Ruger M77 in .357 or .44 mag

[TexasPatriot.308]

I am a Ruger person deluxe, I live in Texas and have shots from just a few yards to hundreds of yards, I own Ruger revolvers in .357, .44 mag and .45 colt. of course all my rifles are long range from .22-250 to 7mag...I stick to308 and 7mm-08 nowadays. I am gonna buy me a pistol caliber carbine just cause I want one, I know the pros and cons of recoil etc. Just wondering from yall that own one of these, which would be the best choice from yalls experience, and personal experience on the performance of these calibers in the M77 model. I hunt hogs daily (not by choice) so this would be a brush gun to compliment my revolvers. ballistics (bullet drop info) is appreciated.

 

[Jackal]

If you buy factory ammo, .357. If you reload, .44mag.

 

[Gtscotty]

I have a goal.....

To one day buy a 77/44, have the barrel threaded, mount an Octane 45 suppressor and an Aimpoint, and use the rig with subsonic cast heavies for close range suppressed hunting of deer and hogs.

For my purposes the .44 is the clear winner due to bullet weight and diameter... also I'm already set up to pump out cost effective .44. It sounds like you're invested in both of the potential calibers anyway, so that wouldn't be a factor. If you're looking to use supersonic only ammo, either should work but I'd still lean towards .44.

 

[zerobarrier]

I have a goal.....

To one day buy a 77/44, have the barrel threaded, mount an Octane 45 suppressor and an Aimpoint, and use the rig with subsonic cast heavies for close range suppressed hunting of deer and hogs.

For my purposes the .44 is the clear winner due to bullet weight and diameter... also I'm already set up to pump out cost effective .44. It sounds like you're invested in both of the potential calibers anyway, so that wouldn't be a factor. If you're looking to use supersonic only ammo, either should work but I'd still lean towards .44.

My goal as well, except I want to use the iron sights and cut the back to around 12". I actually just sold my 77/44 to get a 300blk, mainly because I have not ordered a 45 suppressor yet but I have a 30cal suppressor waiting for approval which will hopefully be in Jan or Feb. When I order the 45 suppressor I will get another 77/44.

Or thread the barrel of a rossi ranch hand and put a full stock on it.

 

[Armored farmer]

from yalls experience, and personal experience on the performance of these calibers

I have been dragged through the THR coals for saying this before, but the fact is I have had some poor performance from .357 when taking whitetails. So much so, that I quit using it for deer hunting and went with a .45Colt.

Based solely on past experiences....I would go .44mag without a doubt.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I got couple leased pastures overrun with hogs, one is about half mile away from I-10, other has a house about same distance away. I was concerned about a carbine that has the knockdown power at 100 yards or so, then rapidly drops ballistic wise. recoil is not a factor. I thought about a .45 colt too cause I carry my Blackhawk with Buffalo Bore all the time, but don't hear much about it in a carbine.

 

[wombat13]

This should work if you want .45lc.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/cowboy/1894_45colt.asp

This model is also chambered in 44mag, so it should be able to handle the pressures of modern, high pressure .45lc loads. I would think it would be every bit as good as .44 mag.