I bought a Ruger 77/22 recently. It is one of the early ones from 1986 with the walnut stock. It is in excellent condition and it's workmanship is first class. I have ordered a set of mounts and hope to get a scope mounted by the weekend. I plan to mount either a Leupold 2x7x33 or Burris Short Mag 4.5x14x32 scope. I will probably go with the Burris since it has an AO if the eye relief is okay. I am hoping that it will make a good range gun. Do any of you have any experience with these rifles? Are they accurate? I wasn't in the maarket for it but sold a pistol and ran across it for what I consider a decent price ($300) when I had cash in my pocket.

I bought one in 17hmr several years ago.Good quality and it shoots sub moa 3 shot groups at 100 yards.I don't know if a 22 will do that,but I bet you like it as much as I like mine.It's a keeper.

They are excellent guns, and at .22 RF distances you will need the AO to be able to focus properly. Some I have seen could benefit from a trigger job, but otherwise great shooters.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

When Ruger introducted the 77-22 (1983) the American Rifleman magazine reviewed it. I read the article and was impressed. That year my wife bought one for me for Christmas. I've been shooting it ever since. At one time I put a Leupold 6.5x20 on top and got down to some serious target work. That little rifle would put 10 shots under 2 inches at 100 yds., with some loads running closer to 1.5 inches. Once a church member had problems with turtles in his pond and asked if I could "shoot" some for him. I spent one afternoon shooting them at ranges from hard off the muzzle on out to the back of beyond. A few days later, he informed me that I must have killed every turtle in existence. My daughters found this a easy rifle to use, especially with the scope mounted. A number of years ago I changed the scope to a 2x7 Weaver with the old steel tube. It works exceedingly well. Up close... at 25 yds., there is some parallex, but if you center your eye properly in the scope, you can do good work. I've fired the rifle in club matches for sporting rifles and have managed to do well. From the prone position using a sling I can shoot right a 1 inch groups at 50 yds. It is a most excellent rifle. With the magazine loaded and a couple of spares in my coat pocket, it is all I need for a day afield hunting whatever small game is in season. For plinking, etc., I consider it ideal. It has beautiful lines. The walnut stock is of excellent quality well fitted to the rifle and well finished. The one and only thing I've ever really considered doing is changing the buttplate. Specifically, I have given a lot of thought to fitting a checkered steel buttplate in place of the factory fitted plastic buttplate. That is the only things I've seriously considered doing to it. The trigger is crisp and entirely usable. However, for those who require a lighter weight of pull, a trigger job will be required. I've not ever found it necessary. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.

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I have had one for several years. I used it for the NRA light rifle and 199 point targets were not hard to shoot. Try some ammo you may not think about. Mine likes any type of subsonic and shoots particularly well with Remington/Eley Club. On the indoor range I am unable to see any difference between it and the Anschutz I used to own. Better yet 77/22 with scope was $400. the Anschutz Fortner is about $4000.00 now. $3600 worth of .22s can make a lot of practice.

I have a Ruger 77/22 made in 1984 and it's a good shooter for sure but it won't out shoot my CZ 452 American 22LR or my Anschutz 1416HB. I do love 22's wither it be rifles or handguns. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

I have one of the Ruger 77/22 from 1984 with iron sights. I put a Burris 3 - 9x(AO) airgun scope on it and it shot a lot better than the 10-22 target I had so the 10-22 went down the road.

I have the 77/22 mag version from 1989 with a Burris 4 - 12x(AO & target knobs) airgun scope and it shoots every bit as good as the 22 long rifle.

I'm not sure if Burris make the airgun scopes anymore but if they do they are worth looking at

They are wonderful hunting guns,.... Good plinkers. The All Weather models are really ideal woods guns, especially in wet conditions. I lucked out and found a very rare variant, only a few known to exist... Mine is a tackdriver, ... Best gun I own.

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Non gratum anus rodentum

I have a mid 80's vintage. Shot it so much the extractor on the bolt wore out. Sent it back to ruger, they replaced the bolt (unfortunately with a stainless version), no charge.

I like it. It's accurate, decent but not perfect trigger. My only real complaint is the sights aren't too good, the rear is a pain to adjust. I ended up putting a scope on it.

removed PC

I have one of the early stainless ones with the skeleton stock. Sent it to Clark for a trigger job when I first got it. It wears an old Leopould vari X III 1.5x5 (paid $100 for it so yea-I got a cheap scope on it ).
At 50 yards it outshoots my buddy's Anschutz 54. GREAT late season squirrel gun. It's showing it's age cosmeticly but it is a tack driver. All told I've got right at $475 in it when you count the trigger job.

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Forum consigliere

I wanted one since I first heard of them back in the mid 80's or so I suppose. Three or four years ago, I finally got one. Made in 1984, with a 2x7 "Made in Japan" Simmons scope, it is a fine looking rifle. There might be others that shoot better, I don't know. I know when this one cracks, squirrels fall over. I've never shot anything through it but Federal Bulk Pack hollow points from Wal-Mart.

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John 3:16 .

I am the satisfied owner of two of these rifles. The first one I bought new in '99 and the second I bought used about two years ago. One has the stainless bolt and the other a blue bolt. Both rifles wear the old style Burris Compact scopes in 6x. I have killed hundreds of squirrels with the "new" rifle. The other one I am using as a training rifle for my kids.

My only complaint about the 77/22 is that the factory trigger is too heavy. I have done trigger jobs on both of my rifles to bring the pull down to about three pounds.

I if I find a good deal, I might even buy another one!

+1 to Speedo's post. The Ruger uses a two piece bolt that has enough play to cause inconsistent ignition. The bedding is inconsistent and the barrels are mediocre. Mine took a LOT of work just to get satiscactory groups. The trigger is poor considering the price of the rifle.
On the plus side is Rugers scope mounting system, the 10 round rotary magazine and the styling.
All in all it's the Mini-14 of rimfire bolt actions. If all you need is minute of squirrel at under 50 yards you may be in luck.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I have heard mixed reviews on their accuracy. I am looking forward to shooting mine to see how it does. Fortunately my trigger seems to be pretty good. I have heard of a couple of places that do accuracy jobs that consist of a trigger job, tightening the bolt and rechambering the barrel. This is supposed to tighten the groups quite a bit. There are also accessory barrels with tighter chambers that are available. I also found drop in spring and sears to lighten the trigger pull. For some reason a lot of Ruger .22s seem to need work before they will shoot.

There is a lot of good info at rimfire central if you find it lacking.I seem to remember changing the sear and spring in mine which helped the trigger some.Let us know how it shoots

I own a 77/22 Hornet...amazing little rifle.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

I have one in .22 magnum. I bought it used but it doesn't look like it had been shot much. I mounted a Nikon scope and took it out shooting. Heaviest trigger pull I have ever seen on a rifle. I took the scope off and put it on a different rifle, until I can get a trigger job someday.

I know you'e asking about the Ruger, but I looked at all the better bolt action .22's, and it left me wanting a CZ M-452, since replaced by a newer model that is also probably quite good.

I have seen the CZs and they look pretty good. Had I been comparison shopping and buying new there is a good possibility that I would have ended up with one. Most of my gun aquisitions are the result of a trade or something I stumbled on used. I have been looking for a high end .22 bolt action for awhile. The Ruger was the first one at a decent price that I found. I like them and suspect that there may be others, including a CZ, in my future.