Lamitated stock vs factory synthetic

[Jevyod]

I am looking at doing some work on my Ruger M77 MKII. I could never get it to shoot very well. Most of the time it is 1.5 @ 100 yards with a scope. I know for deer that is fine, but have been toying with the idea of using it for groundhogs. Anyway, I will be taking it to a gunsmith next week, and getting some trigger work done. I was also thinking of replacing the synthetic stock with a nice laminated one; (from Boyd's) and maybe getting it bedded. Is this a wise or not so wise idea? I would like a laminated stock simply because I like the way it looks with a stainless barrel. Or is there something else that I should be looking at doing? I do handload, and I think I am capable of shooting better than that! I have a 1951 Marlin 336 in 35 Rem that I can shoot .6 @ 100 yards and 1.3@ 200. Any thoughts, ideas? Thanks!

[seaboltm]

Laminate stocks are usually heavy due to the glues and resins used to hold the laminates together. Bedding may help your Ruger 77, or it may not. Only one way to know. Ruger 77's are not known for superb accuracy, although many people have 77's that shoot great. Generally when compared to Remington 700's in particular, Rugers come up short in the accuracy department. I think 1.5" is pretty good for a Ruger, and bedding may get you closer to 1", but I doubt you have a sub-moa tack driver on your hands.

[Doc Highwall]

How good is the scope on the Ruger? Have you checked that the scope holds It's zero by shooting it on another rifle of known accuracy?

[paul h]

I've had two M77 mk II's, a .308 ultralight and a 350 rem mag. People that say Rugers can't shoot sub moa most like haven't shot them. Here's the first and third groups I fired from the 350 rem mag when I started my load work.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/evefiles/photo_albums/4/8/1/481101382/382101655_49542BBF7666F93D008372E4744A5A53.JPG

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/evefiles/photo_albums/4/8/1/481101382/982101655_CA001CBF5548559D7F8E8DB57CD601D0.JPG

That was with absolutely nothing done to the rifle, heavy factory trigger and plastic factory stock unbedded.

The .308 is also capable of similar accuracy with preferred loads, though 1 1/2 moa with factory ammo and loads it doesn't like will go 2-3 moa.

I don't think a new stick or trigger work is going to tighten up your groups, but it could make it more enjoyable to shoot. What caliber?

[Jevyod]

I am fairly sure it isn't the scope. I had a Bushnell banner on it and switched to a new Sightron SII and it did not make a difference. The caliber is a 260 Rem.

[HawkCreek]

Before you take it to a smith for trigger work look around on google. There are some simple exploded drawings that show the trigger components of a Ruger M77. I cleaned up the trigger on mine with a small file and some very fine grit sandpaper. You just have to be carefull not to change the angle's. Now mine feels smooth as butter to me and very crisp. I could lighten it some more but for a working rifle like mine I dont feel that it needs it.

Also check out Spec-Tech Industries. They make pretty much drop in triggers for Rugers that get great reviews from the folks that try them.

Laminate stocks don't necessarily mean more weight. A Ruger Gunsite Scout stock for example is about the same weight as an average Bell & Carlson synthetic stock (I said average not some uber lightweight model).

[Nobade]

If you can find one, a factory Ruger laminated stock is made of much better quality material than a Boyd's is. They are much harder, better finished, and of course fit properly already. Same holds true for Remingtons.

-Nobade

[HawkCreek]

If you can find one, a factory Ruger laminated stock is made of much better quality material than a Boyd's is. They are much harder, better finished, and of course fit properly already. Same holds true for Remingtons.

-Nobade

Midway sells a lot of Ruger OEM stocks (including laminate stocks).

[Dthunter]

If you can find one, a factory Ruger laminated stock is made of much better quality material than a Boyd's is. They are much harder, better finished, and of course fit properly already. Same holds true for Remingtons.

-Nobade


No arguement intended Nobade but:

Boyds makes laminates for every major rifle manufacturer. (According to thier latest catalogue)


So "chances are", those Rugers and Remington lamimates you like so much are "probably" a Boyds product.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/image_zps593f776c.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/image_zps593f776c.jpg.html)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/image_zps13c375f5.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/image_zps13c375f5.jpg.html)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/image_zpsa6c5d4dd.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/image_zpsa6c5d4dd.jpg.html)

I think they did a heck of a good job on my Ruger stock!
The action fit in with a great snug fit! It suprised me how well it fit!
Very little work to free float the barrel, and glass bed the action.

As for the relative hardness of the wood, I hope not to find that out too soon! Lol!


What ever stock style you like, give it a try.

Most of my rifles are synthetics. This is a refreshing change.

[Nobade]

No arguement intended Nobade but:

Boyds makes laminates for every major rifle manufacturer. (According to thier latest catalogue)


Yep, I am aware of that. But I work with quite a few laminated stocks, and almost without exception the ones sold by the rifle factories are of better quality than what you can buy from Boyd's. I suspect it has to do with the grade of laminate stock purchased from Rutland Plywood - evidently they have several grades available, and the factory stocks are much heavier, have far more resin in them, and are much more difficult to cut and inlet. Many of the Boyd's stocks are resin starved and mostly dry inside, and cut very easily. Likely they use a lower cost plywood in order to make their stocks more affordable.

-Nobade

[Dthunter]

Yep, I am aware of that. But I work with quite a few laminated stocks, and almost without exception the ones sold by the rifle factories are of better quality than what you can buy from Boyd's. I suspect it has to do with the grade of laminate stock purchased from Rutland Plywood - evidently they have several grades available, and the factory stocks are much heavier, have far more resin in them, and are much more difficult to cut and inlet. Many of the Boyd's stocks are resin starved and mostly dry inside, and cut very easily. Likely they use a lower cost plywood in order to make their stocks more affordable.

-Nobade


I see your point.

Different rifle manufacturers probably Have different quality requirements that Boyds simply get different blanks for.

[geargnasher]

That was my suspicion, Nobade. The Boyd's tacticool stock I just bought is like balsa wood inside, a very porous, lightweight grade of birch with not a lot of resin inside. I was hoping for heavier, since that has been my experience with laminates previously. I've fooled with some factory laminate stocks that I swear were like solid resin, plugged-up sandpaper, dulled chisels, all that.

Gear

[Jevyod]

Dthunter, that is a great looking stock! What is the color called?