Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Ruger 77/22 mods

You and I have had this basic discussion before.

I think it's an honest difference of perspective,and desire.
I don't trash Ruger's products, they aren't.

My biggest gripe and the one I have dealt with most, personally,
is the 45 Colt issues. Mind boggling to build such a decent gun,
And allow something so small wart it up. Easy enough fix.
Throw $100 at a new gun.

My 77/22 is over 25 years old, and it doesnt get out much anymore.
I really need to do some messing with some shims. You are right,
it's hunting accurate. But we were looking for better when it was being used a lot.

Burned up a bunch of different ammo trying stuff, never really found anything
too much better than normal decent ammo. Some was worse.
Didn't know about the shims until after we had moved on to other interests.

There is really no drawback to trying shims ... it is one of the cheapest, easiest mods available and, in many cases, seems to improve accuracy. Worst that can happen is that you are out a couple bucks for a set of shims and a few minutes of time to install. If you are not satisfied, take them out ... no harm, no foul. They helped my 22 mag perform more consistently. I have spent a hell of a lot more on gun tweeks and gotten less.

Ok, so you don't trash Ruger or their products, should I have used "criticize" or "besmirch"? My 77/22 is 35 years old and I am 3rd owner and I use it a lot on varmints and small game. If I wanted a gilt edge rifle for bench rest competition, I would look elsewhere. Too much 'Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda' going on here. Range test before and after you insert the shim and get back to us.

Mines definitely minute of squirrel and rabbit, going to leave it alone... It's not as pretty as it used to be from years of being hunted with in rain, sleet or snow. But mechanically, it still gets the job done. I know it's not a bench gun, so I don't ask it to be.

Yes. My shim is set up for Federal UM. If I try to chamber SK the bolt is difficult to close. All depends or rim thickness.

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Are you saying every 77/22 needs to be shimmed?
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Not every 77/22 CAN be shimmed. I bought a full kit of shims and even the thinnest one was too much for either my 77/22 or my 77/22 Magnum. They both shoot fine as is. Anybody wanna buy a shim kit?

Are you saying every 77/22 needs to be shimmed?
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Not every 77/22 CAN be shimmed. I bought a full kit of shims and even the thinnest one was too much for either my 77/22 or my 77/22 Magnum. They both shoot fine as is. Anybody wanna buy a shim kit?
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Yea send me the info

No. I shot my mid-80's 77/22 for years without shimming. It was never the most accurate rifle, but that was because of the barrel. After 25 yrs, my rifle started light striking the rims and not firing. I shimmed the bolt and that solved the problem. A few years later, I changed the barrel and had to remove the shims, as the new barrel changed up the head space and I didn't need them.

As others have said, it doesn't hurt anything and it may improve accuracy. IIRC, a set of shims was about $10 or so.