DOES ANYONE SHOOT A RUGER 77/22 FOR SMALLBORE SILHOUETTE

[JarHeadTim]

OK,

My previous post was "Does anyone shoot a 10/22 for Smallbore Silhouette". Thank you to all of you who took the time to reply.

I shot my first Smallbore Silhouette practice round yesterday and while I feel it went about as well as can be expected, I did see what people were saying about the mechanical recoil of the autoloader.

I LOVE THE GAME THOUGH....I'M HOOKED!!!

So now I am looking for a bolt action. I know most of you shoot Annies and Remingtons, but is there anyone out there who shoots the Ruger 77/22 HB?

I'm not trying to buck tradition, the best shooting 22 I have ever owned was a 541T, but I am gagging on the prices for them and I just can't afford an Annie right now. I can buy the Ruger new for what the "seasoned" 541T-HB's are going for...so is there a down side to the Ruger.

Once again....Much thanks for the help, all of you!!!

[Jason]

The up side of the Ruger 77/22 is that it's easy to replace the factory barrel to make it shoot much better. The down side is that you'll probably have to replace the factory barrel to make it shoot well. The Ruger 22/77s also don't come with very good triggers from the few that I've shot. If I were you, I'd start with with a CZ 452 instead and save my pennies for a better gun later, or just shoot the 10/22 for now while you save.

[JarHeadTim]

I was thinking about a CZ 452HB (I have one in 17M2) and putting a Richards Tac-Driver Silhouette stock on it, but I hate the CZ magazine release. You can hardly get the magazines out of them and the CZ's triggers need to be tuned up as well (At least with a Brookie's kit), but I'D REALLY LIKE TO SHOOT AMERICAN MADE!!!

[Jason]

I went through the same thing with wanting an American gun to shoot silhouette with. It was either going to cost way too much or I was going to handicap myself. I ended up taking a CZ 452 (never had any trouble with the magazine releases) and remodelling the stock to get me by until I got my Anschutz 1712.

[JarHeadTim]

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TROUBLE TRYING TO DEPRESS THAT LITTLE TANG WHILE PRYING THE MAGAZINE OUT...?

[Jason]

Nope. I pull the lever toward the magazine and the magazine falls into the palm of my hand. It actually works better for me than my Anschutz in the custom stock. If your magazine doesn't fall out when you pull the lever toward it, then take a fine file and fix whatever is binding it in there. Out of 30+ CZ 452s, I've only see a couple that didn't have magazines that would drop right out and those just needed a little touchup of the magazine or magazine well.

[JarHeadTim]

I'll give it a peek....

[kevinpagano]

Tim, I agree with the above post. I started looking at Kimbers (nice gun) remingtons and all the others and for the money a CZ 452 cant be beat. My wife and both sons still shoot them and they are very accurate, and very well made. I may make some people upset but I would take them over a Rem 504 any day of the week.

Up from that is a Kimber hs and then the annie 1712.

Check the Magazine well sleeve that the mag goes up into it may have a burr or just be warped inside the sleeve. They are plastic and could easily be filed down to drop that mag out free as can be.

[JarHeadTim]

IT WAS THE HI-TECH TRIGGER GUARD ...Still HATE the little tang though...!!!

[BlauBear]

As one that has fought this, believe me that the there are only three makes worth looking at for Silhouette: CZ, Kimber and Anschutz. Just this afternoon a bench rest shooter was explaining that a 77/22 can be made to shoot very well, but he was the first I've heard say that. I personally shoot a Remington 504, but that has been an adventure in itself and is not recommended.

Remember too that every rifle has a learning curve, and I don't want to start over with a Kimber or Anschutz and toss everything it was so hard to learn about Remington. Start with something you can stay with awhile. If the balance on a CZ suits you, you're in luck, otherwise you'll need to start moving up through Kimber and Anschutz.

[Innocent]

Tim,
I know several people that have 77/22's and shoot silhouette. The amount of modification that has been done to them to make them competitive such as barrel/trigger changes end up costing as much or more than an in the box CZ or Remingtom 541. I'm a CZ fan but I do have a Remington as well. I shoot a Winchester 52, so hold out for the better rifles.

Mary

[BlauBear]

You might contact Connecticut Precision Chambering (CPC) and explain what you want. I believe they have a formula for tuning the 77/22 that starts with tightening the bolt and can include threading the barrel.

Good luck with it Tim!

[Jetmugg]

Tim:
I saw your other post looking for a Finnfire. I believe that there is one in stock at Dunn's sporting goods in Pevely. Last time I was there, there was also an Anschutz model 1710 (lightly used) that they were asking $900 for.
If I had the extra dough, I would have bought the Annie, but I rarely have that kind of "extra" money.

Steve.

[strugl4xs]

Hello all, Ive been reading on this great site for awhile and finally decided to register. I shoot a custom 77/22 that I built before I shot silhouette; it has a timney sear, custom aaa claro stock and clark 20" sporter barrel. Its a little light out front but shoots very well[ 3/4" 5 shot groups at 77 meters wolf mt. I'm at aa hunter rifle and dont feel the rifle is holding me back at all. Guess I'm just saying I Love these rifles and thought I'd throw a thumbs up vote in for them.

[Innocent]

Strug14xf,
Nothing against Rugers in general or even the 77/22 but you opened with what I was stating to begin with, CUSTOM. All of the 77/22's that I have seen shoot with the CZ's, Annie's and Sako's are customized and usually require high dooar ammo such as Tenex to hold a tight group.
Compare customizing money and ammo costs and you may as well have bought one of the others if you are just starting out.

Mary