My Brother-In-Law just bought a 77/44 for deer hunting because his bother has one. I tried to tell him to get a Handi rifle, but his brother told him he would handload for the Ruger and get it to shoot great and it was a repeater, blah, blah, blah.
On a different note. I have a 77/17 that shoots very well, it may be the most accurate gun I own on a calm day. To get it to shoot that well; it has an after market barrel (SS Volquartsen Heavy barrel) and a Rifle Basix trigger too. It was the target model to start with so it had a SS receiver and laminated stock
Got some bucks in that one!
Good Shooting and Good Luck