I notice when the topic of suitable rifles is brought up, Anschutz, CZ and Remington are discussed.

Why is the Ruger 77/22 ignored? Not accurate? Not durable enough?

Lack of a proven record of accuracy and the triggers are not all that great. For the same price, or at least close, you can usually do better with a CZ.

Jason,
Actually many moons ago there were 77/22's around.....unless you dropped in the money, they were not consistent past about 60 yards. May as well put the amount of money required into an Annie to begin with.
I know of at least 5 77's that were modified many ways, never did keep up with an out of the box CZ, and the amount tied up in them would have bought a 64 at least.

Mary

I was just curious and thank you for the information. I recently bought a CZ 455; too often has a CZ been recommended for a beginner in this sport for me to ignore that.


My LGS couldn't get a 452 so I went ahead and got the 455.

Never saw a Ruger do well in High Power either. Have seen some 10/22's shoot well small bore but so modified they are hardly Rugers anymore. Few Ruger # 1's around in Schuetzen again heavily modified

Wonder why Ruger won't make or even buy a good barrel

Boats

boats wrote:.....Wonder why Ruger won't make or even buy a good barrel...Boats

Cause they expect you to do that.
I must agree with the general consensus that the 77/22 is ok for squirrel distances, but from pigs on, things can get dicey with factory equipment. I have tried modified triggers and got pretty good consistency. I have tried a variety of treatments to the bolt, receiver/barrel relationship, and bedding. My CZ (which I gave $149.99 for several years ago at Whittaker's) shot rings around it immediately.

I have considered finding a 24 inch barrel with a similar barrel contour and fitting it to the receiver so snugly to remove that as a factor. But then....what would I have? A rifle that still might not shoot with my Anschutz (duh!), 40-X (double duh!), and probably my three 580 series Remingtons, or my various and sundry CZs.
I love my little squirrel gun, but thats all it is.

boats wrote:Never saw a Ruger do well in High Power either.
Boats

I know McAlice has at least one Ruger that he uses in HP Silhouette that is a shooter. I think older Rugers are fine rifles. They feel nice in the hand.

If I remember right, Ruger had a bad run of barrels on their 77/22 rifles and I don't think they ever lived that down. A lot of us shooters like to spread rumors and even after a gun manufacture fixes an issue it will be plagued with those rumors for a long time if not forever.

I had a 20" 77/22 that shot fantastic. After I bought my Kimber 82 I cut the Ruger stock to fit my wife and kids. They did not take to silhouette so I sold it. Two others I bought later could not reliably hit a tin can at 75 yds.They went quick. Wish I kept the first one. The tang safety 77 I still have was in 7x57 and was a nail driver. I was able to shoot some master scores with it.The barrel was on its last legs at 4800 rds. when I lent it to Bonner and got him hooked on HP. It lives on as a 7-08 with a Remington barrel.

I have owned three Rugers and two CZ's. I still have the CZ's.

I owned the first Ruger 77 .22 Hornet in the state of Wyoming. It was a very nice looking little rifle, I was really proud, could hardly wait to get to the range with it. Despite crown job, bedding (twice), etc, everything you can think of, it would not do better than 3" groups on a real good day. Tried every bullet and powder combination every published, no joy. Took it to the Casper gun show and traded it off. Had the exact same experience with a lightweight .257 Roberts, possibly the most frustrating rifle I have ever owned, totally worthless, got rid of it. The 77/22 I had for less than a month, could not hit a hat at 100 yards with it despite trying maybe 10 different ammos , rebedding etc. Off to the gunshow with it, too.

Got introduced to CZ's and am now a happy camper.