My daughters new 77/44

[rick59]

My daughters first trip to the range with her new Ruger 77/44 w/ a 36oz. trigger wearing a 1.5-5x32 TC scope sitting in Warne rings, I loaded up some 240gr. XTP’s on top of 24gr of H110 using Winchester primers and Remington brass.
The rifle weighed in at 6lb. 14oz. with a full load.

I did notice that she had no saftey glasses on after pictures were taken, went back to the truck got her some to finish the day with.
 

 

 
Here are the results of her first 50yd. session.
 

[bilmac]

I was just looking at one of these pretty little rifles the other day. I've got an idea that they might be pretty stiff kickers being so light. If that is the case, I would have the girl to grab the forearm with a firm grip and then rest her hand on the bags. That will tame recoil a lot. You sure don't want her to learn to be afraid of her new rifle.

Now I look at the pics again and see the rest is going to catch the recoil. I still would still say, if the rifle is a kicker, don't let it cause her to become a flincher.

[Silvertp]

Rick 59...Im kinda jealous, my best years of hunting was with my kid's.

Nothing like getting your young'uns into shooting and hunting.  Has your daughter done a lot of shooting or is this her first venture with firearms? 

My thoughts have to do with the sequence of bullet strikes from the first fired to the last, and assuming that you did not make a sighting adjustment.

Her target has several rounds that are pretty well centered, then the 3 high strikes that form a horizontal line.  Did you notice if the rounds that are farther from center were the first shots and that she settled down to finish shooting the group in the center as she developed more concentration?

Or perhaps she shot the center group first and and under the prolonged effect of recoil moved farther from the bullseye?

If the bullet strikes were more random throughout the firing sequence I'd ask if you have  tried the gun with that load to see how the rifle groups??

The beauty with reloading is you have the option to taylor loads based on your daughters needs to adjust recoil, maximize accuracy or load hot hunting accurate ammo.

You'll have to let us know how she does hunting this year.

Cheers!
Silvertp

[rick59]

I was just looking at one of these pretty little rifles the other day. I've got an idea that they might be pretty stiff kickers being so light. If that is the case, I would have the girl to grab the forearm with a firm grip and then rest her hand on the bags. That will tame recoil a lot. You sure don't want her to learn to be afraid of her new rifle.

Now I look at the pics again and see the rest is going to catch the recoil. I still would still say, if the rifle is a kicker, don't let it cause her to become a flincher.

I myself was really surprised at how little recoil the rifle has, I shot 5 through it without the sled it's not bad at all even using 24gr of H110 and a 240Gr XTP.
 
 

Rick 59...Im kinda jealous, my best years of hunting was with my kid's.

Nothing like getting your young'uns into shooting and hunting.  Has your daughter done a lot of shooting or is this her first venture with firearms? 

My thoughts have to do with the sequence of bullet strikes from the first fired to the last, and assuming that you did not make a sighting adjustment.

Her target has several rounds that are pretty well centered, then the 3 high strikes that form a horizontal line.  Did you notice if the rounds that are farther from center were the first shots and that she settled down to finish shooting the group in the center as she developed more concentration?

Or perhaps she shot the center group first and and under the prolonged effect of recoil moved farther from the bullseye?

If the bullet strikes were more random throughout the firing sequence I'd ask if you have  tried the gun with that load to see how the rifle groups??

The beauty with reloading is you have the option to taylor loads based on your daughters needs to adjust recoil, maximize accuracy or load hot hunting accurate ammo.

You'll have to let us know how she does hunting this year.

Cheers!
Silvertp

That is a brand new rifle right out of the box except for the 36oz. trigger job and the first time she had shot it, she did settle down and stuck those last 4 holes in the center. This girl can shoot pretty good, she has some targets that she saved from a day at the range where she was shooting a massaged 77/22 that I bought back in 92 that have 1 hole 3 shot groups at 30yds. Two years ago she used a 50cal. Knight MK-85 Back Country Carbine (20" barrel) with 1.5-5x32 for deer hunting that she was grouping 2" at 100.

[Silvertp]

Rick59...

Well sounds like your daughter is good-to-go, as she has a fair amount of experience already.  Glad to hear it!   Now just put some deer in front of her and Im betting she will take care of the "making meat" part.

Cheers!

Silvertp

[rick59]

I know it's late but she did take a real nice doe with her 77/44 last season. The deer walk up in front of her about 45yds and stop for her, we watched it fall about 75yds from our stand. After hanging from the rafters all night we weighed the deer at 138lbs. It's not the best picture (cell phone) but it still got framed for the wall.

[schoolmaster]

Its always good to see pictures of young shooters and the results of their hunt. Congradulations.

[bilmac]

another bullseye.

[Cheesehead]

I know it's late but she did take a real nice doe with her 77/44 last season. The deer walk up in front of her about 45yds and stop for her, we watched it fall about 75yds from our stand. After hanging from the rafters all night we weighed the deer at 138lbs. It's not the best picture (cell phone) but it still got framed for the wall.

Very very nice. My daughters will target shoot with me but will not hunt. You are fortunate and must be very proud. The smile on her face is priceless.

Cheese

[rick59]

Yes I am very fortunate and very proud of her. We really have a good time when she goes with me, she is so much fun to watch when sees a deer and is getting ready to make the shot but the best fun comes when gets to have her picture taken with her trophy. It's always a good time and I wish we could do it everyday.
She really likes that 44 she has now, it's a little easier on her shoulder then my MK85 that she was shooting before and a heck of allot easier for her to reload.

[eastbank]

i bought a ruger 77/44 when they first came out, put a 4x leupold scope on it and replaced the trigger spring along with polishing the trigger parts,with 27grs H110 and a 200gr hornady HP bullet. i shot two deer thru the lungs and both were compete pass thru,s and didn,t go 10-15 yds. its my bad weather gun.

[alan in ga]

I've always wondered about fitting a slightly heavier contour barrel on one of these neat little rifles. Should still balance ok and help with any recoil if it's a problem. Accuracy might be improved over factory barrel, too.

[Stillkickin]

Rick59,
When I saw the initial photos you posted of your daughter at the range, and then saw that the thread was re-opened, I wondered if there might be an update to her shooting.  Sure enough, there was the picture of her with her trophy and I thought, "Boy, it doesn't get any better than that.  What a great conclusion." 
 
Well, by golly, you one-upped me on that thought----she reloads, too!  I now stand corrected.  Give that gal a pat on the back for me.  Way to go, dad.
 
Even if you were referring to her reloading the rifle, she and you still deserve the praise.

[rick59]

Thanks Stillkickin,
Well I was referring to her that rifle over the muzzleloader, but she does know how and has built her own bullets at my reloading bench.
If it's has anything to do with shooting she's always ready to learn.

[alan in ga]

Old topic but a good one. Your posts pushed me over the edge.....there's a blue/walnut 2nd year [1998] 77/44 leaning against my desk here in the home office. Can't wait to shoot it. It was previously owne but unfired. Somebody didn't follow through but I hope to put some rounds thru the bore friday! Hope it shoots ok. I put a fixed 4X Leupold on it....should do fine and 50 yard targets will most likely tell the story....as to wether it's worth while to walk back to the 100 yard target berm!

[ironglow]

  Just great Rick..you must be pleased and proud..good girl..    Some folks figure the .44 Mag is tough on recoil..from my experience it is a plesant round to shoot from a rifle.  I had an H&R .44 mag for years and collected 3 deer with it..gaveit to a grandson and he has harvested 4 more.  I moved on to 30/30 and last year bought a new ruger American in .308..a great little rifle.
  Last fall I also bought a CVA .44 Mag and that little single shot with Bergara barrel is a dream.  It doesn't kick as much as my .308.  Got my buck with the .308 last fall, but this fall the .44 mag goes in the field first.
   I really like the .44 Mag round..it should be about ideal in Indiana cornfields.  I use 240 gr XTPs.