New Ruger 77/357Carbine, need load and trigger info

[awp101]

ezekiel38, now that you've had the 77/357 for a bit, how do you like it?

I'm giving serious thought to one as a possible replacement for my .22LR plinker rifles. I'm not aware of another bolt action .357 to look for...

[ezekiel38]

Sorry been away. AWP have only had the opportunity to shoot this rifle indoors. I really like using 158 LRN in 38 brass as a plinking load,very accurate and a lot of fun. Waiting for fire danger to dissipate so I can work the gun out to 100yds. The aftermarket trigger is a necessity, factory is 8 or 9 glitchy pounds and it is ugly to shoot. Volquartsen trigger is hovering at 3#s with a nice crisp letoff.

Still developing loads, it appears this gun likes heavy bullets. It's a handy little unit and easy to pack and quick to swing and bring to bear.

I'm going to pick up a 44 when I can find one'

[awp101]

No worries, thanks for the report!

[mo]

Thanks for starting this thread.  I'm very intrigued by this rifle but have not yet seen one. These reports are very helpful.

[ezekiel38]

Loaded a 170grain Sierra HP over a load of 15grains of L'il Gun and a mag primer by CCI. 25yds 5 rounds into one hole .564 inches outside to outside. Really like this bullet but the hollowpoint hangs up when attempting to feed on next to last and last round in magazine.

Tried the Hornady XTP 158 grain over 14.5 grains of 2400 and it grouped a 5 round just under an inch. I was at the LGS Friday and found a 100 Seirra 180 grain Tournament Masters, and 100 180 grain Hornady Silhouette bullets. Be loading these two bullets next, and revisit the 158 XTP with different powders.

It's also rained here this week and hope to stretch the range and do some chrono work on this carbine and a couple of handguns. I will post results!


Put the Volquartsen sear and spring in and the trigger is niiicce! 2.5 lbs, crisp and safety works properly. Chickened out and had a gunsmith install.

[mo]

I finally came across one and bought it. Having a 77/22 and a GSR the 77/357 feels like an old friend, only lighter.



Early testing is promising. Right out of the box my most used 357 revolver load printed right on top of the bead at 25 yards - LEE 158gr RF cast over enough Bullseye to get it going around 1100 fps +- depending on barrel length, not sure how fast it's going in the 77/357.

The commercial 357, 125 grain JHP and JSP ammo printed about 4" High at 25 as did most of the 38 ammo I tried.  The 38 Special +P loads, both 125 and 158 printed pretty close to the cast 158 357 load. It will be interesting to see how far beyond 25 yards that will remain true.

I didn't shoot any paper beyond 25 yards but it makes easy work of all the steel and pine cones I could see out to 100 yards.  Even the 200 yard steel was in danger once the holdover was determined.

The 77/357 has happily cycled all the 38 and 357 ammo I've put into it. I haven't tried any SWC or WC yet, just RF, JHP and JSP bullets.  The trigger is heavy, my guess is around 7 pounds.  There is no take-up and it breaks very cleanly.

In the cast loads it seems to like Unique a little better than Bullseye. 2400 is showing some real promise but I haven't seen any for years and I'm well into my last pound of it.  I haven't tried Lil'gun in 357 yet but I have some of that left as well as IMR 4227.

I'm really enjoying it and I'm glad it shoots the ammo my revolvers like. Being stainless and synthetic it will probably see more duty in inclimate weather than the rifles I find more aesthetically pleasing. It is noticeably lighter than my Marlin 1894s and it's less finicky than the Marlin too.

[ezekiel38]

Nice group of Ruger rifles! Which one goes to the range must be tough! Have had some family health crises off and on since summer! Want to do some load testing outdoors when Spring comes our way! Lil Gun and Hornady 180s are at the top of the list!