Ruger 77 Series Bolt-Action Rifles Review – The Perfect Small Game Hunting Rifles

This selection of cartridges really runs the gamut of possibilities. With a rifle from the Ruger 77 series, you could realistically do some plinking on the range, varmint hunting, competition shooting, and larger game hunting as well.

For the smaller cartridges, they would be best for plinking and varmint hunting. However, the .22 Hornet does get some use as a competition cartridge. It is significantly larger and faster than other small calibers, and the fact that it is a centerfire cartridge makes it more accurate.

For the larger pistol cartridges, you could potentially do some hunting on top of some target shooting. While the rounds aren’t exactly great at longer range, .357 Magnum and .44 Remington Magnum are both common handgun hunting cartridges. I have taken mine hog hunting twice, but haven’t taken a hog with it yet.

Ruger 77 Series Review: Breakdown

As you’ve just seen, these are really broadly applicable rifles. However, there are plenty of similarities between all of them. Overall, they are quality bolt action rifles that offer some great shooting features.

The size varies between each of the different models, but they are pretty similar overall.

The 77/357 has an 18.5 inch barrel, measures 38.5 inches overall, and weighs 5.5 pounds. It’s got a five round capacity, and has a black synthetic stock.

The 77/44 is essentially the same size, just slightly lighter and with either an American Walnut or black synthetic stock. It has a four round capacity.

The pros of these rifles are all the same. They are pretty accurate, reliable, and safe.

As far as the accuracy, this can be traced back to a few key features of the rifles. The barrel is cold hammer forged, so it’s extremely precise, and the action has an extremely secure lock. Additionally, the integral scope mounts are machined directly onto the receiver, so they will never come loose.

Speaking of the action, that feature of the rifle adds a lot into the reliability of the rifle. The bolt is stainless steel and the action itself is alloy and stainless steel. This makes the whole mechanism rock-solid, so you can feel confident it’ll work every time.

Additionally, the rifles are really lightweight, so they are great if you’re going to be carrying it over any distance.

However, there are a few cons associated with the rifles. For starters, the trigger isn’t great. While it is easy to upgrade, the stock trigger has a lot of play in it. I’ve found that this improves over time, but it’s still not a great trigger.

The rifles are also on the expensive side. Even for the smaller calibers, they are pretty expensively priced. Not everyone will want to spend this much on a bolt action rifle.

While it’s not necessarily a con of the rifle, it is still worth mentioning that the range of these rifles is limited. This is a result of the pistol cartridge, but if you’re planning to hunt with these, be aware that you’ll be limited to about 100 yards or so.

The magazine adds into the reliability as well. They are rotary style magazines, and I’ve had no issues whatsoever with mine.

As for the safety features, bolt action rifles are notoriously pretty safe. Due to the fact that you have to chamber the new round yourself, you always know the exact status of the rifle. Especially for new shooters, this can eliminate some confusion.

The Ruger 77 series rifles have a great manual safety. It’s extremely easy to use and get to, and it allows you to lock the bolt with the safety engaged. This just adds another level of safety into the rifle.

Ruger 77 Comfort and Shootability

The comfort of this rifle is pretty good overall. It’s nothing special, per se, but it is a comfortable bolt action rifle. Part of this is due to the magazine, which sits flush inside the stock, but part of it is also shape of the receiver and stock. Holding the rifle feels pretty natural, and the grip is more than adequate.

Image Credit: hickok45