CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Can't believe the only bolt action 22 Ruger sells now is the American. Why did they discontinue the 77/22 series???
Why did Ruger discontinue the 77/22 in .22lr
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Probably cost too much to produce. Never held one, but fine looking rifle
madmikeb
SWCA Member
I've had one for many years, it has a Burris mini 4X mounted and is a great rifle. As Narragansett says it was probably expensive to produce and not a lot of people would want to spend the bucks for one these days.
I've also got a M77 ultralight in .308 with a Burris mini 2-7X, when they're side by side you can hardly tell them apart. Wouldn't trade mine for anything!
I've also got a M77 ultralight in .308 with a Burris mini 2-7X, when they're side by side you can hardly tell them apart. Wouldn't trade mine for anything!
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One of the nice features of the Riger M77 rimfire rifles was that they felt and held like a centerfire rifle. They may not have been the most accurate out of the box as some other rimfire rifles that cost about the same. Most folks aren't going to drop $600+ on a bolt action rimfire (back when prices were relatively reasonable), and if they did, they would most likely opt for a Browning, Kimber, Cooper, Anschutz, etc. And for less money than an M77 RF you can get a Savage, CZ, and others that are pretty good shooters. So yeah, it probably wasn't cost effective for Ruger to continue to produce them. Pity because they were well built rifles. Glad I still have my All-Weather Target Gray M77/22WMR Laminate (except I put a Green Mountain SS Fluted .920 .17HMR barrel on it). It's my 'go-to' one shot, one kill varmint rifle for racoons, groundhogs, crows, fox, etc.
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STORMINORMAN
Member
Co$t to produce and the availability of reasonably priced alternatives...
Or, budget priced alternatives?
Cheers!
Or, budget priced alternatives?
Cheers!
Very small market for an expensive 22 rifle. I have a 77/17 and it’s beautiful. I think it was $380 15 years ago when I bought it
Yep. Probably the cost. I had one years ago that I loved. It was a "first year" gun, that I got off the used rack at my LGS with a Simmons 2X7 scope for about $400.00 as best I remember. I never touched the scope. Whoever had it before me had it sighted in perfectly for me. All I ever did was load it and clean it. It had no iron sights. Just the slick tapered barrel. Beautiful.
That was a squirrel killing machine. I honestly don't remember ever missing one with it. I'm sure I did, but memory is funny.
Someone mentioned they had a "big rifle" feel. That's the truth. I'm not a rifleman at all. I've owned a few centerfire rifles, but never had much use for them, so they didn't stay around long. That Ruger though gave me the feeling of a "big rifle." I'd felt like I was out hunting elk, or something when I was leaing against a tree, watching for a squirrel, with it in my hands.
I had to sell it during a long period of "personal economic downturn", but man I hated to. At least the guy who bought it appreciated it for what it was.
That was a squirrel killing machine. I honestly don't remember ever missing one with it. I'm sure I did, but memory is funny.
Someone mentioned they had a "big rifle" feel. That's the truth. I'm not a rifleman at all. I've owned a few centerfire rifles, but never had much use for them, so they didn't stay around long. That Ruger though gave me the feeling of a "big rifle." I'd felt like I was out hunting elk, or something when I was leaing against a tree, watching for a squirrel, with it in my hands.
I had to sell it during a long period of "personal economic downturn", but man I hated to. At least the guy who bought it appreciated it for what it was.
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The Kid
Member
Like others I have and love one, a first year gun that was in mint shape when it came to me. It is a very well built rifle with the “real gun” feel. The fact that it uses what are probably the best rimfire magazines ever made is a bonus as well.
But as nice as it is it really doesn’t shoot for beans. I have a $50 Savage single shot bolt action from the 30’s that will shoot circles around the Ruger with most any ammo. I have probably tried 20 or more brands, weights, and styles of 22 ammunition in it and only found one load it would shoot into groups under 2” at 50 yards. Of course that was the old American Eagle 36gr HP in the red and blue 40rd boxes that haven’t been available in a decade or so now and I’m down to my last 400 rounds.
I’ve entertained the thought of fitting a Lilja barrel to it, and I may still yet. But then it’ll be a $1000 22 that finally shoots like much cheaper options.
I think the price, plus the reputation for so so accuracy probably led to low sales. Especially when you could buy a 10/22 that shot about as well and used the same magazines for 1/3 the price.
But as nice as it is it really doesn’t shoot for beans. I have a $50 Savage single shot bolt action from the 30’s that will shoot circles around the Ruger with most any ammo. I have probably tried 20 or more brands, weights, and styles of 22 ammunition in it and only found one load it would shoot into groups under 2” at 50 yards. Of course that was the old American Eagle 36gr HP in the red and blue 40rd boxes that haven’t been available in a decade or so now and I’m down to my last 400 rounds.
I’ve entertained the thought of fitting a Lilja barrel to it, and I may still yet. But then it’ll be a $1000 22 that finally shoots like much cheaper options.
I think the price, plus the reputation for so so accuracy probably led to low sales. Especially when you could buy a 10/22 that shot about as well and used the same magazines for 1/3 the price.
Many years back I bought a 7722 just as soon as my LGS got one in. Put a Leupold fixed 4 on it. (gun had no iron sights)
Gun still is dressed the same way today. I have put a lot of shots threw it both at paper and the occasional pesty animal that needed offing!
I have described this rifle many times as a sportier that thinks its a target rifle.
FWIW at one time I had 3, the original 7722, the 17 and the magnum. Found I could do anything I wanted with just the 7722 and both of the other two were sold!
Gun still is dressed the same way today. I have put a lot of shots threw it both at paper and the occasional pesty animal that needed offing!
I have described this rifle many times as a sportier that thinks its a target rifle.
FWIW at one time I had 3, the original 7722, the 17 and the magnum. Found I could do anything I wanted with just the 7722 and both of the other two were sold!
Puller
Member
Ruger only stops making a firearm for one reason . . . they ain't making money off of them, most often because the model is not selling enough.
77s weren’t $1K back when they came out. I have 1st year 77/22
and it became my serious 22 for hunting. At 1st bought Burris Compac 6x, which was a fine scope but I didn’t like field of view.
Ended up with Redfield 4x that will shoot minute of squirrel eye at 40yds. Why 40yds you ask? Because that is optimal range to sight in a 22 for hunting purposes.
I have a 77 early production, in 270. Put a new Weaver K6 on it
and proceeded to sight in with Winchester factory ammo, I didn’t load for 270 at the time. A memorable fluke was this is the only rifle of the hundreds I’ve sighted in that drove dead center at 100yds with no adjustment. With hand loads it will shoot sub MOA if I do my part.
I’ve owned several 77s in different cartridges and only had one stinker. That was a 1776 model 77 in 257 Robert’s, it wouldn’t do better than 2.5” at 100.
As far as why 77/22 was discontinued is no doubt sales. The new generations that are doing the buying want a rifle that looks like it came off Star Wars with a Drum magazine or a rifle made of plastic and stainless that will take a beating with little upkeep.
and it became my serious 22 for hunting. At 1st bought Burris Compac 6x, which was a fine scope but I didn’t like field of view.
Ended up with Redfield 4x that will shoot minute of squirrel eye at 40yds. Why 40yds you ask? Because that is optimal range to sight in a 22 for hunting purposes.
I have a 77 early production, in 270. Put a new Weaver K6 on it
and proceeded to sight in with Winchester factory ammo, I didn’t load for 270 at the time. A memorable fluke was this is the only rifle of the hundreds I’ve sighted in that drove dead center at 100yds with no adjustment. With hand loads it will shoot sub MOA if I do my part.
I’ve owned several 77s in different cartridges and only had one stinker. That was a 1776 model 77 in 257 Robert’s, it wouldn’t do better than 2.5” at 100.
As far as why 77/22 was discontinued is no doubt sales. The new generations that are doing the buying want a rifle that looks like it came off Star Wars with a Drum magazine or a rifle made of plastic and stainless that will take a beating with little upkeep.
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It has to be cost of production. I’ve handled and shot one. It felt just like my 77/22 Hornet and 77/44. Not many people want to spend center fire money on a rim fire rifle……as a side note the one I shot was not real impressive in accuracy. Don’t recall the ammo we used. I’m sure it was cheap bulk. Probably Winchester or Federal from Walmart.If they made one with a Mannlicher stock under $500:id buy one
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375hh1973
US Veteran
Like others have said, production cost.
Few years ago, I found a new in box stainless/synthetic 77/22mag. Put a Leupold 2-7 on it, couldn't be happier. Only thing I did was pull the stock off and hit it with some krylon granite texture paint as it was on the slippery side.
Last year was in my LGS and in the used rack they had the same gun but it was a 77/44mag. Put the same scope and krylon paint job on it.
Fun guns!
Few years ago, I found a new in box stainless/synthetic 77/22mag. Put a Leupold 2-7 on it, couldn't be happier. Only thing I did was pull the stock off and hit it with some krylon granite texture paint as it was on the slippery side.
Last year was in my LGS and in the used rack they had the same gun but it was a 77/44mag. Put the same scope and krylon paint job on it.
Fun guns!
gwpercle
Member
I bet Ruger got a lot of competition from their 10/22 semi-auto fifle ...
and that may have cut into the overall 77/22 sales numbers .
Anything that's even close to a "Slow Seller" seems to get dropped !
When I bought my first 22 rifle ... it was the Ruger 10/22 and although I love bolt action rifles ... and would love to have a 77/22 ... the 10/22
keeps getting the job done ...
Also , being of Cajun heritage , I am real tight with the purse strings !
Gary
and that may have cut into the overall 77/22 sales numbers .
Anything that's even close to a "Slow Seller" seems to get dropped !
When I bought my first 22 rifle ... it was the Ruger 10/22 and although I love bolt action rifles ... and would love to have a 77/22 ... the 10/22
keeps getting the job done ...
Also , being of Cajun heritage , I am real tight with the purse strings !
Gary
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Yendor357
Member
accuracy with a Ruger was always a little bit hit or miss. Most of them were good. I have no complaints about any of my Rugers, other than the 3 Mini-14s I had. But let’s not go down that rabbit hole.
I have 3 77/22s and a 77/17. 2 of them now wear Volquartzen barrels. The “Boat Paddle” is all stock, as is my walnut and blued slick. The walnut gun has fiddle back from one end to the other and will very nearly keep up with my Volquartzen barreled 77/22 and 77/17. Both of the Volquartzen guns started out as VBZ configuration. If ammo and conditions are perfect, I can occasionally get a 1/4 inch five shot group at 50 yards. The blued walnut gun isn’t very far behind. Both the Volquartzen barreled 77/XXs have been glass bedded and wear Leupold scopes.
The 77/17 is the most consistently accurate rifle of the bunch; in part because the ammo, and barrel. The 17 is my killing gun. Nine for 9, one shot kills on fat Indiana soybean fed groundhogs last year. Plus a crow or 2, and the chipmunk that was tearing up Sugarpuss’s landscaping was vaporized.
The savage with the plastic stock shoots good? Good. We’ll see what the savage and the Ruger are worth in 20 years. I know which one I’m betting on.
I have 3 77/22s and a 77/17. 2 of them now wear Volquartzen barrels. The “Boat Paddle” is all stock, as is my walnut and blued slick. The walnut gun has fiddle back from one end to the other and will very nearly keep up with my Volquartzen barreled 77/22 and 77/17. Both of the Volquartzen guns started out as VBZ configuration. If ammo and conditions are perfect, I can occasionally get a 1/4 inch five shot group at 50 yards. The blued walnut gun isn’t very far behind. Both the Volquartzen barreled 77/XXs have been glass bedded and wear Leupold scopes.
The 77/17 is the most consistently accurate rifle of the bunch; in part because the ammo, and barrel. The 17 is my killing gun. Nine for 9, one shot kills on fat Indiana soybean fed groundhogs last year. Plus a crow or 2, and the chipmunk that was tearing up Sugarpuss’s landscaping was vaporized.
The savage with the plastic stock shoots good? Good. We’ll see what the savage and the Ruger are worth in 20 years. I know which one I’m betting on.
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I have a 77/.357 which is a great utility gun here in Penn's Woods. Can't believe the current pricing...MSRP $1,239.00 Don't think I paid half that for the gun and a Leupold 1-3x20 scope.
In bolt action rimfire rifles my choices were CZ 452s and 453.. not overly expensive, accurate and good looking!
In bolt action rimfire rifles my choices were CZ 452s and 453.. not overly expensive, accurate and good looking!
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