Ruger 77/44 Accuracy

Haven't really tried mine for grouping yet. Was concentrating on other things. May work up a load in the spring now, for it to really test it.

I do suggest the trigger upgrade though. Huge improvement. I also did the magazine release upgrade to the IQ Munitions one. Way easier to drop the mag now.
 
The sub 6lb rifle weight is appealing to me as a brush walking deer rifle.
Similarly priced is the Ruger Scout in 308 but I’m thinking the shorter action of the 44 and overall lighter package may make it more handy for sub 100 yard deer hunting in heavy cover.
 
My 77/357 does 1.5-2 inches at 100 yards with full house handloads. I have a 3-9 Redfield scope on it to get those. I can’t hunt deer with 357 mag in Saskie anymore though. Nor can I with my 45 colt either . But hey, they legalized hunting deer here with a 223 REM.
 
I bought a 77/44 a couple years ago used at a gunshow and took it to the range. I was getting 2-4" at 100 meters using 240 Hornady XTP with H110 and was very frustrated and understood why the previous owner dumped it at the gunshow. However, I started playing with it and noticed in the Hornady loading manual there is a listing for higher pressure loads for the Thompson Contender so I tried their top load because I felt the strength of the 77/44 was at least equal to the T/C. I was astounded when I got sub 1" groups at 100m. Then I ran the pressure series from below revolver max loads to the TC max load. I repeatedly started with accuracy at 2-4" and transitioned to sub 1" once I passed a certain charge weight threshhold. The change is repeatable and was very interesting.
I later found that the 44 mag is unique in that the spec for barrel diameter has 2 SAAMI defined diameters. Revolvers are .429" and rifles are .431. I believe this is because the first 44 mag rifle was Ruger's semi auto and I think Ruger used this to control pressure for the semi auto action.
44 mag bullets are spec'd for revolvers and not rifles. I think what is happening is that the undersized revolver bullets rattle down the rifle barrel giving crappy accuracy then are upsetting once they are hit with a certain pressure level and expand a bit. Once upset to rifle barrel diameter they give great accuracy from this rifle.
I haven't tried any other bullets because the Hornady 240 XPT suits my needs, but it would be interesting to try a hard cast bullet sized to .431 or .432 and see what the accuracy results.
 
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I've been at the range and a guy was shooting 75 yards and made the bullseye in the target a ragged hole,good for 3shots and let cool otherwise groups opened up a fair amount,according to the guy.
 
I only shot hardcast boolits out of me former 77/44 in weights from 250-320 gr. & sized them to .431". Accuracy was good at 100 yds with groups mostly inside of 2".
T'would be neat if Ruger made a batch of these little rifles in .45 Colt.
 
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