Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Thoughts on the Ruger 77/22?

Local shop has one on the used rack for $349. In decent shape with an older boat-paddle style stock. Trigger is pretty rough but the bolt travel is very smooth. How are the 77/22's for accuracy? I've been thinking about the new Ruger American but this 77/22 just feels "handier," likely because the stock is trimmer.

From experience, get the American. The 77/22 has too many reports of poor accuracy.

I've had several over the years, from .22lr to .22 Hornet and none had good accuracy.

The new American .22 mag I bought recently is very accurate, very.

I bought an American in .22 Mag yesterday and hope that it is as accurate as you find yours. But, for $349, I'd buy a 77/22 and feel rather secure that I wouldn't get hosed if I had to send it down the road later. It's not like betting the ranch.

Btw, mine loves the CCI 40 gr. hp. load.

I have a full box of 40 gr. Maxi-Mag HP on the shelf with no hope of resupply, and a brick of GamePoint on backorder.

Buy the 77/22. The biggest reason to buy it is that there are tons of parts out there for it just like the 10/22, so you can customize it to your own uses. You can also change the barrel out just like the 10/22. You cannot do that to the new Ruger American rifles, or the newer 77/22s either. You can also swap out the trigger if you want to. On top of it all, it's just a better rifle.

My walnut/blue 77/22 Mag is more than accurate enough for my uses.

I just can't come to like a boat-paddle 77/22. Different story with the walnut handled ones......

I'd take the 77/22 over the American anyday. And I have both......

I like the looks and feel of the 77/22, at least the wood ones. Boat paddle would not float my boat. As far as accuracy, some are some are not. Kind of a crap shoot. They can be fixed, but there are better ones, for the same or less. First thought would be a CZ.

I bought one the first year they were made. As stated above there are a lot of after market things.

Mine now is only a Ruger Action. The rest of the gun is by others mostly volquartson.

1-1/8" bull barrel which was a discarded shot out throat bench rest barrel. We cut down re-chambered it and fitted to the action, modified a laminaded beautiful wood stock and plugged in the volquartson trigger.

When it's calm and steady it will group 1" at 100 yards. I have a Weaver V16 scope on this rifle. It's just stupid accurate and 100% recoil free with the short 16" bull barrel.

Like the 10/22 that is the nice thing about Ruger's, you can replace and rebuild anything and everything as money allows. Then again that perhaps is the bad thing about Ruger's, you might need to...

350.00 is an excellent price, go buy it. Drop in a volquartsen sear and you'll be good to go.

I bought a 77/22 for my son.
Accuracy turned out very poor.

The thought process I used to purchase a 77/22 (walnut stock) in 1985 was to match up with the M77 center fires I owned.

Accuracy was acceptable, definitely not match grade. I took the cue from a couple of guys at the gun club and installed a Volquartsen trigger kit. 5/8" groups at 50 yards is the outcome of that action.

I have a 77/17 with a knockout piece of wood on it. Shoots under an inch at 100 yards after I stoned the trigger down to 2 1/2 lbs.

I originally bought this for one simple reason.

I wanted to train my son on a 22 but needed him to get really good understanding the function of the safety of a Model 70. All my hunting rifles are Model 70's.

The Ruger safety on this .22 is identical to the Winchesters. That alone and above all else was my decision maker. At 50 yards he was hitting spent 12 gage shotgun shells standing up. After that the interest in what was possible was created. Now all that remains is the action, but still with the brilliant three position safety.

A better tool to teach a kid to use a full size hunting rifle, I cannot imagine!

i bought one when they first came out.. some don't like the boat paddle bu id more for the function. i used it at first for coon hunting which is hard on a rifle chasing dogs in the dark. and carried it in the truck while running trapline. the stock is as tough as they get. that is what i like about it. as for accuracy it was on par with any other 22s ive had. only thing was i ever could get the scope fully adjusted down for a 50 yd zero. it was 2 in high. i used it like that for years without any problem. just learned how to shoot it.. after gunsmithing a few years i decided to investigate and put the barrel in a laythe and found it to be bent. so i strained it and problem solved...rugers have a rep of being really good or really bad. all in all my go to 22..i would buy it and have fun.

Thanks for all the feedback guys, but I've found a Winchester/Miroku 52B sporter that I've decided to buy instead.

Where in Oregon is the shop??

I have a 77/22 Walnut and it is one of my most accurate rifles.

Oregon45: If you want accuracy and all the other neat attributes of the Ruger 77/22 platform then I suggets you go with the Ruger 77/22 V/T (the heavy barreled laminated stock model)!
I own one of these and it is one of my all time favorite 22 Rifles!
I also have several friends who own these heavy barrel Rifles and we all attain EXCELLENT accuracy with these.
The only thing I have done to mine was the installation of a new quality trigger sear and spring that improved the trigger pull and weight.
Sounds like maybe you are interested in a "lighter" weight Rifle though?
Personally, again, I highly recommend you consider the Ruger 77/22 V/T - I tote mine all over heck and appreciate the additional mass for steadier aiming afield.
I have never owned any of the lighter weight 77/22's so won't generalize on their accuracy - but the significant number of heavy barrel 22's I have seen shooting does give me reason to endorse them accuracy wise.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy