Author Topic: 44 MAG.-RUGER BOLT (Read 617 times)

dave hall · « **on:** July 14, 2004, 12:53:35 AM »

I THINKING ABOUT TRADING MY RUGER SBH IN ON A RUGER BOLT OR THERE LEVER.DOES ANYONE HAVE EATHER OF THESE ,AND HOW WELL DO THEY SHOOT.I'M GOING TO HAVE A FRIEND HANDLOAD ME 200 GR. BARNES X,AND I WANT TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THESE LOADS.ANY INFO WOULD BE HELPFUL.THANKS :-)

ROCK'EM HARD 44 REM.MAG. :twisted:

Camp Cook · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2004, 05:41:47 AM »

A few months ago I purchased a Ruger 77/44 s/s synthetic stock for my "wife" to use as her camp/hiking/plinking gun. I have been loading from 180gr Rem JHP's, Speer 270gr Gold Dot's & 300gr JFP's, as well as Hornady 300gr XTP's. Every jacketed bullet that I have shot out of this rifle has been very accurate and I have loaded them to all kinds of different velocities. I tried some very slow 200gr cast loads but they didn't do better than 3 inches @ 25 yards. They weren't even good enough for plinking. I only load the jacketed bullets now and have settled on the Rem 180gr for plinking and the Hornady 300gr XTP's for everything else. I use a Leupold Vari X 11 1-4X scope and have one extra mag as well.

The only problem that I have had with this rifle is that a rotary mag internal spring popped out of place and I had to take the mag apart to make things work again.
Cam

Zachary · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2004, 05:59:08 AM »

I didn't realize that a 44mag can in a bolt gun. Lever, yes, but bolt? I didn't know.

I sure am not a fan of Rugers, but I'm gonna look into this one. I love bolt-action rifles (I hope so, I'm the moderator of this forum

), so I'm really gonna take a look at it.

BTW, you say that you got great accuracy. Specifically, what groups did you get with factory ammo?

Zachary

Steelhead · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2004, 06:02:08 AM »

Zach,

Remington used to chamber there 788 bolt action in 44 Magnum. Of course that was a few moons ago.

Zachary · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2004, 06:37:44 AM »

The Remington 788? Yea, it must have been quite a few moon ago.

Like I said, I'm not a fan of Rugers, but I like the idea of a 44mag in a bolt gun. I noticed, however, that the Ruger only has something like a 18.5" barrel. That's too short for my tastes. Sure, 44mags are used in little 4" pistol barrels...I know. But still, I would like at least a 20" barrel, or even 22". Don't know why...just do I guess.

Zachary

Camp Cook · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2004, 06:59:44 AM »

I didn't mention earlier that the reason that I went with the Ruger 77/44 was because of how user friendly it is. It has a 18.5" barrel, the same very short bolt throw of the 77/22 mag, it is also very light weight and quick handling.
Cam

mountainview · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2004, 07:08:12 AM »

Zach, I am with you on the longer barrel. I like the concept of a bolt 44 mag but shy away from barrels shorter than 22". Yes short barrels are handy in the woods but given that most shooting is done at the range, short barrels put the noise and blast close to the shooter and even more so to others who happen to be unfortunate enough to be shooting at benches adjacent to you.

Camp Cook · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2004, 09:35:05 AM »

I haven't experience any noticable heavy muzzle blast with any load from the 18.5" barrel. What I do notice with the heavy 300gr loads is that the recoil is very quick and sharp feeling, but my wife whom doesn't have much experience with guns handles this recoil easily. My experience with pistol caliber rifles is that the velocity gain if any between 18.5" to 22" barrels is not enough to have to carry that extra length. This Ruger rifle balances so perfectly with this barrel length that I wouldn't have liked it if it was any longer.
Cam

257Robt · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2004, 04:54:33 PM »

I had a 77/44 about two years ago. Recoil and muzzle noise are not bad at all. The short bolt throw (bringing the bolt back to put in another round)is what got me. Looking back, I should have kept it, but I had gotten a Ruger 44 carbine at that time. As far as accuracy, it was about what you can expect out of any 44. They shoot minute of deer pretty good. It was a Good looking rifle that carried well and was very light.