Author Topic: 77/44 (Read 1471 times)

glockbox · « **on:** February 07, 2003, 10:01:05 PM »

I was thinking about getting a 77/44. Anyone out there have one or have any info that they would like to share? :sniper:

EOD3 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2003, 10:50:46 AM »

You're not going to like it...

I bought one last year. I took it to the range for the first time in July. The recoil from plain old 240 grain Winchester loads caused the bolt release mechanism to retract (where it would stick) so when I cycled the bolt I ended up with a two piece rifle. This wasn't a one time deal, it happened about every three rounds. I decided I could probably fix it with a file and a screwdriver so I kept shooting. While loading the magazine for about the tenth time, it self-destructed. Customer service asked that I take the magazine apert to remove the live rounds. I took the rifle back to my dealer who sent it off to Ruger in August. If I ever get it back, I'll let you know if they fixed it.

EOD3

Bob_K · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2003, 02:06:07 PM »

Let us know how this saga turns out. I've had the 77/44 on my wish list but I think it just got put on hold.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2003, 03:02:00 PM »

I had a 77/44 SS for a couple of years and had zero problems with it. It was a short, light woods carbine that was ideal for my intended uses. The only "problem" with it is the amount of kick with some loads. It's not bad, but more it has recoil than expected. I used the Winchester white box 240 gr loads without ever having a problem. I also used heavier loads with no problems either. A friend of mine kept bugging me to sell it to him and I finally relented. All in all, they make a nice walking rifle in the woods. YMMV MI VHNTR

freddogs · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2003, 02:38:32 PM »

:grin: I bought one last year. I put a reddot scope on it. It has worked faultlesslly. Some ammo doesn't seem to shoot all that well but some shoot fairly well. I like 265 gr and 300 gr bullets. The 300 gr. bullet sticks out to far to fit in the cllip.
It's a joy to carry around. I didn't think it had all that much recoil and I don't like shooting anything bigger than my 35 Whelan.
I'm pleased overall with the rifle. It's an extremly smooth working action. The only thing I didn't like was the shortness of the clip.

cherokee · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2003, 08:07:37 PM »

I have a Suppresed 77/44 built by John Tibbits. Shoots great,low recoil, and very quiet!

Nobade · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2003, 08:59:05 AM »

Hear, Hear! I'm saving up the cash to have John do mine as well. I got to shoot a friend's modified one and it is one of the neatest little rifles I've ever played with. So far mine hasn't been modified and it's still pretty slick. Very light weight and hits hard, just the thing for whitetails in my hometown back in VA. I just wish the factory used a faster twist rate, it doesn't shoot the 310gr. Lee bullets well at all but does nicely with Lyman 429421, the Keith bullet.

RicMic · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2003, 01:44:18 PM »

I had one about 6 years ago, put a leupold 2.5X on it and wanted it to shoot 2" - 3" groups. The best it would do was 5" no matter what I stuffed into it. I loved it but, it had to go....

Del · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2003, 05:52:08 AM »

A friend of mine bought the first 77/44 to hit town, he really likes the .44 carbine type guns. We both thought it was a nice, compact, light, smooth, fast, easy carrying gun!! It was plenty accurate for 100+ yard hunting even with the factory open sights, he planned to eventually put a small red dot scope on it.

The only problem he had was, occasionally when shooting warm handloads the clip would drop down slightly under recoil, it never fell out but dropped down just enough that the bolt wouldn't pick up the next round. This never happened with factory or factory level reloads.

Here's one load that I chronographed from that gun:
LBT 255 grn WFN / 22.5 grn H110 / 1776 fps

Del

Ronaldthe1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2004, 08:25:13 PM »

Got 2 of them (blued & Stainless) great guns, love the SS model because the abuse ive put it through draging it around in the swamps and thickets. Both are topped with a Leupold 1-4x. i get around 3" groups wit speer 270 gr Goldots

Chuck White · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2004, 04:28:02 AM »

I've had my 77/44 for about 5 years now! I have a 2.5X Weaver scope mounted on it! I feel that 2-4X is about all anyone should need on a 44Mag anyway! I have shot it a lot and haven't had a single problem! I've only hunted with it a few times, because in most cases I could expect shots up to 300 yards or so! I really love this little rifle for the woods, where shots will max out somewhere around 100 yards or so. I can keep 3-shot groups around 2.5 inches at 100 yards!
About a year after I got the 77/44, I bought a companion for it, that is the 77/22, in 22 Hornet. I love that one too!