Ruger 77/357 Bolt Action Rifle

[thehunted777]

I only shoot reloads too - my own

If you ever get into it, 357/38 is a really great round to start with. There are a ton of different recipes for it from powder puff to top of the chart magnum and a good bullet selection. I mainly make 38 special power/velocity utilizing 357 cases and 158gr bullets for range plinkers. I always have some true magnum loads floating around though for when I'm feeling lucky.

Enjoy your gun! My brother has a lever action .357 that is an absolute joy to shoot. I've been eying the 77/357 for quite some time as well.

Nice, yeah I've been giving some thought in doing my own reloads. Guess I'm just a little nervous I might not do it right and blow myself up haha. Thanks and yeah .357 lever action rifles are awesome! I have a Rossi 92 .357 lever action rifle and it's my favorite gun right now, but this Ruger 77/357 may take it's place.

[smittty]

Nice, yeah I've been giving some thought in doing my own reloads. Guess I'm just a little nervous I might not do it right and blow myself up haha. Thanks and yeah .357 lever action rifles are awesome! I have a Rossi 92 .357 lever action rifle and it's my favorite gun right now, but this Ruger 77/357 may take it's place.

It sounds like you're already a 357 mag fan

I have both rifles too. If you don't already reload then I recommend you start saving your brass. Reloading is the next evolution for you and those rifles.

[mnh2obuff]

I just shoot my reloaded .357s in mine and get less that an inch group at 50 yards. It opens up a bit at 100 yds. I di try .38's at one point and the only problem was when I dropped a loaded mag and the cartridges slipped and jammed in the mag.

[Wrangler John]

This is one rifle that I would like to own. It's practical, well made and utilitarian. When I needed a lightweight carbine as a all-around truck gun to carry along on trips, I chose the semi-auto Ruger Ranch Rifle in 7.62x39 at a time when the 77/357 wasn't manufactured, but I really like the idea of a bolt action carbine in .357 Magnum. Ruger's rotary magazine, even with five shot capacity, is very reliable and quick to change, if the similar design of the 10-22 is any guide. Granted that lever actions in .357 Magnum hold more initially, but are slow to reload, while the rotary magazine allows not only quick reloads, but additional magazines can be loaded with different ammunition to meet changing needs in the field, and can be quickly substituted, something near impossible with a tubular magazine.

I had a Remington 788 in .44 Magnum, but the drawback to that rifle was recoil - that thing hurt! The .357 Magnum should get the job done, without excessive recoil.

I wonder if Ruger thought about chambering the 77/.357 for the .357 Maximum? If it would fit the action length, I see no reason that both the .357 Maximum and .357 Magnum wouldn't interchange in the same magazine, and maybe even the .38 Special could be accommodated. The Maximum can drive a 170 grain bullet up to 1,900 fps in a 10 inch Contender, and has proven to me to be one of the most accurate cartridges in a revolver. Oh well, the .357 Magnum is no slouch in its own right. This is one of those rifles that I'll wish I had purchased when they were available, but I just ran out of space in the safes and have three project rifles in the works.

[thehunted777]

It sounds like you're already a 357 mag fan

I have both rifles too. If you don't already reload then I recommend you start saving your brass. Reloading is the next evolution for you and those rifles.

Yes Sir! I most DEFINITELY am a .357 Mag Fan!

That's awesome that you have the same rifles as I do. They make quite a pair don't they? Yeah I really want to do my own reloads, I just need to do more research/homework on it.

[Cowboy T]

Got to shoot a customer's 77/357. Ruger says that there "could" be feeding issues with .38 Spl due to round length and the magazine being designed for standard .357M length. However, we were shooting plenty of .38 Spl out of his rifle's rotary magazine with no issues. It was fun!

Of course, it was great with .357M rounds, too. Since it's a rifle, the kick isn't so bad, and you get the rifle barrel's velocity out of the round.

I think you'll love that gun.

[thehunted777]

@mnh2obuff........Nice accuracy/grouping!

@Wrangler John.....Yeah when you have a chance to get one, I think you definitely should. I know I haven't shot it yet, but I've only been hearing good things about this rifle. And I agree with what you said about the rifle being utilitarian, it can be used in soo many different ways. And I love how you can shoot .357 magnum and .38 special out of this rifle, both more financially friendly then big caliber rifle ammo.

[thehunted777]

Got to shoot a customer's 77/357. Ruger says that there "could" be feeding issues with .38 Spl due to round length and the magazine being designed for standard .357M length. However, we were shooting plenty of .38 Spl out of his rifle's rotary magazine with no issues. It was fun!

Of course, it was great with .357M rounds, too. Since it's a rifle, the kick isn't so bad, and you get the rifle barrel's velocity out of the round.

I think you'll love that gun.

Yeah that was the ONE negative thing that I heard about this rifle, but that's good to hear that you didn't have any problems when you shot .38 specials out of it. I prefer the recoil of the .357 magnum compared to that of the .38 special in my lever action rifle, so I'm anticipating the same for this rifle.

[357magnum]

Shooting .38 spl. in the 77/357 is like shooting a pop gun, very fun.
If you don't already have a .357 revolver, you need one or two of these also to round off the fun factor.

[thehunted777]

Shooting .38 spl. in the 77/357 is like shooting a pop gun, very fun.
If you don't already have a .357 revolver, you need one or two of these also to round off the fun factor.

Haha, yeah I agree. Yeah that's next on my list to get, a 4" Smith and Wesson 686...but there so darn expensive!

[357magnum]

Haha, yeah I agree. Yeah that's next on my list to get, a 4" Smith and Wesson 686...but there so darn expensive!

They are expensive now, but the S&W 686 is very nice.
When I got mine, it cost me $340.00

[thehunted777]

They are expensive now, but the S&W 686 is very nice.
When I got mine, it cost me $340.00

$340?!!! Wow what a great price you got that for, wish it was still that price now...I would buy one in a heartbeat!!!

[357magnum]

After you get your 77/357, let us know how you like it and how it shoots.
You never know, you might be like me and add the big brother 77/44 like I did.
These are my two favorite rifles by far.

[thehunted777]

After you get your 77/357, let us know how you like it and how it shoots.
You never know, you might be like me and add the big brother 77/44 like I did.
These are my two favorite rifles by far.

For sure, will do!

[smittty]

I wasn't a fan of the 357 mag until I bought this rifle. I like it so much that I figured I'll get the lightest weight 357 mag to back it up. Then I bought the M&P 340. I normally carry 38 sp in it but if I'm camping or backpacking I'll load it with heavy 357 mag. I carry it in my front pocket or in a pouch on my backpack hip belt.

I'm in no way willing to carry a 40 oz revolver. I owned a bunch of various 357 mag and 38 sp revolvers and sold all of them all, everything from a 686, vaquero, blackhawks, sp101, gp100, etc. and all sucked for carrying especially in the heat we have here in so cal or in the sierras. I remember going deer hunting and after two days hiking in the mountains in 90+ deg heat thinking...I got to dump this f'ing gun off my belt! In that heat and high altitude, I'll carry the 340 or 642/442, that's it!

I think the only heavy revolver I'd ever consider buyng again would be a 6" Colt Python simply because I think they are beautiful, but only for range use, not for carrying!