Opinions on Ruger M77/357

[ChattCat]

Any Ruger model 77/357 owners out there? Thinking about this as a companion to my model 10’s and any abundance of .357 and brass. Due to age and health limitations and dollars I am down to the old standby .38 special. Any feed back welcome.

 

[M29since14]

Those rifles interest me, too. Placeholder here to see what others add. Sorry I can’t provide any firsthand knowledge - except that they seem pretty pricey, to me.

 

[Valmet]

While I don’t own one, folks that have them seem to love them. And .357 is quite impressive out of a rifle-length barrel

 

[biku324]

I had one and sold it after 4 years. It wasn't as accurate as other 357 rifles I'd owned - I expected more of a bolt-action.

 

[Bald1]

I have shot the 77/44 and 77/357. As stated already, accuracy seems to be a little lacking. There are bolt shim kits you can buy for $15 that supposedly help tremendously. Not sure how .38spl would perform. Ruger claims both guns are going back into production this year. They were never discontinued just put on the back burner during pandemic in favor of better selling models. This lack of availability is what’s driving the prices in the used market. I’m looking for a 77/44 with walnut stock currently. I’m a fan of all things 44 mag. I’m willing to wait for a new one if I can’t find one reasonably priced.

 

[Bald1]

ChattCat if you do get one I know 2 guys that get great accuracy from Underwood in their Henry lever guns. Perhaps you could duplicate the load.

 

[otis24]

I only know that I would LOVE to have one!

 

[prescobd]

I have a 77/357 stainless, but haven't fired it, so I can't really address handling/accuracy issues.

 

[Bald1]

I have a 77/357 stainless, but haven't fired it, so I can't really address handling/accuracy issues.

That’s kinda like having a fast car but not driving it. You
need to break that thing in.

 

[sipowicz]

A 357 Bolt doesn’t speak to me…but a side gate Lever is on my wish list.

 

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, I am the proud owner of a ss, synthetic stock 77/357. I have had it for several years and shoot it regularly. Mine is very accurate like offhand shooting clays on the 50yd burm almost every shot with iron sights. I recently put a 3x9 scope on it and now I hit golf balls. I was talking to the previous owner about how accurate it is, he mentioned I should try some 357 maximum.
WHAT? Yep he said it’s reamed for 357max. I got some and worked up some loads WOW that’s a game changer 158jhp @ 2k+. Got a couple of hundred cases from starline
Btw the maximum won’t fit the magazine so it’s a single shot max
Hope this helps
Semper paratus

 

[Moo Moo]

I like the idea of a bolt action .357 mag however am disappointed that the magazine only holds 5 rounds. Generally, you get more capacity with a lever action.

 

[1sailor]

You should ask on the Ruger forum. I had wanted one back when they were about $600 new. I talked with a couple of owners and they had major complaints about the magazines. They claimed it was difficult to get through a mag without at least one hangup. May just be the particular mags they had. I wouldn't mind having one I just can't see spending what they're asking right now. Last time I looked they were trying to get well over $1000 with $1200 and up being common. There are a lot nicer rifles available at that price.

 

[rockquarry]

ChattCat if you do get one I know 2 guys that get great accuracy from Underwood in their Henry lever guns. Perhaps you could duplicate the load.

With adequate handload development, you should be able to exceed the accuracy level of just about any production ammo.

 

[Drm50]

I’ve only shot two 77/357s. Belonged to brothers, both new and they had 2x7 Leupold scopes. I mounted scopes and shot in with Rem 158gr ammo.
I sighted at 60yds and both shot about 1.75” -5 shot groups. I’m sure a little load development would have shaved off at least .75”.
Ohio is straight case - 38 minimum- 3 shot restriction, so capacity is not an issue. In addition most shots are less than 100yds.

 

[rockquarry]

I've always been curious about these guns, but read reports over the years of mediocre accuracy. This seems unusual with a bolt-action design, but there may be a problem somewhere. Similar reports of general inaccuracy were lodged against the 77/22 Hornet. I've avoided them for the same reason.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't know about the 357's, but I had a 77/22 that was just a delightful rifle. It was from the first year production, and I too heard all the tales about how inaccurate they were. Well, mine wasn't at all. It was a great shooter. Beautiful blue steel and walnut stock rifle, with a 2X7 Simmons scope, it was the best rifle I ever owned. (I freely admit that I am not a rifleman, but have owned a few 22's) I had to sell it during a period of "personal economic downturn" but I almost cried when I did.

I don't think I ever missed a squirrel with that rifle.

 

[rockquarry]

I don't know about the 357's, but I had a 77/22 that was just a delightful rifle. It was from the first year production, and I too heard all the tales about how inaccurate they were. Well, mine wasn't at all. It was a great shooter. Beautiful blue steel and walnut stock rifle, with a 2X7 Simmons scope, it was the best rifle I ever owned. (I freely admit that I am not a rifleman, but have owned a few 22's) I had to sell it during a period of "personal economic downturn" but I almost cried when I did.

I don't think I ever missed a squirrel with that rifle.

I was making reference to the 77/22 Hornet, not the 77/22. I bought two new 77/22s not long after they came out in the 1980s. Both shot splendidly; very accurate, straight out-of-the-box except for low-power scopes. I bought another, a heavy barrel stainless model about ten years after the purchase of the first two - also a very accurate rifle, straight-out-of-the-box except for a 4x scope.

Based on a sample of only three, I'd call the 77/22s accurate rifles.

 

[biku324]

ChattCat if you do get one I know 2 guys that get great accuracy from Underwood in their Henry lever guns. Perhaps you could duplicate the load.

I get great accuracy from my Henry Big Boy carbine (16.5" barrel) in 41 mag. I'd guess the 357 would be as good. The Henry replaced my 77/357.

 

[Bald1]

I've always been curious about these guns, but read reports over the years of mediocre accuracy. This seems unusual with a bolt-action design, but there may be a problem somewhere. Similar reports of general inaccuracy were lodged against the 77/22 Hornet. I've avoided them for the same reason.

I bought a new 77/22 Hornet back in the mid 90s. It likes Winchester 46gr HP. I’ve tried others with disappointing results. That ammo is hard to find and expensive when u do. But I don’t have use for any bolt rifle that won’t shoot MOA.