77/.357

[atitagain]

Has anyone had a chance to see or handle one of these new rifles??

[Nobade]

Yes, I saw and handled one in our local gun shop. It's identical to the 77/44 except for the smaller hole in the barrel. Guys over on cast boolits have a thread going about how theirs are shooting. Basically what you'd expect, not all that great with pistol bullets loaded to fit in the magazine and extremely accurate with rifle bullets loaded long so you have to use it as a single shot. A few of them are getting decent accuracy with lighter bullets though, so it can be done just not very easy.

[chefjeff]

I can't think of much practical use for this combination.Guns&Ammo just reviewed it. JMHO.

[mannyrock]

 
   Most reviews using factory ammo routinely show groups of only 3 to 4 inches at 100 yards.  I'm sorry, but I won't pay $650 for a bolt action rifle that only gets 3 to 4 inch groups.  Especially when a run of the mill Marlin 1894 in .357 will routinely do 1.5 to 2 inches at that distance.
 
Regards, Mannyrock
 
 

[Camba]

I have one.  It shoots about 1.5" to 2" groups at 100 yards.  That is good enough for me since I am not intending to use it for competition.  I am however looking for a betterr reload and so far mine likes the Speer 158 GDHP bullet.  Initially, the gun was a little hard to chamber this load combination.  After a few hundred shot with it, it seems to smooth out quite a bit.
What I like from this rifle is that it is really cheap to load and fun to experiment shooting.  I do have other rifles that can print 1/2 in groups if I do my part.  My next tests are going to be using cast bullets just for the fun of it.  I am very confident that I can use this rifle for deer hunting and be just as good as any other rifle that prints 1" or less.  Don't get me wrong though, I do prefer rifles that are accurate.  I own a TC G2 contender pistol that shoots one hole group at 50 yard and 1" at 100 yds.  I still like this bolt gun and I hope accuracy will improve.
 
Camba

[mnh2obuff]

Camba, what powder and how much with your Speer reloads? I've found my gun to be very particular with different loads. I don't even get on the paper with 125 Sierra with 18 g of  H110 even thoug I get good groups with my Henry Big Boy. I'm getting pretty good groups with 158 g XTP and 12.5 to 13.1 g of H110.

[tboy]

I bought one today. I wanted it for hunting in heavy cover, max ranges 50 yds. In east Texas more like 30 yds.

[tboy]

Took mine to the range today. Not bad.
I mounted a Trijicon 1.25-x24 scope in the factory rings.
It did not like the rounds I took so I bought a box of the range ammo. Bingo!
I put 2- 3 shot groups(as fast as I could reload the mag) into 1.23" at 50yds.
The scope is great for quick and close, not the best for target work.

BTW, the ammo was Independence 158gr. hp.

Doh! I'm an idiot. I was looking at the target wrong. I put it flat on the table and used the mike, reading is .972" for 6 shots.

[Camba]

"Camba, what powder and how much with your Speer reloads? I've found my gun to be very particular with different loads. I don't even get on the paper with 125 Sierra with 18 g of  H110 even thoug I get good groups with my Henry Big Boy. I'm getting pretty good groups with 158 g XTP and 12.5 to 13.1 g of H110. "
mnh2obuff:
The best load I've got so far is using 15.3 gr of 2400, CCI-500 primers and158 gr GDHP bullet.  Once the barrel gets warm, it begins making fliers.  I can do at least two to three groups of 5 before it starts throwing fliers.  The action is a lot smoother than the first time I used it. 
I have tried some other loads, including the H110, blue dot, and Unique but none gave me the accuracy that I am getting with the 2400 load.  I am going to try lower weight bullets with the 2400 and then with the Li'lGun powders next.  Let me know how you do.
Camba