Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger 77/44 77/357

Thanks for the great idea. I've been thinkng about replacing the 4x rimfire scope on my 77/22 with a 6, but didn't want to just put the 4 in a box. I can buy the .44 and a 6x, put the 6x on the .22 and the nice, compact 4x on the .44.

You are a gunswizard!

Is the part the lever pivots on steel, or AL-U- mini-yum?

I had one. It was a fine, easy to carry rifle. I never could get mine to shoot well on a consistent basis. It was minute of deer, but I wanted better. I have an 1894 now and it's more accurate. I prefer it.

I have owned 2 77/44's; one blue/walnut and one SS/Synthetic. Accuracy of both was disappointing. Groups ranged from 4 to 10 inches at 100 yards. I killed a couple of deer with them but could never find a load that shot well.

I now have a 77/357. It does much better, about 2 MOA with the loads I have tried. I have taken one deer with it. It also handles .38 Spl. ammunition very well and is a fun plinker.

Not eye sight issues I'm afraid.

I am poorer when a 77/41 comes out....

Oh yeah! I might have to learn to live with the bolt lift. Or as someone suggested an aimpoint.

Thanks, but I just can't bring myself to do the gunbroker thing. No problem with those that do.

I bought new, an early model 77/44 with blued barrel and walnut stock. It's a nice compact rifle and handles well. I installed a VQ trigger kit and it really improved the trigger. I just can't find the right load to get the consistent accuracy I want. However, up to 100 yards, it groups them well enough to hunt deer and bear with.

Imagine, a Ruger bolt gun with mediocre accuracy. Who knew?!

While I had an accurate load for my 77/44 that used a Hornady 240XTP over a charge of Win 296, last season I did extensive load development. Trying several different charges of Unique and 2400 because they were two other powders I had on hand. All loads produced groups no worse than 1 1/2-2" @ 100 yds., I elected to stay with the 296 as nothing shot better. As I mentioned in my previous post, I added a Decelerator recoil pad which made the rifle much more comfortable to shoot from the bench while doing load development work.

Love mine. Probably my most 'fun' gun to shoot (for now, anyway!).

Factory trigger sucked. Put in the VQ kit--unbelievable difference. Almost too light now if you can believe it.

Haven't done a lot of load development due to the component shortage but with 4227 and a CP 300 gr I got just under 2" at 100 yds...with the NECG peep. Wouldn't surprise me if it'll do better (and I got some H110 and 2400 now).

Feeds slicker than snot and is an absolute joy to carry in the steep stuff (took it elk hunting last year).

Might try a red dot someday like BD's but I sure like the peep for now on a sub-200 yd rifle...

Nice paint job.

A Weaver-type rail would give you more red-dot options than the Ruger dovetail, and due to the DM won't mess up loading. Still, for my eyes, a low-powered scope with lots of eye relief is probably best.

I had and enjoyed a 77/44 blue/walnut. Sold it for some reason. I'm buying a used/like new 77/357 today. Hoping it might also be fun for my 11 year old grandson, and maybe some 'never shot a gun before' types.
Believe it or not I'm looking forward to trying low power target 38Spl's in it. Should be as much fun as 22 CB's to shoot.
Might just have to get a walnut stock for the stainless/walnut look I like.
All the 38Spl & 357 ammo that's been collecting dust will get used.

I like my 77/44. I replaced the trigger with a Rifle Basix kit and shimmed the bolt. I bought the Stainless model and was not impressed with the flex in the synthetic stock so I replaced it with a factory walnut. With factory Federal 240gr JSP ammo it will put 3 in a inch or slightly under at 100 yards 5 shot groups usually open that up to 1.5 to 1.75.It is an excellent tree stand rifle.

My BIL has a blue/synthetic, I replaced the crappy factory trigger for him and he shoots factory Winchester white box 240 gr. loads exclusively as he is not a handloader. So far it has accounted for more than a dozen whitetails, I used it to harvest my buck a couple of seasons ago.

I bought one of the original 44 mag blued/walnut versions. Had the front sight machined off. Filled in rear sight dovetail. Bead blasted and blued, trigger job, bedded and floated, and decelerator pad installed.
It shoots under ¾” at 100 with many bullet holes touching. This is with a 2.5 compact scope.

Interesting that two others are using the 240 gr XTPs. Same here with max load of 296. Also found great load with 210 sierras @ 1950 fps.

Only critters it has taken are called in coyotes and a few jackrabbits. First time out I shot two jacks at 120 yds offhand. Second rabbit waited around.

Cool lightweight thumper.

Vic, are those the "#5" stock Ruger rings that come with the rifle?

Yes, they are.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11613539/Son's_first_deer!!#Post11613539

125 gr JSP did its job out of a 77/357. So much so that I bought me one. Its a 1.5 to 2 MOA rifle at 100 yards and thats about the limit. Might stretch to 150. Heavy loads might be better, but the 125 JSP made a quarter size exit hole, so I can't complain too much.