RUGER M77 MKII LIGHTWEIGHT BUILD

[EricBender208]

I have an M77 MKII that I want to make lighter and do some work on. It already has a bartlien barrel and it’s chambered in .300 win mag. I have a guy in Utah that is going to lathe the barrel down and carbon fiber wrap it. After that I’m wanting to put a new trigger in it and swap the VX-3LRP for either a vx-5 or 6. Then I’ll be hunt for some kind of stock “I know there isn’t much out there for them“. Anything else I can look at doing? This rifle is my baby and I want to make it a lightweight shooting machine.

 

[Formidilosus]

I have an M77 MKII that I want to make lighter and do some work on. It already has a bartlien barrel and it’s chambered in .300 win mag. I have a guy in Utah that is going to lathe the barrel down and carbon fiber wrap it. After that I’m wanting to put a new trigger in it and swap the VX-3LRP for either a vx-5 or 6. Then I’ll be hunt for some kind of stock “I know there isn’t much out there for them“. Anything else I can look at doing? This rifle is my baby and I want to make it a lightweight shooting machine.

If you are going for LW, why are you going to carbon wrap it? That won’t make it lighter. A carbon wrapped barrel isn’t lighter than a standard sporter steel barrel.


Stocky’s is coming out with a stock M77’s I believe, and there’s a good chance there will be a ROKStok that will work as well.

 

[EricBender208]

If you are going for LW, why are you going to carbon wrap it? That won’t make it lighter. A carbon wrapped barrel isn’t lighter than a standard sporter steel barrel.


Stocky’s is coming out with a stock M77’s I believe, and there’s a good chance there will be a ROKStok that will work as well.

you don’t think it’d be lighter after being lathed down? (Not trying to argue genuinely curious)

 

[Formidilosus]

you don’t think it’d be lighter after being lathed down? (Not trying to argue genuinely curious)

No. Carbon barrels are not lighter than light steel barrels.

 

[Elkangle]

New stock , send that action in to get shaved up, chop a foot off that barrel

Forms correct that after you lath your barrel that's as light as its going to be...I've always liked carbon myself tho for the simple fact it's a little warmer to the touch

You will be compromising eventually...don't get too extreme.. your goal is to kill stuff

Awesome buck

 

[EricBender208]

New stock , send that action in to get shaved up, chop a foot off that barrel

Forms correct that after you lath your barrel that's as light as its going to be...I've always liked carbon myself tho for the simple fact it's a little warmer to the touch

You will be compromising eventually...don't get too extreme.. your goal is to kill stuff

Awesome buck

He’s going to lathe it down to the exact specs bartlein uses for their carbon fiber barrels and also wrap it to their specs too. It’ll essentially be one of their barrels.

 

[Formidilosus]

He’s going to lathe it down to the exact specs bartlein uses for their carbon fiber barrels and also wrap it to their specs too. It’ll essentially be one of their barrels.

Sure. And heavier than a steel barrel could be.

 

[Steve300xcw]

You gotta boat paddle stocked 300win mag. How light do you really WANT to go?

 

[Matt5266]

Agreed chop it down, flute it or lathe and leave it. Dont waste money adding weight to wrap it. Your just spending money to add weight which is what your trying to lose.

Love those guns, good luck! And that's a dandy buck!

 

[H80Hunter]

If you are going for LW, why are you going to carbon wrap it? That won’t make it lighter. A carbon wrapped barrel isn’t lighter than a standard sporter steel barrel.


Stocky’s is coming out with a stock M77’s I believe, and there’s a good chance there will be a ROKStok that will work as well.

I have an older Ruger M77 with the tang safety that I’d love to upgrade the stock on. Any more info? What you said about sounds good but I’m not sure if all Ruger M77 are created equal.

 

[Formidilosus]

I have an older Ruger M77 with the tang safety that I’d love to upgrade the stock on. Any more info? What you said about sounds good but I’m not sure if all Ruger M77 are created equal.

I would guess it won’t fit a tanger.

 

[wind gypsy]

What contour is the current barrel? Because their lightest carbon contour (#4) is about the same weight as a bartlein #3 steel IIRC (I.E. not light). Agreed with others. To me taking a good barrel and turning it down and carbon wrapping it sounds like a good way to waste money and possibly eff up a good barrel.

 

[BCsteve]

I have an older Ruger M77 with the tang safety that I’d love to upgrade the stock on. Any more info? What you said about sounds good but I’m not sure if all Ruger M77 are created equal.

M77 tang safety are different unfortunately. The M77 MKII and Hawkeye are the same inletting.

 

[H80Hunter]

Dang. Well thanks anyway guys!

 

[Alex white]

I have a M77 .280 rem Tang safety, it was my dad’s gun. He has since passed and I’m building it as my mountain rifle with a tribute to him.

Wildcat customs builds a super stiff custom bedded carbon stock that’s about 22 Oz (11 oz reduction) Timney trigger upgrade (a must with a Ruger)
Swarovski Z5 3.5-18-44 scope.
Weight is about 7.5 lbs before any metal work.
If I wanted super light I’d build a howa 7-08 with a small swaro and be 5.3 lbs going up the hill. But I find a 7+ lb rifle just shoots a bit better beyond that 300 yard mark.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to flute the barrel and bolt and try to lose another half lb. But I’m enjoying the build so far.

Bottom floor plate is getting custom laser etched with dads initials

 

[Cornbinder]

I have a M77 .280 rem Tang safety, it was my dad’s gun. He has since passed and I’m building it as my mountain rifle with a tribute to him.

Wildcat customs builds a super stiff custom bedded carbon stock that’s about 22 Oz (11 oz reduction) Timney trigger upgrade (a must with a Ruger)
Swarovski Z5 3.5-18-44 scope.
Weight is about 7.5 lbs before any metal work.
If I wanted super light I’d build a howa 7-08 with a small swaro and be 5.3 lbs going up the hill. But I find a 7+ lb rifle just shoots a bit better beyond that 300 yard mark.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to flute the barrel and bolt and try to lose another half lb. But I’m enjoying the build so far.

Bottom floor plate is getting custom laser etched with dads initials

I’d be super interested in how this stock turns out. Please start a thread or report back here and let us know.

 

[JAC8504]

I’m a huge fan of Ruger 77

The last two years I’ve had a crush on my 338 federal. I want to find a lightweight stick for my Hawkeye. Stockys teased us with a VG CF stock but here we are

 

[Alex white]

I’d be super interested in how this stock turns out. Please start a thread or report back here and let us know.

Sure will, should be about 3 months, if I haven’t said boo by April please remind me

 

[SDHNTR]

IMO, this juice isn’t worth the squeeze. You’re going square peg into round hole here.

Sell it if you no longer want the rifle and start over building light from the ground up with plenty of other options for parts.

 

[Luke S]

I got a Ruger M77II down to just over 6 pounds bare. Barrel was cut to 16 inches, Fiberglass stock, and Extreme Rifle Works cut metal off the action and barrel. In hindsight a Tikka would have been a better investment. But if you have sentimental value in yours it can be made reasonably light.

Sadly mine is 375 Ruger which is kinda overkill. But it's an example of what can be done. If I had it to do over again I would have swapped the barrel and made it a 30-06. As it is I might handload some 375 rounds to 30-06 level (235 gr bullet at 2400 fps) just so I feel like using it once in a while. I'm really into suppressors now.