i wonder if some of it could be barrel channel related? i have 3 77/22's and two of them were helped greatly by either relieving the barrel channel a little out towards the end or in one case i actually cut a little shim of beer can and put it under the barrel at the very end and tightened the action screw as tight as i dared. my oldest one didn't need anything but a dayton traister trigger. maybe the 77/44 could work the same. i never had any problem with the half dozen or more centerfire 77's i own though.
I've wondered the same and at some point I'm going to do the following:
