Question on 77-22 Hornet

[cowboy1]

I have been bitten by the .22 Hornet, bought an older Stevens/Savage bolt gun to sorta satisfy the craving. It has worked for a while, but now I'd like to move up in the world, so to speak, with a newer model shooter. I have been considering the 77-22 Hornet as well as the CZ 527 American.

My question is : I have heard horror stories about the accuracy (or lack of) in the 77-22 Hornet. Can anyone shed a little light on this? The CZ has had rave revures, but I'd like to buy American when I can, IF I can get my moneys worth.

I welcome any opinions and observations anyone has.

Cowboy1

 

[Snake45]

Most of the 77/22 accuracy horror stories are about the .22LR guns. The .17s and .22MAGs have a good reputation for accuracy. I can't recall ever hearing anything bad about the Hornets.

 

[45flattop]

My M77/22 .22LR shoots with its factory barrel, ten shots or a full
magazine into a dime sized hole at 75 yards, so I have to wonder
if as on a rimfire forum I also belong to, the owners of custom
40X Remingtons and model 52 Winchesters are just having fun
trashing the Ruger.

 

[Snake45]

I have to wonder
if as on a rimfire forum I also belong to, the owners of custom
40X Remingtons and model 52 Winchesters are just having fun
trashing the Ruger.

I can assure you that this is not the case.

 

[SteveRuger]

My Ruger Hornet is a great shooter & very accurate. J/S

 

[MFD]

Hello,
Just recently bought a Ruger M77/22Hornet and like you heard all the negatives about the rifle and can tell you mine may well be "the odd ball...," but it is a very fine rifle in all respects. Great "walk about" field rifle for it is light, well balanced, well under an inch at 100yds. w/ factory or reloads, good trigger and it is all steel and walnut other than the fine synthetic magazine. Oh, yeah, Made In America as well!!

Some say convert to 22K Hornet, but most will tell you it is not necessary to do and for all around small game, varmint, casual targets, etc., excellent rifle for the money. Mr. Ruger has not let me down on any of his firearms and I have/had a bunch of them for the past 50yrs.

martin

 

[kentdep]

My buddies dad has one of the heavy barreled 77/22 Hornets and he had nothing but problems getting it to shoot. The last time we talked about it, he was about to give up on it. I know that he tried most every bullet,powder, COAL, and primer combination that he could come up with and was still not happy. His best groups at 100 yards were in the 3 inch range.

On the other hand I had one of these and it was the blued and walnut version. My rifle shot in the 1 inch range with my hand loads (vmax bullet and 12.5 grains of Lil Gun).

So with that I think the 77/22 could be a crap shoot. I liked mine but I liked the Browning 1885 Low Wall better and that is what is in my safe now.

Jay

 

[pete44ru]

I bought a 77/22H over 10 years ago, tried it for a year - then sold it because I was uncomfortable with it, as it didn't fit me ergonomically.

Since I still wanted a walk-around varminter, and a Hornet to boot - I bought a CZ-527 Lux, and had the flush magazine conversion done. (Issue mags still fit/work OK)

However, I'm at the point where I can't do much "walk-around" hunting anymore.

cowboy1 - Please check your email/PM's.

.

 

[MADISON]

By in large any .22 Hornet is not the most accurate caliber.
I have had and now I posess a Ruger Hornet. It is almost impossible to get smaller groups than 1 1/2 inch. I use a 45 grain PSP with 9.9 grains of 2400. I gives me a dime size accuracy at 100 yards.

 

[SteveRuger]

To clearify: I Feel my 77/22H is a great shooter & very accurate plus I enjoy shooting it! But I just love shooting my No.1 in 22 Hornet & 218 Bee. I shoot them every chance I get! J/S

 

[wunbe]

My heavy barreled VHZ was a major disappoitment til I had it 'K-ed'. Stuff cases with Li'l Gun and 35 gr VMaxes and it was MOA reklaible out to 200 yards. The big problem was keeping enough loaded rounds in stock -- they just meltewd away.

I get very good groups from my accurized 1B with factory VMAxes too.

wunbe

 

[MFD]

Just returned from the farm this eve and been shooting number of rifles out to 600yds and the Ruger Hornet at 50,100, and 150 which is what I would consider about max for the rnd. Best performing ammo of the day w/ factory was Rem. 35g bullet. At 100 from bags, groups of 5 were all touching. At 50 same, but at the 150 mark, opened up to approx. 1.50"
I have not reloads for it yet, but soon will, but if it holds as well as the Factory Rem. loads, I'll be well pleased.
Scope is a Nikon 1.75x4 so not much power, but for my purposes at these ranges, works fine for fox, coyotes, turkeys, etc. Certainly not up to standards of some of my match rifles, but excellent little field gun for casual, economical shooting.

 

[dfletcher]

I have the heavier barreled 77 Hornet. It shoots great with the 35 grn VMax and like crap with anything over 45 grains. Using Sierra 40 grn it works well, but the Hornady 35 grains is best - well under 1" at 100 yds. I use 10.0 or 11.00 of WW296 with the 35 grain bullet.

 

[SteveRuger]

I would try another powder. J/S

 

[Ruger1nut]

I had a heavy barrel 77 Hornet for a bit. It was a 1" gun with most factory ammo. I did not have it long enough to see if it would do better.

My 1A's have always been able to best MOA with some factory loads. With handloads I have seen them approach 1/2" MOA.

I am trying to find the time to work up a very low velocity load for use on squirrels right now if I can get home long enough

Dave

 

[langenc]

How are the triggers on all these guns that wont shoot to owners expectations??

My 223 Model 77 wouldnt shoot either till I put an $80 Timney trigger on it. I have a real warm feeling however, knowing I saved $80 on the rings supplied by Ruger.

 

[dfletcher]

How are the triggers on all these guns that wont shoot to owners expectations??

My 223 Model 77 wouldnt shoot either till I put an $80 Timney trigger on it. I have a real warm feeling however, knowing I saved $80 on the rings supplied by Ruger.

Can't speak for others, but on the 77/22 or 77/44 that I have the triggers were crisp, but heavy. Pretty much no drag or creep - if the analogy of a good trigger is like that of snapping an icicle, these were damned thick icicles. I bought a Wolff replacement sear spring and stoned, drilled & tapped the housing for an overtravel set screw. The stock triggers can be worked very well I think.