Help with fair value (Ruger M77)

[Tisto]

I have this rifle and a person I know wants to buy it. I need help with a fair value. The rifle is as follows:
Ruger M77 Mark II Target
.308 Winchester
26" 1-9" heavy profile barrel
Laminated wood stock, free floated barrel
Nikon Monarch 8-32X50 ED side focus scope, replaceable turrets, 4" sun shade, and has a fine crosshair with dot reticle
Limbsaver sorbothane recoil pad
Bobsled single shot magazine follower

This rifle is in excellent condition, has +/- 500 rounds through it, and shoots sub 1/2" groups with the right ammunition. The glass is clear, bright, and tracks perfectly. I have all the original parts, but not the box. The box for the scope contains the extra turrets, as well as flip up scope caps.

Any suggestions ?

 

[Shadow rider]

I can't help, but she's a beauty! And you can't go wrong with Ruger! Have you searched "Gunbroker"?

 

[Phauxtoe]

Its worth $100
But i will give you $150 if you deliver it to my ffl tomorrow!

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

No comparables on line? Are you talking pre or post madness pricing? Its a pretty rifle, nice setup.

 

[fnfalguy]

No .308s, but should give you an idea of current pricing on gunbroker. 5 of them sold.

 

[GUNSICK]

$1400-1500 friend price or $1700-1800 for anyone else.

 

[Saltwater60]

I was thinking about $1,400-$1,500 as well.

 

[Tisto]

Thanks for your input, everyone. The $ 1400 - 1500 mark seems fair. I believe that the gun sold for about $ 1200 back when it was new. You can see that the scope was $ 700, and there are additional accessories. I don't need the $$$. It's more that I need room in the safe and I have more than one .308 precision rifle. If he balks at it, I'll keep it. No problem.

 

[stuckhere]

Thanks for your input, everyone. The $ 1400 - 1500 mark seems fair. I believe that the gun sold for about $ 1200 back when it was new. You can see that the scope was $ 700, and there are additional accessories. I don't need the $$$. It's more that I need room in the safe and I have more than one .308 precision rifle. If he balks at it, I'll keep it. No problem.

If you really want maximum $ for it, you should separate the scope and rifle, sell independently. Its realistically a $800-900 rifle off of Gunbroker, maybe $300 on the scope, off Gunbroker. I would not think it's a very attractive combo.

 

[Tisto]

If you really want maximum $ for it, you should separate the scope and rifle, sell independently. Its realistically a $800-900 rifle off of Gunbroker, maybe $300 on the scope, off Gunbroker. I would not think it's a very attractive combo.

Huh ?? Why is this "Not a very attractive combo" ? A powerful, clear target scope mounted on a target rifle ? Please explain.

I'm not even ☆TRYING☆ to sell it. Someone I know WANTS it. I'm not looking to maximize the cash value of it at all. Honestly it may actually be of more value to keep it since there is no Government paperwork linking it to me.

 

[stuckhere]

Huh ?? Why is this "Not a very attractive combo" ? A powerful, clear target scope mounted on a target rifle ? Please explain.

I'm not even ☆TRYING☆ to sell it. Someone I know WANTS it. I'm not looking to maximize the cash value of it at all. Honestly it may actually be of more value to keep it since there is no Government paperwork linking it to me.

I missed the "Someone I know WANTS it." part. My apologies. that changes things, and its worth whatever they WANT to pay.

My explanation, which I hesitate to give, is twofold. It may be a very attractive package for someone that wants something the want to call a target rifle, and go out and blast intermediate range targets with. Its a good scope, and IF it shoots well, a good rifle.

I would see it, as would many that want to spend the proposed $1400-1500, a rifle/scope combination that doesn't have a real purpose. To clarify: that model of M77 Ruger had been widely sold as mainly a varmint rifle, in mainly common varmint rifle and what some would consider target rifle calibers. A very good shooting example would make a fine varmint rifle in one of the calibers 6mm and under. It looks the part for a 90's/2000's varmint rig: medium-heavy barrel, heavy laminate stock with wide forend. Very good looking rifle. However a repetitive problem with them is a poorly chambered barrel that is very difficult to make shoot well enough to be considered a fine varmint rifle, and certainly not to be considered a good target rifle. I'm not highly knowledgeable when it comes to Ruger firearms overall, but I know this, and have seen it personally with two of these same rifles, one in .22-250 and another in .220 Swift. Let's assume being chambered in .308 Win, and with your assurance that it shoots sub 1/2" groups, it's going to be a "target rifle" only. Another common snag with the M77 target/varmint rifles is the standard Ruger proprietary ring/integral "base". In the varmint hunting role, not a huge issue. Even with a 1" tube scope, like yours, there is plenty of elevation adjustment in the scope to get the job done at woodchuck distance with a .20/.22/6mm cartridge. And in that role, your particular scope would be a fine piece. Fine crosshair, good turrets, quality lenses and plenty of magnification. In the .308 target rifle role, its a huge handicap. You have no availability for elevation built into the scope mounting system and limited elevation adjustment in the 1" scope for longer range shooting in that caliber, as well as a reticle design that lends itself to dialing in windage and elevation rather than a hold. This is why I say it may not be an attractive combination, and why i suggested separating the rifle and the scope. It may very well be ideal for someone, as you have already found one such person. I assume that you will do well $ wise due to the timing of current events.

 

[Tisto]

I missed the "Someone I know WANTS it." part. My apologies. that changes things, and its worth whatever they WANT to pay.

My explanation, which I hesitate to give, is twofold. It may be a very attractive package for someone that wants something the want to call a target rifle, and go out and blast intermediate range targets with. Its a good scope, and IF it shoots well, a good rifle.

I would see it, as would many that want to spend the proposed $1400-1500, a rifle/scope combination that doesn't have a real purpose. To clarify: that model of M77 Ruger had been widely sold as mainly a varmint rifle, in mainly common varmint rifle and what some would consider target rifle calibers. A very good shooting example would make a fine varmint rifle in one of the calibers 6mm and under. It looks the part for a 90's/2000's varmint rig: medium-heavy barrel, heavy laminate stock with wide forend. Very good looking rifle. However a repetitive problem with them is a poorly chambered barrel that is very difficult to make shoot well enough to be considered a fine varmint rifle, and certainly not to be considered a good target rifle. I'm not highly knowledgeable when it comes to Ruger firearms overall, but I know this, and have seen it personally with two of these same rifles, one in .22-250 and another in .220 Swift. Let's assume being chambered in .308 Win, and with your assurance that it shoots sub 1/2" groups, it's going to be a "target rifle" only. Another common snag with the M77 target/varmint rifles is the standard Ruger proprietary ring/integral "base". In the varmint hunting role, not a huge issue. Even with a 1" tube scope, like yours, there is plenty of elevation adjustment in the scope to get the job done at woodchuck distance with a .20/.22/6mm cartridge. And in that role, your particular scope would be a fine piece. Fine crosshair, good turrets, quality lenses and plenty of magnification. In the .308 target rifle role, its a huge handicap. You have no availability for elevation built into the scope mounting system and limited elevation adjustment in the 1" scope for longer range shooting in that caliber, as well as a reticle design that lends itself to dialing in windage and elevation rather than a hold. This is why I say it may not be an attractive combination, and why i suggested separating the rifle and the scope. It may very well be ideal for someone, as you have already found one such person. I assume that you will do well $ wise due to the timing of current events.

Your point is well made, although I feel it is incomplete. The scope has enough adjustment to reach the 600M targets. The very fast twist rate lends itself to the heavy end of bullet selections for this caliber. This particular gun has an affinity for 175 gr bullets and in very limited testing has shown promise in hand loaded 208 's. As it sits, the gun easily meets all rules governing the F/TR class, with room to add a bit more weight.

You must keep in mind that this rifle was made long before the current obsession with "precision" rifles. Only recently have optics with 30mm and larger main tubes become common. When this rifle was made, they were nearly non-existant. You are aware that there are rings incorporating elevation adjustments available for the Ruger mount, are you not ?

As it sits, this rifle weighs in at just over 13 lbs. It's use as a varmint rifle would be questionable. Very few people would be willing to carry it any distance, and the .308 Win chambering does not provide the explosive impact of a real varmint cartridge. Add to that, the high chances of ricochet caused by overpenetration, and it adds up to a poor choice for varmints. No, this rifle was designed to punch paper at respectable distances.

The person that keeps asking me to sell him this gun wants it for modified F-class competition. The place he wants to shoot has a 400m range. They use scaled targets to simulate the 600m targets.

The attached photo is 10 rounds from 200 yards, off a bench. Bipod front, sandbag rear. Hand loaded 175 gr Nosler Custom Comp/ Accurate 2520 powder, Federal large rifle magnum match primers. 0.875" measured center to center.

 

[Tisto]