Ruger 77/44 All-Weather

[olywa]

Pardon if some of you have already seen this thread started on the Ruger Forum. I just wanted to broaden the audience and get more input.
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Well I was rolling sevens this weekend at the local gunshow. I traded my way into a like-new 77/44 All Weather, something I've been looking for at least a couple years now. The only flaw is that the rear sight is missing and I've got a new one headed this way already.

I had a Compact Sightron SII 2.5-10x32 laying around that fits it perfectly, though a fixed 2.5x or 4x would be more to my liking. This will do for now though.

I've owned several Ruger 77 centerfires in the past but this little rifle is distinctly different in bolt design and in how the action mounts in the stock. Can anyone help me with a little info on this rifle? Specifically:

- How should the two stock mounting screws be tensioned for best accuracy?

- What is the wide dovetail for on the underside of the barrel?

- Is anyone shooting heavy hard casts in this rifle? I understand that COL gets dicey with the heavier pills in the 77/44 magazine.

I'm very pleased overall with this little rifle and I look forward to working up some loads for it. Thanks in advance for any help with my questions.

[7mmBRmostly]

I have one in wood, a real pleasure to shoot.  Somewhere in here I posted details of about 500 rounds of testing with it until I figured out it just needed bedding and that FIXED it.  I suspect a lot of people gave up on this little gun for that reason. After all it moves around in the stock more than the .22 it was based on.  I ended up with a lighter cast bullet that fits the mag fine, think it's a 210gr