Author Topic: Model 77/44 being reintroduced (Read 3315 times)

Silvertp · « **on:** April 18, 2011, 10:50:15 AM »

Have there been any changes to the new releases? I'm wondering if they decided to "smith" them up a touch so they group a little better.

http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine7744/index.html

Silvertp

cwlongshot · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2011, 11:08:14 AM »

I sure hope they shoot better now.....

I had two of them, when they where first offered. I REALLY wanted it to shoot...but it simply wouldn't.

CW

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2011, 11:33:03 AM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on April 18, 2011, 11:08:14 AM

I sure hope they shoot better now.....
I had two of them, when they where first offered. I REALLY wanted it to shoot...but it simply wouldn't.

CW

How bad was it?
I have a 99/44 that is definatly a brush rifle but can make a good group at 50 yards and is more than minute of Deer.
I always thought I wanted the 77/44 instead But now I wonder.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2011, 11:50:32 AM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on April 18, 2011, 11:33:03 AM

Quote from: cwlongshot on April 18, 2011, 11:08:14 AM
I sure hope they shoot better now.....
I had two of them, when they where first offered. I REALLY wanted it to shoot...but it simply wouldn't.

CW
How bad was it?
I have a 99/44 that is definitely a brush rifle but can make a good group at 50 yards and is more than minute of Deer.
I always thought I wanted the 77/44 instead But now I wonder.

Thats funny. I sold the 77/44 and bought a 99/44!!! I found the levere "funky" to operate. I ended up selling that one two and going back to my Marlins as a pistol caliber rifle. No more problems.

It was hard to keep the first one on a pie plate at 100 with a scope! The second was better, but soft ball sized groups did little for confidence...
In contrast, I loved my 77/22M Varmint!! It would shoot just under 1" groups with Federal Premium bullets.

CW

45-70.gov · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2011, 12:02:23 PM »

this has got to be the best candidate for a supressed gun there is

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2011, 12:10:15 PM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on April 18, 2011, 11:50:32 AM

Quote from: mcwoodduck on April 18, 2011, 11:33:03 AM
Quote from: cwlongshot on April 18, 2011, 11:08:14 AM
I sure hope they shoot better now.....
I had two of them, when they where first offered. I REALLY wanted it to shoot...but it simply wouldn't.

CW
How bad was it?
I have a 99/44 that is definitely a brush rifle but can make a good group at 50 yards and is more than minute of Deer.
I always thought I wanted the 77/44 instead But now I wonder.

Thats funny. I sold the 77/44 and bought a 99/44!!! I found the levere "funky" to operate. I ended up selling that one two and going back to my Marlins as a pistol caliber rifle. No more problems.

It was hard to keep the first one on a pie plate at 100 with a scope! The second was better, but soft ball sized groups did little for confidence...
In contrast, I loved my 77/22M Varmint!! It would shoot just under 1" groups with Federal Premium bullets.

CW

96 is the lever 99 is the auto.
And at 100 yards with the 180 grain bullets the gun is not supose to shoot I get a good group from the little carbine.
With the 240 I get a 2" group at 50 yards off hand and figure that is perfect for deer stand or still hunting the pine forests in NC. But the Auto is a rattle box. and took some mole skin to quiet.

buck460XVR · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2011, 01:33:48 PM »

I have a new "All weather" 77/44 I got about a year ago. I bought it for deer hunting with handgun caliber cartridges. I got tired of always having to "rack" the shells outta my lever carbines every time I was thru huntin' or just wanting to drive to another spot. I had heard of accuracy issues with the older 77/44s, but had also heard good things about the newer, ones. I put a Nikon 2X7 scope on it and other than the infamous Ruger trigger, I've been pleasantly impressed with it. With my handloads, it groups about 2 1/2 inches or so @ 100 yards. It's a handy little brush gun and a hoot to shoot at the range. It's more accurate and reliable than the old auto 44 carbine I had years ago.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2011, 02:10:33 PM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on April 18, 2011, 12:10:15 PM

96 is the lever 99 is the auto.

Yea, I read your post and was thinking lever... Just a typo or miss type. I did like the removable mag as 460 commented, but when all was said and done, that's about all.

CW

Silvertp · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2011, 01:06:11 PM »

Well folks...
Sounds to me like the Ruger concept is a good one, only thing missing / unknown w/the new model is the accuracy and according to buck460 that might be acceptable.

"I've been pleasantly impressed with it. With my handloads, it groups about 2 1/2 inches or so @ 100 yards. "

So buck460...you mentioned the trigger was a little "ruger"...is it like the trigger in the 77/22? and if so, it might be easily smoothed and lightened up.

CWLongshot....did you try bedding the action / floating the bbl or were you working with various loads to get the rifles to shoot? I am definitely interested, but Im not willing to accept pie-plate groups even with a gun intended for close range / brush hunting.

Silvertp

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2011, 01:42:47 PM »

It was years ago...

But yes I did. I first floated the barrel channel, Then I bedded it. I installed a better trigger too. I am a hand loader so if there was something I didn't do it may have been shoot factory ammo... I got improvements but never got the warm and fuzzes about its ability to hit where I aimed it.

It felt great, looked good too. But without accuracy its not of value to me. As I said, I wanted it to work... I even considered re-barreling it to 45LC or even 454. But never did that.

CW

buck460XVR · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2011, 04:24:58 PM »

Quote from: Silvertp on April 19, 2011, 01:06:11 PM

So buck460...you mentioned the trigger was a little "ruger"...is it like the trigger in the 77/22? and if so, it might be easily smoothed and lightened up.

The trigger is exactly like the 77/22. Same trigger kits to fix it. Don't know if it's gettin' better after 1000 rounds or so, or if I'm just gettin' used to it, but it don't seem as bad as it was. I shoot it along with my handguns and other handgun caliber carbines at the range regularly. At 50 yards, it's nuttin' to punch out a 1 1/2'' bullseye, and at 70 yards, it's hard to miss a bowlin' pin. Not a long range varmint gun, but a definite handgun caliber deer gun. I have found it to to be selective about loads. It don't like 'em too soft and it don't like 'em too hot, and it likes 240 grainers the best. A 240 gr Nosler or Hornady XTP sittin' on top of just over 23 grains of H110/W296 is what she likes best.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2011, 08:24:19 AM »

I have always been shocked that Ruger did not expand the 77/ line into 357mag , 32 H&R now 327. as a do all woods rifle from small game to deer sized animals.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2011, 02:59:26 AM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on April 21, 2011, 08:24:19 AM

I have always been shocked that Ruger did not expand the 77/ line into 357mag , 32 H&R now 327. as a do all woods rifle from small game to deer sized animals.

Hmmmm...funny you should mention this.

alan in ga · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2011, 03:22:02 AM »

I always thought that THIS rifle would be the handiest Mannlicher stocked rifle they could offer. Looks like synthetic black or camo is all it has.
Something about this rifle does seem 'neat'. Aaaaaaalmost bought a used one w/walnut/blued steel at a pawn shop but hesitated too long. It had rust in the last 2" of bore and I was thinking about a new custom barrel for it IF I could get it for cheap. $325 was the price.

Silvertp · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2011, 10:25:37 AM »

Hmmmm...funny you should mention this.

[/quote]

So Blackhawk...have you heard something about an expansion of calibers???

Alan in GA...agree that a mannlicher would look good...but then I'd start wanting nicer wood as well.

Well apparently I haven't gotten this quoting thing figured out yet!

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2011, 01:53:27 PM »

Quote from: Silvertp on April 24, 2011, 10:25:37 AM

So Blackhawk...have you heard something about an expansion of calibers???

Hmmmm, perhaps...

Adawi · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2011, 02:35:15 PM »

Please tell me that .41 mag is one of the new calibers?!!

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** April 26, 2011, 11:17:49 AM »

Quote from: BlkHawk73 on April 24, 2011, 01:53:27 PM

Quote from: Silvertp on April 24, 2011, 10:25:37 AM

So Blackhawk...have you heard something about an expansion of calibers???

Hmmmm, perhaps...

We can hope.
With the rotary mags I wonder if there are going to have to have a special shorter mag for 38 Specials and 32 H&R mag.
The 10/22 mags have a problem feeding longs.

indymadcaster · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2011, 04:59:22 PM »

I have one 2009-2010 production all weather 77/44 It shoots 1 to 1 1/2 in groups @100 yards 24.0 grains H110 240 gr XTP win brass WLP primers kills deer like lightning
Nice easy to shoulder, light weight may be my fav 150 yard or less rifle

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #19 on:** May 09, 2011, 09:33:13 AM »

I plan on ordering one of these later in the week and I'll add my results accordingly

One factor that may be responsible for the earlier run rifles poor accuracy was the slow 1-28: twist. New production guns use a 1-20"

ECVMatt · « **Reply #20 on:** May 21, 2011, 09:13:36 AM »

BlkHawk73 you are killing me!

What do you know??

Hope to hear some news soon on the .357.

Matt

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2011, 03:28:56 AM »

Quote from: ECVMatt on May 21, 2011, 09:13:36 AM

BlkHawk73 you are killing me!

What do you know??

Hope to hear some news soon on the .357.

Matt

I know...well, there's to be an "expansion of chamberings based on the 77/44 line". That from a VERY reliable source.

ECVMatt · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2011, 05:15:14 PM »

I am getting ready to sell my Marlin 1894 the day Ruger announces these. I will be one happy camper if this ever comes to fruition.

single action · « **Reply #23 on:** June 04, 2011, 02:21:39 PM »

I bought a stainless, synthetic 77/44 in 2009. It will shoot 200gr xtp's 2 1/2 -3 1/2" groups at 100 all day long. I absolutely love it! Only weighs about 6 1/2 lbs loaded with a 2-7 power scope. Knocks deer on there rear and is a blast at the range. Has definately become my favorite "everything rifle."

Tom C. · « **Reply #24 on:** June 06, 2011, 10:40:08 AM »

I noticed that the current version of the 77/44 has a 20" twist. In the past .44 rifles have tended to have a 38" twist. Hopefully the faster twist will help accuracy with heavier bullets. Don't know if the mag is long enough for the long, flat nosed cast bullets. It wasn't previously.

alan in ga · « **Reply #25 on:** June 06, 2011, 12:40:13 PM »

38" twist was used for Marlin rifles in 44 mag also. Didn't work too well. I heard Ruger pistols [and possibly others] usedd 38" twist, and no one knows WHY~!
38" is said to have not given acceptable accuracy, and the manufacturers just kept using that twist rate.
Ruger brought out the 77/44 bolt rifle and used what I had heard was 25" twist and that it was a great improvement over the too slow 38" twist.
Maybe the 44 Rem Mag in rifles will finally get some "shoulda got long ago" interest now!

btmidwest · « **Reply #26 on:** June 10, 2011, 07:50:04 PM »

Hi Folks, I had to bed the action on my 96/44 to tighten the groups. It went from 6'' pie plate groups at 50 yrds to 3 out of 4 touching at the same distance. I'm still using the barrel band put on tight at this time and I'm shooting hot 240 gr. handloads. BT

alan in ga · « **Reply #27 on:** June 11, 2011, 07:52:13 AM »

I wonder what twist rate Remington used in their 788 rifle in 44 mag....I got to shoot one off the bench and it WAS ACCURATE!!!

no guns here · « **Reply #28 on:** June 15, 2011, 04:25:41 AM »

Man I am with you on the 77/44 chambering expansion! I would LOVE to have a small, trim, lightweight bolt gun in .44 mag, .357 Mag (or even MAXIMUM) and .327 Federal. Heck even a .45 colt would be great... we'll through in the .41 just to keep a certain someone happy!

Now what I would REALLY love is for Ruger to make a REAL (not cast or MIM) American made lever action based on the model 92. Heck I'd RATHER buy a model 92 from Ruger than from the Italians or Brazilians. I think a nice quality american-made real steel 92 would sell well. Now, make that same gun in .327, .357, .41, .45 and .44 and I might have to buy one of each.

NGH

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #29 on:** June 15, 2011, 09:36:17 AM »

I finally got back to the range with my 77/44 after a couple of botched attempts to determine accuracy ( read loose scope rings)

Ive only shot one load but @ 100 yds it looks like 240g XTP's over h110/296 are going to run in the 2 to 2.5" range x3 shots.

Of course I'll strive for more but given the rifle type,chambering, and use that's already quite satisfactory accuracy for me