Suppressed 77/44's

[sigfla]

My boss just got a SRT 77/44. It is super nice and pellet gun quiet with georiga arms .44 mag subsonic cowboy ammo. I am thinking about getting one for myself. Anybodyt have any experience/comparisons between the SRT and the Johns guns 77/44's? I see some folks have the Johns guns in stock already, I will probably have to get the SRT gun made.

[Brian Ski]

I am a big fan of Tom Denall. He makes a silent destroyer 77/44. I got one in transfer...I will have to tell you how it sounds when I get it...There was a review for it in one of the police mags...

BTW he custom makes them to order so there is a wait...

[Deanh]

I have shot one of Denall's 77/44's

The only thing you hear is the firing pin, then the wap of the round hitting the target.

I wish these guns had a larger magazine capacity.

[Brian Ski]

Originally posted by Deanh
I have shot one of Denall's 77/44's

The only thing you hear is the firing pin, then the wap of the round hitting the target.

I wish these guns had a larger magazine capacity.

Sounds pretty good to hear....

I was thinking of inceasing the mag capacity...Future project...

The original mags hold 4 rounds. I was thinking of using a Mag froma 44 auto...Something like 8 rounds or better...

Don't think it is something to mass produce because the market is so small.

[MuzzleFlash]

Brian

Still thinking about the mag project?

Also, did Ruger exchange your rings for the tall ones at N/C?

Thanks. My SRT paperwork arrived today at the dealers.

[Brian Ski]

Called up Ruger and they sent the rings out no problem... Don't remember if they gave me a call tag to send the old one back or not... But I sent them right back.... Those Ruger rings were expensive on their site they were like $80 or so.... I got the tallest rings they had... I picked up a 44mm scope... It fits perfect but I cannot get the scope cover on... Maybe a little mod....

Never did get into the mag modifying.... I guess when you get used to a silent 44, you really don't need many follow ups!!!!

[Tyris]

Hi guys,

My 77/44 is getting ever closer. Got me wondering:

What kind of accuracy are you seeing with yours? Whats a typical group at 100 yards?

thanks

-T

[MuzzleFlash]

Hi guys,

My 77/44 is getting ever closer. Got me wondering:

What kind of accuracy are you seeing with yours? Whats a typical group at 100 yards?

thanks

-T
With 300 grn Nosler, about 1.5 to 2" but I shoot like shit. I get slightly better groups with Berry's in 280 grn.

[Tyris]

Sweet. I'd be happy if I could put up groups like that at 100 yards.
This will be my first scoped rifle -- Im almost exclusively a pistolero :D

I do have some semi-auto rifles that are used to retire the occaisional failed piece of computer equipment, but this is my first serious rifle.

What scope do you use?

I've searched high and low for a 3-9x scope with adjustable objective. The AO is important to me as I'd like to be able to use the 77/44 indoors at 50 feet when its raining (heh, this is Oregon), as well as outdoors at 100 yards when weather permits.

The only scopes I've found that fit the bill (at any price range) are a particular Simmons (which appears to be discontinued?) and a Bushnell which is listed as an air-rifle scope. I'd hate to break it on my first outting to the range.

-T

[Tyris]

Well, I ordered up a Bushnell 4-12x AO scope, usable as close as 10 yards (so 50 feet at the indoor range is do-able).

Its got a 40mm bell, so I figure with the stock Ruger rings it probably wont clear the suppressor. Does anyone know if I'll need high or extra high replacements?

thanks

-T

[raffica]

John'ns Guns rifle, factory bbl, 3-9x44 tasco scope.free-floated from 2" in front of the action. 300gr jhp /8.2gr unique/magnum cases. cover 3 shots w/quarter @ 100 yds. done by myself & joeblack. compared w/ SRT gun for perceived not measured diff's. SRT has larger dia tube. I thought smaller dia looked better. opinion only, but mine.
SRT did sound diff, with slightly lower tone.

from 10yds away, no one could tell a firearm was being fired w/either.

evaluation? strictly subjective. SRT owner liked his better, John's Guns owner liked his better.

[trilogymac]

looks much better. I've shot a number of different loads in my stainless gun done by John. Best load so far consistently shoots 1.5" or less with the XTP 300 gr. Funny thing is, it shoots 240 Blazer 44spec. @ 1-3/4 with the POI 1/2" higher. I would compare the sound to that of a nail gun. Only down side so far is that after 3 shots, you need to let it cool as POI starts to SLIGHTLY drift from heat. With that said it is absolutely fine.

I would purchase the John's Guns again.

Hope this helps.

Bill J

[raffica]

trilogymac, ya really need to bed the action/free-float the bbl. you can shoot dozen's of rounds w/out the poi changing. it really works.

[Tyris]

Raffica, how was the accuracy at 100 yards with the SRT?

-T

[MuzzleFlash]

Well, I ordered up a Bushnell 4-12x AO scope, usable as close as 10 yards (so 50 feet at the indoor range is do-able).

Its got a 40mm bell, so I figure with the stock Ruger rings it probably wont clear the suppressor. Does anyone know if I'll need high or extra high replacements?

thanks

-T
With just a phone call I got Ruger to replace the rings that came with the gun with extra high rings. They sent me the rings and I mailed the others back with a copy of the N/C invoice so they'd know what they were for. They did ask for the gun's S/N. I avoided telling them I need to clear the integral suppressor ;)

A 40mm bell will be very close.

[Brian Ski]

Just a phone call I got Ruger to replace the rings that came with the gun with extra high rings. They sent me the rings and I mailed the others back with a copy of the N/C invoice so they'd know what they were for. They did ask for the gun's S/N. I avoided telling them I need to clear the integral suppressor ;)

A 40mm bell will be very close.

Same here... I called and they sent me ones right out... Then I sent the originals back in the envelope they sent... No charge... I got the tallest ones available and with my integrated suppressor and I think I have a 44mm scope.(Got a deal on it.) There was just enough room to slide a playing card under the scope... Had to trim the scope cover to make it fit...

[raffica]

Tyris, I didn't do any accuracy shootin w/the SRT gun. I did a fair amount of experimenting w/load for the John's Guns 77/44. there are as many choices for accurate load as there are choices for 22lr. I dont think either mfg's product is inherently significantly more accurate. I liked the smaller dia tube of John's 77/44. didn't make it as much to carry around. either weapon will drift POI if not bedded properly. hope that helps

[Tyris]

OK, my gun is at the dealer, I got to shoot it a few times. It's spooky quiet -- sounds like a pellet gun, not a 44 spl/mag. Great fit and finish, excellent attention to detail by SRT.

Ruger Parts & Service will swap my rings for extra-high, very nice of them!

Its unfortunate that these have been discontinued, the 77/44 makes a great suppressor host gun.

-T

[Brian Ski]

Sure love the recoil on them... Almost nothing... Nice gun!!!!

[Tyris]

I've had a fun time mounting my scope on it so far. It mounts with about 1 or 2mm of clearance, until you try to turn the adjustable objective knob -- then the protrusions on the knob bump the suppressor tube. Luckily PCArms, my dealer of choice was kind enough to let me use his belt sander, and the edges are now flush and smooth. Some flat black spray paint, and it looks factory new :D

I've been trying to find a commercial .44Mag load that is subsonic, Georgia Arms sells one but I had better than half of the rounds go trans-sonic on me. The subsonic ones were really quiet, but their loading was not consistant, or was hotter than their labeled 1000 ft/sec.

Can you guys tell me what your favorite 44 mag hand-loads are for 240gr and 270gr?

I'd like to see if Alabama Ammo can crank some out for me.

thanks
-T

[Brian Ski]

Can you guys tell me what your favorite 44 mag hand-loads are for 240gr and 270gr?

I have been happy with using 7.7 grains of Unique behind a 240 grain bullet... Has a little bit of wallop but still stays subsonic for me.

[Tyris]

Thanks for the recipe :D

-T

[MuzzleFlash]

Here's one from John's Guns:

http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/index.cgi?db=nfafirearms&website=&language=&session_key=&search_and_display_db_button=on&results_format=long&db_id=8309&query=retrieval

[MuzzleFlash]

Guys

I'm not kidding, get a suppressed 77/44 before they are all gone. Last I heard, SRT still has a few in stainless.[Edit: Doug is out now :(] Doug hoarded them when Ruger discontinued them in early 2005. Get a cheapie RockChucker or a Lee single stage press and make your own subsonic .44 for about 8c to 15c per round depending on your choice of projos.

The suppressed 77/44 with the match barrel retails at 1/10th of what my MP5-PDW would fetch and I enjoy shooting it just as much! Get the fast twist Douglas match barrel option so you can load 'em up to 300grn. Otherwise you'll top out at about 260 before accuracy goes to hell and you start to risk the baffles.

If you're into subsonic, the only way to get more energy is to add mass. For subsonic only, I can't get excited about the .308 bolt actions. First, you can't get the mass and energy that the .44 delivers. The BC which plays such a critical role at Mach 2+ to reduce drag becomes irrelevant at 1000 fps. In fact, the spitzer/boat tail profiles are all wrong for such slow muzzle velocities. These projos tend to yaw on exit from the muzzle and will often strike baffles. If you look at the EBR .308 ammo that is specially loaded for suppressed subsonic applications, you'll notice that it has a round ogive.

Does anyone know where I can get one of those old fashioned heavy ship's bells for cheap? Ding! Ding! :D

http://www.srtarms.com/bison.jpg

If you don't like Doug's big can, you can go with a similar system from John's guns that's almost as quiet:
http://www.johnsguns.us/images/7744blue-sm.jpg
http://www.johnsguns.us/images/7744sss-sm.jpg

[Tyris]

I've had my SRT for a few months now and I can't say enough good things about it. I was plinking at a shovel from about 70 yards using 240 gr 44 SPL. The sound is amazing, the report is a small pop followed by a high pitch hiss for a split second, then a half second of silence, and a loud CLANG as the shovel gets struck.

Doug made a post on ar15 a while back stating that he had run out of his stash of 77/44, and his website reflects this, but he can still fix up any gun you can find.

I think its really a shame that Ruger has discontinued the 77/44, while it may have been a decent brush gun, it makes a spectacular suppressor host platform. I personally would not go with anyone but SRT or Tom Denall's -- Al Paulson's testing showed these to be much quieter than the John's Guns model.

This gun may well be the catalyst for me to start reloading too. While 44SPL serves me well, Im seriously considering getting a progressive reloader and some dies to setup for 44 Mag and work up a 240gr load to 1000 ft/sec.

-T

[MuzzleFlash]

Tyris

Which barrel did you end up going with?

[Tyris]

Which barrel did you end up going with?

I opted for the Douglas fast twist barrel. I figured I did not want to regret anything down the road.

What is the heaviest projectile you can safely use without risking a baffle strike? Can you safely load up a 300 gr projectile to 1000 ft/sec?

Also on the other end of the spectrum whats the heaviest supersonic factory load you can shoot?

BTW, there is another gun on the horizon that I think fills a similar niche, only using 45ACP instead of 44Mag:
http://www.specialinterestarms.com/MVC-119E.JPG
They're from Special Interest Arms. Similar size projectiles but much cheaper bullets. I'd like to see some accuracy reports on these.

-T

[MuzzleFlash]

I've shot 300 gr Nosler and even the dogshit Rainier 300 gr. with no problems at all. Naturally, the Nosler is more accurate. IIRC they chrono at about 975 fps. I need to reverify that though so there's another excuse for a range trip. ;)

I just got a couple of boxes of the Hornady 365 gr .44 "rifle" bullets. They're supposed to be very accurate out of that barrel. I'm going to work up a load with Bullseye.