IA_farmboy
Member
Looking to buy my first firearm and I've convinced myself I want a Ruger 77/22. I'm debating whether I should buy the "all weather" version with the synthetic stock and 20" barrel or the "target" version with the 24" barrel.
I guess the first question would be how does the barrel length affect the range and accuracy? I plan on using this rifle for putting well placed holes in paper targets, and shooting varmints. I don't mean competition shooting of targets but just some good ol' fun at the range.
What I mean by varmint shooting is getting prairie dogs, raccoons, and other pests. A friend of mine recently went on a prairie dog hunting trip with his dad and uncle. He brought back some photos and video and I thought that looked like a whole load of fun.
One reason I'm thinking of a bolt action is because I here one can fire rounds other than a long rifle from them by hand feeding them, something difficult or impossible with a semi-auto or lever. I've had trouble with raccoons on my property and I'd like to deal with them... discretely. I've read somewhere that a .22 BB will make no more noise than a pellet gun and are just about as deadly. I've tried a live trap but sometimes there is more than one, sometimes they get out (tricky little *******), and sometimes they just won't take the bait. Many times I can see there glowing eyes in my back yard through the kitchen window, or up in the crawl space as I investigate the scratching I hear through the ceiling. Is what I've read true that a .22 BB will kill a raccoon at 10 yards and do so with no more noise than an air gun?
I realize that discharging a firearm in city limits is illegal but what they don't know won't hurt me. I hear the neighbor kids shoot air rifles and toss firecrackers quite often. I figure a .22 BB won't raise any suspicions.
I've seen other rounds in a .22 rimfire such as a short and a birdshot. Will these (and the .22 BB) fire nicely from a Ruger 77/22?
Ruger describes the stock on a "target" version of the 77/22 as "brown laminate", what is that exactly? I'm not looking for a pretty rifle but an accurate and durable one. If the laminate stock can take all the abuse as the synthetic then I'll go with the "target" version.
I guess the first question would be how does the barrel length affect the range and accuracy? I plan on using this rifle for putting well placed holes in paper targets, and shooting varmints. I don't mean competition shooting of targets but just some good ol' fun at the range.
What I mean by varmint shooting is getting prairie dogs, raccoons, and other pests. A friend of mine recently went on a prairie dog hunting trip with his dad and uncle. He brought back some photos and video and I thought that looked like a whole load of fun.
One reason I'm thinking of a bolt action is because I here one can fire rounds other than a long rifle from them by hand feeding them, something difficult or impossible with a semi-auto or lever. I've had trouble with raccoons on my property and I'd like to deal with them... discretely. I've read somewhere that a .22 BB will make no more noise than a pellet gun and are just about as deadly. I've tried a live trap but sometimes there is more than one, sometimes they get out (tricky little *******), and sometimes they just won't take the bait. Many times I can see there glowing eyes in my back yard through the kitchen window, or up in the crawl space as I investigate the scratching I hear through the ceiling. Is what I've read true that a .22 BB will kill a raccoon at 10 yards and do so with no more noise than an air gun?
I realize that discharging a firearm in city limits is illegal but what they don't know won't hurt me. I hear the neighbor kids shoot air rifles and toss firecrackers quite often. I figure a .22 BB won't raise any suspicions.
I've seen other rounds in a .22 rimfire such as a short and a birdshot. Will these (and the .22 BB) fire nicely from a Ruger 77/22?
Ruger describes the stock on a "target" version of the 77/22 as "brown laminate", what is that exactly? I'm not looking for a pretty rifle but an accurate and durable one. If the laminate stock can take all the abuse as the synthetic then I'll go with the "target" version.