONS....
    Ok, I will be sticking with factory loads, as I don't reload and don't know anyone who does. Please bear that in mind.

    ALSO, what's the difference in .30-06 rounds, i.e. .30-06 Springfield, .30-06 Remington, .30-06 Remington Accelerator, etc?
    thanks
    Myles

    Myles
    Gunnison, CO
    SA Mil-Spec .45 custom
    Charles Daly 9mm HiPower
    Walther P99 .40S&W
    Taurus Tracker 4".357
    Ruger Mark II, custom target.
    Ruger M77, .30-06
    Mosin-Nagant M44 chinese carbine w/bayonet
    Marlin-Glenfield Model 100 .22semi
    Western Auto Model 1894 .30-.30
    "I got a gun for my wife, what a trade!"
    "panic, chaos and mayhem, my work here is done"
    0
  • ern98
    As long as you stay with an 06 based cartridge all you should have to do is have the barrel replaced in the new caliber of your choice and all should function as well as it does now. The 06 family of cartridges is; 25-06, 6.5-06, 270win, 280rem, 30-06, 8mm-06, and 35whelen. Any cartridge with the 30-06 case head size will also work, it may just need some feeding modification to work well. If you send the action to a gunsmith who can duplicate the factory contour then you shouldn't have to do any or much wood work in the conversion. The rest of your questions seem to involve custom upgrade from the rifles stock condition. Any improvment in bedding should help improve accuracy. The jury is still debating what effect muzzel brakes have on accuracy. I myself hate them at the range, and see no use for them in the field.
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  • Snellstrom
    Redbiker lets see if I can answer most of your questions, but first let me say that the guns you have talked about to replace your 30/06 are hardly replacements for an '06. If you want to take everything Colorado has to offer up to and including Elk then your 30/06 is the rifle of choice. Also don't worry too much about matching the weight of bullet for the size of game you are hunting as long as you use a heavy enough bullet for the larger stuff, I've taken Mule deer, Whitetailed deer, Blacktailed deer, Antelope, Elk, Bighorn sheep, Mountain Goats, Coyotes, Prairie dogs, Jack Rabbits, Porcupines, Weasel, grouse and Marmots with a 30/06 only shooting 180 grain spitzer boat tailed bullets. Everything died just fine regardless of whether or not the bullet weighed too much for optimum performance on that specific animal. Don't overthink it too much just hunt it.
    Your Ruger is a long action, standard bedded but you can order a Hogue and pillar bed it for a chance at greater accuracy if you choose. The Hogue stock is only marginally lighter than your wood stock ( .5 pound I suspect) if you want a lighter stock check the Ruger website and go to the parts section and look at the modular style synthetic stock with inserts, I believe it is a little lighter. A muzzle brake or porting will assist you in reduced recoil but the price you will pay is in your ears( almost un shootable without ear protection and that don't work for hunting) and the muzzle blast is most unpleasant and in low light you will see more flash, you'll be too busy rubbing your ears after your first shot with a ported or muzzle braked barrel anyways to make another shot. Muzzle brake shouldn't affect bullet velocity or accuracy in any measureable amount. As far as shooting rabbits goes with any centerfire rifle, you better only take head shots, so consequently it matters not if you are shooting a 30/06 with 180 grain bullets, a 7mm/08 shooting 140 grainers or a 223 shooting 50 grain bullets, they all will blow a rabbit to pieces unless head shot.All the 30/06 ammo you mentioned is for your 30/06. Accellerator ammo is a 55 grain bullet in a sabot going 4000+ feet per second, compared to a 180 grain bullet going 2750 or 2800 feet per second. Accellerators are good for Coyotes and Jack Rabbits if your gun shoots them accurately. My 06' only shoots 180 grain bullets accurately but it shoots them well under and inch at 100 yards so I shoot everything as mentioned above with that load.
    I suggest you keep your 30/06 shoot it often and shoot it well and you will save yourself a bundle, as a matter of fact take 1/2 the money you would have spent on the mod or a new gun and get a really good scope for your 30/06 instead, ( 3-9x40 Leupold VX II or a 3.5-10x40 VX III ).[;)]
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  • redbiker
    Thanks to both of you for some good advice. I'll add thanks to all that replied to my previous posts also. I am looking at all of them with an open mind. I realize how personal these questions are, it is like what's better, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, BMW, etc.
    Anyway, I am going to talk with the local gunsmith about all of this. I am well aware that the most important part of hunting is accuracy. I doubt I'm gonna try 400 yd shots regularly and that was part of my reason for changing guns. That and looking for lighter weight in a gun. Guess I need to actually weigh mine and do some rethinking. I hadn't considered just changing barrels. I also just realized I could carry my .22 pistol and a rifle thereby opening up options for rabbits to elk. Guess I could carry any of my pistols for that matter.
    While I don't have a Leupold scope, I do have a 3x9-40mm lit reticle scope on the .06. I also should put in more range time, too, before a final decision is made.
    Again, thanks to all, you've provided me with lots of info, directions to take, and food for thought. I'll repost my final decision, or at least the results of my decision. LOL
    Myles

    Myles
    Gunnison, CO
    SA Mil-Spec .45 custom
    Charles Daly 9mm HiPower
    Walther P99 .40S&W
    Taurus Tracker 4".357
    Ruger Mark II, custom target.
    Ruger M77, .30-06
    Mosin-Nagant M44 chinese carbine w/bayonet
    Marlin-Glenfield Model 100 .22semi
    Western Auto Model 1894 .30-.30
    "I got a gun for my wife, what a trade!"
    "panic, chaos and mayhem, my work here is done"
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  • Snellstrom
    Myles with enough practice your 30/06 is capable of making the 400 yard shots you mentioned. The weak link in the whole set up is always the shooter, it takes a lot of practice to be a good shot and long shots at game should never be taken lightly. I'm sure there is a range near you or some BLM land that offers 300 and 400 yard targets, it is humbling to most hunters to shoot at targets at these distances no matter what rifle they use. But those shots don't present themselves every day either, having hunted Colorado for 20 years I've only attempted (and made) 3 shots past 300 yards in all that time the rest of my big game has been taken at 21 to 280 yards. Practice, practice with that '06 and you'll be fine.
    By the way be sure to spend a little money on good ammo and you may impress yourself with the accuracy[;)]
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  • redbiker
    Snellstrom,
    Thanks for your reply and advice. It's not that I'm afraid of taking 400yd shots, I have in practice, and done farily well. My thinking has been more along the problem of weight, my .06 is 9.5 lbs. My health has not been so great lately, specifically strength and endurance. This is related to arthritic and spinal/nerve problems. I'm thinking that if/when I hike around to hunt, saving a couple of pounds will better able me to make that hike. I know lighter rifles may loose accuracy, but to be honest, I've always hunted with smaller .30calibers (.30-30, .30 carbine) with shorter barrels. I bought the .06 a few years ago, before serious health problems, thinking of long range shooting probabilies. Now, I'm not sure I want/can hike the extra distance invovled with a long shot, allowing for the animal to run away a bit before dropping. I am well aware thaat shot placement is everything and also consider myself a prudent hunter in that I'll take a shot I think I'll make and not one I doubt I can.
    Upon further research and talking with local gun shop, I have decided on a new Savage with Accutrigger and removable box mag as my rifle of choice. Still working on calibre, but I'm seriously leaning towards .243Win. I've a friend that bought a Ruger comapct M77 in.243 for his 13yr old and they have gotten quite a few deer and small game with it.
    Thanks again,
    Myles

    Myles
    Gunnison, CO
    SA Mil-Spec .45 custom
    Charles Daly 9mm HiPower
    Walther P99 .40S&W
    Taurus Tracker 4".357
    Ruger Mark II, custom target.
    Ruger M77, .30-06
    Mosin-Nagant M44 chinese carbine w/bayonet
    Marlin-Glenfield Model 100 .22semi
    Western Auto Model 1894 .30-.30
    "I got a gun for my wife, what a trade!"
    "panic, chaos and mayhem, my work here is done"
    0

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