Ruger M77 Hawkeye Guide Gun Review Part 1: Is this thing hot overpriced garbage?

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@JayLewisFarmStyle 2 ай бұрын

A lot has happened since this video came out! Check out the entire playlist to watch this rifle go from kinda bad to really really good! Here's the link to the playlist: Ruger Hawkeye Guide Gun: kzbin.info/aero/PLPtUC6Hk3Uz2IsteVKYNc7RKO1tRuTlxS

@johnappleseed9290 5 ай бұрын

I have the guide gun in 30-06, my most reliable rifle. I’ve taken it hog hunting a couple times and I plink with it. I’ll admit I’ve never been out with it in harsh wet conditions but it’s had its fair share of abuse and I dropped it once in mud. All I do is clean it throughly after each use and it’s worked like a charm. In fact I just started shooting out to 100 yards and getting used to the distance. My best 5shot group of the day was ~0.5" Never glass bedded or done anything fancy to the rifle, some people think the stock is ugly but personally it has grown on me, no rust, no defects. And can’t beat that Mauser action.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍

@DJBRIDON 5 ай бұрын

My ruger mk77 mk2 30-06 did the same thing until I used 165 grain. Even with core lokt i was getting holes touching. Make sure your angled action screw is 90inch pounds (super tight). Also make sure your box mag is not binding. I had to file off a couple areas to free it up. You should be able to hear a slight movement in the magazine if you shake it. If it is binding, its putting pressure and throwing off the harmonics.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Great comment! Thanks for sharing👍 In fact the comment section has been great on this video. Way too many in depth comments came in today for me to do them all justice. I will be addressing this comment and a few others in an upcoming viewer feedback segment. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more on this rifle. 👍

@leeturner3143 4 ай бұрын

I left a message here earlier confirming your accuracy issues. My Hawkeye Predator 308 shoots similarly. Got serious about a solution after watching this video. Cleaned the barrel thoroughly and repeatedly with WipeOut foam (again). Went straight to all-copper loads. Several were no better accuracy BUT the Hornady Outfitter 165s and the Nosler E-tip 150s both shoot into 1.25MOA consistently. Not great at all but sufficient for whitetails at reasonable range. A lot better than I have come to expect. Hope you can find a load yours will shoot. Want easy accuracy from a rifle that just runs great? Get yourself a Tikka. Done.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the followup. More to come on this one stay tuned!

@joeunderwood9591 5 ай бұрын

A nephew bought one in 6.5 PRC had similar results. He gave it to me to try developing hand loads that would make any improvement. On this rifle the barrel was touching the stock on one side. I decided to do a complete bedding job, rework the trigger, and float the barrel which fixed a lot of the bad groups it was shooting prior to this work being done. It will shoot factory Hornady 6.5 PRC 147 grain into .850 to .700 groups all day long. My hand loads a shot .600 group with the same bullet. I am glad to give the rifle back to my nephew shooting great but would I buy one????....hell no!

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@chadgronsten9023 5 ай бұрын

Good God… This video could have been summarized in 2 minutes, instead of 18 min 20 seconds. I was hoping to hear some good solid information.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Despite the best efforts of folks spending their valuable time creating free internet content for the public at large to enjoy, there are usually a few malcontents that can't be pleased regardless of the quality, (or in some cases the lack thereof) of that content. Suppose a fellow decided to make a video (or series of videos) related to a particular subject to document to and for others his observations along the way. Now suppose in order to fit all of the pertinent information into that video in order to convey every foreseeable situation that may have occurred along the way, that the video may be of such an excessive length that the average viewer may decide that they're simply not willing to spend the better part of the afternoon watching the dissertation. Conversely if the video is too short and concise one might complain that perhaps relevant information was omitted. I can't speak for the average viewer, but I can say this: In my attempts to continually improve the quality of the content I spend my time and resources on, I often look for examples of improvement from the critics I encounter along the way. That said I clicked on your profile to see firsthand what a KZbin video should consist of, but I'm having trouble finding the content you have produced. Can you provide the link showing your prowess in order that we may view it with reverence and gain from your wealth of knowledge and ability? I'm reminded of Aesop's fable of the old man, the boy, and the donkey. Thanks for watching 👍

@Westerner_ 5 ай бұрын

I have a bunch of Ruger m77’s and Hawkeyes, they’re my favorite rifle(call me biased if you want). Some are better than others for different reasons, I’ve usually have worse luck with the older MK1’s than the Mk2’s or Hawkeyes. Check the action screws, the front needs to be torqued to 95 inch pounds, the rear to 35, and the middle just snug in that order. I’ve seen some rifles go from minute of deer to sub moa just by properly torquing the screws. I’d also check the rings, a lot of scope rings regardless of the manufacturer need lapping. From a design perspective, I understand why they bead blasted the rifle but fail to explain the purpose. It’s kind of a chicken or the egg thing but a bead blasted finish will hold oil better than a polished one will. All stainless rifles will rust, bead blasted finishes absolutely have to be oiled but will then be “more rust proof” for longer than a polished finish. Try using Corrosion X, I’ve had good luck with it keeping the rust off blued rifles here in the PNW. Something to keep in mind, the bore is just like any other stainless rifle and won’t rust any quicker. I have a friend with this exact rifle and exact chambering, it shoots lights out so don’t give up just yet. I’d recommend watching Desert Dog outdoors video on the M77, it’s very informative and he goes over accuracy issues with the platform. I absolutely love M77’s and while they can be a little picky, not the most accurate, and rough around the edges compared to a model 70 there’s not a more rugged or reliable rifle than the M77.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Great comment! Thanks for sharing👍 I will be addressing this comment and a few others in an upcoming viewer feedback segment. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more on this rifle. 👍

@Westerner_ 5 ай бұрын

After watching this video again I want to emphasize checking the scope rings for alignment. The POA POI issues you’re having are indicative of scope related issues. On a good day with perfectly aligned rings Leupolds will put up with very little if any binding/deflection. I know it seems unnecessary but I’ve seen VERY expensive high quality rings and bases be out of alignment.

@johnappleseed9290 5 ай бұрын

The Ruger M77s and Model 70 winchesters are hands down my top 2 favorite rifles. I’ve shot weatherbys, savages, Remington 700s. There’s just something about those first two that are special. Nothing else to say

@Westerner_ 5 ай бұрын

I actually lied when I said Rugers are my favorite, you can’t be a m77/m70 fan without being a Mauser 98 lover. There’s something about the Mauser 98 action and all of its children. Something about the large claw extractor, overall look and feel of the action that just isn’t there with a 700 clone, savage, tikka or weatherby.

@Pays2Win 2 ай бұрын

You torque the M77 (Tang Safety) to 95 inch pounds? I can’t find any data on torque specs for the old M77’s. I have a 30-06 made in 77’. I have it set to 45lbs but I think the old wood stock couldn’t handle that kind of torque at 95.

@MichaelJensen-i3o 2 ай бұрын

I own two of the Ruger guide rifles. One is chambered in 30-06 and looks exactly like yours. The other is chambered in 375 Ruger. Both have been exceptional thus far.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍 We have since fixed this one and now it shoots really well.

@MichaelJensen-i3o 2 ай бұрын

@, I watched it! Good stuff.

@stevetalbottofs236 2 ай бұрын

I have ine as well in .375 Ruger and it runs like a champ

@the_watcher_abc Ай бұрын

@@JayLewisFarmStylewhat was the issue?

@a14kjem 5 ай бұрын

A few years ago, I had a VX3, 3.5 to 10, brand new and it would not hold point of aim on two different rifles sent back to Leopold and they rebuilt it and it came back and worked fine.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍 I'll be switching the scope out to rule that out of the equation in the near future.

@Estes7-08 5 ай бұрын

I didn’t pay anywhere near MSRP on mine. Lots on sale now. Keep them lubed and they won’t rust. Gotta check in the white rifles and pistols a lot. Stainless rusts, Especially when the finish is stainless bead blast. If you can’t maintain guns buy them ceracoated.

@Mountain-Man27 5 ай бұрын

lol all my stainless guns have never rusted anywhere and I live in a very wet and humid climate. Mine are all matte as well. Sounds like poor quality to me.

@shaunzimmerman661 5 ай бұрын

@@Mountain-Man27matte in my opinion say nice its polished onee like the ruger that can start to look bad but that is because they are polished. Ive never had a problem with a 700 that was not. Now i have had problems with stainless being ceracoated.

@NCrdwlf 5 ай бұрын

I agree I have a stainless mini 30 and live 200 ft from the Atlantic . Still have to keep them lubed and clean . Balistol has always worked for me . I have 404 stainless gate hardware on my fences and they still rust . Everything rusts on the coast .

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@blackie1of4 5 ай бұрын

I enjoyed your video.. straight outta the gate.. you've nailed it! I also had an issue.. somewhat similar when I picked up a Ruger 77 this year! However.. I already researched and knew exactly what I'd have to do " if " there was issues 😮 It took me three range trips to validate the purchase.. of course I love mine now ❤ First trip.. right outta the box .. cleaned assembled.. yes.. I disassembled it once I got home.. and put it back together.. mounted the scope.. torched it to spec.. grabbed four brands of ammo.. maybe five.. then hit the range. I truly wasn't happy at all Then.. I sanded out the barrel channel.. cause it was not free-floating.. and changed the trigger spring. I went from four moa to two moa 😮 Third trip.. I added a .002 washer to the bolt to take up slop.. Went to the range and shot constantly moa That being said.. who wants to have to do all that work and upgrades.. just to achieve accuracy 😮 especially when they bought a brand new just under thousand dollar rifle? Love how that Ruger 77 looks.. and I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to do.. in order to get it shooting sub moa 😊 Thanks for sharing your experience PS.. that rifle is still on my list of rifles to buy 😊

@brickhammerSS 5 ай бұрын

I've wanted one of these since I was young. It's too bad to hear about the sorry quality of these rifles especially when you can damn near buy two Americans for the price of this rifle. Wonder if Ruger is putting all of their time and energy into the cheaper end of the business?

@blackie1of4 5 ай бұрын

@@brickhammerSS your on to something.. cause I've bought two Ruger Americans.. and didn't have to do anything to make them shoot amazing! I got the Ruger American Compact 22 Mag and a Ruger American Predator in 358 Winchester.. both of them are amazing!

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@blackie1of4 5 ай бұрын

@@JayLewisFarmStyle you're welcome brother

@gregb.6682 5 ай бұрын

I've owned three model 77 in three different caliber. They say wisdom comes from experience so here's a couple things I've seen. They eventually gave tightened groups with a bit of hand load trial and error and they don't particularly like the moist weather. The scope will be happier with a more robust mounting and using quality metal protection/lubricant keeps you smiling no matter what brand you take hunting. Never developed a bad aftertaste for the model but never got to chummy either.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@RickNethery 4 ай бұрын

The Ruger M77 Hawkeye has a feature that i personally love. The safety on the Hawkeye mechanically blocks the striker in it's fully engaged position.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching, stay tuned for more on this rifle!

@eduardoolaechea 4 ай бұрын

I have three Hawkeyes though not the guide gun. The three of them shoot decently well, between 1.5 and 0,75 inches at 100 yards with cheap factory ammo,and once in a while better, which is perfectly adecuate for a hunting rifle. Two of them are chambered in .270 win and came with light contour barrels which heat up pretty fast, both touching the stock at the tip of the forend. While the latter, chambered in .300 win mag has a regular contour fully floating barrel. I've noticed in the three of them that once the barrels have been broken-in groups start to get tighter and when groups start to open, its usually a copper fouling issue. I had a problem with one of the .270s that used to send flyers. Fixed by torquing the screws according to specs. The other .270 is the all weather version and came with the same mate stainless finish as yours, also developed some rust when it was new, but not anymore. The other two are regular carbon steel barrels with a polished blue finish; those never gave me problems with rust at all. Probably because I'm more aware of them and oil the metal parts once in a while. Hope you get to solve your accuracy problem with yours.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

@HPAcustomriflesandcerakote 3 ай бұрын

I became a gunsmith on the Ruger m77 tang saftey building my first long range hunting rifle off one in 264win which i still have thats on its fifth barrel. I own M77 Mark ll and M77 Hawkeye's as well. The Invested casting recievers of the M77 are among the strongest mass produced bolt action recievers ever made and will shoot very well once you address certain issues. Starting by floating the barrel, I then pillar bed them with my own pillars i make since the brownells front pillar they sell doesn't make full bearing surface with the lug because they have the angle of the notch not cut correctly. Pillar bed, and also bed the entire reciever 2" past the recoil lug. Then make sure that the mag box has movement when everything is tightened down or it will bind causing accuracy problems. Also most adjust those action screws correctly and only slightly snugging the middle one which I eliminate the middle screw completely since it can easily cause it to bind. Then scrap those ruger rings, get a ken farrell inc. Pic rail and drill and tap to 8-40 screws to run good aluminum cnc made rings like Seekins, Bat Machining, Warne Mountain Tech, or EGW HD rings. Ruger steel rings are not made very straight or consistent

@JayLewisFarmStyle 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing. We are currently working on the final editing of part 4 for this series. We now have the guide gun shooting some very respectable groups after completing a rather extensive action bedding job on the stock.

@thebigfellar7178 5 ай бұрын

I bought your exact rifle. Mine is a twin to yours. I didn't buy it to use with a scope. Mine shoots great but does rust. I had a big ugly stroll into our camp one night. Never have I ever been so freaked out. Words cannot describe what I felt. I knew if I had pulled my 44 and shot it. That it wouldn't have killed it. You'd be amazed how fast your brain works in a situation like I was in. Everyone had the same thoughts. It slapped a chair, and it disappeared. The animal turned and just strolled off. We were all gone in our trucks and cars in less than a minute. Next morning I was ordering your rifle. I love the sights on it. Never could see that good with all the brass ones. The leaf system works perfectly. I also bought a BFR 30-30 revolver. As far as I know after all our gear was gotten up and taken back home the next day. Nary a one of us has ever gone back up there. #2 of the people don't camp or hunt anymore though, shook them up worse than me. I also bought An Alexander Arms Beowulf 50. caliber after the Ruger. I feel safer with it. #10 rounds is better than 4. And 50 is better than 30-06. With a 350-grain bullet going 2000fps plus. It's amazing how destructive it is. But I'm covered now. I'm still afraid of the dark now and won't step a toe into the mountains unless I'm armed to the teeth. I learned a lesson too. If there are thousands of people saying there is a monster in the woods, there must be something to it. I laughed, but not anymore. That night changed a lot of lives. The worst part of it all is the knowing. That's what really gets you. Is knowing the damn things are actually out there. It changes everything. I wish I had never seen it. Peace.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@mcburcke 4 ай бұрын

Sasquatch are real. Tens of thousands of people have reported seeing them, going back to the Middle Ages. That many people aren't all jokesters. Sasquatch are human hybrids, just like we are; maternal DNA line is human, paternal DNA line is unknown hominin. Don't fear these beings, they are curious about us but are happiest when they avoid human contact completely. We have had an unfortunate history of killing them, so its to their benefit to stay clear, on most occasions.

@ULFISHGETTER 4 ай бұрын

What is a big ugly

@Ali-7676 4 ай бұрын

Is this a bear you're speaking of or something else entirely?

@thebigfellar7178 4 ай бұрын

@@Ali-7676 Something else. A Bigfoot. They exist, they are bigger than told. And scarier. We have no chance against one. Their sheer size is unbelievable. It's the knowing that gets you. I know they are actually out there. My friends know. You can laugh and hee-haw as much as you like. I wouldn't have believed in them either. But seeing one, up close, is a wish I had not moment. Everyone wishes they had not. Knowing you are not the Alpha anymore, changes everything. You become aware. You become afraid. Peace.

@JH-lc8xd 5 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that. I have a M77 MKII in 7mm. She’s always been a tack driver with factory or hand loads, but she had the dreaded “Ruger trigger” that tipped the scale at around 6lbs. I replaced it and it’s under 2lbs now. Oddly enough, my biggest problem is the last 2 leupys I have bought have been defective and had to be replaced. If you are a serious gunner, eventually you get a lemon. It happens to all of us. Might want to contact customer service.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@SomeoneStoleMyHandle 5 ай бұрын

I have a blued M77 Hawkeye originally 30-06 (2021 production) zero rust even with no humidity control, but like yours it was also pretty poor accuracy out the box, 1.5 moa or thereabouts. However, I had I had no intention of keeping mine in 30-06; so I had it rebored to .375 Whelen Improved, cut down to 20", threaded and recrowned, glass bed the action, lapped the rings, and obviously I'm handloading; now it shoots like a house on fire, .71 inch 5 shot group is my best so far. I'm unsure what showed the most improvement as it was all done in one go. What I would suggest you do on yours, is start with aligning and lapping your scope rings. Whether you buy the kit from Wheeler and do it yourself or take it to a gunsmith, it's something that should be done on every rifle in my opinion. After that, as other commenters suggested, confirm the scope you're using or use a different known good scope. Assuming it wasn't the scope or rings, you still want to keep the rifle, and you've progressed past the point of having Ruger themselves fix it; the next step should be to inspect the crown of the muzzle. There should be no nicks, scratches, burrs, or unevenness; if there is, you will need to recrown. Also with the rifle unloaded, stick a cartridge into the muzzle and it should be stopped before the barrel contacts the neck of the case. If it doesn't stop it, then your muzzle was worn from how the factory crowned your barrel and will need to be shortened slightly then recrowned. If this still doesn't improve your accuracy to acceptable levels, I would move on to glass bedding. There's hundreds of videos on how to do this, it's

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Great comment! Thanks for sharing👍 I will be addressing this comment and a few others in an upcoming viewer feedback segment. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more on this rifle. 👍

@robertseafield5810 5 ай бұрын

Check to see if the scope mounts are straight with the receiver. I had one MKII that put torque on the scope. My gunsmith pointed out the problem. I had planned to build a scout rifle so I had a tube type mount put on the barrel. Started putting 1.5 inch groups on paper. This is before the Ruger Scout came out.

@brianklamer3328 5 ай бұрын

Several of the newer M77 Hawkeyes have a weaver/picstinny base adapter on them. Might be there way of fixing this problem!

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@brians2733 5 ай бұрын

I have a Ruger M77 that is around 20 years old in .223 for varmints (mainly ground hogs in my area). It’s unquestionably the most accurate rifle I own. I have had accuracy issues with muzzle brakes, but not on a Ruger.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍

@westfork 5 ай бұрын

Not sure why this guy had such a bad experience with his Hawkeye, I have owned or own 5 of them, Hawkeye Predator 6.5 Creedmoor, Hawkeye African 6.5x55 Swedish, Hawkeye Long Range Target 6.5 PRC, Hawkeye M77 .223, all have shot at or sub 0.50" with handloads and no rust involved. If I buy another bolt action it'll be a Ruger Hawkeye.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@chipsterb4946 5 ай бұрын

Your frustration is completely understandable. However, the muzzle brake isn’t where I would start. The scope and rings would be. Last weekend it took me over an hour to lap the scope rings on a Ruger M77 MK II for a friend. Check the alignment. If it’s off, and I bet it is, I’d just buy some Leupold rings and see if they don’t line up correctly. However, it could be the receiver itself so make sure you can send any replacement rings back. I would try a known-good scope as others have suggested. Modern scopes are very reliable relative to the old days, and Leupold is one of my preferred brands. However, sometimes a lemon escapes any factory. I recently had to send a Vortex Viper 1-6x back for replacement. I sighted it in , shot it once more, then put it in the safe. A couple months later I was going to the range again and looked through the scope before packing it up (thank goodness). The reticle was canted 15-20 degrees. I double checked the scope body relative to the receiver and that was fine. Vortex was great - yep, that happens every once in a blue moon so here’s your RMA. Do you have a bore scope and is the muzzle free of defects? Ruger’s hammer forged barrels are damn good but again every once in a while QC fails. If something looks ugly in the chamber, throat or bore, I am confident that Ruger will make it right. I take issue with you making a video trashing a product based on a sample size of one without giving the manufacturer a chance to fix the problem first. Especially without making the effort to make sure that the scope mounting and scope itself aren’t the problem. And the nasty click-bait video title is over the top 😠

@OneWildTurkey 5 ай бұрын

To me, this seemed more like a big question mark and laying it out as it happened and not hiding how it feels. It didn't come across as trashing it to me.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Concerning the bulk portion of your comment: It was great! Thanks for sharing👍 In fact the comment section has been great on this video. Way too many in depth comments came in from knowledgeable viewers like yourself for me to do them all justice. I will be addressing this comment and a few others in an upcoming viewer feedback segment. Concerning the last paragraph where you voice your displeasure in my antics: Despite the best efforts of folks spending their valuable time and resources creating free internet content for the public at large to enjoy, there are usually a few malcontents that can't be pleased regardless of the quality, (or in some cases the lack thereof) of that content. Suppose a fellow decided to make a video (or series of videos) related to a particular subject to document to and for others his observations along the way. To wit: The "click bait" title you referred to and had issue with actually includes "Part 1" in the title. Now suppose in order to fit all of the pertinent information into that video in order to convey every foreseeable situation that may have occurred along the way, that the video may be of such an excessive length that the average viewer may decide that they're simply not willing to spend the better part of the afternoon watching the dissertation. On the other hand a video might lack qualifying detail in the opinion of others regardless of length. If that fellow decided to spend the first several minutes of each and every presentation explaining in detail his background, knowledge skills and experience related to the subject matter at hand do you suppose the average viewer of said content would hold his views with higher regard? Or perhaps to show in detail tedious testing and inspection processes, involving tools and equipment outside of the normal scope of the average consumer would increase the likelihood of satisfying all who watch. I can't speak for the average viewer, but I can say this: In my attempts to continually improve the quality of the content I spend my time and resources on, I often look for examples of improvement from the critics I encounter along the way. That said I clicked on your profile to see firsthand what a KZbin video should consist of, but I'm having trouble finding the content you have produced. In fact, despite the fact that you're account is over 10 years old it appears you don't actively contribute to the KZbin community by creating content for others, rather it appears your use of the service is in the consumer role. I could be mistaken on that so please clarify. Do you create content for others to gain knowledge and understanding from your superior subject matter expertise? I'm reminded of Aesop's fable of the old man, the boy, and the donkey. Thanks for watching 👍

@chipsterb4946 4 ай бұрын

⁠@@JayLewisFarmStyleno, I do not create video content. I do not make any profit off of KZbin. If you posted your experience with this rifle and the problems on the Ruger forum, my response would be the same. Including the critique at the end. I have had horrible customer service experiences, mediocre ones, and fantastic customer service. Ruger and Sig Sauer (NH) fall in the excellent category - just in my personal experience. Your rifle should shoot significantly better than it does. You bought it new (I assume). If the scope and mounts are perfect, then the long tube the bullet travels through is less than perfect. Maybe Ruger won’t help you. If that happened, then your video title would be OK in my opinion. But that’s just my opinion and everyone has one …

@SCFLsporting 5 ай бұрын

Ruger did not talk about dealing with rust on your “new rifle”. The passage is about maintaining it so it does not rust in the future. Kinda deceptive on your part.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

I'm a tad confused by your reasoning. It specifically says rust may occur and then gives examples of methods to deal with it. How is that not dealing with rust?

@SCFLsporting 5 ай бұрын

@@JayLewisFarmStyle every company offers a section on cleaning and maintenance. If you do not maintain your rifle, it will obviously rust. Maybe you’re new to guns. In that case I apologize about assuming you were aware.

@donaldwarren6542 5 ай бұрын

I have the exact rifle. I’ve owned it several years. When I first bought it I shot ten rounds at 50 and 100 yds with iron sights. I was happy with the results at that time and didn’t fire the rifle again until about a month ago. Decided to take it elk hunting this fall mostly because it had iron sights that I could use as a back up. I put a vortex strike eagle scope on it and went to the range to check velocity and zero the rifle at 100. I had the rifle in a sled similar to yours. The best I could get was 2 1/2 to 3 inch groups. I was using Federal Premium 175 gr Terminal Ascent ammo. I must have shot about 60 rnds and was very frustrated. Thinking it was me, I shot my Ruger precision rifle and was getting about 0.75 in. I never did like the sled. Can’t seem to get a good hold on the rifle and at same time get a good view down the scope. So I switched to sand bags and got 5 rnd groups of about 1 1/2 inch at 100. I switched to my Death Grip tripod and was able to get 1 1/4 in groups at 100. One group had 4 rounds touching (3/4 inch) and a fifth at 1 1/4. The second had three rounds touching and two others making a 1 1/4 inch group. Decided to try longer rang with some newly painted plates. At 200 yards I had an 8 inch plate. I placed 10 rnds in the bottom half of the plate (about 3 1/2 in.). At 300 and 400 yards I have plates about the size of an elk kill zone. At 300 yards had all rnds with in 6 inches. At 400 yards all were with in 6 inches. For some reason, I’ve never been able to shoot well from a sled and do much better prone with loaded bipod, sand bags, tripod or even off my pack. I will be taking it out next week to see if I can repeat the performance. I’m not a ballistics expert but have read the 175 gr weight bullet may be just a little heavy for this rifle. If my plate experience holds I will be staying with this rifle and round for this fall.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@majorspittle1 5 ай бұрын

It is a light weight 30-06 and you are letting it free recoil in a vice mount, this is why you are getting bad groups. Hold fore-end down on the front rest and with some pressure back toward your shoulder while firing and you will get sub MOA with most of the ammo types.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@JohnHabbinga 5 ай бұрын

I have an older M77 that could not shoot. Problem was the front action screw, that taps diagonally into the recoil lug, was not tight enough. Torqued to 95 inch-lbs. Rifle shoots 2 MOA now.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@jeffreylocke8808 4 ай бұрын

Glass bed the action then once cured, torque down the action screw to 90 ft. pounds.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Working on the stock is the next step in our series on this one. I decided to troubleshoot starting with the simplest things like ammo selection and muzzle attachments while documenting the process along the way. We did get some decent groups early on with a couple of varieties of ammunition, but the results weren't consistently repeatable. We then moved on to swapping the scope and ring lapping to rule a bad tube. The stock would have been the first place to start (in my mind) had it not been that I was trying to "fix her" without voiding the warranty as many folks are apprehensive about doing anything that will void their warranty. (It is written in the owner's manual that modifications to the stock such as glass bedding will void the factory warranty.) I feel as though we're getting close to having it dialed in. Got kinda a big deal happening soon that I'm excited about, so hope you tune in for the next segment. Thanks for watching 👍

@jkat66 5 ай бұрын

I own several Ruger M77 Tang safeties, one Ruger Gunsite scout which is a Hawkeye and also a Hawkeye African. All of mine are blued finish. As far as the finish issue I would contact Ruger customer service they are great to work with. As far as accuracy when you recheck your action screws there is also a sequence to order you tighten them in. My first M77 would never shoot better than 1.5 to 2 MOA until I heard of this. I loosened and re-torqued the action screws to factory specs and order and the rifle started shooting .75 to 1 MOA with just about any factory load. Also on the factory rings they recommend making sure they are slid all the way forward in the mounts before you tighten then so that recoil doesn't cause them to slide forward on the initial shot. There have been instances where multiple ammo varieties would not group and owners would contact Ruger. They would have the rifle sent back for testing and if it still didn't group they would replace the barrel or fix what ever the issue was. Hope this helps.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@45-70Guy 5 ай бұрын

I’ve noticed on a m77 I worked with I had worked through multiple issues, one being a stock that had started to crack, but once Torqued correctly on action and scope, lapped rings, and good hand loads a 1 moa or under in a pencil barrel is possible. For my purposes of hunting in a heavy caliber ( 35 whelen ) if it can shoot 1.5” it’s more than enough of what is asked of it ( 300 yards max ) Torque spec on that front screw and a loose mag box is necessary. Ammo being hand loaded was a definite factor as I would consistently see bad loads do poorly ( 2 moa ) and good loads do well ( 1 moa or less )

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@carlwilliams6300 4 ай бұрын

No sir you have every right to question that gun good luck with getting it figured out

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@Dalesarty 5 ай бұрын

Do you have a proven scope that is known to be good and hold zero. As well a wondering zero can be caused by poor ring alignment which puts stress into the scope tube. That rust is crazy if the outside of a barrel rust so will the inside so coating it is still kinda a waste.

@Westerner_ 5 ай бұрын

It’s rusting because of the bead blasted finish. I’m a knife maker every time I’ve made a stainless knife with a bead blasted finish they rust easier than one with a hand rubbed or satin finish off the belt. The inside of the barrel won’t rust any quicker than any other stainless rifle will.

@Dalesarty 5 ай бұрын

@@Westerner_ good to know I thought maybe it had to do with the composition of the steel.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@williamwadejr5302 4 ай бұрын

Well, I have the same gun in the same caliber and like you, I had issues but I’ve overcome them. First the express sight was off. I contacted Ruger and they wanted me to send the rifle to them. I called bs and told them to send me a different rear blade which they did. That fixed that. Second it would shoot fine and then bullets would wander. That was the stock bolts would shoot loose. I’d retorque them and it would shoot fine and then the same thing. The wood compresses. I ordered a Bell and Carlson stock with a bedding block and that ended that. I wipe my guns with Ballistol but I haven’t noticed any rust. I bought the gun chambered in 30.06 because I live in SE U S and that covers anything around here. I shoot Remington 180 grain core lokts and it groups well and kills deer effectively. I hope this helps. Note: I didn’t use the Ruger rings either. I use Warne qd rings which I have used with great success.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Great comment and you're 100% on the stock compressing. Working on the stock is the next step in our series on this one. Even B&C recommends bedding their stock due to variances in the recoil lug tolerances. I decided to troubleshoot starting with the simplest things like ammo selection and muzzle attachments while documenting the process along the way. We did get some decent groups early on with a couple of varieties of ammunition, but the results weren't consistently repeatable. We then moved on to swapping the scope and ring lapping to rule a bad tube. The stock would have been the first place to start (in my mind) had it not been that I was trying to "fix her" without voiding the warranty as many folks are apprehensive about doing anything that will void their warranty. (It is written in the owner's manual that modifications to the stock such as glass bedding will void the factory warranty.) I feel as though we're getting close to having it dialed in. Got kinda a big deal happening soon that I'm excited about, so hope you tune in for the next segment. Thanks for watching 👍 I almost forgot, this one does well with 180gr Remington Corelokt as well.

@williamwadejr5302 4 ай бұрын

@@JayLewisFarmStyle I glad it helped. I did those two things and she’ll drive nails with anything I feed her. I just like the Remi ammo a little better.

@jamescriswell9713 5 ай бұрын

Check ruger scope rings.my rings were so poorly machened with deep machein grooves had to lap untill almost no room left for scope teinsion to grab.then fine sand paper on flat surfase for more scope to grabon to

@KMV-49 5 ай бұрын

+1 on the scope rings. Those Ruger scope rings are terrible. I lapped mine and now my rifle shoots right around MOA.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@danlsmock 5 ай бұрын

I picked up an all weather MK2 in 300 WM in the mid 90's. I put a Fajen laminated stock on it and have taken many elk with it over the years. Load development took some time but once I figured it out it became a sub Moa rifle.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍

@america2revolt 4 ай бұрын

My M77 MarkII All Weather Stainless Ultra Light rifle in .30-06. Has the synthetic "boat paddle stock" it wouldn't shoot anything tight except 180gr Remington CoreLokt but it has a very light thin barrel. The entire rifle loaded with the scope and sling only weights 7 pounds. As for your Hawkeye, have you removed the action and barrel from the stock and cleaned out the bed? All that sticky silicone crap could have swelled the wood and is causing the barrel to be in contact with the stick. Just an idea!!!

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Working on the stock is the next step in our series on this one. I decided to troubleshoot starting with the simplest things like ammo selection and muzzle attachments while documenting the process along the way. We did get some decent groups early on with a couple of varieties of ammunition, but the results weren't consistently repeatable. We then moved on to swapping the scope and ring lapping to rule a bad tube. The stock would have been the first place to start (in my mind) had it not been that I was trying to "fix her" without voiding the warranty as many folks are apprehensive about doing anything that will void their warranty. (It is written in the owner's manual that modifications to the stock such as glass bedding will void the factory warranty.) I feel as though we're getting close to having it dialed in. Got kinda a big deal happening soon that I'm excited about, so hope you find in for the next segment. Thanks for watching 👍

@america2revolt 4 ай бұрын

@@JayLewisFarmStyle Most definitely, count on it!! Try some 180gr and some 220 gr while you are at it. I have seen and read many articles that the .30-06 was designed to shoot heavier bullet more accurately than lighter faster bullets. @JayLewisFarmStyle

@philipbennett1854 3 ай бұрын

free floated and glassed bedded the action on a 338 version. stellar accuracy very nice shooting rifle love it and worth every penny and time spent .

@JayLewisFarmStyle 3 ай бұрын

We just finished being the action this week. Part 4 of this series will be out soon and should be the best yet.

@mr.mr.3301 5 ай бұрын

I’d consider a new tikka ranch in 308.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@robertqueberg4612 5 ай бұрын

From my experiences with various problem children, I would take a close look at the crown and whether the carbon flare on the muzzle is even. Next I would check the bedding, looking for tight spots. Free float the barrel channel. The next step would be to invert the rifle in your vise, and hang a recorded weight from the barrel at the muzzle, and fill the barrel/fore end gap with shims made from playing cards. Some of these barrels seem to defy the norm, and settle down with varying amounts of upward pressure at the muzzle. Business cards work well, and saves the deck of casino cards. Some times the barrels will behave after more rounds through the bore. I have never had to fire lap a barrel, but some guys do swear by it. A small pad of fiberglass bedding on the barrel, just ahead of the front receiver ring is standard practice for some guys. I am subscribing in order to see what happens.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@MrAntuan25 5 ай бұрын

I have the exact same rifle in 30-06. I immediately noticed after trying 10 different loads it's my most inaccurate rifle I have. It shot the Power Shock best so that's what I'm sticking with. But I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with this rifle for the Long Haul though

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@johnappleseed9290 5 ай бұрын

The guide gun is a no nonsense rifle, its laminate stock actually holds well in wet humid conditions .

@The_Bushman 3 ай бұрын

As for the finish and rust, I think its a matte finish issue, I had a Savage 93R17 that was gloss blued and it was great, no issues with corrosion over many years. I then bought a Savage MKii G with the matte finish and it had started to rust after 2 weeks in my safe even after coating it with lanolin

@JayLewisFarmStyle 3 ай бұрын

I believe you're onto something. Thanks for watching 👍

@mollybug9325 5 ай бұрын

It is sad that Ruger may have dropped their quality control. I have a Ruger M77 mark 2 in 338 win mag. That gun out of the box shot less than half MOA on all factory loads at 200 yards zero. I currently load it with 185 grain Hornady's and I zero my guns at 200 yards. The I constantly get dime size groups. I bought this gun for hunting in Coastal brown bear country and it has never failed me in accuracy or quality. Oh it has the old all weather Zytel boat-paddle stock with stainless steel barrel, and it fits me like a glove. I love the control round feed. Out of all my guns if I had to pick 1, this is it.

@ryanglass3570 5 ай бұрын

Whew, with that stock sounds like punishment. I have the same rifle in 30-06.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@jrhunt414 5 ай бұрын

Got mine in 338 with a Leupold used like new for less than half of msrp. It shoots good but definitely have to be careful with sling tension as it affects the barrel. Short barrel is nice in the truck but could use a couple more inches. I like that it’s very heavy in 338 but in 30-06 it’s a little too heavy unless you load hot 220s. Safety is ok but not a quick quiet safety unless you use your whole hand to manipulate it prior to shouldering the rifle. The brake is very loud but makes a 338 feel like a 220 30-06 load. In 06 I would just remove the brake. The steel is not a polished finish and is prone to pitting. Any non polished finish can do that. I just keep it oiled up. Your findings are pretty accurate.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@paulnirschl6500 5 ай бұрын

I have 2 Tikka rifles that came with brakes and both shoot night and day better without the brakes. Also I have a Ruger Gunsight Scout that shoots 1.5 MOA with the factory brake and .25 without it. The only gun I own that shoots good with a brake is a Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@mr.mr.3301 5 ай бұрын

Saw a comment that stainless tikkas used to never rust but now do pretty easy. I wonder the difference.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

I'm a fan of Tikka rifles, but haven't ever owned one. In the age of CeraKote if rather have that than a rusty stainless offering. Thanks for watching 👍

@AKGuru4774 5 ай бұрын

Cheap rifle liked cheap ammo like Hornady 165gr Interlocks. Didn’t matter if I used Lapua Scener Ls/Sierra SMks, It didnt like em. Grabbed a box of 165gr interlocks begrudgingly thinking no gun likes shit bullets, but this one does. Same guide rifle in ‘06. After goin through this im just sticking to Sako and CZ for all my rifles.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching.

@griffinridgeway4751 Ай бұрын

I have had 2 stainless ruger rifles. The 450 bushmaster version of this and the 1895 45-70 trapper. The 450 shot terribly with the muzzle break, and both shot terribly (2-3 moa) until about 80 rounds were fired through them. Its my experience they shoot better with some lead/ copper in the rifleing. I clean the barrels and oil them, but i dont work to get the barrel spotless. The rust was a slight issue on my 450 bushmaster but it never really progressed. I would wipe it down with an oil rag after outings and it was fine.

@JayLewisFarmStyle Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍 Since this video was filmed we have made considerable progress with this rifle. I think 🤔 there are 5 videos out so far and a couple more on the way. For the most part it is "fixed" and is now solidly a MOA shooter with a variety of loads, but it took time and a great deal of effort to get it there. The "rust" issues have been tamed with a generous coating of turtle wax, but haven't gonna away. Eventually it's gonna get a CeraKote job. Thanks for watching and I hope you tune in for the next segment.

@griffinridgeway4751 Ай бұрын

@ if you still want the stainless i would suggest polishing the parts or wire “brushing” them. Im not saying a perfect shine but a more smooth finish. I learned from stainless 1911’s that a rough mat stainless finish actually holds moisture and salts leading to rust issues. A light polishing to make the mat finish more smooth will significantly help stop the rusting, but can have some glare issues.

@JayLewisFarmStyle Ай бұрын

@griffinridgeway4751 I agree with your assessment. A good example of that being that the stainless steel bolt doesn't exhibit the same rust issues, more than likely due to the smoother finish of that metal. We're set up here to do the CeraKote in-house so more than likely that is what I'll do. I'll stick with a color that closely mimics the matte gray of the stainless.

@dustinross110 4 ай бұрын

I see a fun project my friend. I’ve worked on making rifles like that shoot my whole life. My opinion, it’s not range ready yet. Glass bed the action, free float the barrel, get the trigger under 4lbs. Through the ruger rings away and buy Warne permanent attach rings. If possible reload for it. Good luck Amigo.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 👍

@Bandeeforlife Ай бұрын

I have this rifle in 30-06. Had absolutely excellent accuracy. Even better then my long range heavy barrel Remington 700 which is free floated. My 30-06 hawkeye superbly accurate. But I can say I don't shoot factory ammo. I just reload because box ammo is too expensive.

@JayLewisFarmStyle Ай бұрын

I'm glad to hear it, and thanks for sharing! We have done a lot with this rifle since this video came out. It now shoots exceptionally well, and I've worked up a reasonably accurate handload for the same reason. I'm currently getting .75MOA from 165gr Hornady SST loaded over 55gr 4350. There are a couple of factory loads that group better than that, and I'll continue playing around with a pet load as well. Thanks for watching 👍

@busketshovelproductions7560 4 ай бұрын

Love mine in 30-06. Very low recoiling with 150 grain remington green box. Bagged a doe yesterday with it.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! We're still working on this one. (This video is part 1 of the series and we are currently working on part 4) Working on the stock is the next step in our series on this one. Even B&C recommends bedding their stock due to variances in the recoil lug tolerances. I decided to troubleshoot starting with the simplest things like ammo selection and muzzle attachments while documenting the process along the way. We did get some decent groups early on with a couple of varieties of ammunition, but the results weren't consistently repeatable. We then moved on to swapping the scope and ring lapping to rule a bad tube. The stock would have been the first place to start (in my mind) had it not been that I was trying to "fix her" without voiding the warranty as many folks are apprehensive about doing anything that will void their warranty. (It is written in the owner's manual that modifications to the stock such as glass bedding will void the factory warranty.) I feel as though we're getting close to having it dialed in. Got kinda a big deal happening soon that I'm excited about, so hope you tune in for the next segment. Thanks for watching 👍

@Pops-ym2wp 2 ай бұрын

I have four different caliber m77 hawkeye rifles and they all shoot well. None of my scopes are expensive. I suggest that you change scopes and see if you get an improvement. If you do see an improvement, I suggest that you send the scope back to Leupold and ask them to check it out. Good luck.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 2 ай бұрын

Between the time this video came out and the time you commented we've made a lot of progress with the rifle. Video #3 covers the scope troubleshooting. Hopefully you'll get a chance to watch series, but this is the latest video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWbJh62Lj9qnsLc Thanks for sharing 👍

@deuchebaggins8660 5 ай бұрын

This is sad to hear, I have an old M77 in 30-06. You can drive tacks with it with factory ammo, you can send multiple rounds through the same hole with premium ammo. I gave $300 for it with the scope from a pawn shop. It's sad how very few things are made with quality in mind now.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@lisasperbeck3011 5 ай бұрын

Sounds like the scope may be possible cause with such impact shifts.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@rosalindstewart7013 5 ай бұрын

You have got every rite to be ya soapbox mate, I would be super pissed, I think ya handled it well, good luck mate, cheers Yogi ✌️

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

I haven't given up on it yet, but there's work to be done. Thanks for watching 👍

@leoncolwin8645 5 ай бұрын

A proven accuracy load in .30-06 is the 165 grain Sierra soft point boat tail with Federal brass, Federal gold medal match primers and 57 grains of H-4350. I would start by shooting that load. If it doesn't shoot, I would check the scope and rings. Ruger rings often require lapping to ensure proper alignment. I would have a proven scope properly installed with properly lapped rings and I would then try that with the accuracy load. If it still won't shoot, I would use a bore scope to check the barrel for any obvious flaws. Then I would have the barrel free floated and the action glass bedded. Then if it still won't shoot, I would get rid of the rifle and look for a real control round feed rifle such as a used Husqvarna 640 or Husqvarna 1640. (These older rifles can be found inexpensively on the used market and they are much better made than a Ruger) If you can get that Ruger to shoot, get it coated with something like Birdsong Black T and it won't rust anymore

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

@michaelogden5093 5 ай бұрын

Well, the Ruger 77 rifles I've shot all shot around 2.5 inches. I hear the Americans shoot well though. That faux stainless truly is hot garbage.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@andyweis5974 5 ай бұрын

Never been a Ruger guy, not to say I didn't try to like them. I had a mk77, mk 77 II, Ruger American predator. I spent a lot of money on good scopes, multiple flavors of ammo and none of them shot under 1.5 moa. After trying 3 different times I'm good on never buying another ruger

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

I've owned many Rugers. Most were good, a couple were not. The American Gen 2 I reviewed 2 months ago is one of the most accurate out of the box rifles I've ever shot. That said this one was a disappointment.

@chucklewis4456 4 ай бұрын

Same crap with my American. I had 18” groups. Took off break, bing bang boom! 1” inch group

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

My Gen 2 American groups great right out of the box with the brake installed. Here's a link to the review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4PWnIeDeK6WmpY

@LameWolff 5 ай бұрын

Have you used a borescope to check if the rifling is pitted like the surface.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

I have not. I may if the usual subjects aren't the cause of the problem. Thanks for watching 👍

@Steve-vx2xp 5 ай бұрын

I have a 300 Winchester and a 30 06 Hawkeye Mine were exceptionally accurate shooting right with my customs well under an 1” some groups are little cloverleafs

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@brianklamer3328 5 ай бұрын

Try replacing the wood stock and see if that helps, did for my M77. Hogue makes a decent quality with pillar bedding or full bedding block that won't break the bank, could probably find a used one. Thanks for the video.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Great comment! Thanks for sharing👍 In fact the comment section has been great on this video. Way too many in depth comments came in for me to do them all justice. I will be addressing this comment and a few others in an upcoming viewer feedback segment. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more on this rifle. 👍

@MR_Garage 5 ай бұрын

Very unfortunate as I have had my eye on the guide gun for a while. Hope they get it together with the M77. To me, looks like the blasting media was contaminated. I have an M77 hawkeye hunter chambered in 6.5PRC in brushed stainless (floor plate is brushed too) and have never had a spot of rust or oxidation on it. It has a pic rail factory but no brake. I added an SRS brake which makes it as gentle as a rifle gets really. Comes in at .7ish MOA with precision hunter. Very nice, consistent and reliable. To your point on price, I do not feel it was a good value. It was one of those wants. It took a lot to make it how I wanted (trigger, bolt work, boyds stock, blackhound scope, srs brake. Add it all up and I could have had something far better for that cash. Still love it though.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@rosswitte 5 ай бұрын

Is it drilled and tapped for a pic rail scope mount? I think you may need to look at it like an old rifle and check the barrel float, pillar it, and bed it.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@Velocity4000Outdoors 5 ай бұрын

I own 2 M77 hawkeyes one is a LR target 300 and the other is a VT .243 never had the issues you are having. Mine are older rifles. Maybe go through it top to bottom, if it still wont group, i would get in touch with ruger.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@robertseafield5810 5 ай бұрын

To take care of the rust try Flitz. They also make Gun Wax.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@vicjones1179 5 ай бұрын

Free float the barrel then when You do that You will more than likely find that the inletting for the action is sloppy as most rugers I've dealt with all the bedding is in the barrel jammed against the forearm, if this action is in there sloppy as I suspect then pillar bedding or bedding is in order to complete the job on the way to a improvement in accuracy

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@chuckoaks6756 4 ай бұрын

I know we're talking ruger here. have a cz american 6.5x55 and am amazed at its accuracy. I also have a tikka T3 light .308 that gives about a 1inch group. All at 100 yds so take that as you will. The tikka was less than half the price of your ruger. The cz, just shy of $800. If its the name you're after, then by all means get the ruger. If its accuracy your after. ..........

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

This year alone I've purchased 2 rifles (a Stevens 334 in .308, and a Ruger American Gen 2 in .243) that both group well consistently and together cost less than the Hawkeye. We have an incomplete series on this rifle in our channel. This video was part 1, part 3 is out, and part 4 is in the works. Thanks for watching 👍

@leeturner3143 5 ай бұрын

Truth on KZbin!! Thanks, I just subscribed. Been there done that. After much research I bought the Hawkeye Predator in 308 a few years ago. Very similar rifle. The feature set is fantastic as you mention and it runs very well. No rust but some discoloration on the brushed stainless finish. Accuracy is disappointing. Used several proven scopes and 2 sets of Ruger rings just to rule that out. Have tried 16 different loads: multiple brands, types and bullet weights of hunting and match ammo. 3MOA is about average for this rifle. Seems to prefer 180s but just under 2MOA is the best I can expect. I've tried all the suggestions online regarding action screw torque, etc. No dice.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@leeturner3143 5 ай бұрын

Besides action screw torque, I checked bolt lug contact. Full contact on one lug, 3/4 contact on the other. Experts tell me this is plenty good. Confirmed no interference with or cantilevering on the internal magazine. I'm left to conclude it must be the barrel. Considering a replacement.

@JeffBush-sw8yk 4 ай бұрын

Ruger m 77 rifles are probably the toughest rifle on the market. You will have to hand load probably for it.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

I will work up a good hand load for it. That said the average gun buyer is not an avid reloader, so I base my research on loads commonly available to the consumer. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more on this rifle 👍

@SFL3G 5 ай бұрын

Haha, literally the best rifle. The one I have is from 2013 shoots lights out

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍

@nlormanstuckman7408 5 ай бұрын

I have a original M77 in 30-06 tack driver with 150 & 165 bullets. Numerous mule deer & elk

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@sammyprestwood3182 5 ай бұрын

If it's just going to rust it's not a true stainless In my opinion, I'm glad you said this. I love rugers, but I would not be putting that kind of money in a rifle that's gonna sit and rust thanks j for the update

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

If she was a tack driver like the .243 American Gen 2 I'd be a lot less concerned about the surface issues. But to have an overpriced, inaccurate or at least finicky gun with rust issues... Thanks for watching Sammy 👍

@JH-wk9gw 2 ай бұрын

Try 165 or 168 grain bullets. Ive been using my dads mid 2000's m77 it only shoots 165 and 168 sub moa.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 👍 We've actually made tons of progress with the gun since this initial video. To see where we're at now, check out Part 4 or 5 of the series. Here's a link to the latest video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWbJh62Lj9qnsLcsi=zj7q2NpO4Q5T7YZo

@Bill-el3gk 5 ай бұрын

I have several Hawkeye m77’s, they all shoot better with a quality glass bedding job, don’t even waste your ammo intel you do that. Also definitely lap your ruger rings or just buy the Alaska Arms m77 rings they are the best I have found and maintain zero after using the quick detach feature. Then make sure the actions screws are torqued CORRECTLY or it will never shoot well. Cheers!

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@161Sheriff 23 күн бұрын

I just bought one in 375. The stock fits like a saddle on a sow. Same issues as above.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 23 күн бұрын

I'm not sure if you saw or not but we have an entire playlist on this rifle. A lot has happened since this video aired. We fixed the rifle, and now it's a real shooter. If the stock holds together and doesn't swell as others have reported that is. Bedding was probably 90% of the issue. These Green Mountain laminate stocks just don't seem to be of good quality. I wish they were, because I think they're beautiful but I can see me replacing it with a different stock someday. Good luck on your rifle.

@161Sheriff 23 күн бұрын

@ I watched the whole series. Thank you for posting it. I would have bought a Savage. But I’ll get this one fixed

@JayLewisFarmStyle 23 күн бұрын

@161Sheriff the M77 really is a nice rifle platform and I think you will be more happy with it than you would be with just some other bolt gun once you get the bugs fixed, but it is unfortunate to have to do so much work on a rifle that cost that much just to get it to shoot straight.

@roughneck2204 5 ай бұрын

Any chance it could be the scope? Great video as always. Hope you have a blessed day.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

It could be, and I'll certainly weigh that out. Thanks for watching brother 👍

@roughneck2204 5 ай бұрын

@@JayLewisFarmStyle I had a brand new vortex mess up on me. After had been to the range a few times with it.

@danielravenstar4051 3 ай бұрын

Torque the screws correctly 80 to 105 front 50 something rear Just snug at magazine. U may have to experiment with a quality torque device, But as you say , i don't like the rust issues u brought up,, I have 2 m77 mark 2 338 s .zytel, paddle stock Yes, i get slight rust where there is a color difference from a rub mark, I just put some ( blue) Lucas extreme duty gun oil on it, Or the clear lucas tool box buddy oil and the rust melts away, Super simple. It seems what you have is a different steel mix from the 90' s era. To bad, so sad.. So far, as much as i look at other guns to see what i am missing , what is currently available,, I am just happier with what i have,, Try a mid 60' s or 70' s non computerized vehicle also, To top of your smile per mile enjoyment. Thanx for the great video, I feel with you.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 3 ай бұрын

Part 5 (the 6th video in this series) is now complete and waiting on the KZbin overloads to wave the monetization sceptre at it so I can go public with it. In the meantime here's the link to the playlist which part 5 will bee added to in due time: kzbin.info/aero/PLPtUC6Hk3Uz2IsteVKYNc7RKO1tRuTlxS&si=qrxIT4paHF7xKgnG Thanks for watching! 👍

@gregorygreen7912 4 ай бұрын

Take it out of the stock and torque everything to spec. Also make sure the barrel channel doesn't have any high spots. You can check that easy with hi- spot blue made by Dykem. NOT THE SAME AS LAYOUT DYE. This stuff never dries and can only be removed with alcohol or some other solvent. Something is not torqued properly or the action or barrel is in a bind somewhere. It is not normal for a cold hammer forged barrel to behave that way and they use the same presses to make all their barrels, including the GEN2 AMERICAN.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@hillbillyscholar8126 5 ай бұрын

Shoot the rifle with the thread protector installed. Part 2 will be interesting. If you get groups that run under 1.5” you are doing okay for a carbine chambered for a full powered rifle cartridge. The corrosion problem is not unheard of, not all stainless is created equal. Good stainless has a higher chrome content but is harder on the cutting tools. Ruger probably cut a corner here and went with a lower chrome content. Good luck going forward! 👍🦌

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@tbjtbj4786 5 ай бұрын

I like the original 77 and the mark 2 Have a few of them. They were good rifles when they were $ 700 and under. Msrp over $ 1k nope there way to over price now.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 👍

@easttexan2933 4 ай бұрын

Hate to be the one to break the news to you, but the M77 is not a true controlled round feed action. The cartridge does not slip under the bolt face when chambering a round. You can test this yourself by closing the bolt slowly and you will see the cartridge jump toward the chamber rather than being picked up by the bolt. Just because an action has the claw extractor does not make it a CRF action. If you have a Pre64 Win Mod 70 thereabouts, you can test it and see the difference.

@johnappleseed9290 4 ай бұрын

Hickok45 does a great review on the guide gun and does a demonstration how a CRF is supposed to work, idk if you’ll approve but it’s as close as it can get.

@eduardoolaechea 4 ай бұрын

The Mark II and Hawkeye versions of the M77 are controlled feed actions. But thee original models produced between the late 60s and the 80s were push feeds with an external claw extractor.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@easttexan2933 4 ай бұрын

@@johnappleseed9290 I watched it all the way through and the closest he came to a demo was pulling a cartridge from the chamber and then pushing it back in. He never showed in any great detail the bolt picking up the cartridge from the mag. I'll look for other videos.

@joshuamartin2313 3 ай бұрын

I’ve never had a issue with my ruger m77 Alaskan guide gun chamber in 30-06 and 300 win mag took a lot of Critters with both of them if I was dropped off in the middle of no were I would take my ruger m77 Alaskan guide gun chambered in 300 win mag

@JayLewisFarmStyle 3 ай бұрын

90% of the issues with this rifle were because of an out of spec stock. We finally got it shooting like it should in part 4 of this series. Here's a link to the playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLPtUC6Hk3Uz2IsteVKYNc7RKO1tRuTlxS&si=qrxIT4paHF7xKgnG

@matthewschmidt6675 3 ай бұрын

I have one in 300win shooting 165 grain federal no problem at all

@JayLewisFarmStyle 3 ай бұрын

That's good to hear, and I believe that's usually the case. The problems with this rifle in general come from tolerance issues on various aspects and stacking tolerances that aren't a problem by themselves sometimes causes problems when they interfere enough with something else. There are now six parts to the series five of which are publicly viewable. The last one will be out as soon as the manual reviewers get done looking out over. By part four we had it shooting well. Thanks for watching 👍

@CoryHarrison-js6ph 5 ай бұрын

Your groups are indicative of a bedding issue. If an M77 doesn’t shoot it’s generally because the action isn’t torqued right and/or the mag box is putting a pressure point on it. To float the mag box remove material on the bottom of it in the front and rear where it contacts the floorplate until it just barely moves back and forth with the action torqued down. The front action screw should be 90inlbs, the rear 40-45inlbs and the middle barely past snug, use some thread locker on it to keep it from loosening. Yeah you shouldn’t HAVE to do this to make them shoot but the reality is that these are $1000 factory rifles and not $5K customs. If you want flawless fit and finish spend the money for it.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@aaronwilcox6417 5 ай бұрын

Get the stock bedded, recrown the muzzle, get Alaska Arms rings, and ditch the Reupold. Yes, the Ruger 77 Hawkeye series have fallen off in fitment and finish in recent times. They can vary from good to real turds and today are overprice for a hit miss product. Im a fan of them and have a pile of them only because they are controlled feed rifles that were offered in left hand. A mauser-esqe type of rifle for lefties. 3 of the Haweye rifles I own are simply the best rifles I own and have been superb. My GSR scout has been amazing and so durable in bad NW weather and the short handy 338RCM has been perfection. Some of the others have been meh.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

@gunman-6646 5 ай бұрын

Man, that's a bummer! I hate to see someone spend so much on what they hope is a good rifle then to see that happen. I guess I would clean it up and head to the pawn shop.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching Kelly! You know me I'm not ready to give up on it just yet.

@gunman-6646 4 ай бұрын

@@JayLewisFarmStyle 😃😃

@timclements2473 Ай бұрын

you are correct.

@JayLewisFarmStyle Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching👍 A lot has happened since this video came out! Check out the entire playlist to watch this rifle go from kinda bad to really really good! Here's the link to the playlist: Ruger Hawkeye Guide Gun: kzbin.info/aero/PLPtUC6Hk3Uz2IsteVKYNc7RKO1tRuTlxS

@terrybarnes0712 5 ай бұрын

Another great Video Jay.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 👍 Hopefully we can get this thing straightened out.

@jordanharlow2040 5 ай бұрын

I have three rugers older ones they are ammo sensitive all mine like federal high quality ammo

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@JefferyPerdue 4 ай бұрын

I have not read every single comment, but that said people are not understanding the video that you have out you’re not referring to the older M 77 this rifle here is newer than the 20-year-old or even 30-year-old rifles. I will agree with you on the video that you’re referring to. I had the exact same rifle it doneThe same thing was very disappointed for that kind of price don’t get me wrong. I am a Ruger fan, but that specific rifle is a failure. In my opinion. I’m sure everyone does not have the same opinion. Thanks for the video.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

@REDNECKROOTS 5 ай бұрын

It's not a true stainless. It's a coating of some sort. U can see it. True stainless takes weeks of salt water exposure to make it rust.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@joeltowle2737 4 ай бұрын

I remember when the Ruger M77 Mk2 was at reasonable price. I guess that's what the American is for now.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Have you priced a Mini 14 lately?

@joeltowle2737 4 ай бұрын

@JayLewisFarmStyle no. Lol The only Rugers I can afford are the inexpensive pistols.

@michaelladd2107 5 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 👍

@shaunzimmerman661 5 ай бұрын

I think therr is a misconception herr as u keep saying the finishon the stainless steel. There is a blue finishing on carbon barrels as when they are clean they are silver like a stainless barrel. However the stainless barrels are not finished they are either polished or blasted or kind of semi polished for matte.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

@dwaynek.1293 5 ай бұрын

(Some tips included farther down in post) Hello😊 Sorry your having problems . I understand paying so much for something only to be let down by it. First let me say that I would not buy a stainless rifle from Ruger especially one with such a rough finish. Just like with pocket knives if you blast the blade making it rougher you increase the surface area of the rifle . That means more dents and dings and small craters that can cause rusting to happen easier. A high polish is more likely not to rust as easy. I have seen Ruger and Beretta stainless handguns in gun stores have this type of rusting or discoloration on the surface. Stainless is just that it "stains less" but can rust. My brother bought the regular stainless synthetic Hawkeye off me in 300 rcm that had been magnaported. It has a brighter smoother finish on the metal and he has never said anything about it rusting or discoloration of the surface. I never used it. It is also very accurate from what he says. He loves the power of it. It's just sad that Ruger has stopped making all but one factory load in it. My brother also owns a stainless Ruger with the older synthetic boat paddle looking stock I call it.😅 It's a 243 and is accurate and he has never made mention of rusting or discoloration. I know I repolished his floor plate on it and I didn't notice any rust on it anywhere and I'm ocd about stuff like that. I actually helped his friend find and order the exact rifle like yours but in the 300 rcm also. I think it was around 900 maybe. It's accurate too. I've never seen it in person or heard him say to my brother anything about discoloration on the metal. I will contact him though and find out and let you know in a follow up. 👍 Now as for the muzzle brake and the weighted non brake. If you remember browning had a system on their bolt guns years ago called the boss system. It was a weighted adjustable device almost like the muzzle brake you have on your Ruger. You could actually tune your barrel vibration for different loads by turning it in and out to find the sweet spot. I had a 338 Winchester mag in the a bolt and I couldn't get it adjusted to group well at all. I finally just sold it. The weight or brake may be causing problems or the bedding of the barrel could be too. Check with a dollar down between the barrel and see how it fits in the stock. I would always free float all my barrels back when I was more into hunting and load development/ reloading. You can try cutting an old credit card up into pieces you can put under the action in 3 places to raise the barrel until it's free floated. Put under the lug , bottom front of action and bottom rear of action. Just use more pieces and check for clearance until you can run a dollar between the barrel and stock. It worked for me once. Lastly I never liked Ruger rings and how they fit. I would lap the rings with a ring lapping kit if I were you. My friend did this once to some rings that were binding a scope and it worked. Made a believer out of me. So try barrel with and without brake. Check barrel clearance. If credit card helps accuracy just leave them in there. They are plastic and tough so weather won't affect them. Check to see if rings are ligned up straight. see if any local gun shops have the device to do that. Try some 165 grain ammo and and stay away from heavier weights unless you get barrel grouping better. Your groups look like it prefers lighter bullets to me, but it could be the way your barrel is vibrating from brake or if barrel is touching stock. Don't fire groups without proper cooling in between. I wish you good luck and hope some of the things I learned over my almost 60 years now will help you. I think free floating will help the most. It always did for me.😊 Have a great upcoming week.😊🙏

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Dwayne for starters good to hear from you! It has been awhile. Great comment! Thanks for sharing👍 In fact the comment section has been great on this video. Way too many in depth comments came in for me to do them all justice. I will be addressing this comment and a few others in an upcoming viewer feedback segment. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more on this rifle. 👍

@clayed3311 4 ай бұрын

Stainless steel that rusts? Sounds like a savage

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching.

@pseudopetrus 5 ай бұрын

I had a m77 varmint, it was pretty good accuracy wise but too heavy to keep. I have not had a rifle that beats it. Just I am old and a cripple, it was to heavy to hunt with.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@ChronicalsofAl 5 ай бұрын

POS. Very disappointed to hear, as i too thought highly of that gun and wanted one. Wonder what the d3al is with the surface rust?

@JayLewisFarmStyle 5 ай бұрын

Stay tuned for the next segment on this rifle in the near future. Thanks for watching 👍

@bigracer3867 5 ай бұрын

Yes bead blast is more sub to corrosion. It holds moisture. Same as parkerizing holds oil. But might be the mixture in metal is low in nickel and chrome. Get a metallurgical test. My old m77 shoots sub moa with my hand loads only. NOT with any factory. Factory ammo is not that great anyway anymore. Just way it is but overall that is a expensive paperweight. I not be satisfied for sure. It be going back to factory for review and or replacement.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing and stay tuned for more on this rifle.

@lawrencefranck9417 12 күн бұрын

Always found Rugers sensitive to stock/action bolt tension. I wouldn’t buy a stainless gun that rusts. Ruger doesn’t build what I want any longer. Blue and walnut 243 with a 20 inch barrel, 16.25 is too short.

@JayLewisFarmStyle 12 күн бұрын

The Stevens 334 comes in .243 and can be had with beautiful Turkish walnut. We've got one in .308 featured on this channel. Thanks for watching 👍

@lawrencefranck9417 12 күн бұрын

@ yeah… no!