Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires A mystery Ruger

I bought a Ruger 77/22 at a local pawn shop that does an active business in firearms. It clearly has a factory barrel marked .22lr.





When I tried to shoot it, a round would not come close to chambering. A .22 long would go in further than a .22LR, and a .22 blank would fit in all of the way. Blackening the sides of the case would not reveal the problem.

Shown below is how far a .22lr round fits into the muzzle of this rifle.



This is how far a .22lr round fits into a different .22lr rifle.



It sure seems like this is a .17 diameter bore. Which is what my calipers roughly confirm.

Muzzle machining is not great, but does not indicate any modifications.


Neither does the breech--so it is not like someone put a liner in the barrel.


Is there any more reasonable explanation than this is simply a 17 HMR-2 barrel that was mismarked .22lr at the factory?

It certainly gives indication of being a 17 caliber, have you tried chambering a 17 HMR?

I suspect a phone call to Ruger would get you a new barrel installed at no cost to you.

That is a rough looking finish job on the muzzle.

drover

A 17 HMR does not fit at all--the shoulder will not enter the chamber. I do not have any Mach 2 cartridges.

I will call Ruger next week and am curious to see what they have to say.

Does anyone know if this gun was ever chambered in 17 HMR Mach 2?

My question. HOW DID THAT GET OUT OF THE FACTORY? With a muzzle looking like that? Maybe spirited out of the factory and to the black market? I just can't figure it getting out like that. If you look at those guns all day on the job that muzzle has to jump out and say pull me. I do think they would rebarrel that for you. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

Stuff happens, a buddy of mine had a Smith 57 (.41 Mag) marked M29 (.44 Mag), I had a M18 (.22lr barrel and cylinder) marked M48, and another buddy bought a Colt Combat Commander marked .45 ACP on the slide (and it had a .45 barrel) but the breechface was milled for 9mm/.38 Super.

People work in those plants, and people screw up sometimes. Yours is the first Ruger I've ever seen with a mismarked barrel, but it happens. People ain't perfect.

Edit. I just remembered that the M77R .30/06 I bought had a belted mag extractor on it The hook was too short to be 100% reliable extracting '06 cases. I sent the bolt back and got a new extractor. SO, Ruger DOES screw up now and then. People do that.

Ruger made the 77/17 or 77/22, not sure of the correct designation, in 17HM2 for a couple of years. I remember when CDNN was closing them out back in 2007 for around $400. I had one for awhile and, maybe just a little, regret letting it get away.

If it was mine, I'd call Rody's and ask Bill or Henry what they think. 603-863-3356. For me, Bill and Henry are the bottom line when it comes to Ruger long guns, 'cause they know more about Rugers than anyone else who I've met.

I looks like a factory screw up.

The receiver is marked 77/22, and the barrel is threaded (not v-block), it those are useful puzzle pieces re the era of the gun.

Call Rody's if you want a good answer.

Call Ruger if any answer will do.

Utah: I would surmise that "someone" re-worked" that 22 L.R. by apparently reaming the old barrel and installing an insert? I have a BUNCH of Ruger Model 77's in MANY calibers and never seen a muzzle munched up like that?
Maybe I am miss-seeing something but whoever sold that Rifle to that shop should have alerted them that it had been changed from a 22 L.R. to a 17 Mach2
Maybe if you get a 17 Mach2 round (I have many thousands of them and can send you one if you don't want to buy a box) and insert it and put on all your safety gear and holding it in your left hand only point it downrange and touch one off.
Strange and maybe a refund is in order (if you don't want a "bubba'ed" Ruger 77)?
Best of luck to you (and turn your face away when you touch it off.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

It just doesn't look like there is a liner--especially when you look at the breech.

It does look like a liner when you look at the muzzle....to me.

Maybe mislabeled and not even chambered.

Ordered a Number One back in The Day,chambered in 6PPC...but it arrived stamped 22PPC,despite an obvious .243" bore. Store returned it,but I prolly shoulda' retained it as a Novelty,for giggles.

Number One's suck anyhow,so i shrugged it off and away.

Hint....................

That's kinda what I'm thinking.

I have a Ruger 10/22 barrel that had a liner installed and chambered for 17HM2. The liner in that barrel runs the entire length of the barrel and is obvious at both the muzzle and breech.

relined.

Relined to .17 m2,With a good gunsmith,it's not supposed to look re-lined, altho the caliber should be re-stamped.

It's a Ruger.

It's a Ruger

The muzzle picture sure looks like a liner has been installed .....