M77 Tang Safety

The original model was not a true controlled round feed action but a push feed with an external claw and included a tang safety. Barrels fitted to these first Ruger M77 where provided by third parties, thus resulting in accuracy variation among rifles. The first change involved incorporating a proprietary scope mount milled integral with the receiver as the first production rifles in the late 1960s had simple rounded-top receivers drilled and tapped for separate scope mounts.^[7]

M77 Mark II

The M77 was entirely retooled and reintroduced in 1991 as the Model 77 Mark II. Barrels were now hammer forged at Ruger's factory. The safety, bolt, trigger, and bottom metal were substantially redesigned as well. The claw extractor was retained, but the bolt face was opened up to turn the action into a true controlled-round feed.^[8] The plunger ejector was replaced with a Mauser style fixed blade ejector. The tang safety of the original model was replaced by a three-position safety, similar to Winchester M70,^[9] which allowed the bolt to be operated while the gun was still on safe. Ruger also eliminated the factory-supplied adjustable trigger available on the original M77. With the Mark II, several variants were offered ranging from blued steel alternatives to stainless steel and from circassian walnut stocks to synthetic.

M77 RSM Mark II

This variant of the M77, often known as the Safari Magnum, features a circassian walnut stock, express sights and a long magnum action designed for cartridges such as the .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, and the .458 Lott.^[10]

M77 Hawkeye

In 2006, Ruger introduced new features and a new name for their rifle, the Hawkeye. Major changes were made to the trigger system and the stock was recontoured, but otherwise the rifle remained unchanged.^[11][12] The LC6 trigger addressed complaints from consumers about the Mark II trigger to make it easier for gunsmith adjustment than the earlier design.^[13][14] The LC6 trigger is lighter and smoother.^[15]

The Hawkeye featured the introduction of a new line of short magnum catridges such as the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum as well as dangerous game catridges .375 Ruger^[16] and .416 Ruger, both of them capable of being chambered in standard length actions^[17]

.30-06 Cal SAR (Search and Rescue) rifle

The SAR Rifle, .30-06 caliber, RUGER, Model M77 is a rifle designed for use by Canada's search and rescue technicians (SAR Techs) and aircrews. The SAR Rifle is designed to be a compact survival rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield. The rifle is based on the standard Ruger M77 Mk II rifle but the barrel has been shortened to 14.5 in (370 mm). The orange coloured buttstock has been modified so that it can fold along the left hand side of the stock and it also can hold six additional rounds of ammunition. The rifle is issued with a special case that has been designed to attach to the search and rescue technicians' parachute harnesses.

Gunsite Scout rifle

To develop the Gunsite Scout, Ruger worked closely with Gunsite Training Center to meet the criteria of the modern scout rifle set forth by Jeff Cooper. The rifle is chambered in .308 Winchester, weighs 7 lb (3.2 kg), and has a 16.5" barrel and black laminate stock, ghost-ring iron sights, flash hider and a picatinny rail for optics mounting.