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I've had a few Rugers in my time, a great 25 06 but a little on the heavy side with its semi varmint barrel and classic furniture. shot well but sold it for a 270 Tikka 695.
I'm intrigued, there seems to be a real following of these skeleton ( paddle stock rifles)
What's the attraction to these classic rifles?
*weight ( how much do they weigh in a long action say? )
*ruggedness
*accuracy
Appreciate any experiences and opinions on this classic.
Cheers
And could you actually paddle a canoe if you needed to ?
Blisters as you can see in my profile pic, a back up paddle has merit when we're hunting in our Canadian. :thumbsup:
Mates got one... Misses everything really well. .308 should be easy but it aint
For me it's purely a sentimental things as I grew up shooting a number. They polish the steel to rather than blast which seems to result in a much more weather resistant finish. The rifles are very much hit or miss in accuracy. They can be accessed but it's nothing out if the box like a Tikka or more modern rifles nowadays.
I like them. As said very weather resistant. I filed down the mag box so I doesn't bind and torqued the action screws in the 'approved' manner. Carries and shoots well.
Just another stocked rifle....nothing special.
From memory they were the first popular 'all weather' stainless synthetic rifle in NZ. And quite unique now because of the stock and polished stainless finish.
Yes, they were marketed as Ruger M77 MkII All-Weather rifles. I bought a 223 in 1994, still have it but it is the least used centrefire. To me it feels front-heavy, and it is the heaviest of my rifles, with the heaviest trigger. The missus likes it at the range, but that is the calibre rather than the rifle I think.
I don't know the attraction - maybe ask @doubleshot he's got/ had a few..
My theory about their perceived following is that people who don't spend a lot of time around a variety of rifles can recognise them easily by the stock from a distance; "ooh that's a Ruger innit? My mate has one, he shoots loads of deer".
Haven't had much to do with them but when we trade one in at work they don't seem to last long on the rack
I remember seeing tons of them in hunting rags when I was young. Was always told the barrels were rubbish.
Ah the old Ugly duckling
Don’t know what the Attraction is to the Skeleton stock I think they are pretty ugly Myself
But alot of people seem to love em
I just got my 1st m77 yesterday wood stock 2506 same as you had by the sounds tang safety model
Haven’t shot it yet but seems a nice rifle very heavy as you said
But waight doesn’t bother me as i hunt from a quad so don’t have to carry my rifle @doubleshot loves his rugers he might know
The only comment I've heard about them is that they're a real shoulder bruiser in the heavy calibres. Seem to recall they are rather thin across the pad.
I think the first of the models had the same barrel issues that the tang safety models had. Sometime during manufacture of the paddlestock they sorted out the in house barrels. The non paddlestock mk11s and Hawkeye are probably a better rifle
My dad is a ruger man, he also shoots pistols, I have shot his m77 and his colt 44 revolver, and the shooting the revolver double action has a better trigger than the m77
I’d say it’s like a bit of a cult following. Grew up seeing them in the magazines as well and also heard about the harsher recoil in the bigger calibers
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The Ruger boat paddle, you either love them of hate them!
I love them. My farther had one in 270 and together we shot a fair few animals with that rifle. Ever since I was old enough to follow him around in the bush I always wanted one for myself and at 14 years old had finally saved enough to buy one after years of mowing lawns, stacking firewood etc. I remember the day I marched down to the shop (with the old man of course) to buy one in 308 only to find that Ruger had discontinued them and replaced them with a more ‘ascetically pleasing’ stock!
Years later I have one in 223 (had to get the paddle stock of the forum Ruger hoarder Double Shot). It shoots alright with its 20” barrel with the cheap HnF bulk 223 ammo, the trigger has been polished/worked and is on par with the two Tikka’s I have and is a joy to carry around the hills. I like the solid ‘clunky’ action and it doesn’t need the same attention after a wet trip that my bloody Tikka does.
I will eventually get some dies and attempt to get better accuracy out of it with some heavier projectiles.
As a side note I believe M77 MKII 223 have the faster twist can anyone confirm this?
"Ruger hoarder" no idea what you're on about...Quote:
Originally Posted by Hayden C
The Skeletons are certainly a solid stock, they have a unique look and do have that "cult" following.
I've had a few, in various cals both rim and center fire
They are actually a heavy stock, and the recoil pad leaves a lot to be desired, they can be replaced with a limbsaver but you have to get the right one as it's not the same as the rest of the factory stocks.
I sold all of mine as I decided they weren't the way I wanted to go, may have another for sale soon in Long Action.
They are fairly tight along the barrel profile and really do need a bit of sanding to open up a bit.
As @Hayden C says the action is solid and easy to maintain, the Mk II's and Hawkeyes are good rifles.
The.223 had a 1:12 twist but the Hawkeyes now have a 1:9, not sure if you'll find a Mk II 1:9...
What were the barrel issues?Quote:
Originally Posted by stevodog
The outsourced barrels were a bit erratic. Not my experience bit widely noted on the net.
I'm in the "love 'em" camp. They came out on the market as the first mass production S/S rifle when I was a high school student in the early 1990s and I thought they were the shit! I got one in .270 in 1995 as soon as I had enough cash to buy it. It is the only centrefire I have ever bought brand new.
Used it for about five years, when I swapped it for a browning A-bolt in .243. While I like the .243, really didn't like the A-bolt (have changed my mind on that since). Sold the .243 after about 18 months and got a canoe paddle in .308, which I hunted with for about 10 years.
In reality they really weren't/aren't that great. They are heavyish, not as accurate as firearms produced these days, kick a bit due to the stock design and that those bloody integral sling swivels will drive you nuts (I cut mine off).
Still they feel really good in my hands, they are completely bomb proof. If I had a lazy $1k or so I'd buy one in completely original condition just for the sake of owning it. A modern classic that for sure.
@doubleshot...did I read that right mate?? You have sold all your rugers? What replaced them? Hope all is well