96/44 barrel vs. 77/44 barrel

[collectormzornes]

I had an idea so I was wondering if anyone has come up with it before me or already tried or made it. Does the 96/44 barrel and the 77/44 barrel interchange meaning same threads into the receiver. If so would it be possible to order a 77/357 barrel and swap it out on a 96/44 receiver to make a Ruger "factory" lever action 357 "96/357" just a thought.

 

[Jim Puke]

I don't know about the barrel and I don't know if the bolt could be altered for .357, either.

And, it it would still take a back seat to the Rossi and Marlin lever. IMHO

 

[GaCop]

I don't know about the barrel and I don't know if the bolt could be altered for .357, either.

And, it it would still take a back seat to the Rossi and Marlin lever. IMHO

Is the Ruger that inaccurate? I'm in the process of trading for a stainless model. What sort of accuracy can I expect with a scope and good handloads.

Tom

 

[Jim Puke]

I don't know about the barrel and I don't know if the bolt could be altered for .357, either.

And, it it would still take a back seat to the Rossi and Marlin lever. IMHO

Is the Ruger that inaccurate? I'm in the process of trading for a stainless model. What sort of accuracy can I expect with a scope and good handloads.

Tom

I do not like the entire gun and especially the trigger...but that is just my personal opinion, others may see it differently.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I would love to see a 96/357 but I imagine there would be a lot more involved than just a barrel swap. You have the bolt and that whole magazine thing. It would be a slick little plinker though.

Perhaps Ruger will start making the model 96 again?

 

[mike7mm08]

If the barrels could be swapped between the 77/357 and 96/44. There is another option which would eliminate bolt work and magazine issues. Rechamber the barrel to 357 bains and davis. 44 mag necked down to 357. Gain a lot of velocity over the 357. Even if had to start with a barrel blank and have a smith do everything to fit the barrel end result would probable be more functional and less expensive than reworking the action of the 96/44. Fitting a barrel is the easy part.

I am fairly certain originally the 96 and 77 chambered in 44 mag used the same barrel. My thinking comes from owning both. The 96 has screw that went into a block ahead of the action. The rimfire 96s did not have that block just the one screw in the front of the magazine. That block was fitted into a dovetail in the barrel. The 77 used standard action screw type setup a screw front and rear of the action. Yet the barrel of mine anyways has the dovetail cutout for the screw block just like the 96.

On a 77/357 barrel you would not have that dovetail and think recoil would be a bit much to trust things to just one action screw. Then we get to the biggest stumbling block. Getting ruger to sell you a barrel.

 

[collectormzornes]

I think the magazine issue is solved as it takes the same mag as the 77/357. Just like the 77/44 and 96/44 magazines interchange. As far as the bolt goes I haven't looked at them lately but if the 96/44 bolt is a two piece setup like the 77 rifles are just change the bolt face not sure on this though.

 

[collectormzornes]

Ok I forgot the bolt in the 96s are like the 10/22 bolts and nothing like the 77s. So the bolt would be the major problem.

 

[mike7mm08]

Always confuse the mags. The deerfield takes its own mag. Not the 77.