Ruger 77
The Ruger 77 series is a family of compact bolt-action rifles built on Ruger’s proven 77 action, chambered in handgun calibers and rimfire cartridges that make them uniquely practical for brush hunting, pest control, backpacking, and suppressor use. The 77/44 (.44 Magnum), 77/357 (.357 Magnum/.38 Special), and 77/22 (.22 LR/.22 WMR/.17 HMR) share a common design philosophy: a scaled action matched to the cartridge, a compact barrel, and Ruger’s rotary magazine for reliable feeding.
Read our full Ruger 77 Series Buying Guide ↓
Ruger 77/44: The .44 Magnum Brush Gun
The 77/44 is chambered in .44 Magnum and also accepts .44 Special, making it one of the most versatile handgun-caliber carbines available. From its 16.6″ barrel, a standard 240-grain .44 Magnum load achieves approximately 1,750–1,850 fps—roughly 400 fps more than a 6″ revolver barrel, transforming the .44 Magnum into a reliable 150-yard deer cartridge. At 5.5 lbs unloaded and under 37″ overall, it handles quickly in dense woods and from tree stands. The 77/44 is also a popular suppressor host—subsonic .44 Magnum loads (280–300 grain cast at 900–1,050 fps) produce excellent terminal performance with minimal suppressed report, making it one of the best large-bore suppressed hunting platforms available now that NFA tax stamps are no longer required.
Ruger 77/357: The .357 Magnum Carbine
The 77/357 chambers .357 Magnum and .38 Special from an 18.5″ barrel, achieving approximately 1,900 fps with a 125-grain .357 load—significantly more energy than from a revolver and enough for deer-sized game inside 100 yards. The .357 Magnum’s flatter trajectory compared to the .44 Magnum gives the 77/357 a slight effective range advantage for small-to-medium game and varmints. The dual-caliber capability is a practical advantage: run full-power .357 Magnum for hunting and .38 Special for low-recoil practice. Shooters who own a .357 Magnum revolver gain complete ammunition commonality between handgun and carbine.
Ruger 77/22: The Rimfire Precision Carbine
The 77/22 applies the same scaled-action philosophy to rimfire cartridges. Available in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR, the 77/22 uses a 10-round rotary magazine and produces exceptional rimfire accuracy from its cold-hammer-forged barrel. The .17 HMR variant is particularly capable—pushing a 17-grain bullet at 2,550 fps for flat trajectory and explosive expansion on small game out past 150 yards. The 77/22 is a popular platform for NRL22 precision rimfire competition and varmint hunting where a bolt-action rimfire’s accuracy advantage over semi-autos matters.
Why Choose a Handgun-Caliber Bolt Carbine?
The Ruger 77 series fills a specific niche that no other platform covers as well. For hunters in states with handgun-only season restrictions, a bolt-action chambered in a handgun caliber often qualifies as a “handgun” for licensing purposes—verify your state’s regulations. For suppressor hunters, the handgun calibers’ subsonic load availability makes the 77 series uniquely quiet. For hikers and campers who want a light, compact firearm for camp defense and pest control without the weight of a full-size rifle, the 77 series’ compact dimensions are ideal. The 77/44 and 77/357 also appeal to shooters who want magazine commonality between a revolver and a long gun.
Common Features Across the 77 Series
All 77-series rifles share Ruger’s tang-mounted safety, Mauser-style controlled-round-feed extractor, integral scope bases accepting standard Ruger rings, and the rotary magazine design that separates cartridges for reliable feeding regardless of bullet profile. Stainless steel and camo synthetic configurations are available across most variants for hunters who need corrosion resistance in wet field conditions. The compact rotary magazines are caliber-specific but available from Ruger as spares. All variants are threaded or can be threaded for suppressor use depending on the specific configuration purchased.
Related Pages
Browse all Ruger firearms, shop .44 Magnum ammunition or .357 Magnum ammunition for your 77-series carbine, or explore our suppressor selection for a complete suppressed hunting setup.