Anything special about the run on Ruger 77/22 (22 lr only) bolt actions?
It seems like they’ve gone up 75%

I can't think of anything 'cept they are truly a nice rifle that's been out of production a couple years. I do truly wish I had not sold my last one. Likewise wish I had a .22 mag just like it.

They quit making them?

OP,
Have you been living under a rock??

At their MSRP, they weren't worth it. That's why they didn't sell enough to justify continued production. Accuracy was mediocre overall, and better accuracy could be had for equal or less money than their street prices. The rifles are very well built and feel like a quality piece. I got incredibly lucky with the two that I have now (one mag and one LR) They are surprisingly accurate and I got them for less than $400 bucks when they were on closeout.

LMAO those would be the only 2 you haven’t had problems with. How’s the cost compare to your Nosler?

Nothing special except the anti-Ruger crowd like to talk crap about them.

Had a 22wmr that would shoot 3/4” groups. You can still get an A-Bolt .22 or browning 52 repro for the same price or less. Plenty of kimber 82’s or K22’s in the same price range. Tikka T1’s for less. Sako Finnfire, steyr zephyr, Remington 541 & 504, Weatherby mark XXII...

Lots of better options.

Never thought of it as an investment. Had to shim the bolt to make mine attain expectations. Thousands of Beldings Ground squirrels have bought the farm over the years, and it does as well as my Anschutz.

Do plan on picking up a CZ 457 in the near future just because I want one.

My last was a SS RSI in .22LR. Lovely little bugger, but only an average shooter, 3/4” or so with good ammo IIRC. I got the trigger down to an acceptable level and shimmed the bolt, but it only accepted a .002 shim, so was pretty tight. I let it go to finance my 10/22 CSC, which so far shoots at least as well and is more fun. It’s also is easy to swap optics around on with its integrated rail. 77/22s are kind of a pain.

My son has had one of the Varmint/Target model for over 20 years. Good shooter, but not exceptional either with hunting ammo anyway. Heavy too. Still, a nice, full-sized rifle, heirloom material now. I put a Timney sear in that one long ago, and shimmed the bolt a couple years ago. Not sure what effect the shim had, as I haven’t shot it myself. That one has had a Bushnell Trophy 4-12AO on it, a solid bargain RF scope btw, from the beginning.

Good rifles, and generally nice ones too, but I think the current CZ 457 is a bit better, easier to get, and certainly cheaper than the cultish 77/22. My 455 SS, now in walnut, looks nearly as good as the RSI too.

Cultish? Have you ever been to RFC and seen the CZ whacks?

This.

Oh yeah. Can’t stand all that snobbery and half-assed expertise. Not a GFY to be seen. Only time I go there is to look for specific stuff, and that’s damn seldom.

Shoulda said cultish prices. The guns are great. They’ve just become priced out of my interest range. That RSI had the best fit and finish I’ve seen on a Ruger in a while. Checkering was perfect. Hope the guy who bought it is enjoying it.

I have a 77/22 RS that I bought used in '85 or '86 for about $250 if I remember correctly. Put a simple little Bushnell 4X rimfire scope on it, had a smith do a $50 "trigger job", and haven't changed a thing since. Great little rifle.

Same operating system and wing safety as my 77 Mk ll, so what's not to like? So many of the bolt action .22's remind me of kid training rifles and their smaller bolts and breeches while fine for a .22 just seem miniaturized for a grown up rifle. I've never run mine for ultimate accuracy, but no target of opportunity has made it out alive and that's good enough for me.

Pappy348, you didn't by chance drop ship that RSI to an FFL in Wisconsin last year did you?

Beautiful rifles, hit and miss in the accuracy department since they came out. Of the half dozen or so I know that owned one, mediocre at best and no one was happy with their accuracy.

Maybe 30 years ago, was in what was at the time, the premiere gun shop in our area,, when a customer came in with his Ruger in the box and demanded his money back. Long time customer, so they refunded his money. Had a chat with him and one of the employees, while he waited a few minutes for an owner to appear. Guy said he loved everything about the rifle, except how poorly it shot. And for that kind of money, it wasn't acceptable. He had spent hours at the range with it, trying a wide variety of ammo and nothing suited him.

Then there was the club member several years ago, that bought the SS heavy barrel/laminated stock 22 mag.

Leupold target scope, trigger and bedding job, still couldn't put five inside an inch, rested @ 100 yards. Day I encountered him he was trying some new poly-tipped ammo in it, hoping he'd found the Holy Grail. Nope. Asked me to shoot it. Best it would do was about 1-1/4". To say the guy was disappointed, would be a gross under statement.

I like Ruger rifles and have owned several. Just not these turkeys. They hit the mark with the 1022 and the RAR, so there's that?

I picked up a lnib box one a few years ago even after hearing all the accuracy issues. I didn't buy it for that, I bought it for having a well made rifle that feels like a real gun. I have true target 22s if I want to shoot tiny groups. The 77/22 is plenty minute of squirrel.

DupePA: The first day (February 2,003) I took my heavy Ruger 77/17 HMR V/T to the range, I was stunned by its accuracy!
Literally stunned - as I had been shooting rimfire Rifles of all calibers for right at 50 years by then and this Rifles accuracy was NOTEWORTHY in my opinion.
I have posted about this many times in the past on this forum and others.
First of all I had the good sense to strap on plenty of scope power (Weaver 4 to 16 power variable) and then I waited for a dead calm day to test my then brand new Rifle.
All four groups (5 shots apiece at 100 yards!) were WELL under 1.00"!
And for the first time ever with a rimfire Rifle I made a true 1/2" grouping at 100 yards.
One of those 5 shot groups I made with Hunting type ammunition at 100 yards measured .502"!
Any... and I repeat ANY, moving air, will play hell with rimfire bullets that are travelling 300' to their target!
Again I do not know if the folks YOU refer about had enough scope power on their Rifles or if they waited for perfect conditions to test their Rifles?
I also own a pair or Ruger 77/22's that provide me with very pleasing accuracy!
One is also a heavy barrel 77/22 V/T (again with plenty of scope power to more reliably test a Rifle/ammunition combo again a Weaver V-16) and the other is a Ruger 77/22 All Weather (boat paddle).
I have NO complaints what so ever with any of my Ruger 77 rimfires.
As another testament to the Ruger 77/17 HMR I now have at least 42,000 (forty two thousand!) rounds down it's barrel and I have not noticed any accuracy diminishment to date!
I have babied that barrel and when the Rifle was new "we" did NOT know how often to clean it - so I chose to clean it every box of bullets (50 rounds) then after a few years I went to cleaning it (carefully with the proper rods, jags and bore guides) every 100 rounds - over the last several years I have moved out my cleaning interval to every 250 rounds (5 boxes).
I am NOT saying "I" am a better shooter than you or your quoted friends but I am a patient and properly equipped shooter looking for accuracy - this includes waiting for the best conditions.
I will add this - I am aghast at the prices that Ruger 77 rimfire Rifles are commanding these days - I would like to buy some more!
I have two friends who own Ruger 77/22 Magnum V/T Rifles and they are VERY pleased with their accuracy and performance in the Ground Squirrel Colonies!
I have shot these Rifles and they are a pleasure to shoot with their excellent triggers (may have been worked on?) and their superb magazine systems.
I contend that YOUR blanket contention that Ruger 77 rimfires are "Turkeys" is unwarranted.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: Ask me about my Ruger 77/17 Hornet and how happy I am with it when you get some time.
And this - I have shot along side a couple of friends with Ruger 77/17 WSM's and they performed very well also.

Killerv: You make an EXCELLENT point with your assessment of the Ruger 77/22's accuracy potential.
One inch groups at 100 yards or one inch and one quarter groupings are adequate for 98% of what a 22 L.R. can do or should be asked to do!
Again I just wish so many people were NOT so willing to pay SO MUCH for Ruger 77/22 rimfire Rifles.
I like'em.
Hold into the wind
varmintGuy

I let my LGS handle the GB sale. Don’t know where it went. I’ve retired from shipping guns.

Agreed with VarmintGuy. As someone with personal experience, almost all Ruger 77/22 are good enough for squirrel hunting. The Ruger made barrels are good enough for targets. If you happen to find a lesser example, send it to CPC for a tune up.

To the OP's question: run a magazine through the 77/22, then try the RAR, then a Marlin 25. You'll feel the differences. Some 77/22 have a V-block barrel for quick changes between caliber (22 and 17) or field barrel and heavy barrel. Then there is the American made and Ruger backed aspect.

I'd think all of them could probably stand having some work on the trigger. Mine sure needed it. I pressure bedded the forend toward the tip and shimmed the bolt. With CCI std velocity I'm pretty confident it'll hit a squirrels head out to about 80 yds. using a 2-7 scope on a calm day.

I like mine, got it about 30 years ago. It came with factory sights. Overall IMO the quality's there but as I recall the price got up over five or six hundred before they quit making them. I'd get a CZ before paying 75% more than that for one.

I'm a fan

22 LR First Year



17 HMR


22 Mag


22 Hornet


And yes, they do get shot once in a while :-)

All well and good if many have had excellent results with their 77/22s. As I said, they are beautiful rifles

Doesn't negate the fact that not all 77/22s met with that level of acceptance. I know what I know, as others know what they've experienced. Be well.

Long before the 77/22 came out, I'd bought a new Win. M320, for the same reason people were attracted to the Ruger. Walnut stock, some heft to it and a proper looking rifle. It stood out from the crowd of cheap stocked and clunky 22s on the market in the early 70s. Still have it, still shoot it. $60 out the door when new.

GTC22, good looking bunch of 77's. Green with envy of the different chamberings.

Bought and sold at least a dozen 77/22 rifles. Pretty much the same scenario why they were for sale, the owners said they were not accurate. I guess they thought they were buying a bench rest competition rifle. I would check them all over and shoot them at the range. The triggers on three of them were replaced with a Timney, one had a bolt shimmed, the others left as is. I determined operator error and not trying different ammo was probably the biggest cause of the issues.

I told the buyers if they were not satisfied with the accuracy, bring it back for a range test with them present. If the results are not to their standards, I would buy back. Two guys took me up on the offer. They shot a group, I shot a group and my Niece shot a group. In each case my Niece out shot us. The guys left with the guns.

Several years ago, I bought this 77/22 at the LGS and remains the most accurate of the ones owned. Did not do any modifications to it, just determined what ammo it preferred. Not gilt edge competition target shooter, but accurate for plinking and taking care of varmints and small game.

LR in Stainless. Mag in Blue. Both sub MOA at 50 with their favorite ammo. Topped with Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 AccuRange scopes, they are my favorite rimfires.

DIY trigger work is pretty easy if you’re patient and careful. I found a good drawing on the web that showed what to do. The Timney I installed was easy, but it took a while to get the safety pad worked down to the right spot, mostly because I was being really careful.

I ran across a win 310 in a shop about 5 years ago, didn't get it that day but went back a few days later and it was gone....but....a gorgeous 320 was in its place. SOLD! Without a doubt my favorite blued walnut 22 I own and I get a lot of compliments on it.

Sold mine, don't miss it at all. Replaced it with a Savage/Anschutz M164. The only thing the Ruger had over the 164 is the rotary magazine.

Bought a stainless 77/22 paddle stock new when I turned 18, and I think the rifle and scope I had on there cost me $388 out the door in 1994. That thing could shoot the tacks off paper targets with boring repeatability. Which I guess was one reason my interest wasn't there? It was too easy to shoot well? More of an iron sight and blued rifle guy, and after not shooting it much over the next dozen years I decided to move it along.

Now, some 15 years later, I regret selling. One of the few I wish I had back.

Congrats on the catch.

Very nice rifle for its day. If you wanted something with walnut and some quality back then before the M320, you were buying a Rem. 541, which I never really liked.Or something that was really expensive, like an Anschutz sporter? Around the early 80s, Win. M320s had really appreciated in price A $60 rifle was fetching over $300 by then. Partly because of the Kimber of Oregon connection.

Was at the range with several other rifles one day in the early 80s and the M320 was laying in an open hard case on the next bench. Shooter comes over, looks at it. Flaps his gums about what a nice looking 22 that is and asks it it's for sale? Sure, make an offer. He offered a hundred dollars. Told him to triple it and we'd start a proper dicker. He laughed, said he guessed I wasn't giving it away.

Got lucky years ago and picked up an extra NIB Win. mag for it at a gun show. Same mag as the original Kimbers, but they're pretty scarce these days. Best part, mine still shoots close to half inch groups at 50 with Mini Mags. Just like it did over 30 years ago. Since I got the RAR, that's pretty much taken it's place. Don't wanta scuff up the Winchester.

The M77/22 is as much of a classic to me as the Marlin 39A is. However if the Marlin 39A won’t shoot sub MOA you won’t hear anyone poo pooing them for selling at 600.00 plus for average care rifles. However for the same price if the M77/22 won’t shoot sub MOA and you payed more than 400.00 then you’re an idiot. Shoot one for a while and decide yourself.

I love mine!

I’ve got a spare stock just waiting for me to find a magnum action for. Just need the luck of the Irish on my side one of these days.

Regards, JimHnSTL.

Suspect you already know: A V-block 77/22 with the proper bottom metal can be configured for any rimfire cartridge (excepting the WSM). Numrich has the trigger guard for the .22WMR, also works for the .17HMR:

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/516220

A minor fitting to either the bolt or the ejector that's integral to the trigger guard may be required.

Yest I am aware. The bolt on the long rifle will need to be modified slightly to work with the magnum trigger gard. I have the other bottom metal already.

What part of the state are you from?

Central but now reside in lafayette

I have a first year 22lr with a Redfield 2 3/4 with a dot. I’ll never part with it as a great friend gave it to me. I like it and almost everything about it. The only issue is that it only shoots one kind of ammo really well and they’re not easiest to find, luckily I have a couple bricks.

triple k makes 10 rounders for them, you have to file off a little of the rear tab but they work great

Here was 10 shots at 50 with some cci standards with me not really trying. I still have the heavy trigger too. I've read about spring change for the 320 but I just dont want to mess with it. I think it was a hair over 0.8. Never tried really good stuff in it.