RUGER 77/357, what should I know?

[Cowboy T]

Ah, I thought you might be talking about different *load* info vs. velocity info. In that case, yes, I agree completely, and I find similar results with my carbine.

[ScottsBad]

I would have gone with a lever action. I'm not crazy about rotary mags either.

[Garandimal]

The only rifle I ever got rid of was a Winchester (USRA) 30-30. Never could get used to it after bolt rifles and autos.

They also have their problems as well.


Besides...

RUGER offers an OEM 77/44 walnut stock that the 77/357 will drop right into.

GR

[M1NM]

Keep your eye out for a Ruger No1 in 357. They made a run for a CHP commerative and some unmarked over-runs.

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/3876664

[ScottsBad]

Beautiful stock. Yes, lever action rifles can have problems. I've just never been a fan of the Ruger rotary mag. Maybe I should try a newer one out.

The only rifle I ever got rid of was a Winchester (USRA) 30-30. Never could get used to it after bolt rifles and autos.

They also have their problems as well.


Besides...

RUGER offers an OEM 77/44 walnut stock that the 77/357 will drop right into.



GR

[Garandimal]

Seems to be more a case of blunt-nosed bullets hanging up on the chamber's edge.

Will report on feeding functionality after it arrives.

Will be shooting Freedom Munitions .357 Mag./158 gr./FMJ-FP and PPU/158 gr./JHP ammo.

Factory 158 gr./XTP that Freedom Munitions also loads will stay w/ the 6.5" BH as the carbine velocities exceed bullet integrity.

Will hand-load 180 gr./XTP down the road.




GR

[Sutcliffe]

No necessarily the same loads

Hmm...don't they use the same loads? I do happen to use the same 158gr cast boolit load in my wheelgun (4" bbl) as the Rossi 92 (16" bbl), and the Rossi likes it quite a bit.

There is a difference when comparing barrel length. .357 mag pressure limit is 35,000 psi

If you hand load you can go 50,000+ in a strong action like a 1892 Winchester lever or good bolt gun. Original S&W factory loads were really hot and would likely tear smaller framed revolvers apart with a steady diet.

Agreed there. Again, though, isn't that with the same load info, or am I overlooking something? I know that Mr. Quinn is using a 180gr handload, but shouldn't the rifle be able to still use that longer barrel to a significant advantage with, say, the 125gr JHP factory loads as well?

Going from handgun length barrel to carbine will give you 300-500 fps advantage, depending on the load.
What I'm trying to say is this: the .357 is such a large case that a lot of it is not utilized for the modern pressure levels required of it. Put that case into a strong action and you can really achieve significant performance.

[Garandimal]

Well...

My FFL received my 77/357 today... so I went down and inspected it before puttin' it in jail.

Beautiful rifle.

Brought my bore-light and took it outside for a look. Perfect bore and rifling, as was the crown.

Bolt worked smoooth and the lock-up was solid.

Stock is solid as well, no hollow/toy/junk feel.

Sans shooting it? nice product.

RUGER!




GR

[357magnum]

[QUOTE=Garandimal;16772052]Well...

My FFL received my 77/357 today... so I went down and inspected it before puttin' it in jail.

Beautiful rifle.

Brought my bore-light and took it outside for a look. Perfect bore and rifling, as was the crown.

Bolt worked smoooth and the lock-up was solid.

Stock is solid as well, no hollow/toy/junk feel.

Sans shooting it? nice product.

RUGER!




I hope you enjoy your 77/357.
I own both the 77/357 and the 77/44, these are my favorite rifles.

[Dr. Jones]

I love my 77/357 - this is my coyote/ pig rifle
I use 125gr round nose with absolutely no problems. did have a feeding issue with Fiochi ammo, but all the other 158gr factory loads fed reliably
I have had an issue with the mags hanging when trying to do a quick change
no issues with 38s loaded from the top, have not tried in the mag yet

[Garandimal]

Picked up a block of Freedom Munitions .357 Mag./158 gr./FMJ/FP today on special for $16/box delivered.

Also sent RUGER/CS an email for a set of Gratis #4(med) scope rings for mounting the Leupold VX-1 2-7x33 scope.

Waitin' on a jail-break.




GR

[Garandimal]

Sooo...

I get the 77/357 home, field strip it, and give it a good cleaning.

Then, I run the bolt dry for ~ Twenty cycles w/ the safety off and the trigger pulled, to burnish the bolt lug/firing pin tang contact surfaces, and then gave'em a coat of grease.

Set the safety on intermediate, loaded up a mag w/ 158 gr. FP, and chambered the first round... almost.

Wouldn't go... nor would the Second, Third, etc., ... they went in slightly breached and jammed solid.

So I inspected it and found that the extractor was not allowing the case rim to pass under it. If I pushed on the side of the bolt, I could force it over and on... but that was it.

I removed the bolt, flipped it over, and tried to thumb a round up under the extractor... no luck as well.

The part has some multi-faceted ground surfaces on it, and apparently RUGER neglected to buff these surfaces that contacted the soft brass case rim.

So I started off w/ a small hardened/etched blade screwdriver bit and ran it in/out/up/down on all those rough machined surfaces and edges.

Then I went back and did the same thing w/ a very small/thin flat/curved bit as well.

Wiped it down and gave it another go by hand... slid right in.

Reassembled/safetied the rifle, and again racked in a round... Greased Lightnin'!

The first Four rounds loaded and then ejected like keys on an IBM typewriter... a blurrr.

The Fifth round porpoised in the Mag, so I think it needs a little more tension on the spring, but that's no fault of the rifle itself.

Tried a different mag, all Five round feed fine.

Mounted the Leupold VX-1 2-7x33 today on the gratis #4 (medium) scope rings RUGER sent me... "Just right" fit. The lowest (~ 2.4X) magnification setting looks about right for both power and field of view as well. Really like the wide duplex reticle.


Next stop... the Range.




GR

[23 Blast]

Nice, Garandimal!

Sorry to hear that you had to do your own minor gunsmithing to make it work. I'd be very peeved if I had to do that on a rifle I paid that much for. Glad to see that it eventually worked out, though.

Will eagerly await the range report!

[ECVMatt]

Eagerly awaiting range reports....with pics....

[smittty]

congrats on the purchase.

I have a 357 lever gun and the 77/357 and I prefer the 77/357. It's lighter, stock is longer so it fits more natural and I like that a bolt action can be worked off the bench with a low rest. I treat mine like a fixed mag and feed it from the top. It feeds 38's and 357's equally well, it's one of my favorite guns.