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Post by deerpreacher on Jan 2, 2011 18:00:37 GMT -5
Does anyone have experience with the Ruger 77/44. I have been thinking about this one every since I put one in my hands at a local gun shop. I love my Marlin but it might want some more company in the safe.
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Post by baldguy637 on Jan 2, 2011 19:22:47 GMT -5
I love mine! Light, short and decent accuracy. I topped mine with a nikon monarch 2-8x32mm bdc scope and it's my favorite deer gun to date. The only downfall is the trigger, mine broke around 8# from ruger so i took it to a local gunsmith and had him drop it to 2.5#. With Hornady leverevolution ammo i can manage three shot groups around 1-1.5" at 100 yards, the longest shot was in the prone position at 165 yards, three shots in a 3" circle. More than enough for deer.
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Post by evolutionsthunder on Jan 2, 2011 19:33:41 GMT -5
i can not ask for a better shooting gun than the one that i got. i am looking at buying another one for my daughter
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Post by imnatree on Jan 2, 2011 23:23:47 GMT -5
I bought one for my 11 yr son to shoot this his first deer season. Put a 3x9x50 on it so he could see clearly through it. He shot as far as 125 yds using a 180 gr PMC bronze. At that range he would consistly group 3 shots @ 3". Good enough to to take 'em down with one shot. He took a big 9 pt 2nd day of gun season @ 62 yds. The buck took one jump for 10 yds. When he landed, his feet went out from under him and he was down. Son did good with a shot to his heart. I'll never regret getting it. The SS is nice for cleaning that way I could make him take care of it without worry of rust. Worth the $, & a little more accurate than the lever. I love the level trajectory from the 180 gr( actually shot better than the lever revolution 225 gr bullets!) gl
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Post by firehawk1 on Jan 15, 2011 23:05:33 GMT -5
Just bought one myself today. While I like my H&R in .44 mag, the 77/44 is MUCH lighter. I plan on staying with the Lever Revolution ammo I've been shooting out of the H&R. VERY deadly on deer!
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Post by drs on Jan 16, 2011 6:53:19 GMT -5
I've had my Ruger 77/44 since 1999 and have taken several Deer with it. I use my handloads for hunting, using H-110 Powder & 240 gr. Hornady XTP bullets. Velocity is equal to factory loads to a bit higher (1,800 FPS). All my shots have been < 100 yards.
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Post by nimrodder on Jan 16, 2011 17:05:26 GMT -5
I've tried Hornady 240gr, 300gr XTP's, 225gr Lever and 240gr Win white box and still can't get my 77/44 to shoot well. Anybody have any recommendations on factory ammo?
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Post by huxbux on Jan 16, 2011 19:41:53 GMT -5
What do you consider to be "well". In other words, what size groups are you getting shooting with a good scope off sand bags, off a bench?
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Post by nimrodder on Jan 16, 2011 20:24:25 GMT -5
Shooting off a bench w/bags have a Leupold VX III on top. All mounting screws are tight. 3" at 80 yards with the 240gr XTP's is the best so far. The Lever 225gr groups like a shotgun pattern. The rest are somewhere in between these two extremes. I know 3" groups are good enough to kill deer but I have 5 muzzy's and a slug gun that do better.
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Post by hornharvester on Jan 16, 2011 20:42:23 GMT -5
Shooting off a bench w/bags have a Leupold VX III on top. All mounting screws are tight. 3" at 80 yards with the 240gr XTP's is the best so far. The Lever 225gr groups like a shotgun pattern. The rest are somewhere in between these two extremes. I know 3" groups are good enough to kill deer but I have 5 muzzy's and a slug gun that do better. Ruger rifles generally have stiff or hard trigger pull. Most of the guns Ive ever worked on are 5lbs. + triggers. Thats hard to get a nice group with that kind of trigger. You can get springs that reduce the pull and have a smith do the work. You might be surprised how much a 3 lb trigger can reduce group size. My experience with .44 rifles have been group size of 2.5 - 3" @ 100 yards to be normal. Some will do better with handloads. h.h.
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Post by huxbux on Jan 16, 2011 20:47:37 GMT -5
3" at 80 yds. seems like a large spread shooting with that setup. h.h. is right about the Ruger trigger. Does it seem overly heavy to you compared to your other guns?
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Post by nimrodder on Jan 16, 2011 21:08:53 GMT -5
It has some creep and I would guess an 8# pull.
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Post by thecommissioner on Jan 16, 2011 22:39:07 GMT -5
2010 was the first season of hunting with a 77/44 for me. Since I spend almost all my time sitting in permanent 4'x4' ground blinds, I like how compact the rifle is and how easily it is to shoulder in that compact box. Also, the weight of the rifle with scope is very manageable when hiking to and from the blinds with a pack on my back.
I couldn't see spending the extra money for the Hornaday factory ammo when WWB 240 gr JSP gives me a one inch group at 75 yards.
The stiff trigger pull is the only valid criticism I have so far and that can be remedied.
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Post by drs on Jan 17, 2011 7:09:41 GMT -5
It has some creep and I would guess an 8# pull. I must have aquired one of the "Good" Ruger Model 77/44's as my triger pull is four pounds & is crisp. Not certain how good the "Newer" models currently made, in the way of trigger pull & accuracy. You could replace the trigger with a Timney trigger.
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Post by deerpreacher on Jan 17, 2011 12:38:21 GMT -5
I put mine in layaway in Connersville. Got a great deal on the price. From what I have read they like hot loads. I am planning on using 240 xtps and using either 2400 0r H110 with at least 23 grains of powder. I will probably have to try some of the 225 gr lever evolution factory loads just to see if they work as good as I hear.
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Post by deerpreacher on Jan 17, 2011 12:44:33 GMT -5
Most of the threads I read said the same thing that HH said about the trigger pull, but a good group of the folks said they were getting 1.5 to 2 inch groups at 100 yrds which is a far sight better than my Marlin. By the way I still love my lever gun. Its hard to beat firepower. I was able to shoot 3 doe in the same group at my Whitewater State Park hunt.
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Post by nimrodder on Jan 17, 2011 12:54:04 GMT -5
I just might sell mine to fund an AR or M1A. I'm sure I could get her shooting good I'm just starting to loose interest.
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Post by drs on Jan 17, 2011 12:55:54 GMT -5
I put mine in layaway in Connersville. Got a great deal on the price. From what I have read they like hot loads. I am planning on using 240 xtps and using either 2400 0r H110 with at least 23 grains of powder. I will probably have to try some of the 225 gr lever evolution factory loads just to see if they work as good as I hear. WW-296 or H110 is the best powder for reloading the .44 Magnum.
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Post by Decatur on Jan 17, 2011 13:22:47 GMT -5
That's a matter of opinion.
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Post by tenring on Jan 17, 2011 14:06:02 GMT -5
22.0/2400 with a 240 gr. slug, courtesy of Elmer Keith.
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