|
|
02-03-2013, 12:31 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 684
Likes: 59
Liked 374 Times in 121 Posts
|
|
Accuracy potential - Ruger 77/44?
Any Ruger 77/44 owners out there who can tell what to expect with my 77/44?
I picked up a used blued model in excellent condition. Been to the range twice with it. Shooting off sandbags on a bench at 50 yards.
First trip with 7.8 grains Unique and LSWC and using iron sights. Disappointing results with a load that shoots exceptionally well in my revolvers.
Second trip again with 7.8 grains Unique and this time with Berry's plated RNFP. I have also installed Ruger rings and a Nikon scope. Same set-up but awful performance. Couldn't cover any four consecutive shots with a pie plate. Shots wandered all over paper. Checked and double checked and no obvious problems with scope or mounts.
Not exaggerating, I could shoot better groups with my 29 at 50 yards with my revolver than I was getting off sandbags with the rifle.
Really liked the idea of an accurate rifle that can use the same cartridge and loading as my various .44 magnum revolvers.
Any suggestions regarding what I may be doing wrong or what to expect from the Ruger? Really expected it to be a tack driver from 50 - 100 yards based on the performance of the round in handguns.
|
02-03-2013, 12:55 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 11 Posts
|
|
I had the same results with a 77/44 back in the 90s.
No matter what I tried, I could not get groups any better at 100 yds than I could with an 870 12 ga. shotgun shooting Remington slugsters in a smooth bore barrel ie about 6" to 8 ".
I finally gave up and sold it and the guy is happy as a clam, as he is strictly an offhand shooter who hunts hogs with it at ranges of less than 50 yds.
Incidentally....I also tried the Ruger 96/44 with almost identical results.
I have a theory that the lead in the chambers of these guns is oversize, resulting in the rather short-for-diameter bullets entering the rifling cocked, which results in the base of the bullet being out of square to the axis of the bullets.
Unfortunately I sold both of mine before I thought of it, so I have none in my possession to check it out.
|
02-03-2013, 07:14 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 5,313
Likes: 35,286
Liked 16,951 Times in 3,692 Posts
|
|
I'm not speaking from experience, but I would suspect that a jacketed bullet using slow burning powder such as W-296/H-110 would be better suited for rifle length barrels. There is something in my mind that makes me believe Unique is the wrong powder for this application. If I cannot get 1.5" three shot groups at 100 yards out of a rifle, I do not want it. Push a few hot .44 loads down the tube and see what you get.
|
02-03-2013, 07:19 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Gulf Coast Mississippi
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 147
Liked 1,067 Times in 376 Posts
|
|
What weight bullet and what rate of twist?
|
02-03-2013, 07:26 PM
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 20,361
Likes: 24,260
Liked 16,154 Times in 7,408 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damn Yankee
What weight bullet and what rate of twist?
|
Note my highlighting.
|
02-03-2013, 07:42 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: \'ell if I know
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
Liked 476 Times in 279 Posts
|
|
I have a newer stainless 77/44 with a Nikon 2X7 scope on it. I can punch out the center of a 2'' bullseye all day long at 100 yards. Hard to expect anymore than that outta a .44mag carbine. Out of the box, the trigger was all Ruger, but after a coupla thousand rounds and a trigger job by a good smith, it is great. I have heard from others that the older 77/44s had accuracy problems, much was attributed to ammo. I know my 77/44 does not like lead, nor does it like powder puff loads. Just under max loads of H110/W296 and or IMR4227 with a 240 gr or heavier bullet is what she likes. Last issue of American Hunter Magazine had a good article about them and their rifle showed a preference to 300 gr Sierras. I'm gonna try some, but am happy with the 240gr Noslers and 270gr Speers. Some of the accuracy issues I heard of besides the stiff trigger have to do with improper tightening of the bolts holding the stock to the action. I also know my gun does not like to have the barrel rested when shooting. My best shots come when I rest my arm on the bench when gripping the forearm. I would contact Ruger with my concerns if I were you, they may have answers.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
02-03-2013, 09:42 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Roanoke, Va
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 1,697
Liked 1,284 Times in 640 Posts
|
|
For what it's worth, picked up a Marlin 1894 lever carbine recently, it's likes just under max loads 240 grain JSP or JHP 296/H110 or 2400 with magnum primers. 3" groups at 100 yards off a rest. Kicks a bit a nice thick recoil pad helped withe the bite.
|
02-03-2013, 09:51 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 2,825
Likes: 1,256
Liked 630 Times in 357 Posts
|
|
Mine shot about 2MOA with a 2X scope, with Hornady 240 gr. XTP hollowpoints at a guessed-at 1,600 fps, but only after the typically awful factory trigger was fixed by installing a Timney sear kit. I've since replaced the scope with an Aimpoint Micro, and this has become my "go-to", or, I suppose I ought to say, "take with" camp gun in bear country. It's short, light, sufficiently potent to kill a black bear or mountain lion ( or any other indigenous species that might present a problem...). Fitted with a short length of Picatinny rail on the forend to allow mounting a Surefire flashlight, it's a great tool for investigating "bump in the night" disturbances, and as accurate as is necessary for a carbine chambered for a revolver round.
|
02-04-2013, 04:13 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minden , Nebraska
Posts: 2,850
Likes: 1,194
Liked 4,318 Times in 1,420 Posts
|
|
there was an article in "Rifle" (could have been "Handloader") an issue or two ago that covered this rifle
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|