Looking for those who can share their experience with the stainless Ruger 77/357 bolt action carbine.




The discontinued ones with the standard barrel are what I'm interested in discussing (the new ones have a threaded muzzle as seems to be the trend these days).

Would seem to me to be a practical 'niche' gun for plinking, and even small to medium sized game out to 100-150 yards. The velocity from an 18 & 1/2" barrel with a magnum load is nothing to sneeze at. Over the years I have always been drawn to pistol caliber carbines to accompany my holster guns. The lever action .357 that's been in the stable since my SASS days would likely be one of the last I'd be inclined to let go.

Those that love theirs ? Hated it and let it go ? Certain Rugers seem to have spotty and varied accuracy where it's luck of the draw for many. I've tended to obtain most other brands of bolt actions for one reason or another and just never had a Ruger. Ford or Chevy . . . they all have their fans and detractors . . .

How about you guys ?

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Qui plantavit curabit

They are a total **** shoot. They either shoot well, or if they don’t there is little you can do to make it better. I have played with the 357s but never owned one. I do have 2 of the 77/44 versions and one is just OK after considerable effort to find a good load. The other is a 5 inch at 50 yards gun. I’ve relegated that one to a decent mild load and a 4X scope to loan out for kids.
It stinks because they are the ideal size and weight for a brush deer gun, but very expensive for the gamble. And in reality since the introduction of the American series in 450 Bushmaster (44 mag/ 45 Colt level equivalents) and the 350 Legend (357 Mag/Max level equivalent) the 77 series in pistol caliber is dead. At this point after my experience I wouldn’t trust Ruger to build a working paperweight.

The 450 Bushmaster has about twice the muzzle energy of the 44 Magnum.

Hey, I’ve had the 77/357 for several years and love it. Very accurate, (golf balls at 50yds) I recently mounted a 3x9 scope on it and it made it even better! I’ve been playing with 357 maximum ( mine is chambered for it) but it is a single shot(max is too long for the mag). No regrets on getting it. I shoot only reloads, it loves 150gr.lee rn with 14gr of 2400.
Semper paratus

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CPO

I've had a Ruger 77/357 for six years or so, I like it for a lightweight, handy hiking companion and knockabout rifle. Makes a good combination when paired with a .357 revolver.

It is not a target rifle, with the iron sights I can hit with it out to 70 yards in the field. I have scoped it with a Leupold 1.5 X 4 compact scope, that makes it a 125 yard gun for me. I like it better without a scope.

This swinging steel target was shot at 70 yards from the sitting position:



Trail companion, Ruger .357 Blackhawk with El Paso Saddlery "Threepersons" holster:



I don't know what the availability of these rifles is these days, I haven't seen one on dealer shelves for at least three years....

Seems like the .357 was always harder to find than the .44's. I have an older .44 that I really like.

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I have a 77/357 and find that it shoots cloverleafs at 50 yards with both lead at lower velocities and very tight cloverleafs with jacketed at higher velocities. I had a 77/44 and could not get it to shoot no matter what I loaded or did to the gun. Recoil on the 357 is much more pleasant, as would be thought. The trigger is very easy to work on and bolt headspacing (shims) is simple.

Stu

Told you that gun would shoot, and that one will kill pigs at 100 yards or so, I know for sure, I did it.

And now you tell me the 77/44 "won't shoot no matter what you loaded in it." Can't remember if I ever sighted it in, put a scope on it so probably did. Now I'm going to have to get serious about checking accuracy.

I use to say about Ruger 77s "if you find one that shoots well, keep it," as so many I had didn't. I've been much more impressed with the current crop of Ruger 77 products though. I have a Hawkeye FTW in 6.5 CM that is very accurate and a 77 Gunsite Scout in 450 Bushmaster than is accurate and an absolute pig crusher.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

22highpower, what I didn't say in my post (trying to be a tad one sided) is that the 77/44 recoil and my newly repaired shoulder did not get along very well and I didn't try very hard to make it shoot well. My apologies. As you can tell, the rifle had very, very few rounds through it.

Stu

Had one [stainless] for 10 years (?) added a Leupold 1-3 x20 shotgun scope and 550 paracord sling.

Not an afternoon at the range gun; it's my grab and go "utility" rifle for Penn's Woods. 158 gr. soft points.

IIRC about 1" at 50yds..... "under the crosshairs" at 100.

Pairs well with my 60-10 three inch .357 "Kit gun" or 3/4" 66/686

Had one about 6 six years; it just never shot like an expensive rifle should. Not with any ammo, factory or handload. It certainly did not shoot with my Marlin 1894c.

I had one. I sold it after several years of trying to get a decent group with it at 50 yds. I even sent it back to the factory. They replaced the barrel and it was still a 6 moa rifle. Totally unacceptable IMO. YMMV.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Stu,

I was just kidding, I remember the shoulder issue. I'm happy that the 77/357 performs well for you, great gun, it just wasn't getting any use here and I'm glad you have it. Some day I'll get around to playing with the 77/44. Bet it shoots as well as my 96/44 and that one has downed a few pigs too. These days I seem to grab a CZ 6.5 Grendel and a 300BLK AR every time I go to the ranch, but I'll get back to the 44s eventually.

Jeff