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I'm considering a Ruger 77/22 in .22 Hornet. What's the opinion of these rifles.......accuracy and reliability!

I'd rather one in 17 Hornet.....

I wouldn't. It's a gun I'd love to love but I've owned two, been burned twice, and I don't think a third try is in the cards. The chambers were at least SAAMI maximum and the factory ammo was SAAMI minimum or possibly less. I was getting a great deal of case thinning at the web and sometimes case head separations firing factory ammo. Even if they didn't separate in the chamber sometimes they'd separate in the FL die. None of my handloads with new brass would let me fire the case a 2nd time either.

I don't believe Ruger would have stood behind it and made it better. I suppose I could have, probably should have, gotten a gunsmith with a SAAMI minimum reamer that would have fit the ammo that was available and had him set the barrel back a couple turns and recut a clean chamber. Didn't. Instead I got out of .22 hornet and moved to the .221 Fireball in a 700 LVSF.

This is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for.....I wonder if anyone at Ruger reads these things?
!Thanks for the feedback.....

I guess it depends on when it was built. I heard that had Ruger outsourced their barrels in the past, and this caused issues with accuracy. I have two 77's with no problems. Accurate, reliable, well made.

Never heard of any major issues. They are well sought after, and command good prices. If they had a lot of major issues I doubt that would be the case.

My 77/22 Hornet has been a fine little rifle. It shoots nice with several different types of ammo and has never had any issues with function. Mine really like the 35gr Vmax load from Hornady.

I have had one in 22 hornet for years and have never had a problem with it. The laminated version. It is easy to load for and case life has been good. What is not to like.

Ruger knows they suck at QC, and they have made a decision that it's best to let the customers figure out what's wrong and send the product back to them. They are normally pretty good at doing it right the second go round.

My m77/22lr is my favorite gun to shoot. While not a hornet I can say that the rifle is a quality piece imo.

Been that way for as far back as I can remember. Lot's of problems with Rugers but in the end they will make it right.

I've always wanted one. Heard that the trick is to have them punched to K-Hornet and cut and crowned shorter and they're a real peach.

i may not be a gun writer but i own a few 22 Hornets and i am also a gun dealer too, i have a Ruger 77 / 22 Hornet laminated stock S.S. this rifle is my go to rifle for varmints out in the country where i live and its also accurate too. these Ruger 77/22 great little rifle in a 22 Hornet , i keep this rifle loaded year around hang`n in the garage , i can`t say enough how fine of a rifle this 77 / 22 Hornet is , its the one rifle i would be lost without this handy little rifle . my 77/22 - 22 Hornet Ruger rifle has not had any problems for me , matter fact i might buy a extra one just in case i wanna keep one at my hunting camp too ?

I've only been around one 77 Hornet, a laminated-stock model belonging to a friend in .17 Hornady Hornet. He bought it maybe 3-4 years ago after getting into prairie dog shooting, partly because he tried my CZ 527 .17 Hornet and really liked the cartridge--partly because ammo was cheap and he didn't want to reload.

It proved to be really accurate, and he gave me all his fired Hornday brass--which were so close in size to the cases fired in my CZ that I could neck-size them, just like I do the Hornady cases fired in my rifle.

I have a set of the trigger and bolt thin spacers that I bought for a 77/22mag.
in an attempt to tune it up a little.

Spacers are mostly unused or near new condition. If someone would like them I have no
further use of them
Works on 77/17 thru 77/44mag.

PM me
Tim

Before about 2010 or so the receivers and barrels were not threaded...with predictable accuracy results. Caveat Emptor.

I'd only go centerfire with a the threaded model and even then it may need some bolt shimming and stoning on the trigger.

Only own a 22LR and it needed a little tweaking to bring it around.

I have an early one with laminated stock and the gun metal grey finish. Punched you k-hornet and shimmed bolt to .001 over saami minimum. It is a fine shooter after the shimming.

I bought mine in about '92-93.

When I first got it, with factory ammo, it shot a solid 2" @100, so nothing to write home about.

Then I added a Timney spring/sear kit, which helped accuracy.

What really pulled the accuracy together was LilGun powder and small pistol primers, with neck sizing provided by a Lee Collett Die.

Now, it is easily an MOA, or a bit better, rifle, and that is with my coyote load using a 45gr Barnes XLC.

My buddy bought the same model, the 20" barrel sporter, and it shoots like mine with the same load. We also added the Timney kit to it.

Every gun can be finicky about ammo. Sounds like you did all the right things and now have a decent shooter.

My guess (based on plenty of experience with various .22 Hornets) is it would shoot even better with CCI 450s, or maybe Remington 7-1/2s. The "small pistol primer" trick with .22 Hornets primarily works with faster-burning powders.

Yes, I did try the Rem 71/2, and the load shot very well, which surprised me a bit since I had used only SPP's for decades.

My notes are in a storage locker while our new home is being built, so I can't be sure what bullet I used with that load. I am sure it included a case full of Lilgun, though.

I`d punch it to K Hornet out of the gate.

I have zero issues with mine and prefer H110 over `lilgun.

the rimfire models were slip fit until that time (nov of 2009) but i am under the impression the centerfire models (22 hornet) and the pistol chamberings (357, 44) were always a threaded barrel fit.
if anyone knows for certain please chime in.

Not what you asked about, but my .22 Hornet Ruger No.1 by Lipseys shoots 3/4" groups at 100 yds. with this same round: 35 gr. Vmax from Hornady.

New trigger and shim the bolt. I've had two that were great after a little work.

My brother had one that shot 12” groups at 100 yards.
A friend had one that was accurate. The friend wanted a rifle for the action and they traded. Brother was pleased and the friend had his action. The friend did some machine work on his action and ended up with a nice rifle.

I’m still a little apprehensive regarding Ruger rifles and revolvers. I like their design but a little non-trusting if that makes sense.

I’ve “had” two 77/22H, a sporter and heavy barrel. Both very reliable, both piss poor accuracy, even after shimming bolts, trigger jobs, re crown and other $$ wasting efforts. Sold both and now have a heavy barrel and sporter barrel, Anschutz. Both are well under 1” groups with LilGun, sm pistol primers and 40 grain bullets.

My 77/22 Hornet was awful when it came to accuracy. Absolute best groups were a couple of inches. It was a first year of production. Chamber was huge and brass life very short. Tried many loads. Some were from a person I know who is a 22 Hornet freak and they were no better. I have talked to several people that have had them. Some were like mine and some shot very well.

My luck with 77/22 rim fires has been much better. I have two RSI models , one in lr and one in 22 mag and both shoot well. Had a77/17 that I foolishly sold that was a consistent 3/4 of an inch rifle at 100 yards.

I’ve got two and both shot the 46 Winchester hp factory stuff at a fat half inch. When I started to work a load up I found out how finicky these little buggers were. I bedded both guns to stabilize the stocks even though Ruger says not to. They didn’t even seal the barrel channel on both rifles. I ended up at 12.0 grains of 296 and a CCI 400 MV at 2876 with 46 gr win hp. 1 tenth of a grain of powder made a huge difference as did primer choice and case life is terrible as said above with thinning at the web and when shooting rats I keep the rod with us to remove separated cases. I wish I would have made K hornets out of them.

Some companies have made junk, Ruger doesn't.

But they are very comfortable to keep cranking out something
with known....deficiencies.
Wouldn't expect the refinement of a multi $k gun.

The best example is 45 Colt throats.
A decades long issue. Everyone who cares knows it well.
The fix is often listed on gunsmith price lists.

Really only affects cast shooters, but a 45? One of the most
likely to be used with cast.

It couldn't possibly be that expensive for Ruger to get this right.

Circa 2010, my family really got into Hornets. They are used as 2nd rifles in deer stands for varmints and some culling. Lots of critters down and yes, they are very capable for lots of things but that's not my point with this thread.

We started with 3 Rugers. They functioned fine and shot ok but never exceptional. We shot various factory loads and ended up getting custom loaded rounds for them. For factory ammo, the 45gr SP by Remington were the best overall.

After trying Anschutz rifles, we ended up with 6 HB models and they are fantastically accurate. Yes, more expensive than the Rugers but they shoot very well and are what is still used today. Anschutz does not offer the hornets anymore that I am aware of but I see them occasionally on Gunbroker.

As a 2nd to the Ruger, we tried a CZ and they are sweet. The scope mounting is different and the safety is odd but they shoot. I much prefer the CZ over the Ruger.

I'm wanting a Hornet for use with a suppressor and am going to get a barrel for my Encore made. This is another option im trying and will give an update once it's finished.

Ihave owned 3 22 hornets. The first was a 77/22 hornet after shim and trigger it shot a little over moa that I parted with. The other 2 were both CZ 527's one was an FS that I sold last year for a ridiculously high price. The other is a laminated stock that I will never part with. It will shoot .75 moa pretty much all day with 300MP or H lil gun and CCI 450's per MD. With winchester grey box a little over moa.

The Anshutz 54's are awesome some of the best 22's ever made. My little 527 has pretty much relegated my rim fires to the safe. Especially when you couldn't find good ammo for them.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all

I have heard so many complaints about the 22 Hornet cases that I decided to do something about it.

I built up a 221 Fireball... Better cases. I bought an old 222 Model 700 ADL with a broken stock, and a very bent barrel. I used a Shilen No. 3 barrel in a 1in 9 twist. I bedded it in a Brown Precision stock that I then coated with Wrinkle paint.

I load it with Accurate 1680 ball powder. I also tried Accurate 2025. I liked the ball powder best. I don't try to make it a 223 or even a 222. The velosity is that of a 22K Hornet. Cases last forever. If the world comes to an end I will figure out how to make them out of reamed 223 cases.

When I did mine I did not even mark the caliber on the barrel. When some wag asks what caliber it is I just say, "It's a 221 Fireball. If I marked that on the barrel how would I be able to unscrew it and turn it into a 223 Remington when the throat is shot out?" They just give me a long look and think I'm a cheap, devious old bastard.

If they don't believe me I invite them over to look in the bucket by the foot of my lathe. There is still a very bent Model 700 222 barrel in the bucket. Near the lathe there is a tool box with my 221 Clymer reamer and head space gage.

If I knew how I'd post a picture of me and the barrel. Would you want to see the bent barrel, the reamer and me? I suppose my old, nearly 74 year old, mug would ruin the picture. Also, you'd all have to acknowledge the caliber of the people who you collect and associate with on this site.

How many removed the pressure point from the forend and how did it shoot afterwards?

I never touched the stock or pressure point. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I did, mine shot much better floated.