Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Ruger Model 77/ 22LR

Anyone that has a Ruger 77/22lr , tell me what you think of it? How does the accuracy compare to a CZ 455,CZ452 or a Savage Mk II? I have found one for sale and would like any and all advice possible. I am thinking I want to wait till the Tikka rimfire comes out but the Ruger might be gone by then. Thanks Daniel

If you are gonna wait on the tikkler, what does it matter if the ruger is there or not?

My advice (based of personal experience) is to buy the Ruger and immediately take it over to Clark Custom Guns just west of Shreveport. Have them put one of their mid-weight barrels on it cut to around 21" and have them do a trigger job also. You will quickly lose interest in the Tikka.

RS

I love my 77/22 All Weather. We have a Soda Can Shoot annually at the farm. Cans are set up @ 85 yards. My Ruger hits them with authority using Remington Viper ammo. I love my 77/22! Did I already say that?

Mine has the original threaded barrel.


If the price is anywhere near reasonable you should grab it. You would never have trouble selling it if you changed your mind.

Have one that shoots quite well, but remember all are ammo specific. Initially, I was not impressed and was about to do the Clark deal. Somewhere, however, I read about a potential headspace issue. I put a 0.007" shim in the middle of the split bolt. That snugged up the action, and groups came around instantly.

On any given days it's a toss up between the Ruger and an Anschutz for ground squirrels.

Mine has the 10/22 V-block barrel mounting system. If I was going after a replacement, I'd look for one with the barrel threaded into the action.

Their triggers area piece of cake to work up. If price is near reasonable, I'd pick it up.

Solid, reliable guns, but they're not famous for their accuracy. My RSI is about as accurate as my first 455 with an accessory LR barrel; good enough for hunting and pleasure shooting, but not going to ooh and ahh the boys who like to shoot little groups. I figured that would be the case when I bought it, purely for style. There may be a load that will make it shine a bit more, but It's good enough for me now. Will be picking up an new 455 SS next month hoping this one will be better than the first. If it isn't, I'll try it out as a .17 HMR when the SS barrels show up at CZ.

Keep in mind that early 77/22s had clamped barrels that allow you to DIY barrel changes within the action-length limits, i.e. LR to .17 HM2, .22mag to HMR, plus custom barrels for the original cartridge, of course. Some like that, some not. I've done two 77/22 trigger jobs, one with a Timney sear, one a DIY using instructions I found on the www. Both turned out well, but the DIY was free, if a little "exciting".

452's are considered somewhat more desireable than 455s for a couple of reasons, and 453s the best, at least for those who like set triggers. My 453 was quite accurate with ammo it liked, mid .3s to .5s for 5 shots at 50. Shoulda kept it, but sold it to finance the RSI.

I have owned several 77/22's and they are solid, well made little rifles but if accuracy is your main concern My advice is buy the CZ, they are also very well made and will almost always outshoot a Ruger at the bench...I have owned at least a half dozen of each of these rifles and I only had 1 Ruger 77/22 that would shoot with the CZ 452/455 rimfires.....Good luck......Hb

I had a Ruger 77/22 a few years ago. It did not impress me so I let it go. I now have two CZ 452's (a Varmint model and an American with a 16.5 inch threaded barrel), both of which shoot better than the Ruger did. My CZ's are not fussy about ammo; they shoot almost any cheap ammo very well.

I own M77 Mark II centerfire rifles and i sought out a M77/22 because it was very close to my centerfire rifles in size and function. I currently own (2) M77/22 rimfires and have owned 2 others in addition that ended up being used as trade fodder because I did not have the cash on hand at the time. To me, and maybe only to me, the M77/22 is every bit the classic as my Marlin 39A’s are. I don’t expect my 39’s to out shoot a CZ or other better shooting rifles but they do what I need when I need it. My M77/22 hold their own and have never missed any tree rats or other game that I aimed at unless I missed. They just feel and look like a big boy toy to me.

i have 3 of them. a timney trigger makes a big difference. also they are particular about the forearm pressure. some like it, others don't. mine with the timney and a elite 4200 will shoot dime sized groups at 50 yds with cci mini mags. my sons stock all weather and other sons stock walnut/blue shoot the federal champion almost as well but with a flyer once in a while. the nice thing about them is that you can have a centerfire that is almost exactly the same. that makes them good for kids guns. and for my tastes they are a nicer rifle than a CZ. a 77/22 will be a gun that your grandkids will use. the CZ is not as nice in my opinion and i don't like the CZ's safety.

They are a nice rifle, and well built. As far as accuracy they can be a crap shoot. Some are very accurate many are just so so. Any 22LR rifle is ammo particular. The Ruger can be made accurate, if it is not out of the box, depends on what you want to spend. The CZ 455 does not have as good of a reputation as the 452 or 453 models. I have a CZ 452 Varmint, and it is accurate IE 10 shots at a dime or less at 50 yards. If you just want a rifle to shoot as you bought it, look for a CZ 452, or actually shoot the Ruger 77/22 before you buy if you can.

I picked up a 77/22 sometime back and it quickly became one of my top two gopher guns. As accurate as my CZ 455 but I did bed and float and adjust the trigger on my Ruger right out of the gate. The CZ is totally stock.

I have not owned a Savage as I have always had a job.

the 77/22 cant really be touched in terms of quality of build in its price range. i have a boat paddle stainless one which was my first rifle as a younger tot. would pick up a blued walnut one in a heartbeat.

Never understood buying things new, you gotta fix.

Gotta can be sort of subjective.

I bought a used one in good condition a couple years ago. I had heard the mixed reports on accuracy and triggers. I guess I got lucky, because the trigger is fine and it shoots great. It likes round nose CCI mini-mags. Honestly, it is everything I hoped it would be. Plus it uses what is probably the best rimfire magazine out there. I have a 17HMR T-Bolt that I would trade pretty fast if I could find a 77/17 that shoots as well as this 77/22.

How do you CZ owners get past the backwards safety?

Pretty much move the safety to the FIRE position... Rather have an accurate rifle than worry about the safety.

LMAO.

I've only had my 77/22 since 1987, but really like it so far!

Bought it used, needed a new firing pin, had the smith work over the trigger while he had it, its been a really nice rifle. Can group well under an inch at 50 yds no problem when have act together (probably can't claim 1/2 in and prove it if somebody asked).

Never had a CZ or Savage .22.