Thoughts on Ruger 77 44

[S Mac]

If I wanted another truck gun $200 would suffice. I've got enough of those.

 

[Jeff H]

For my truck gun it’s quite handy and knocks coyotes flat in our open country.
2” groups are not grand but sufficient for me and my uses.

To be fair, 2" would probably suffice for my actual uses too. I just "mess around" with most of my guns 90+% of the time and actually use them (pest and predator control) about 10% of the time. So, my observations are what they are, but my preferences based on those observations set a higher standard than what is probably absolutely necessary - for the sake of my personal entertainment in shooting the smallest group I can with bullets I made and cartridges I loaded.

They are undeniably neat little rifles, handle very well, are lightweight and very attractive, I think. I'd caution anyone regarding my opinion on cost too. I think the rifle is over-priced, yet I turned around and spent almost the same money on the pieces to put together a Contender Carbine - which I think is over-priced too. I think everything is overpriced thee days, so my opinion on that is subject to scrutiny based on one's own perspective.

 

[KHornet]

I would have been happy with 2" groups at 50yd, much less a hundred
with the one I had. No such luck however. Really liked the looks of
it however.

Paul

 

[Will]

I’m in the same boat KHornet

Mine would not shot 2” at 50 yards. The trigger was horrible, stock made contact with the barrel badly, and the bolt didn’t feel smoothe at all. I used a dremel to relieve the stock pressure which made the rifle look awful afterwards due to having to remove such a large amount of material.

Keep in mind this is a $700 rifle

I really wanted this rifle to work. I loved the lightweight 44 mag stainless rifle. It would have been perfect for my tree stand hunting which consists of mainly 50-100yd shots.

I put 500 rounds through mine trying to get something to shoot. I even read that the rifle needed some jacketed ammo ran through it before it would shoot good. So I ran 300 xtp’s through it 200gr 240gr and 300gr. When I did shoot a group under 2” at 50 yards it wasn’t repeatable.

I used unique, tite group, 2400, AA#9, H110, and 300MP. From mouse fart loads to ouch loads.

After messing with the 77/44 and my marlin 1894 I’ve come to the conclusion that a 44 magnum rifle is a tough gun to get accuracy out of.

 

[Brad]

Actually Will the 44 mag shouldn't be taught to get accuracy out of. If they would build a rifle that lived up to,the potential of the cartridge it would be fine. Marlin and Ruger both screwed up when they designed the guns.

 

[Will]

I agree the gun quality sucks

I would gladly give $800 for a Ruger 77/44 if it would shoot 1 1/2” at 100. That was by far one of the best packing rifles I’ve ever owned.

 

[crackers]

Beyond the value being what you're willing to pay, Cabela's did sell a batch of these blued guns late last year at $399. I initially passed and missed a walnut/blue but settled for a plastic/blue on the theory that I could recover most of the price. I haven't broken any accuracy records and cast pistol bullets seem to knuckle-ball as dispersion opens with distance - with another .44, I missed an 18x36 paper after shooting at the four corners. I bet the single most overlooked issue is groove diameter. I haven't opened up my Lee sizer yet but the groove diameter of rifle barrels (.431) demands consideration.

 

[Jeff H]

Beyond the value being what you're willing to pay,..........

Given the current cost of guns, which I am still not used to, I'd say the one I had would have been priced about right at $399, but not a jumpin' for joy deal. I sold it for what I paid ($750) at a small local show and the fella was all too happy to get it for that because they had recently been discontinued and he didn't want to miss out.

On my 77/357, the groove diameter was either .358" or .357". I don't remember exactly, but I would have if it had been unusually large or small. That wasn't an issue on mine. Bore finish was really good, slugs pushed through very consistently, crown was nice, stamped letters did not show through into the bore - which I've found to be not uncommon on Rugers, yet never seemed to have affected accuracy either. Everything (visibly) with the barrel indicated that it should shoot - even had a rate of twist I knew I could work with.

Still thinking it was the stock, but I just don't know. I ditched it so I could get on with my "quest."

I was prepared to propose to Ruger (had they answered my inquiry) that they swap me a walnut stock for the plastic, which gave me fits. If someone offered up a new one of these in blue/walnut for $399, I'd maybe give it another go. They are such a neat little gun, which I think William B. Sr. had something of an eye for, but was also pretty pragmatic about accuracy standards in true hunting guns.

Now, if they brought back the 96/44, or made a 96/357, I'd fall for it and start out all over again in a continuing saga of finding the "perfect" rimmed pistol-cartridge carbine for my uses.

 

[crackers]

"On my 77/357, the groove diameter was either .358" or .357". I don't remember exactly, but I would have if it had been unusually large or small. "

Just to clarify - there are a separate SAAMI specifications for .44 Rem Mag pistol and rifle barrels. The larger rifle bore may actually be jetting/cutting unnoticed.

 

[Rally]

I have the 77/44 in ss/composite version. I put a little fixed 4x Simmons on it and removed the factory sights. It's no tack driver, but fair with the NOE 265 RD in dimple point. I'm pushing it with Blue Dot. Crimped in the groove it fits in the magazine and feeds well. I've had it since it was introduced and bought the first one I ever saw in this part of the country. I carry it trapping some times, often in a canoe. I like the safety and detachable magazine. At least two of the boys in our deer party have killed deer with it with the Remington 240 gr HP. It carries well in one hand and works to deflect brush. I wouldn't be afraid to stick it in the mud and tie my canoe to it, nor worry much about getting a little beaver urine on it. I'm not gonna worry about it spending a night in the woods if I have to carry a couple beaver out of a pond. I'm not sure it was intended to give tiny groups, but if a coyote or deer pop out of the brush inside 50-100 yards, I'm not going to feel under gunned. It would be rare I could even see that far in most of the country I run in. Think I paid $419.00 for mine.