Ruger 77/22 conversion

[gotcha]

Tried posting this in Rim-fire section and it wouldn't "take". .............. A few years back a member that I've since lost track of claimed he was converting Ruger 77/22's to 17HMR by modifying the receiver to accept the 17 HMR magazines. Has anyone had this mod. done? Who performed the work? Thanks in advance, Gotcha

 

[matthias]

i dont know if it was the receiver that needs to be modified or if the floor plate needs to be changed out. the 22 magnum magazines seem to work pretty well i would guess they are the same as the 17hmr mags.

what is your goal with the project rifle

 

[gotcha]

i dont know if it was the receiver that needs to be modified or if the floor plate needs to be changed out. the 22 magnum magazines seem to work pretty well i would guess they are the same as the 17hmr mags.

what is your goal with the project rifle

Simply to convert my old 77/22 to a flatter shooting squirrel rifle. A re-barrel of course and a 17 HMR/ 22mag magazine......My home is surrounded with White oak trees. Sometime the squirrels are so numerous you'd think you were in a Prairie dog town

 

[gotcha]

Looks like my post in the rim-fire section finally appeared. Please don't let that prevent an answer for a Smith that might do this conversion. Thanks

 

[TheOtherZilla]

My experience with A 77/22 is that you are better off buying a rifle in 17 HMR... That model rifle ahs a lot of issues. I know. I have one..

 

[matthias]

Why not a 17hm2 ? Same mags only a barrel change. Ammo is available just order enough to burn the barrel out.

 

[gotcha]

Why not a 17hm2 ? Same mags only a barrel change. Ammo is available just order enough to burn the barrel out.

I might try the 17 HM2 but prefer to go with 17 HMR if possible. 400 + FPS advantage w/ 17 grainer and much flatter trajectory. Thanks for the reply!

 

[johnfred1965]

I might try the 17 HM2 but prefer to go with 17 HMR if possible. 400 + FPS advantage w/ 17 grainer and much flatter trajectory. Thanks for the reply!

Like Matthias said, the 17M2 is a direct conversion for the 22lr with only a barrel change, same with the 22mag to 17hmr, which is the one I did. Nice little switch barrel, 17 for prairie dogs and 22mag for rabbits and squirrels.

As for flatter trajectory, the 17M2 is plenty flat to the top of an oak tree! all the hmr will give you is more range. It was almost easy to pop PD's at 200 yards with the 17hmr, while the 17M2 and 22mag tend to lose it after 100-125

 

[gotcha]

It was almost easy to pop PD's at 200 yards with the 17hmr, while the 17M2 and 22mag tend to lose it after 100-125

Yep, This is what I've experienced also. I put together a 17HMR using an old T/C Contender action w/ 23" bbl. for my grandson. He could continually hit a golf ball @ 100 and head shoot my squirrels beyond that distance. His only complaint was having to break open the action to load another round. Soooooo Now I'm going to convert the Ruger so he isn't over worked when shooting squirrels, tin cans and such. Gotta be compliant with the child labor laws Thanks for the input johnfred

 

[johnfred1965]

Good luck with the project, I am starting my granddaughter out with a T/C hotshot single shot, but only on paper so far.

 

[Chief 101]

Yep, This is what I've experienced also. I put together a 17HMR using an old T/C Contender action w/ 23" bbl. for my grandson. He could continually hit a golf ball @ 100 and head shoot my squirrels beyond that distance. His only complaint was having to break open the action to load another round. Soooooo Now I'm going to convert the Ruger so he isn't over worked when shooting squirrels, tin cans and such. Gotta be compliant with the child labor laws Thanks for the input johnfred

Stock up on ammo, it could take 3 quick shots to do the same as one shot did before......if you know what I mean...

 

[gotcha]

Good luck with the project, I am starting my granddaughter out with a T/C hotshot single shot, but only on paper so far.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a Hot Shot 'til I "googled it". Looks like a great little starter gun for the little tykes with proper supervision. ........ Ya' just gotta get some swinging metal targets to go with that little rifle

 

[jonbearman]

You would almost be better off leaving your current rifle as is and buy a savage in 17 hmr for about the price of converting if it indeed it can be done. I have the savage and it is a tack driver for around 400.00 for a better model.

 

[gotcha]

You would almost be better off leaving your current rifle as is and buy a savage in 17 hmr for about the price of converting if it indeed it can be done. I have the savage and it is a tack driver for around 400.00 for a better model.

Duly noted Jon And yes, yours is a very tempting idea. ........... In the end, I'm a tinkerer and enjoy little projects like the 77/22 to 77/17 conversion. Like the T/C I mentioned above I'll have, actually Grandson will have, a truly unique little rifle w/ custom bbl. he can pass on someday. ............... That means a lot to me Regarding the floor plate conversion I'll do a little checking around for feasibility before I jump in head first. A few critical measurements of a 77/17 should confirm feasability. Always nice to hear from you Jon !!