open your bolt to cool the barrel faster. AND IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT ! you have what we call a million dollar gun. great shooting tom.

I'm truly amazed at how good that rifle shot. I didn't expect that at all great shooting buddy

Good shooting! That rifle deserves a better scope. Well done!

I have always heard that how a barrel shoots is more important than how it looks. This rifle demonstrates that perfectly.

I had a M77 308V, it was a great shooter. I bought it used and really enjoyed having it for about a year. But I am a deer hunter and it was a bit heavy, so I traded it in for a 336 Marlin in 30 30, it also turned out to be a great shooter and more practical for my old worn out body. I would get 3/4 groups with factory ammo with the M77 from a bench. I got 1 1/4 groups from the Marlin 30 30 from the bench, which is not bad for a 100 yard rifle. The Marlin is the best off hand rifle I have and that is worth a lot. I enjoy buying used rifles and have had some good luck and a bit of bad luck. Happy shooting!

People don’t realize just how important proper trigger weight is. So many people pull or push their shots because of a trigger that is not light enough. That is one hell of a beauty rifle, sir, especially if that barrel has not even been free floated yet. That is a keeper for sure.

Tom I have the twin of your rifle right down to the heavy barrel except it's in 25/06. I bought it in the mid-80's used for woodchucks at extended ranges, added a Leopold 4x12 Vari lll and I was amazed with that rifle. The action was butter smooth, locked up like a bank vault and would put 5-90gr Sierra' handloads in the 10 ring pushed by big charges of IMR 4064 touching at 100 yards. Routinely taking 'chucks at 400-500 yards was a breeze and with better glass ranges extended from there. It still sits in my safe competing with a Savage 12FV in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 6x24x50 Vortex on it for range days. Both rifles shoot to 3/8" groups if I do my part but that Ruger 25/06 shoots flatter, faster and further looking gorgeous doing it.

Every video that comes out, I learn things. Very appreciative for the entertainment and perspective Tom. Merry Christmas

That was amazing I would have never thought that it would have shot that good 👍🏻

I was just watching your ammo storing video again waiting for the new weekly video. My favorite day of the week just for your videos Tom. I've learned more from you than anyone. 👍

Tom, Qualifying in The Marine Corps I learned it was easier for me find a stable point of aim on a target versus holding center-mass and wavering around the bulls-eye; as we were taught in bootcamp. I call that chasing the bulls-eye. I like a six O'Clock aiming point on a round Alpha target that I call a "loopie-pop" sight picture hold ; I adjust the sights to give me a 6 inch rise in impact on a 12 inch round Alpha target. If you chasing your aiming point due to open sights, or a scope you don't care for, this can solve a lot of problems in your mind as you sight in a rifle while testing. Happy Xmas to you and yours,

That was pretty awesome Tom!!! I really enjoyed that. I have all my parts to start my New Year's project. I sure hope it shoots as well as that Ruger did. Thanks again.

No matter what, that's better than anyone expected.

That’s a keeper for sure.

The one inch wide rectangles at 12, 3, 6 & 9 are for wide reticules. Aim at the corner of the rectangle, lining up the vertical and horizontal.

I concour.., you should be able to see till this Wednesday with a 24 power. And until Christmas with a 32 power. Lol I agree with you on the course crosshairs on the Bushnell. I bet the thick crosshairs cover up a lot at 24x. It did have a trick up the ol’ barrel no doubt. Can’t wait to see how the M77 project plays out! Merry Christmas sir!

Tom that is the best shooting rifle you have made a video of hands down.

😳You gotta be sh***ing me! That is the LAST rifle I would have expected to be a tack driver. WOW! That's a keeper there.

Wow! That’s an amazing turn of events.

Outstanding start

Merry Christmas by the way Tom . Peace to you and your family

Nice group for a old gem lol thanks for the video, enjoy the knowledge

Nice shooting Tom. I recently picked up a 1976 m77 30-06, all original, unmolested. To my delight, after checking the torque value on the action screws, it shot a 5/8" group with one of my lower velocity 165 hand loads. Prefect for me, since i hunt in the woods of Minnesota. I'll take your cold and damp over my 3° this morning! Take care and keep em coming!

I’m taking my m77 30-06 to the range tomorrow and see what I can do with it and hopefully this weekend to the ranch and see if I can ge a shot at a big buck coming up on my trail camera I’m pumped thanks for your video love it 👍

I bought my father a new browning from GI Joes and when I looked down the barrel is was so plugged with dirt and grim you couldn’t see through it! Took a couple hours to clean and shot 1/4” inch groups with factory premium ammo! Always give the gun a chance to tell you what it likes and dislikes before you condemn it!

Good work and shooting. I always enjoy picking up tips from another rifleman. I've been reloading and casting my own pistol bullets for 60 years now. I've never own a rifle capable of shooting a one hole group. Alot of sub moa groups, but, never a one hole group. You've done it with a standard factory rifle..great shooting.

This is why I love my M77 Ruger.

Nice surprise! I like M77s.

Good shooting. I just picked up a M77 .308, that has a 70 series serial number. Can’t wait to load some Ammo and take it out.

Ok, ya got my attention, first I never saw a Ruger shoot that good, and second I am curious about the stringing so I guess its wait till next week, good video and God Bless

I share your amazement. I was thinking 3-4" groups. I have only dreamed of 3 in the same hole. You would be hard pressed to improve on that Tom. lol Merry Christmas to you and family.

Excellent 😎

I'm impressed!! I might even go buy a bottle of Sweets or maybe some straight ammonia. I sure didn't expect groups like that.

😮Very impressive

Yeppie always shoot one before changing anything.. Get R Done Sir.. God Bless Ta

WOW. Thanks Tom.

Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!! That rifle is a real shooter!! I would have lost money on that one.. Great shooting Tom.. I agree that scope is junk..

It's a shooter.!!!! Rifle deserves a better scope. Would like to see 5 shot group's with a quality scope.

From a science standpoint one would think a barrel like that wouldn’t shoot well. I guess the zigs balanced out the zags. What a nice surprise!

That wasnt what I was expecting either !!

Luckily for your buddy, there are plenty of budget scopes out there that are leaps and bounds better than that bushnell. I am one of those people that never expected that gun to shoot as well as it did. I am a huge Ruger fan, have six rifles made by them and they all shoot well.

I would’ve never guessed that rifle being able to shoot like that. I would’ve bet anything you would’ve had to have a barrel shortened to get rid of that rust pitting to make it shoot. Great video

You're right. I totally didn't expect it to shoot like that! Go figure!

My Savage 10 FP .223 heavy is still waiting for a .222 barrel. Got a new bolt from Midway, as the one that came with it wasn't broke but seemed a little iffy, so will go in a parts bag. I may take it to the range while I wait for the .222 barrel build. Anyway, it came with a Simmons Whitetail 6.5-20X50 scope. It was apparently a Midway exclusive. It seems clear enough and if it's good will make a good long range varmint. Doesn't have finger adjustable turrets for Wind & Elevation as I have been spoiled. With my Vortex 6-24X 50 Tactical I know I can see the .223 holes at 200 yards with no problem, so I don't even bother with a spotting scope. We'll give the rather unique Simmons whitetail a try when the .222 is ready. Have the go/no-go gauges and PPU brass all ready. If this Savage 10 .223 barrel is good, I'll just save it. Still wondering about the deep throating and the lands....like WHERE ARE THEY...or at least, WHERE TO THEY BEGIN? :)

I have an M77 Target in .308. SS barrel and laminate stock, SWFA 10x. Put a Harris on it. It's a very accurate rifle. Looks nice too.

I have just picked up a Ruger M77 Mark II 308. It is in like new condition. It has a laminated wood stock, a Heavy Barele,& Beautfull deep blue finish. It has a Leupold 6.5 X 20 X 40 scope with adjustable parallax. The bore is like new nice and shiny. This rifle came with the original box of shells with 7 missing. I may put a different trigger on it, we will see. I have Ben told these guns have a Lawyer trigger on them..

I would have bet against and lost money on that guns accuracy..nice!!

Nice shooting Tom! Question off topic if you don’t mind. When a person adjusts their diopter (eyepiece) for best cross hair focus, should one point it into the blue sky, adjust for clearest crosshairs, close eye and reopen again quickly adjusting for best focus again. If you agree, I would then ask if this setting should be made with the scope in its highest magnification range or the lowest, or mid? Please let me know your thought on diopter adjust on a second focal plane scope. Thank you & God bless sir. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Looks like a shooter to me. I have a Remington that will shoot groups tight with Browning ammo. With any federal it is lucky to hit paper. I learned a long time ago when you get ammo that shoots good you stick with it. I have had gun that would shoot anything and guns that just liked specific ammo.

they come with forearm barrel pressure from the factory if you take the stock off you can remove the forearm pressure with sand paper and reseal the wood and the way they are made it will free float the barrel.

Hey Tom, I love ur videos. You have got me back into my rifles. What is the bore scope you are using it was in one of ur videos, but I can't find it again

Great video as always.Finally some great groups. I think you are too sensitive with the whole heat issue. It's not summertime and you are wearing a coat. You should be shooting a minimum of a 5 shot group.. Put a good scope on it and shoot some back to back 5 shot groups. That gun can easily handle it and should perform.

Off topic from this video, but do you have any videos about the different types of barrels and the way they are made ??

Dang. Those 2nd 5 shots almost made me change my mind about M-77s. My 308s, Both Savages with 22 in. factory contour barrels and one with an accutrigger, never grouped that good, even with the 168 Match King HPBT, even free floated and pillar bedded. I would have predicted the "stock welded to the barrel" Ruger system to group worse, but some claim, or blame, a certain barrel they used for that problem. Anyway, I may not scratch Ruger off my list just yet, especially a later Mk-II without the Tang safety. I know .308s can shoot lights out, especially with that bullet, and have Camp Perry Trophies to prove it. As it heats, will it still hold, especially if the barrel expands against the wood? Looks like good ammo.

I think you need to put that scope on all your guns!😝😁👍🏻👍🏻

Looks like you have a shooter. If you can't see the target at 100yds, and can shoot like that....I better quit now! haha

Heck yeah it is cutting holes 🕳

It’s a 308. That’s what. 308. Dose Low mag scopes. Sometimes. Cause you to concentrate on target more. Again. 308 can surprise

The rifle looks done to me. I'm not sure what more you expect from it.

If you take your second group and add the first two shots of your third group you’ve got a five shot group that shot under a 1/2 MOA. This what I have experienced with my Ruger M77 rifles. Your bore scope reminds me of something my Doctor told about my heart pressure measuring machine, he said “put it away and don’t use it”, Don’t go looking for problems before you have symptoms.

I would buy your friend a cleaning kit and a better scope for Christmas. Tell or show him how to clean his rifle and not worry anymore. It seems the rifle is fine, the barrel was mistreated and neglected and just needs fed better food and kept clean. There some hunters and target shooters that just have poor maintenance habits you cannot fix. The pitting in a good barrel is not the rifles problem; it is the one pulling the trigger. 😅🤣😂

A hot barrel aggravates me to death. Had a 99 Savage that was near MOA if you fired single shots from a cold barrel. 2 shots touching and then it started walking upward with each successive shot. 2 shot groups were the rule. My .270 gets hot and takes a long time to cool. I can't trust it when trying to zero a new load after it warms up. Had a group going and made an adjustment on the scope to bring down point of impact and couldn't even see a change on it with a hot barrel. I bet next range trip will tell me something in the first 3 shots. Then give it 15 minutes to cool and start all over again. Hunting rifles don't have to be target rifles, but they need to be zeroed with a method that negates the heat issues that come up.

I have a savage 340 in 222 Remington with a 4 power weaver, gun and scope 60ty years old, hasn't been cleaned in a few centuries, that will out shoot probably many target guns. Their is no bedding this gun is has barrel band,but it has dropped many axis bucks and some are close to 300 pounds.

I’ve always said if you only can have one rifle get m77 in 270 winchester

Open the bolt for cool off purposes let the air flow through

Dang.....thinkin my barrels could use some pitting. I would have lost some money if you were taking bets on how it would shoot.

I had that same rifle it would put bullet through the same hole using fusion ammo at 100 yards

Good video...The Ruger turned out to be a good shooter.. can't wait to see the results of free floating and bedding the action... Maybe a higher quality scope change out for testing. That one you are using is very low on the quality list.. And how did that bore clean out after the first round of testing?

Please give some advice on how I can get some pitting in my bore 😅

that sir looks like a rifle

Cool. Now get a suppressor

Tom, did you clean the bore before this shooting session, or did you leave it fouled as it appeared in the last video? Thanks.

Ole boy might need to get rid of that one. Ide take it.

Have you free floated and bedded anM77 in the past? I’ve heard they they don’t do well free floated. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t. I have one I’d like to try.

Run some rounds see what develops. Question what is the plan for the rifle. Hunting or reaching 1000 yards. Try a couple of different loads for what its plan to be used for. Hunting ammo vs match. Either way it looks like your on the right track.

Tom: Wow, after I saw the rust pits inside that barrel, I would NEVER have expected it to shoot that well. Congratulations and well done. On another note, I am also surprised how well that 79 year old GI barrel on the 03-A3 performed. Is that a 4-groove barrel or the 2 groove? (I assume it was a 4 groove since Remington didn't make a lot of 2 groove barrels in 1943.) Anyway, good job and please keep up the good work and interesting videos.

Best group I’ve ever seen. Typical M77 use and abuse and still shoots.

Anyone have any experience with a athlon Argos BTR GEN2 6-24×50 aplr2 ffp or Hi-lux uni-dial 5x-30×56 ballistic turret rifle scopes? Are they any good?

Where are your shooting glasses???

I have never just Bore sighted a barrel and been that close to the x with the first 3 shots without adjustment. Whats the secret It would save me alot of money on ammo?

Oh and be careful closing up the bolt in that Light trigger if it's the stock Ruger.. slam down on her too hard and she might go BANG !

If it was me, I'd back the scope down to 18 power for 100 yards...

Hey you feel like fooling with my .308? Lol!

You need to figure out what causes what you see in the bore and do it to all your RIFLES! That looks a 1/2 MOA to me.

Well, if it ain't broke...

… Federal is my goto brand of factory ammo

Turn the scope down to 12 or 15. Even 10 is better on those eBay scopes!!

perfect example of why I tell everyone first, go shoot it. it may surprise you.

I bet this rifle has a decent chamber......over the years have had and seen Ruger with sloppy chambers etc. But,if,you,get a good one they are great. ...jad two m77 308 at same time one with sloppy chamber and one that was ALOT easier to resize,the fired cases.....the sloppy one wad a poor performer on paper, ok for hunting

24X? My spotting scope is only 20X.

Thomas, Seems every yahoo worth his salt has a comment or two. All can come up with is : Learn to shoot with Both eyes open ( and mouth closed, lol ). You won't be tense while scrunching your face up and will improve your groups ( as well as extending your peripheral view ). Your Mind decides which eye you'll use, not the scope.

Get the owner to get a better scope.

That scope looks way to far back to me.

Typical ruger wild cold bore first shot

Tom, you need to do whatever it takes to make that Ruger yours. You won't find many that accurate.

Look at some of the sports writers from the previous 1960 era.......2 inch groups were accepted at ok for hunting rifles.....more stress on fit and function of weapon to user.....what is most important in and under field conditions ? Today as result of Hugh improvements in machining capabilities and technology maybe expectations are too narrow......in field user still has to be able to shoulder and aim and hit target effectively. ......99 percent of hunters under field conditions really don't need such tight groups.......all this long,range high tech stuff self deceiving. .....old saying ",hunters,hunt and shooters shoot "

Always bore clean it..

get real rifle 30.06 or 270 . 308 are junk

A rifle that shoots extremely well deserves a great riflescope. I recommend a Steiner Predator 8 with the 3-24 by 50mm feature, I am really quite impressed with this riflescope. Don't let the price scare you too much because this scope is extremely clear and bright.