Heat can also be a factor. In heavy-fire situations a light, short barrel gets hotter faster than a long, heavy barrel, and point of impact may wander from your original zero point. In practical terms, however, this is a real-world factor only in an all-day prairie dog shoot or long rapid-fire match competition, and a long barrel can in fact drift more than a short barrel when it finally does heat up simply because it is longer. So there's also a sweet spot in barrel configuration, a correct length/weight balance for the cartridge being fired, and the use for which the rifle is designed. In general, that sweet spot is a lot shorter and lighter than most shooters think. With that in mind, let's look at the performance of the short Ruger Model 77 Mark II Frontier and Compact families. How close are they to the sweet spot? Short answer: right there.

The length of pull on the Ruger Compact Model 77 is a half-inch less than for the standard Model 77.

Advantages Of A Scout-Style Rifle
Both the Ruger Compact and Frontier series are configured basically the same, with 16.5-inch barrels and one-piece stocks that provide a half-inch shorter pull and a shorter forend than standard Model 77s. Total stock length is 5.25 inches shorter than a standard Model 77 stock. Overall Compact/Frontier length is just 35.5 inches. Depending on stock material, their weight runs from 5.75 to 6.75 pounds.

All typical Model 77 features are present in the new guns, including a diagonal front-screw bedding system to firmly anchor the receiver into the stock inletting, a one-piece bolt with nonrotating, Mauser-type controlled-feed extractor, and a fixed blade-type ejector that positively ejects the empty cases as the bolt is moved fully rearward. Both series feature Ruger's patented floorplate latch, mounted flush with the front of the trigger guard, to secure the hinged floorplate against accidental dumping of cartridges yet allow quick unloading of the magazine by simply pressing from the outside of the guard. An easily accessible Mauser-type three-position safety allows the shooter to lock the bolt, or to load and unload, with the safety engaged.

The Model 77 Compact version is set up in typical Model 77 form with integral mounting dovetails on the receiver for Ruger's patented scope rings (included) and no metallic sights. Stock and finish options include blued steel with American walnut stock or stainless steel with black laminate stock. Model 77 Compact rifles are currently available in .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, and .308 Winchester.

A Weaver mount adapter comes standard with the Frontier versions, and it allows the use of non-Ruger rings to barrel-mount different optic types "scout" style.

The Model 77 Frontier series is basically the same, but with the addition of a 6.625-inch "scout rifle" barrel-mounted rib that accepts Ruger scope rings or a Weaver-style scope base adapter, both included at no extra charge. The receiver mount dovetails are still there on the Frontier models as well, so you have the option of either receiver-mounting or barrel-mounting your optics. Stock and finish options for the Frontier series include blued steel with black laminate stock or stainless-steel Target Grey finish with black laminate stock. The Frontier rifles are available in .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, and .308 Winchester.