Push Feed Paddle Stock Ruger

[MTMeatHunter]

My only floater at the moment is a Nightforce SHV. I’m thinking it deserves a classic leupy. I’ll just have to be real careful not to drop it more than 6” because we’ve all seen what a 6” drop in Form’s tests can do to them. Plus I don’t want to scratch anything

 

[packer58]

Hey Meat hunter, not trying to derail your train but have a question for you or anyone else with some history with this model. The reason my rifle gets rare use is that it appears that the integrated base is at a slight skew to the bore, iv'e put a couple different scopes on it (Leupolds) and a few sets of rings (Leupold) and continue to pretty much max out the windage adjustment on the scopes to get to zero at 100 yrds. Sounds like your dad has several, has he ever mentioned this issue ??

 

[Brando]

Love those paddle stocks. My main hunting rifle is a paddle stock M77 in .338 win purchased in 1999. Featuring a classic vari-x iii Leupold.

I won’t retire this rifle until I can no longer handle the recoil or can no long find .338 win ammo.

Packer,
I run the stock Ruger rings and haven't experienced any issues.

 

[Phil j]

My only floater at the moment is a Nightforce SHV. I’m thinking it deserves a classic leupy. I’ll just have to be real careful not to drop it more than 6” because we’ve all seen what a 6” drop in Form’s tests can do to them. Plus I don’t want to scratch anything

I have a few I'm getting ready to list if you are interested.

 

[avgjoe]

I just put new rings on mine last year. The bases are off set so you have to use different height rings. Low/medium, medium/ high, or high/x-high. I went with ss ruger rings in low and medium for a 40mm. Heavy but they match the gun nice.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Hey Meat hunter, not trying to derail your train but have a question for you or anyone else with some history with this model. The reason my rifle gets rare use is that it appears that the integrated base is at a slight skew to the bore, iv'e put a couple different scopes on it (Leupolds) and a few sets of rings (Leupold) and continue to pretty much max out the windage adjustment on the scopes to get to zero at 100 yrds. Sounds like your dad has several, has he ever mentioned this issue ??

No, we didn’t have that issue with any of ours.

 

[PsRpOiGrRiAtM]

No, we didn’t have that issue with any of ours.

Neither have I. Make sure you’re using the proper (different) height rings in relation to their position on the receiver. Some Ruger rings come in a set of two that are the same height, but those are for Ruger No. 1, 77/22, and Super Redhawk revolvers, off the top of my head.

 

[packer58]

I just put new rings on mine last year. The bases are off set so you have to use different height rings. Low/medium, medium/ high, or high/x-high. I went with ss ruger rings in low and medium for a 40mm. Heavy but they match the gun nice.

No, we didn’t have that issue with any of ours.

Neither have I. Make sure you’re using the proper (different) height rings in relation to their position on the receiver. Some Ruger rings come in a set of two that are the same height, but those are for Ruger No. 1, 77/22, and Super Redhawk revolvers, off the top of my head.

Thanks for the replies guys, your dead on with proper orientation of the rings. I'm familiar with the different height rings on the Ruger 77 due to the receiver configuration. I have not installed Ruger rings as of yet so gonna give them a try and see if they solve my issue.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Thanks for the replies guys, your dead on with proper orientation of the rings. I'm familiar with the different height rings on the Ruger 77 due to the receiver configuration. I have not installed Ruger rings as of yet so gonna give them a try and see if they solve my issue.

I’ve installed a set of the warne vertical rings on two m77s. If you’re okay with the non traditional rings, they worked great on both rifles. I know some guys don’t like the vertical rings but I haven’t had issues with them and I like that they seem to mar scope finishes less than the stock rings. Might check them out!

 

[packer58]

I’ve installed a set of the warne vertical rings on two m77s. If you’re okay with the non traditional rings, they worked great on both rifles. I know some guys don’t like the vertical rings but I haven’t had issues with them and I like that they seem to mar scope finishes less than the stock rings. Might check them out!

I have had ZERO issues with Warne vertical split rings and have installed many sets on my rifles and others, they have been bullet proof with every application up to the relatively heavy recoiling 30 Nosler.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I made some tough decisions and pulled a Razor LH off another rifle and mounted it up in the stock rings on the 270. Cleaned the bore, hit the range, and after a quick bore sight shot the first three shot group with Federal’s 140 Trophy Bonded Tip that went just over 3/4” at 100! I’ll be honest and say that shots four and five opened it up to an inch and a half, but for what this rifle will be used for that is plenty. I may end up tinkering down the road but at the range I made an adjustment, rang the 8” gong at 300 and headed home!

 

[eLightfoot]

I can’t figure out why these rifles are desirable? Why the colt following? You can’t give away a standard M77

 

[Fatcamp]

I can’t figure out why these rifles are desirable? Why the colt following? You can’t give away a standard M77

I will gladly pay shipping on any M77 that needs a home.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Because they’re functional and look freakin sweet! In all honesty I don’t know why the paddle stock has grown in popularity as a bit of a collectible rifle. Since I grew up hunting with them I’ve always liked them and frankly, I don’t love paying the extra on price just because they’re now desirable. But my first rifle was a paddle stock 270, given to me for Christmas from my dad when I was nine years old. I shot my first two caribou, moose and black bear with that rifle. Like a fool, I sold it. Ever since I’ve wanted a replacement so to answer your question, they’re special to me because of my childhood. Nostalgia!

 

[roosiebull]

I call it the OG PRC. 140s at 2950 with a lower BC. Oh well, still works!

i still have a soft spot for the 270... i have had a few and have always liked that cartridge... super versatile, good mpbr, and relatively easy to shoot well. you have a cool rifle! i also like the paddle stocks. i bought an M77 right after they quit building paddle stocks and i hated that thing... if the barrel was warm to the touch, it was spraying bullets. shot a couple rounds good, then would open up to not even being on paper at 100yds..... crazy bad when it warmed up, never seen anything like it since.

i think that was my second rifle, i knew next to nothing about accurizing them, so i sold it with a disclaimer on what happens when it heats up, and got pretty beat up on resale, but the gentleman i sold it to put a new trigger in it, bedded it, and turned it into a shooter.

the paddle stock rugers are cool guns, and the ones i have been around all shot well, and they just looked made for my part of the world (and were crazy popular) if i came across one in the right cartridge, i'll buy it up, i miss them

 

[Dioni A]

Hey Meat hunter, not trying to derail your train but have a question for you or anyone else with some history with this model. The reason my rifle gets rare use is that it appears that the integrated base is at a slight skew to the bore, iv'e put a couple different scopes on it (Leupolds) and a few sets of rings (Leupold) and continue to pretty much max out the windage adjustment on the scopes to get to zero at 100 yrds. Sounds like your dad has several, has he ever mentioned this issue ??

Not uncommon at all. You can send your action to lri and they can correct the misalignment by oversizing the hole to 8-40. It's a decent upgrade for mount strength and fixes the factory misalignment.

GUNSMITHING SERVICES: 8-40 Optic Base Threads for Remington M700 and Winchester M70

A nagging side effect of production grade receivers is the tendency for certain features to be machined slightly out of position. The 8-40 optic base hole upgrade is intended to resolve this issue. By aligning the receiver bore to an axis on the milling center, we are able to correct position...

www.longriflesinc.com

 

[vonb]

Had one in .30-06 and sold it. That was the hardest kicking SOB. I don’t miss it even though it was a tough rifle. It wasn’t accurate either but back then, I didn’t know how to address accuracy issues.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Update:

I wasn’t impressed with the creep in the trigger so I called some local smiths to talk about a trigger job. I found a guy who said that when he was done it would be “as good or better than anything out there”. I don’t know about better than but he did get it to a 2.75lb trigger with no creep. Very nice! Took it to the range this morning and from a cold clean bore the first three went 1/2” at 100. Don’t tell Form, since it’s only three shots, but I’m happy with that! Factory ammo, looking forward to handloads some day.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Here’s another update on the paddlestock from the OP. I finally bit the bullet (get it?) and bought a reloading setup. I ordered up a box of 124 Hammer Hunters to shoot from this old girl. I learned a lot with the first 20 rounds I loaded. Like, a lot in terms of how to handload. I shot two five shot groups with rounds 10-20 at 100 and 300 yards that measured at 1.1 and 1 MOA. I tightened up a few things in my process and rounds 21-25 went .9” at 100 yards. Photo attached. For a 30 year old rifle and a rookie handloader, I’m tickled. And I’m calling that load development good for hunting season!

 

[BCsteve]

I also have an early push feed stainless MKII. Mine started has a .30-06 but has been rebarelled as a .35 Whelen. Took me a few years to realize it was actually a push feed!