Ruger 77/22 accuracy

K

Khornet

New member
Anyone have experience with improving accuracy in these rifles?
I have a lamnated stock 77/22 which shot very well until I took the stock off to checker it, and after reassembly with NO bedding modifications it went to the dogs. Having glass bedded a few rifles, I did the same with this one, which helped, but it has never really recovered. I've tried all types /brands of ammo, checked various stock screw tensions, free-floated the barrel and later tried it with a little fore end pressure, checked the tightness of the barrel clamp screws, releived any pressure other than the recoil lug and stock screws, all a little help but still a ways to go. Haven't considered a new barrel as the original one shot great. I clean with a bore giude, and not too often, so I don't think I've worn the chamber. I need tack-driving accuracy for squirrel hunting, and really like this rifle. Any ideas?
 
I guess I'm lucky

I have had my blue and wood 77/22 for about 12 years and it has always been a solid performer. It loves CCI Stinger and shoots great out to 100 yards with very little drop. I love to ping away on a steel disk at 100 yards from prone. I spray paint it yellow and then try to clean off a spot on the paint and keep the group as tight as possible.

Instead of totally messing around with your fine rifle, experiment with a lot of ammo, find out what it likes and sight in only for that round.

I recommend CCI Stinger, but your rifle might like something else. CCI makes a good selection of .22 ammo. In some rifles, the slower rounds may group better but drop more and take longer to get to the target. You will be amazed by experimenting with ammo how much differently it can shoot from brand to brand.

Just pick a good high-velocity hollowpoint that your rifle likes and you will harvest many tree critters. I like to shoot mine at the back of the skull just under the ears. No meat is wasted.

Have fun
 
Khornet, something seems out of kilter here. If mickthenailer's advice dosen't pan out, check your scope. I have a 77/22 as you describe and have zero problems. IMHO, about 90% of accuracy problems involve the scope.

Keep us posted!

Giz

P.S. - mine routinely shoots CCI SGB rounds into sub half inch groups at 50 y.
 
I bought a "blue & wood" 77/22 last year, mounted a Weaver 2.5X7 scope and installed a Volquartsen trigger sear. Sweetest shooting and most accurate little rifle I have ever owned! HerrJaegermeister's advice about the ammo is right on the money. Mine likes Federal "Lightning" the best. It also liked CCI Stingers but the longer case made chambering the round hard and I saw some advice on a previous thread here which said that they could wear a spot in the throat. Have you experienced that, HJ?
 
I've had a wood blued 77/22 for about 15 years now it's a great little rifle and has accounted for more than it's share of jack rabbits, cottontails, and other assorted critters. Always had real good luck with it.

About 2 months ago I bought a 77/22H (Hornet) it was a total disaster about a 5 inch gun at 100 yards. That little SOB didn't last long at my house.
 
Gentlemen, many thanks. I've used WW hispeed hp, Eley hispeed hp, CCI minimag and stinger, Fiocchi hispeed hp, federal lightning, Eley match ammo, PMC standards, CCI standards.
As I said, the rifle shot well until it was removed once from the stock and reassembled without alterations. It's a laminated stock, so I wouldn't expect much warpage just from one disassembly/reassembly.
The point about the guard screw is well taken. I have experimented with various tensions, which have indeed affected accuracy to the extent of making it worse. Ditto for the front screw.
Maybe I just have a lemon. The trigger is definitely too heavy, an unfortunately typical Ruger characteristic. Firing from the bench I have to be very careful not to squeeze or push the stock with the pressure necessary to break the trigger. I have been thinking about one of the drop-in sear replacements. Any reccommendations?
 
Also

Forgot to add that scope has been repeatedly checked, and I've used a fixed 4X conventional scope as well as a good airgun scope with parallax set for 50yd since that's my usual sighting-in range. I've always made it a practice to try a new .22 with lots of different brands, speeds, and production lots of ammo, and even use a rim-thickness guage once I find the stuff it likes best. 2MOA is the best I've come up with.
 
Khornet:

To fix that trigger, do what I did. Contact Brownell's and order the Volquartsen target sear. You get the sear and a new trigger spring. It is literally a drop-in job, very easy. Took me 10 minutes and I'm mechanically-challenged. The trigger will be sweeeet! Cost is only about $35.
 
New sear

Thanks! I've been eyeballing that sear for awhile. In fact, I want one of everything in that catalogue.
 
To Prof

I most likely wore the throat to be an exact fit for the longer cases. Mine really, really loves those Stingers.

At 100 yards, they drop just over an inch from my point of aim. I am sighted dead on at 75 yards. This puts me a touch high at 50. Slower rounds drop as much as five to six inches at 100 yards.

This 77/22 was my first real gun. I got it for Christmas when I was 15, about 13 years ago. I have a real attachment to it. When I was 17, I earned my Eagle Scout Award. Dad bought me an 870 Wingmaster Magnum then. Those two firearms have a personal connection. They have never let me down, and I will never let them go.

.22s are just the most fun of all guns. Cheap to shoot, accurate and no recoil.

Bye
 
CPC

Anyone ever do any business with Connecticut Precision Chambering? They offer a pretty appealing service for 77/22, rechamber, muzzle crown, modify barrel clamp, and, interestingly, a method of tightening the conection between the front and rear halves of the bolt. I notice that when in battery my bolt has considerable lateral movement of the front portion, while the locking lugs are in the rear half. If I remember correctly, rear-locking lugs are an accuracy hindrance in rifles like the Krag and the SMLE.
 
CPC did a "combo" job on my VBZ. Fast turnaround, reasonable price and a good guy to deal with. And yes it did tighten up the groups.

Rear locking lugs don't seem to be a problem on rimfire rifles. The very expensive and accurate Cooper uses them.

If you can find them ,try some Wolf Match target ammo. This ammo is made in Germany for Wolf and retails for about $1.50 a box. I have been shooting 1/4 to 1/3 inch 5 shot goups with it.
 
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