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Happy Holidays friends!

I've been looking at the front sights of likely M77 rifles ever since I learned about the existence of a very few that were slotted for a hood. Well, I finally found one in a Gunbroker auction that closed on Christmas Day. I think Santa Claus was involved.

Anyhow, SN 70-09740, a well-used, flatbolt RS in .243 with a slotted front sight, is on its way (figuratively) to my house. It also has an aftermarket trigger with no safety, which concerns me and I'm hoping can be restored. Anybody ever seen a slotted sight rifle before or have any idea of value? Some pics:

Your rifle also has the early style contour, straight, below the ejection area.
There are a few around with slotted front sight bases. It seems there are a few known right about the same time your serial number was produced.
Chet15

It would be interesting to know how many are out there. We know that Ruger66 has one in 6mm and Chad mentions one in the Reference so there are at least three slotted-sight M77s.

That deleted safety seems like a dangerous modification to me and must be fixed. The seller said it has an aftermarket trigger with no safety but I can't imagine anyone selling a liability headache like that. So I think the installer left it out or lost the parts. I'll have to take a look at it but I'm hoping I can just replace the button and link though I've not been inside an M77 before. Any advice is appreciated.

Finally brought it home and looked inside. Looks like a stock trigger but this is my first time working on a 77. I'm hoping someone can tell me what it is and what I need to restore the safety. The stock has been bedded and JUN 14 1968 is stamped in the channel. Pics:

Looks like all you need is the Safety Link and Safety Button. As far as I know these two items stayed the same through the Tang-Safety generation. The attached pic is from a 1971 flatbolt.
Bennett

Thanks a whole bunch, Bennet, that's exactly what I needed. You rock!
Jack First has a repro button and link for sale but I'd rather buy them from a member if anyone has a spare set they'd let go.
Owen

I ordered the Jack First repo parts and I have a question about assembly; can I slip the bend of the safety link under the safety shaft arm into the hole or do I have to partially disassemble it?
Thanks,
Owen

If you didn't get an answer yes I believe i have before. I just bought a 308 with all the features of your 243

Thanks ruger66.
I found a YouTube video and, yes, the wire slips under the arm.
The stock had been bedded, which caused the tang to sit lower in the stock, making the safety button contact the wood. I had to remove some material to allow it to operate.

Glad you got it working