Recent content by PJR

In the mid-90's I bought a Mini 14 Ranch. It was perfect for my needs except for the abysmal accuracy. Regardless what ammo was used groups were minute of dinner plate, 8-10" at 100 yards using a 2.5x Leupold. The rifle was sold when I shot smaller groups with a surplus Swedish Mauser with...

I put a Skinner barrel-mounted apeture on my 77/44 and it works well with the factory front sight. I can't say whether it would work as well with the 77/357. The Skinner fit into the Ruger dovetail easily enough and although it quite doesn't match the barrel contour precisely it still looks...

The price of the 77/357 should be in the same range as the 77/44 with the 357 perhaps commanding a slight premium because it is new and everyone wants one. Well, almost everyone. The more I think about this rifle the less I want one. It gives me nothing over the 77/44 other than one extra...

FWIW, I've shot a variety of .44 Specials through my 77/44 without either rim lock or any erosion to the chamber. My preference however is to download .44 magnum cases when I want .44 Special performance.

My 77/44 currently has a Leupold Vari-XII 1x-4x on it. I also have a barrel-mounted Skinner apeture site that I use as backup.

This gave me fits too when I first got mine. Heres's what I do: With the bolt open I press the magazine release with my middle finger while pushing down down on the rear portion of the mag from the top with my thumb and then pull it out from the front with my index finger. It is cumbersome...

What size groups are you getting and at what distance? The 77/44 for all of its virtues is not a precision item. I've found the Hornady Leverevolution is the best factory ammo in mine with 2" 3 shot groups at 100 yards. If it's not working in yours it's a trial and error process to see what...

Were I to try this it would be only after I bought a second 77/44. I've tried the shot shells in my current rifle and they don't pattern particularly well much beyond a few feet. Perhaps a .410 would be a better option.

A "Garden Gun" is a subgauge shotgun meant for the quiet elimination of small pests such as squirrels or birds at short range. I've never been impressed with patterns from a rifled-barrel but was wondering if it would be possible or advisable to have a smith bore out a 77/44 and turn it into a...

There is a range of views on this subject. They range between it being essential to ensuring the best possible accuracy from your rifle to a it being a waste of time and potentially harmful to your barrel. I'm somewhere in between. I usually but not always break-in a brand new rifle. Clean...

I agree. There is a difference between a gun being "made" and one being "produced." Just because it isn't a regular production item doesn't mean Ruger didn't make a few test platforms to see if they would work or if there'd be a market for them.

toddsmith8075, True enough. The Skinner and the Marbles won't work on an International. :(

Another similar option is the barrel-mounted sight from Sklinner. I recently put one on my 77/44 and like it. It does not require changing the front sight.

The 77/44 needs to be seen in the right context. If you expect performance comparable to most other centerfire bolt actions then you may be disappointed. But compared to lever actions shooting the same caliber or revolvers then it is definitely equal if not an improvement. I didn't get mine...

I'd be very interested in one of those as a little brother to my 77/44.