Original Ruger M77

A Classic Bolt Rifle for 50 Years.

- Brian Pearce

After years of engineering, testing and obtaining patents, the Ruger M77 was formally announced in 1968. Although its action is based on the revered Mauser ’98 design, there were several significant differences and distinct improvements, but other changes were controversial. The rifle showed up in an era when many competing rifles were gussied up with high-gloss finishes, contrasting forend caps and Monte Carlo stocks. However, the Ruger bolt action was conservative and usually featured a straight-grained, American walnut stock in classic configuration with a simple, yet attractive checkering pattern. Its design and appearance were refreshing to many riflemen as the initial production run quickly sold out, and over the next 22 years more than 1,000,000 rifles were produced, which is impressive by any standard.

This story really began when Jim Sullivan joined Sturm, Ruger & Co. in 1965 by personal invitation from Bill Ruger. Sullivan had worked for Gene Stoner at Armalite and played a major role in the development of the M16 rifle and other firearm designs. He arrived at Ruger in time to help with the final engineering touches to the No. 1 rifle, but his first real assignment was to develop a bolt-action rifle to compete directly with the Winchester Model 70 and Remington Model 700, with the two 7s of those models eventually becoming “77” in the M77 nomenclature.