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Ruger 77/44

AmbroseAmbrose Member Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭✭
edited November 2013 in Ask the Experts
Anyone have or shoot a Ruger 77/44? I just got one at the last gun show. I plan to put a compact 4x scope on it. What can I expect from this gun? I hope for it to be a 2" gun at 100yds. Any experience or info on the gun would be appreciated. Also, how does it like 44 specials?Roy

Comments

  • AmbroseAmbrose Member Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have been looking at a new Ruger 77/44 to use on deer in West Virginia hill country. Good idea or not? How should it be scoped and sighted for what range?

    Don't like to jump in without some ideas from those who have "been there".

    Grizzly
  • AmbroseAmbrose Member Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have been looking at a new Ruger 77/44 to use on deer in West Virginia hill country. Good idea or not? How should it be scoped and sighted for what range?

    Don't like to jump in without some ideas from those who have "been there".

    Grizzly
  • AmbroseAmbrose Member Posts: 3,219 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Picked one of these up at the local gun shop today. Anyone have any experience with them?
  • CS8161CS8161 Member Posts: 13,596 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nice rifle, just wish Ruger would make the magazine easier to remove!
  • eastbankeastbank Member Posts: 4,052 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i have one of the first ones made and have killed two deer with 240gr hornady,s at 1700f-1800fps. not a long range rifle,but inside of 125 yards it knocks them flat. will the moderator please explain himself according to T.S.albert.
  • jptatumjptatum Member Posts: 1,911 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try it; you will like it!
  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,178 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Ambrose
    Picked one of these up at the local gun shop today. Anyone have any experience with them?


    Yes, but not good.

    I really liked the rifle, nice and compact. The magazine can be a PITA to remove, but I learned that in addition to depressing the release pushing on the mag with your thumb, keeping pressure and then pulling it out worked well.

    I tried all sorts of loads, 240 grain jacket, lead bullets, heavy loads & light, fiddled with the damn two piece bolt and just never got decent accuracy. I went from stringing individual shots to different POI for some decent groups. I switched scopes, I "loctited", I bedded. Nothing really helped so I sold it for a Ruger 96 in the same caliber.

    If yours shoots well that's great. I'd "almost" buy another and give it a try.
  • burpfireburpfire Member Posts: 1,158 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have one blued that is integrally silenced. I have a 30mm scope on it. very accurate to say the least. mags come right out by pulling down. I really like the gun.
  • spiritsspirits Member Posts: 363 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It is a very light and handy carbine yet can be held steady enough for accurate off hand shots too. Never had any problems with mine and I used it for deer, hogs, turkeys, varmints, pests, etc. Mine shot < 1 inch groups with my reloads scoped at 50 yards. I kept shots under 75 yards. For the hogs don't take any head on shots the bullet will usually glance off their slopping fore head. Only profile shots between ear and eye work always worked. For turkeys junction of neck with body. The magazine is not a problem just make make certain it is seated properly when removing and inserting it. You'll like it but it is short range even with a scopoe but definitely a walk-around carbine you'll like to carry.
  • steve45steve45 Member Posts: 2,940 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would think it would smack down a hog if you hit it in the forehead and the bullet glanced off. quote:Originally posted by spirits
    It is a very light and handy carbine yet can be held steady enough for accurate off hand shots too. Never had any problems with mine and I used it for deer, hogs, turkeys, varmints, pests, etc. Mine shot < 1 inch groups with my reloads scoped at 50 yards. I kept shots under 75 yards. For the hogs don't take any head on shots the bullet will usually glance off their slopping fore head. Only profile shots between ear and eye work always worked. For turkeys junction of neck with body. The magazine is not a problem just make make certain it is seated properly when removing and inserting it. You'll like it but it is short range even with a scopoe but definitely a walk-around carbine you'll like to carry.
  • spiritsspirits Member Posts: 363 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One time, my .308 Win bullet hit one in the forehead and it glanced off. The hog definitely got smacked downed all right then staggered to its feet almost knocking over the feeder when it lurched forward. Next shot through the lungs and it still managed to knock down a dead tree; and that happened out of my sight but what a crash it made. With one cartridge left and darkness approaching I stayed put for a while before looking for that hog.

    One time while dove hunting, I met an old Tex-German farmer, who fired his shotgun at one and he had to climb a tree. His single shot shotgun had a repair at the wrist and what was more interesting to me a area which looked like an ice cream scoop had scooped out the wood for about an inch depth at the side of the stock.

    The only animal which has ever charged me was a hog. I had shot its friend and made the mistake of waiting a bit and then getting down from my tree stand with a fired case in the chamber. Next thing I hear is brush cracking and popping; and down the slough's bank here comes this hog shaking its head like a fox terrier coming for me. I had to bluff the hog off by going into a sitting position and acting like I was ready to shoot and wishing to myself "Just Stop and Turn Back and Nothing Will Happen". The hog stopped in front of me and shook its head some more, turned around, and went crashing back through the brush.
  • spiritsspirits Member Posts: 363 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I also bought a used 77/357, which is similar to the 77/44, and I found that the centers of the scope rings didn't align. So I lapped the stainless rings using the Wheeler scope alignment tool and they now center perfectly. Also marked the ring halves with a small punch so I can't get them mixed up. You could do the same for the 77/44 just make sure everything is masked off you don't want the grinding compound to get on.
  • riley priley p Member Posts: 217 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yup, I owned one a couple years ago. Bought it from a guy who knew guns and shooting. I thought I'd all but stolen it. Nope. He warned me when he took my money. I tried every load combination from 180 grain to 300 grain bullets. None--- nothing would reliably keep five shots on a shopping bag (sometimes not even the target frame) at 100 yards. This is with a Leopold scope. Cute, handy, pretty, light, worthless. Sold it to a guy who bought it for his wife.... I warned him, then took his money. Hope you have better luck. I've owned an SKS that would shoot straighter. Sorry.
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