DennisE
Single-Sixer
Is it a fun rifle to shoot at the range? Is it accurate and relable enough to hunt deer/hogs with iron sights out to 75 yards? Thanks, Dennis
Is the 77/44 a fun gun?
- Thread starter DennisE
- Start date
DennisE":1tmwlh6h said:
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. But, I know nothing about hogs.
This is a very handy-sized little rifle, light weight, and easy to carry. I've owned two. The first one had an issue that affected accuracy to the point it went back to Ruger, never to be seen again.
But, the second one would do anything a good 30-30 will do, in the accuracy department.
WAYNO.
dfletcher
Blackhawk
I liked mine, ultimately could not get the thing to group trying all sorts of approaches. Handloads, bedding, all sorts of factory loads. Nothing worked. Adios bolt action, hello 99/44.
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
I haven't got a 77 but I do have a 96/44 lever-action and a 99/44 Deerfield. How much fun are they? Words can not say. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
...and I have no doubt a 240gr bullet would blow a big hole in a hog or deer at a reasonable range. :mrgreen:
...Jimbo
...and I have no doubt a 240gr bullet would blow a big hole in a hog or deer at a reasonable range. :mrgreen:
...Jimbo
winchester37
Single-Sixer
have two 77/44, both accurate...blued one really likes fed. 300 gr. hardcast. iron sites at fifty good...bad eyes require scopes beyond that distance but 50 yard accuracy says they are both good out to 100.
goredsox
Bearcat
75yds is no problem at all with the right ammo...for stretching even beyond 100yds, you should try out the Hornady LEVERevolution. I can not recommend it highly enough...fantastic! You won't have any doubts about taking on pigs/deer, as you inquire... best of luck
Cedar Creek
Bearcat
I bought my blue/walnut in 1998, and I can't complain about accuracy. It likes Hornady 265 grain bullets over 23 grains of H110. Too many pets to play with it all the time, but I did shoot one deer with it across a field at about 150 yards (with scope) and he just piled up in his tracks. I can recommend it and my friend who has always been strictly a bolt man has a 96/44 that is his main rifle now for hunting from a tree stand.
Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek
Hank in Indiana
Bearcat
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2010
- Messages
- 29
It took a few months to get a cartridge that my 77-44 liked but I just shot three holes touching in a 10 oclock position in a 1" bullseye at 100 yds. I moved the scope 2 clicks right and shot 2 shots touching in the 12 oclock position in the same 1" bullseye. Thats about as much fun as you can have with a rifle. The faster you push the bullet the better it seems to group. It also shoots .430 bullets better than the .429"
coach
Hunter
Check out the gunblast.com review last year.
dfletcher
Blackhawk
I really liked mine, but after months of trying couldn't get the thing to shoot well and sold it. I'd get 2 shots touching, then a flyer. Then 3 OK shots but a different point of impact. Tried different loads, bedding the barrel & action. Nothing helped. I don't know if the two piece bolt was a problem or something else, but I probably won't buy another.
buck460XVR
Bearcat
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2010
- Messages
- 56
Just picked up a new Stainless All-Weather a week ago, mounted a 2-7X32 Nikon on it. Shot it for the first time yesterday. Once I got it sighted in, it consistently put everything withing the 3'' bullseye @ 100 yards, shooting off bags. I didn't think that was too bad for the first time out. The trigger needs to be smoothed out a bit, but that's easy enough. It's no .223, but then I didn't expect it to be. It liked stout loads, accuracy fell off when I shot medium velocity loads. I think it's gonna make a nice brush gun. BTW.......the owners manual says if you have accuracy problems, not to scrape the stock or bed it, but to send it back to them.
RJ556
Buckeye
I broke the cherry on my new 77/44 today. Testing was done at 100 yards, winds 5 to 10 MPH, gusting to 15. I fired 20 handloads. All were loaded with near max doses of Hodgdon Li'l Gun powder. I had no malfunctions or problems with the gun, extraction was easy with no signs of excessive pressure. The 180 Hornady XTP's did not do so well at 4 to 6 inches. The Speer 240 grain Gold Dot's groups were 2.575 and 2.600 inches. The 225 grain Hornady Lever Revolution bullets grouped 2.550 and 1.675 inches. I will try some Alliant 2400 powder with the 180 grainers before I give up on them. This was the first time out with the rifle, with no alterations except a new sear for a better trigger pull. I have a Nikon 2x7 scope mounted for load development. I will be very happy if I can get consistent groups 2 inches and under at 100 yards.
