I finally got to a public range this AM to shoot the Ruger 77 17 HH for the first time. My rifle is the same 18" barrel model of Ruger 77 rifle that parson bought. New rules at the range involving social distancing seemed different as there was a shooter at only every third table from the next guy. Shooter.....two empty spaces........another shooter......... I guess that arrangement lets the range owner and his insurance company feel comfortable in this new normal.
Now...... How to break the news?
I took a 50 round box of factory Hornady ammunition with me and after getting the rifle roughly zeroed to my satisfaction, I did some playing with scope tracking and some "serious" shooting for group sizes since that seems to be what this thread and the dastardly Ruger 77 rifles is all about.
This first photo is of a pretty typical group fired at 100 yards. Its actually five consecutive shots that I took while getting the scope zeroed. If you notice the hole to the right is slightly larger and elongated just a bit compared to the others. I'm guessing that two bullets went through that hole and created its slightly different appearance. Either that or the accuracy of the rifle - or lack thereof - threw one shot completely off the paper and into the next county.
Actually, I was unable to see where shot #4 hit the target from the shooting bench using my spotting scope, so the slightly elongated hole did not surprise me when I saw it up close.
The next picture is actually two different 5-shot groups involving a bit of scope adjustment. What looks like a six shot group on the bottom....with the three strung in a vertical row near the dime...the top hole there was the first shot after I dialed one click of windage right and two clicks of elevation up after firing the first five rounds.
After seeing where the first shot of the second group landed, I added two more clicks of elevation and the 4 shot group up above resulted. That is where I left the scope dialed in at after using the circle as the aim point. The circle and squares are 1 inch in size and the proverbial Roosevelt dime adds additional perspective. I have no idea why the first group is strung slightly from right to left and the next group isn't as well defined in that manner as they were fired consecutively. Maybe there was one of psycho's 17 caliber accuracy-killing hurricane wind storms that blew ashore and it affected the first group more so than the second? Still each does show a bit of horizontal stringing likely due to unknown down range wind conditions.
A fairly steady wind of 8-9 mph was consistent from my right to my left at roughly 30 degrees at the bench during the range session, and even though its effect is possibly shown in these and other groups, it really wasn't an accuracy killer for the rifle. The shots fired and shown here in this picture are 41-45 and 46-50 of the 50 round box.
Anyway, after many covid supported nightmares keeping me from shooting it earlier to check its accuracy, I'm happy with the results. The rifle should be very serviceable for raccoons and any other assorted small vermin that it might attract. Maybe even accurate enough to hit a coyote now and then.
Hand loading might add to its ability...?
btw - the scope used is an Athlon 4-16x40 side focus scope with small mildots. It looks good on the rifle and it will stay there. Very clear and bright at all powers.
Mission accomplished.