This was my first hunting rifle, which I still have. It's a .308. I really like the stainless steel and the skeleton stock. I've been reading a little about them, they seem to have stood the test of time and even have a bit of a cult following. Here's what one looks like for readers that may not know:



From the best I can tell, Ruger made M77s in the .375 H&H, but not with the all weather/skeleton stock. I thought I'd ask on here in case someone knew to the contrary. Anyone a fan of this rifle, and do you know?

I have one in 30-06. Darn good rifle.

No idea on other caliber offerings though.

Not with that stock my first rifle was a ruger m77 in 7mm magnum.Its still in the family as I let my nephew have it.

I believe 338 was the biggest caliber Ruger made in a Boat Paddle stock. Yes, they have a cult following but not so much in the magnum calibers. If you ever want to scramble your brain in a fashion similar to a 4 day bender drinking Ripple Wine, shoot a Boat Paddle 300 4 times off the bench.

I don't want to sound like a wimp, but yeah, the 30-06 is not real pleasant to shoot. 5 off the bench to check zero is plenty for me. Can't imagine a 375.

i have one in 300 wm. bought it new. trigger was worse than awful. put in a timmney. shoots great. no problems with it. when i ordered it i thought it would have a tang safety like the old model 77. did not like it at first. i am a fan now. its actually a safety stead of just a safer. friends all said it was ugly. when i look at cost now on gun broker they must have changed their minds. wish i could find those inlays they used to offer for the stock.

recoil is not awful. even from a bench. they are heavy

This is the picture I took for the insurance policy

I had ruger add the iron sight when I ordered it incase I ever broke the scope on a hunting trip. It was dead on when I got it. Did not need adjustment

I have one in .338
I shoot it a bull elk.
I shoot it at a target 6-8 times before going on a bull elk hunt.
I’ve taken 3 bulls, one Pennsylvania black bear and a few ok(as in okay…. Not Oklahoma)whitetails with it.
It only gets out of the safe for elk now.

It was unbearable until I put a brake on it.
Not too bad now but gotta remember the ear pro.
I shoot 225 gr partitions out of mine.
They fall down.

A great American product from the last great era…. Craftsman tools, Ford 7.3 PowerStrokes, etc.

Rugged as (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman).

WHY !!!
I used to zero rifles for several hunters around here. ONLY rifle I ever told the guy NOT to bring back was a single shot ruger 375 H&H. He was hunting whitetail in KY . First round scope nailed me. 7 shots later it was on the center. 1 more to confirm. Headache for 3 days and 1 blackeye. WHY would anyone want one of them unless African safari..

I shot a friends 375 remington ultra mag about a dozen times one day. My shoulder was sore a couple days. Shot a perfect hole through a railroad plate at about 100 yards. Told me he hates to shoot it. I told him if he ever wanted to sell it to call me first.

I’ve never understood zeroing a rifle for another person. I did it for a friend on multiple rifles and it never hit for him where it hit for me. Close enough that he was happy….. not good enough for me.

I can't imagine shooting a 375 in the boat paddle stock.

Cool looking for a bad weather rifle, but that narrow butt was rough on the shoulder.

I see this one in 338 has ruger factory installed iron sights also

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1090648749

I have given serious thought about making a walnut stock for mine, something a tad more comfortable to shoot.

I’ve had a SS Ruger 77 Mark ii for many years. Mine is a .300 WM . It’s killed a brown bear, lots of elk, and at least a dozen moose. It’s all weather construction makes it a perfect rifle to take on a trip where the weather may be nasty. Here’s one of the moose killed with it in 2024.

I love the Ruger 77, if its a hawkeye or mark II. Not a fan of the tang-safety models. I personally don't care for the boat paddle stocks, but that is more for aesthetic reasons than usefulness. They are tough, reliable guns with the trigger being the common complaint, especially in the mark II. The hawkeye model has a better (not great, just better) trigger imo.

I’m not sure about the 375 paddle stock, I see different calibers for sale from time to time. 270 for sale at the local shop now. I’ve got a 338 in Stainless synthetic that’s not bad to shoot. My buddy has a Number 1 in 375 that I should probably buy. He’s been trying to sell it to me for a couple years. Haven’t really pursued it.

My .375 is a Sako “Alaskan”. Carbine with a manlicher (sp) stock. Weighs in at 6.5 pounds and shoots like a dream. I did add a recoil reducer to tame muzzle jump. Not made anymore!

That reminds me of an old High School girlfriend...........

Fact