Opinions on the Ruger 77/357?

[GoodOlBoy]

I have been looking, for awhile now, for a light recoil and light weight rifle/carbine that would not burn tons of powder and lead for plinking and hunting. Since my max range shots when hunting are usually measured in feet, not yards range isn't really a problem. Recoil and resources are. I have been back and forth, looked at dozens of options and suggestions, and I am REALLY thinking that the Ruger 77/357 would be in the right price range (If I can sell my OLD Remmy 700 BDL 270), and would probably fit the bill. Does anybody have experience with this rifle? What can you tell me about it from first hand knowledge?

Thanks

Richard

[45 2.1]

I've had one since they came out. They are comfortable to shoot without excess recoil. They are accurate...~ 1 MOA depending on just who is shooting... but, the magazine only takes a cartridge that is so long. I have a favorite boolit for mine (MiHec mold 360640, 140 gr. HP) with which I have to trim the case so it fits the magazine. Otherwise, it's a great little rifle.

[Jeff Michel]

I've had a lot of success with mine. I've shot everything from 105 Grain Lee SWC to 180 grain MiHec (385-180). Very accurate with .38 Spl. or .357 Mag, BE plinker loads or stout 2400 loads. I have a 2x7 Redfield on it, handles well, very light to carry.

[AnthonyB]

I have one but have yet to take it to the range. I am hoping for success with the 360-180 FP and HP. Should be a great rifle and do anything I need.
tony

[rockshooter]

I like mine a lot. I shoot a NOE 358477 GC over 15.0 gr of H110 and can get 2" @ 100yds with receiver sights from a rest. It's my favorite desert-roaming rifle because it is so light with irons.
Loren

[altheating]

I have had one for four years or so. I/we have put approximately 10,000 rounds through mine. NOE's 360-180 in front of 8.5 gr of surplus 10b101, wolf primers and home made gas checks from a FCIII tool. Have killed three bucks with it out to 100 yards. Mine is accurate! The bolt has been shimmed and the barrel lapped. And it has a good Leupold scope on it. I can shoot it all day with no leading. A six inch gong is no problem at all at 150 yards. Golf balls at 100 yds, marbles at 50-75 yards all day long. Cast Boolits member Vopie and I even shot playing cards in half at 50 yards with it on several occasions. The gun is so dam fun to shoot some days we get together to shoot and end up just shooting the Ruger 357. One day at Cast Boolits member Screwbolts place I even shot a caterpillar in half with it at 103 yards. I load the same load in 38 special cases and get the same accuracy. For everyday plinking the ammo is loaded on a Dillon 550, for hunting loads I load weighed boolits and weighed powder charges on the RCBS press. Probably don't need to but it makes me feel more confident. The rifle does not like the lighter weight boolits, at least in my experience. I also have the 77/44, it too shoots great. You will love it.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/asset.php?fid=71126&uid=12265&d=1403159284

[GoodOlBoy]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info. I am already working on grinding some money together. Not an easy task with no real income to speak of, but that's one of the reasons I am going to be selling the one rifle to help pay for it which is kind of a big deal for me since I just don't sell guns. I have traded a few, but I usually don't sell them.

altheating your link doesn't work

I have a Lee 358-142-2R mold I need to cast with as it is, but I just don't have a 158 grain mold yet. Still need to work on getting one, but I do have quite a few 158gr RNFP (from laser cast), and a very few 158gr SWCs (from rimrock bullets) left I can load up. My favorite 357 mag factory load bar none in my GP100 is a Magtech 158gr SJSP. I will have to find my notebook, but I have a 158gr RNFP load that closely matches POA with it.

GoodOlBoy

[Alan in GA]

I've had a 77/44 and enjoyed it. It was a mint second year production with excellent bluing and walnut stock. Sold it because it was 'too purtty' to mess with.
Now I'm thinking the 77/357 would be a great plinking gun with target 38Spl loads. I have two grandsons ages 10 and 11 and it seems a natural 'step up' for them after plinking with 22's. Keeping my eyes open for a good deal on a used one.
I missed a great deal on a stainless 77/44 for only $500 a couple weeks ago. Shoulda, coulda, woulda....just waited too long. Guess that's ok though cause after reading posts like this I still want the .35 version!

[Screwbolts]

Yup, Altheatings link didn't open for me either. I think it was to the thread showing the photo of the remains of the very dangerous, not often seen, Sabertoothed Caterpillar, that was crawling up my target backer while Altheating was launching boolitz from his Ruger. It is a measured 103 yards, not a guess.

Ken

[Lloyd Smale]

ill probably get flamed for this but it sure wont be the first time:groner: Never saw much sense to a pistol caliber bolt action rifle. Why would you want one when you can get a lever gun that's a lot more fun to shoot and just as accurate. About the only sense they make to me would be maybe if a guy wanted a suppressed 44 mag.

[Screwbolts]

ill probably get flamed for this but it sure wont be the first time:groner: Never saw much sense to a pistol caliber lever action action rifle. For that matter never saw a lot of sense in any Lever action period. Why would you want one when you can get a bolt action gun that's a lot more fun to shoot and just as accurate. About the only sense they make to me would be maybe if a guy wanted a suppressed 44 mag.

[rockshooter]

why? Same weight bullet as 300 Blackout (150gr). Same velocity as 300 blackout (1800 fps). Same powder charge as 300 blackout (15.1 gr/ H110). CARBIDE DIES!! makes life easier.
Loren

[osteodoc08]

I think it is a very novel and lovely idea. I prefer my pistol caliber lever actions. That being said, a dedicated bolt/range/hunting rifle has it's appeal. Much easier to run a bolt while on a bench. Tuning for accuracy can be arguably easier. More stock options. Looks "right" with a scope on it. The length limitation would irk me some, but seems to be easily worked around. I'd love to try one before putting down some $$$

[altheating]

Why would I want one you ask? Because I do! And I personally don't like lever guns, they never felt right to me. It's a personal thing. Kind of like most of the guns we all own, do we really need one, probably not. Why do I have three 222's ? Because I want them and haven't found a forth one that has followed me home. Why, because every one is different in their own way.

[GoodOlBoy]

I personally love lever guns. However that being said most of the 357 mag lever guns I have run across are either bubba'd and beaten to death, or are WAY over priced, or both. Also the 5.5lb weight on the little bolt action appeals to me. Plus the ability to have 5rnd 357mag in the gun, and a 5rnd 38 spec in the pocket in case my deer hunt turns to bunny busting is something I like the idea of.

oh and I like ruger and they don't make a lever gun in 357...

GoodOlBoy

[Jeff82]

I'm pretty hot to get one. I love my 1894C Marlin, but can't bring myself to scope a lever-action carbine. The bolt action Ruger seems made for it.

[Leadforbrains]

I love mine. It shoots my cast boolits great. Killed a nice tender doe with it last season using a cast lead flat point.

[Alan in GA]

I've had a 77/44 and enjoyed it. It was a mint second year production with excellent bluing and walnut stock. Sold it because it was 'too purtty' to mess with.
Now I'm thinking the 77/357 would be a great plinking gun with target 38Spl loads. I have two grandsons ages 10 and 11 and it seems a natural 'step up' for them after plinking with 22's. Keeping my eyes open for a good deal on a used one.
I missed a great deal on a stainless 77/44 for only $500 a couple weeks ago. Shoulda, coulda, woulda....just waited too long. Guess that's ok though cause after reading posts like this I still want the .35 version!

Well,... 7 months later and I finally bought a used 77/357 stainless. Can't wait to shoot it. I have a fixed 4X Leupold that will probably get mounted but may put a target scope on first to see how it can do on paper. I see Brownell's and Midway both offer factory walnut stocks for 77/44 & 77/357 and might just have to spend the $$ to get stainless/walnut which I happen to like.
New toy and anxious to shoot it!!

[williamwaco]

I have had two of them. The first one was so inaccurate I sent it back.
The second one was no better.

4 to 6 inches at 50 yards. ( 4x scope. )

The same ammo prints in 1 to 1.5 inches from my TC.

[Alan in GA]

A friend owned the one I just bought and said it will do well. I'll find out. I cycled a clip full of lead SWC ammo and it fed smoothly. Forgot to try 38Spl's

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Not a 77/357, but a 77/44 so much the same.

Recently started my journey with this rifle and it will be a cast bullet shooter. "J" bullets are NOT an option.

Now, about the first thing I did was float the barrel. ASAP!

Then after my first range session, sighting in the scope and shooting my first two series of test loads. AA#9 and H110 behind a 275gr Wide Flat Nose cast I was quickly ready for some after market up grades.

My son has a 77/357, so I duplicated my order for after market parts and they are on their way to him as we speak.

Go to TriggerShims.com for shims to take some play out of the trigger, a shim kit to remove excess play in the two part bolt. NOTE! there MUST be some play between the two sections to allow the bolt to close.

Then the most worthwhile of the upgrades was the Volquartsen Target trigger sear.

Where the factory trigger pull was some where close to 2 - 2 1/2 tons, only slight stretch here as it was VERY heavy, it is now light and crisp. Awesome in fact!

That trigger sear is also available from Lance at TriggerShims.com.

Am planning on a second range session next Wed.

If you can find a copy of RIFLE #263, read the article by Brian Pearce on the 77/357 and 77/44.

I hear about it, and a nice forum person sent me a CD with the article.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[frogleg]

I really like mine it feeds mag and spls just fine, its very accurate and fun.

[roverboy]

Anybody deer hunted with one yet? I have killed a couple with a 6" Security Six but, never tried a rifle.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

roverboy,

Hope that you along with other folks won't throw stones my way over this comment, but I have just never seen the .357 as much of a deer cartridge.

HOWEVER!!, as you state, you have taken a couple of deer with the cartridge fired from a handgun and there are quite a few folk that would agree with you on this subject.

So, my Ol'Coot likes and dislikes aside if the .357 fired from a handgun will get er done, then under the same conditions, ranges etc. that cartridge fired from a rifle would clearly be much better. Couldn't be much question about that!

Guess I won't need to face the issue personally although my son has a 77/357 which will surely be a fun tin can buster [smilie=1: while his crusty Ol'dad is still debating even using his 77/44 on deer.

When the choice comes to his RUGER #1S in 45/70 pushing a 465gr Wide Flat Nose cast at 1650 or his 77/44 pushing a 275gr WFN at about an equal velocity, well I haven't crossed that bridge yet and I sure like my 45/70! :-D

So, no I haven't used a 77/357 on deer, but as already indicated, under the proper conditions considering the cartridge in use it surely can be no worse then the same cartridge in a handgun. Just choose a good bullet!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Love Life]

I had one, it was neat, and regret selling it for the new flavor of the week at the time.

With SWC profiles in 38 special and 357 magnum brass, there were no reliability issues, but accuracy was not there. The rifle really, really liked the RNFP and WFN profiles. The best load for mine was the Lee 125-RF over 5.5 gr of unique. Minimal recoil, and quite accurate to 100 yds. Tended to blow a 3 inch hole in rabbits.

The magazine was a pain to remove.

[jmort]

"So, no I haven't used a 77/357 on deer, but as already indicated, under the proper conditions considering the cartridge in use it surely can be no worse then the same cartridge in a handgun"

Since you can easily get 1,500 ft lbs with a .35 Caliber bullet in a .357 rifle, not only is it way more gun, but will smoke most anything you run into.

[40-82 hiker]

Sounds like the ticket for youngsters without .22s!

[Alan in GA]

Sounds like the ticket for youngsters without .22s!
....or without 22 ammo they will be allowed to shoot, or even find to buy.

[Bullwolf]

I really enjoy my Ruger 77/357




- Bullwolf

[grampa243]

I personally love lever guns. However that being said most of the 357 mag lever guns I have run across are either bubba'd and beaten to death, or are WAY over priced, or both. Also the 5.5lb weight on the little bolt action appeals to me. Plus the ability to have 5rnd 357mag in the gun, and a 5rnd 38 spec in the pocket in case my deer hunt turns to bunny busting is something I like the idea of.

oh and I like ruger and they don't make a lever gun in 357...

GoodOlBoy

what you say makes me want one all the more.. and I can't seam to find a 357 lever gun in the whole state.

[Jeff Michel]

I took a doe with mine last fall. I used a 180 Gr. Mihec with 2400. 85 yards, ran about 10 yards.


Anybody deer hunted with one yet? I have killed a couple with a 6" Security Six but, never tried a rifle.

[bobthenailer]

I'm pretty hot to get one. I love my 1894C Marlin, but can't bring myself to scope a lever-action carbine. The bolt action Ruger seems made for it.

After working up loads with a 2x7 leupold, I use a aimpoint red dot sight and like it a lot ! I do 99% of my shooting off hand

[Alan in GA]

In the past I have mounted target scopes first on newly acquired rifles, a 6.5-20X and I even purchased a Weaver T36X when I started messing with 17 caliber rounds like the 17HM2, 17HMR, 17 Ackley Hornet, 17 Mach IV, and 17 Remington. However it being more and more difficult to get to a rifle range with 100 yards or more and covered benches, I've been more prone to pick a scope that I think will stay on the rifle. I don't have many chances to get back to the range for both initial accuracy testing with a higher powered scope, and then a return 'next trip' to re sight in whatever hunting scope will stay on the rifle.
I mounted a 4X fixed Leupold on this newly acquired 77/357, but the scope I favor for most deer hunting is the Leupold 2.5-8X VXIII. I think I have 2 or 3 of them.
I had 2 or 3 Leupold 2x-7x VXII scopes in the past and decided I would explore the 'better' grade of the VXIII Leupolds. When Leupold changed their scope model descriptions I sort of stopped buying any NEW Leupolds as I did not know what quality I was buying. Only in the last year have I purchased a newer (but used) Leulold VX 2 3x-9x, but only because it was already on a used rifle I bought.
Sorry for the wandering post,.... Am only halfway through first cup of coffee : )