Any experience with Ruger 77/44?

by rob , Friday, November 06, 2015, 19:23 (3244 days ago)

Got one a couple weeks ago and just got to shoot it today. Right now I only have one load that I can run in it that I have loaded and that's 240 Deep Curl over 21.5 grains WC820. My other loads are Keith loads and they won't fit the mag. The DC hand load will put two rounds side by side and then throw a couple flyers but I haven't had time to experiment with it yet. I want one good jacketed load now that will work on deer and hogs and not come apart and after that's resolved I'll start playing with cast bullets that fit...maybe the Thompson bullet seated in the top groove and some LBT types. So if you've had one and your gun had a preference I'd love to hear it. Jim Nelson mentioned the 265 Hornady for the .444 and that might be a great bullet if it's accurate. I just wonder if at .44 Mag rifle velocities if it would open reliably. I shot a few through a formerly owned .444 Marlin but never shot anything with them. I put a 1.5-5 VX-3 on it and it's the perfect scope for this little rifle but I had to lap the rings to get more than a couple threads into the lower rings. I've never had that issue with Ruger rings before but they are down good and tight now. I suspect it will shoot better with the pressure pad removed from the fore-end tip and the barrel floated...mine is the blue/walnut Accusport run. The trigger is clean and crisp but a bit heavy for my taste. I'll probably address that too. Anyhow, I'd love to hear about your experience with one if you've had one, and if you hunt with any .44 rifle, what bullet or bullets do you favor? I used to just run cast in my former .44 Mag Marlin and Winchester leverguns and will probably go to that with this one in the future but unfortunately I don't have the time to cast right now. Thanks guys.