I used to think everyone but me hated the boat-paddle Ruger. The M77 Mark II all-weather bolt-action with “Zytel” stock supposedly wasn’t accurate, kicked too hard, and looked tacky.

By that time, however, a serious makeover had occurred, and the resulting second-generation Ruger M77 Mark II sported a flat bolt face slotted at four o’clock to work with a blade-type ejector ...