77/44's ???

[Rusty]

After seeing AJMD's collection of .44's I got to thinking about the 77/44 and was wondering what kind of experience others have with them?
I've heard that longer bullets can't be used in them because of the magazine but I'm not sure that's much of a shortcoming given the results I've seen from the standard 240 grain rounds.

[Pete44ru]

.

I liked the one I had well enough, but in the end sold it because I preferred a faster-operating .44 for close work (under 150yds), like the Ruger 96/44 & the old reliable .44 Auto Carbine.




.

[Hobie]

By the way, Nuckols Gun Works in Staunton, VA has a Ruger 96-44 on hand as of this evening. Follow the link for contact info.

[AJMD429]

The twist on my 77/44 is 1:20, as is the twist of their 96/44 - so that, perhaps more than the magazine length, could enable heavier bullets to be used.

However, like many others, I've found that whitetails drop reliably and quickly with the good-old 240-grain softpoints around 1800 fps or so, so I figured "Why bother with heavier bullets for whitetail...???"

I haven't worked real hard to develop a load for my particular 77/44, so have settled for 3" or so groups at 100 yards since that is just fine for hunting deer, but I've wondered a bit just how accurate it could be. Briefly had a heavy-barrel Handi-Rifle in 44 Mag and it could be sub-MOA if I put enough scope on it to see that well, but I sold it to fund a 1894 in 357 Mag.

One annoying quirk between the 77/44 and 96/44 is that although the magazines are very similar, they are not interchangeable.

P.S. - just checked that link, Hobie, and I think someone already snatched up the 96/44...

(NOT that I needed another one...)

[Treeman72]

Gunblast tested it with 320 grain flat point hardcast. Accuracy for most of his loads was 1.5" to 2.5" @ 100 yards. Wish I had the money for a 77/44. Looks nice.

[Rusty]

And it just got a little better... I was looking over the Ruger website and it just got a little bit better. I don't usually care for camo on a gun, but they are offering the 77/44 in stainless with a camo stock. That actually has some eye appeal. http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMag ... odels.html

[AJMD429]

And it just got a little better... I was looking over the Ruger website and it just got a little bit better. I don't usually care for camo on a gun, but they are offering the 77/44 in stainless with a camo stock. That actually has some eye appeal. http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMag ... odels.html

Here's the photo off the factory website:



They had one like that at the local toy store last fall, only in 357 Magnum...

...sure wish they'd make one up in 45 Colt...(or 32-20...)

[Blaine]

And it just got a little better... I was looking over the Ruger website and it just got a little bit better. I don't usually care for camo on a gun, but they are offering the 77/44 in stainless with a camo stock. That actually has some eye appeal. http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMag ... odels.html

Here's the photo off the factory website:



They had one like that at the local toy store last fall, only in 357 Magnum...

...sure wish they'd make one up in 45 Colt...(or 32-20...)

A 77/.357 is really the only hankering I've had for awhile.....Due to moronic gun laws, I like a rifle that I can put a mag. in and quickly exit the truck....Although, I can load one round pretty quick with a lever, and have a second in my hand or on the buttstock...

[6pt-sika]

I have an older (70+) friend that has a 77-44 and a 77-357 . He seems to like them both quite a bit .

[Grizz]

I would think a 77/444 would be a much more interesting option if it had the right spin rate. and a normal box mag. You can always load down to emulate the 44 in all of its iterations, and still have the wherewithal for the other end of the spectrum...

... just sayin'

[AJMD429]

Another interesting project would be a 77/44 rebarreled into 357 Bain&Davis. Maybe you could even use a 45 Colt case for a bit more powder capacity... It would be nice to have a handy short-action rifle like that approximating a 357 Maximum or thereabouts.

[6pt-sika]

I would think a 77/444 would be a much more interesting option if it had the right spin rate. and a normal box mag. You can always load down to emulate the 44 in all of its iterations, and still have the wherewithal for the other end of the spectrum...

... just sayin'

I'd rather have a Siamese Mauser or a SMLE made into a 444 bolt gun !

Even saw some gunsmith fellow in Maine was redoing Mosin Nagants to 444 or 45-70 .

[AJMD429]

Even saw some gunsmith fellow in Maine was redoing Mosin Nagants to 444 or 45-70 .

I think I saw a YouTube of someone who made an Enfield into a 444 Marlin gun; anyway it was some similar-vintage bolt-action carbine. I'll bet it would be a thumper.

[Grizz]

I would think a 77/444 would be a much more interesting option if it had the right spin rate. and a normal box mag. You can always load down to emulate the 44 in all of its iterations, and still have the wherewithal for the other end of the spectrum...

... just sayin'

I'd rather have a Siamese Mauser or a SMLE made into a 444 bolt gun !

Even saw some gunsmith fellow in Maine was redoing Mosin Nagants to 444 or 45-70 .

the SMLE 444 sounds like a winner.

[Rusty]

I would think a 77/444 would be a much more interesting option if it had the right spin rate. and a normal box mag. You can always load down to emulate the 44 in all of its iterations, and still have the wherewithal for the other end of the spectrum...

... just sayin'

I kind of think the 1:20 I
s a good twist. My .44 Handi has a 1:38 and it won't shoot anything over 270 gr. Very well.

[Hobie]

The twist on my 77/44 is 1:20, as is the twist of their 96/44 - so that, perhaps more than the magazine length, could enable heavier bullets to be used.

However, like many others, I've found that whitetails drop reliably and quickly with the good-old 240-grain softpoints around 1800 fps or so, so I figured "Why bother with heavier bullets for whitetail...???"

I haven't worked real hard to develop a load for my particular 77/44, so have settled for 3" or so groups at 100 yards since that is just fine for hunting deer, but I've wondered a bit just how accurate it could be. Briefly had a heavy-barrel Handi-Rifle in 44 Mag and it could be sub-MOA if I put enough scope on it to see that well, but I sold it to fund a 1894 in 357 Mag.

One annoying quirk between the 77/44 and 96/44 is that although the magazines are very similar, they are not interchangeable.

P.S. - just checked that link, Hobie, and I think someone already snatched up the 96/44...

(NOT that I needed another one...)

It is NOT shown at the link you have to e-mail or call. The contact info is at the top of the page.

[6pt-sika]

I would think a 77/444 would be a much more interesting option if it had the right spin rate. and a normal box mag. You can always load down to emulate the 44 in all of its iterations, and still have the wherewithal for the other end of the spectrum...

... just sayin'

I'd rather have a Siamese Mauser or a SMLE made into a 444 bolt gun !

Even saw some gunsmith fellow in Maine was redoing Mosin Nagants to 444 or 45-70 .

the SMLE 444 sounds like a winner.

Actually I am thinking a Ruger #1 of some configuration rebarreled might be an even nicer option . But that had nothing to do with a 77-44 or 77-357 .