Ruger Model 77/22-R:
Short Barrel, Big Results
Ruger’s successful 77/22 series contains several models chambered for the .22 Long Rifle round. The Ruger Model 77/22R, which we tested, had a smooth, tapered barrel without iron sights. The 77/22-RS has iron sights, and there are other configurations and barrel weights available. The 77/22-R catalog number 7002 has an MSRP of $473, but our gun retailed for $399.
The most important facet of a gun’s performance is where it puts the rounds. The 77/22-R shot all our test ammunition under 1.5 inches at 50 yards. The best average group size came from CCI Mini-Mag at 1.07 inches. The overall average ended up at 1.22 inch, slightly better than the Remington 541-T.
With a lead in accuracy, we looked to see if the Ruger’s 20-inch barrel lost anything in velocity. If there was a large disparity, it could mean the difference between a rabbit toppled or a rabbit lost. However, the Ruger shot two of the five ammos we tested faster than the 541-T, and the other three brands showed about 1-percent velocity variations.
Features and finish, then, would decide which gun won the test. All metal on our test gun was blued, and the top of the receiver carried a matte finish, which reduced glare off the metal, a helpul feature on a field gun. Our test gun had a 20-inch tapered barrel with an outside diameter of 0.540 inch at the muzzle and 0.920 inch at the chamber. The trigger pull was creepy at 4.25 to 4.5 pounds and had too much overtravel. Adjustment screws on this trigger are not standard, so the shooter would need to enlist the help of a gunsmith to reduce the trigger-pull weight to around 3 pounds and install an overtravel stop screw.
The stock on our test gun was American walnut with a satin, nonglare finish that resembled hand-rubbed oil. It featured machine-cut checkering. A 0.5-inch-thick black-rubber-pad added to the buttstock gave the gun a 13.5-inch length of pull, about right for most shooters wearing hunting clothing. The barrel was not free-floated, and there was a 0.5-inch pressure point at the end of the barrel channel. We found no bedding between the receiver and the stock, which we would add to (hopefully) improve the gun’s accuracy in variable temperatures and humidity. Quick-detachable swivel studs were included, a big edge the gun held over the Remington. Another savings: The Ruger came with standard 1-inch rings that attached to the receiver’s integral mounting system.
