FrankenMauser
New member
That's a complicated question and answer.
For me, the answer is: Just buy the 77/22, and stick with .22 LR (if that's what you want, and you can find one).
But, for some people, the allure of loading reduced loads in .223 Rem would be enough to justify a used M77 or M77 Hawkeye in .223 Rem.
I've messed with a lot of reduced loads and substantially-reduced loads, and they're almost never as predictable as one would like. The farther you get from the cartridge's 'happy place', the more unpredictable the loads become.
If I want .22 LR performance, I'm going to use .22 LR.
If I want .22 WMR performance, I'm going to use .22 WMR.
And if I want more, then I can step up to .223 Rem.
That being said....
If you really want a .22 caliber cartridge that can provide decent centerfire performance, but also be cheaply loaded to lighter levels without much compromise, then I suggest looking into .22 Hornet.
...Which just happens to also have been chambered in the 77/22 series, as the 77/22H (standing for "77/22 Hornet", of course).
For me, the answer is: Just buy the 77/22, and stick with .22 LR (if that's what you want, and you can find one).
But, for some people, the allure of loading reduced loads in .223 Rem would be enough to justify a used M77 or M77 Hawkeye in .223 Rem.
I've messed with a lot of reduced loads and substantially-reduced loads, and they're almost never as predictable as one would like. The farther you get from the cartridge's 'happy place', the more unpredictable the loads become.
If I want .22 LR performance, I'm going to use .22 LR.
If I want .22 WMR performance, I'm going to use .22 WMR.
And if I want more, then I can step up to .223 Rem.
That being said....
If you really want a .22 caliber cartridge that can provide decent centerfire performance, but also be cheaply loaded to lighter levels without much compromise, then I suggest looking into .22 Hornet.
...Which just happens to also have been chambered in the 77/22 series, as the 77/22H (standing for "77/22 Hornet", of course).