77/44

[indymadcaster]

i just got a 77/44 in 44mag    anyone handload for one??

[pennsyltuckymoose]

I do reload for Indiana deer... The jacketed load I found best for my 77/44 was a 240 gr Nosler Sporting Handgun Hollowpoint over 23.0 H110...  My Remington 788 liked 24.0 better..

Currently I'm driving myself even more crazy trying to get the best loads for the Ruger 77/44, Remington 788, and Marlin 1894 using gas checked 280 gr LFN's cast from wheel weights sized to .432 and lubed with LBT SoftBlue...again using H110, but will be trying 2400 in the near future... I found that just changing the powder charge by 0.2 gr. makes a huge difference.  The magazines on the Ruger and Remington both require me to seat the bullet deeper than I want for best accuracy.

Hope this helps,

TheMoose

[buck460XVR]

The jacketed load I found best for my 77/44 was a 240 gr Nosler Sporting Handgun Hollowpoint over 23.0 H110

Same here, but I have been experimenting with and having good luck with IMR4227 also. I understand it's less sensitive to temperature variations than H110/W296. Here in Wisconsin temps during deer season can range from 80* to -20*.

[ELMO]

    I have a77/44 that I bought used and the rifle is around 10 years old. I tried lots of loads in this rifle and finally settled on a pretty accurate load for it. I will use this load for the upcoming deer season, 20.0 grains of W296 and the speer 270 grain gold dot bullet. I was getting right at 1 inch groups at 70 yards and that is good enough for me.... 

[indymadcaster]

i wonder if .430    or .429 jacketed is best???    i do have some 310gr lee hard cast  they are sized .432      hmmmm  H110?

[buck460XVR]

i wonder if .430    or .429 jacketed is best???   

It don't seem to matter much in either my 77/44 or my 629s. Due to the component shortage over the last coupla years, I've had to buy .44 caliber jacketed bullets when I could find them, regardless of what brand they were. For me, all of the 240 grainers from name brand manufacturers shoot about the same as far as accuracy goes. The Noslers are .429(I shoot JHPs for target and JSPs for deer) as are the Speers. The Hornady XTPs and the Remmie JSPs are .430.

[indymadcaster]

well with a bushnell firefly 1.5x4.5    and 240 XTP   24.0 H110   WLP      WIN brass     3/4 in 3 shot group 100 yrds!!!!
BUT  barrel has to be cold   or it throws em in to left field   

[Jasper243]

Hi guys-

Wow!  Just the thread I wanted to start, and it is already going.  This site is amazing.

Anyway, I just bought a Ruger 77/44 that was one of the first ones produced (blued/wood).  I have tried 3 different powder charges, various bullets and seating depths, and haven't had much luck.  Any additional tips besides those already listed would be helpful.  I am looking to make this a 30 - 90 yard deer and bear rifle for Michigan.

The .429 / .430 bullet dia was a theory of mine too, but I can't prove it yet.  So far my best group is around 3 inches.  Not what I am comfortable with.........

Is there anything gunsmithing wise these rifles need, or just a perfect load?  What cartridge OAL do you suggest?  Crimp or no crimp?

Thanks a million for your expertise.

[indymadcaster]

heavy roll crimp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[buck460XVR]

 So far my best group is around 3 inches.  Not what I am comfortable with.........

Is there anything gunsmithing wise these rifles need, or just a perfect load?  What cartridge OAL do you suggest?  Crimp or no crimp?

My AW 77/44 likes 23.2 grains of H110/W296 under almost any kind of quality 240 gr JHP/JSP. When I was first considering gettin' a 77/44, I heard a lot of grumblins about accuracy issues with the early wood stocked models. Don't know if this is why Ruger no longer offers them or not or if the only difference with the newer model is the stock. Solutions I have heard consist of floating the barrel, checking the crown,  and the tightness of the screws holding the action to the stock. I would contact Ruger and see what they say. I have been very happy with the accuracy of my 77/44, even with the terrible trigger. Off bags @ 70 yards it consistently puts every shot inside the 2'' bull. Good enough for what it's for.

[hillbill]

does anyone make barrels for 77/44? id buy one in a heart beat if i could simply rebarrel it to 45 long colt. nuttin agin the 44 mag i just wud like a rifle to go with my 45 ruger blackhawk.

[quasne.inc]

I would definantly have to get one if I could convert it to .45 colt.  I think a lever gun makes more since, but man I want one of those 77/44s.