Awhile back I bought a Ruger 77/44 on a whim because I thought it would be a great deer carbine. When I got it I lapped the rings and mounted a Leupold 1x4 shotgun scope thinking it would be perfect for the intended use which would be a woods rifle for ranges up to 100 yards. Until recently I haven't had much time to shoot it. I began at the indoor range at 75 feet just to make sure it was on paper. No problem. I do not have pictures of those targets but here she is:
I then went to the outdoor 25 yard range to make sure it was still on paper and sighted in with Federal AE 240 gr JHP. I also took along a Winchester 70 in 30-06 that has been sitting around unused, never fired by me and checked that at 25 yards. Then I moved to the 100 yard range to really sight the Ruger in. I started with the Federal AE ammo. The target is below. I was using the top two and middle for point of aim. Seeing the result I didn't bother keeping track of which was aimed at which bullseye. I also brought along some handloads. One was Hornady 240gr XTP with 23.5gr of H110 and a C.O.L. of 1.60. The other was with Beartooth 250gr WFNGC sized .432 with 24.0gr of H110 and C.O.L. of 1.60. Both of those handloads went about 2.5 - 3 feet high over the target so groups are unknown. I was so irritated I took out the Winchester 70 just to see if I could shoot a durn rifle. Having only shot 3 rounds with that in my life and at 25 yards only 1/2 hour before I quickly fired a 100 round group that isn't too bad. Those 3 shots were using the lower right as point of aim and are circled and marked. Again, it wasn't totally sighted in. That eliminated excessive shooter error I think.
Fast forward a week and the outdoor range was again visited. This time at 50 yards with factory ammo. I didn't have time to load more and after looking at the manual again Ruger says to inform them of accuracy with factory loads only. I did not want to start messing with the thing and only fiddled with the action screws thinking I may send it back to Ruger. The first target at 50 yards was with Herter's as is written on the target. Not too good in my opinion.
Next up was Winchester White Box at 50 yards. Not impressive either.
The very best group I could muster was with Federal AE shown below at 50 yards.
Now I got this thing not expecting a tack driver. I would be happy with 4" groups at 100 yards which is the max range I would intend to use it at and the 44 mag is quite capable up to that range and maybe more. I have spent days reading everything I can about accurizing these things and have read all of the followoing.... Bolt shims. New trigger spring and sear, action screws, bedding, fire lapping and even that they have long chambers. If you handload long enough to be accurate it is a single shot since the ammo won't fit in the mag. I"m not sure I even want to mess with it anymore and just use my accurate muzzleloaders or a rifled shotgun. I was thinking of contacting Ruger but may just get rid of it.
I then went to the outdoor 25 yard range to make sure it was still on paper and sighted in with Federal AE 240 gr JHP. I also took along a Winchester 70 in 30-06 that has been sitting around unused, never fired by me and checked that at 25 yards. Then I moved to the 100 yard range to really sight the Ruger in. I started with the Federal AE ammo. The target is below. I was using the top two and middle for point of aim. Seeing the result I didn't bother keeping track of which was aimed at which bullseye. I also brought along some handloads. One was Hornady 240gr XTP with 23.5gr of H110 and a C.O.L. of 1.60. The other was with Beartooth 250gr WFNGC sized .432 with 24.0gr of H110 and C.O.L. of 1.60. Both of those handloads went about 2.5 - 3 feet high over the target so groups are unknown. I was so irritated I took out the Winchester 70 just to see if I could shoot a durn rifle. Having only shot 3 rounds with that in my life and at 25 yards only 1/2 hour before I quickly fired a 100 round group that isn't too bad. Those 3 shots were using the lower right as point of aim and are circled and marked. Again, it wasn't totally sighted in. That eliminated excessive shooter error I think.
Fast forward a week and the outdoor range was again visited. This time at 50 yards with factory ammo. I didn't have time to load more and after looking at the manual again Ruger says to inform them of accuracy with factory loads only. I did not want to start messing with the thing and only fiddled with the action screws thinking I may send it back to Ruger. The first target at 50 yards was with Herter's as is written on the target. Not too good in my opinion.
Next up was Winchester White Box at 50 yards. Not impressive either.
The very best group I could muster was with Federal AE shown below at 50 yards.
Now I got this thing not expecting a tack driver. I would be happy with 4" groups at 100 yards which is the max range I would intend to use it at and the 44 mag is quite capable up to that range and maybe more. I have spent days reading everything I can about accurizing these things and have read all of the followoing.... Bolt shims. New trigger spring and sear, action screws, bedding, fire lapping and even that they have long chambers. If you handload long enough to be accurate it is a single shot since the ammo won't fit in the mag. I"m not sure I even want to mess with it anymore and just use my accurate muzzleloaders or a rifled shotgun. I was thinking of contacting Ruger but may just get rid of it.
