A friend has a Ruger Mk77 in .22 Hornet that he's willing to sell relatively cheaply, and I think it might make a nice project gun. The simplest thing I'd do would be to rechamber it into a K-Hornet, but I was wondering what else it could be converted to. Does the Hornet boltface match up other case heads? Can the bolt itself be swapped with another to change calibers? Just interested in ideas, thanks for throwing anything out.

I have rebarreled several of these Rugers to both the 22 K-Hornet and the 17 Ackley Hornet using 1.062" diameter bull barrels and threading both the receiver and barrel for a more precision fit between the two....

A

Thanks for the suggestion. .17 Ackley sounds very fun. 4,000 FPS ripper. Had no idea the Ruger barrel wasn't threaded already. Same V-block as a 10/22?

Why convert it to anything before you explore what you can with it "as is"? I can't know why your friend is selling it cheap.
Perhaps he just did not give it a good chance to shoot?

Cheezywan

Friend is selling it cheap because he's a nice guy. I don't have to do anything to the gun, its just that I would like to, and that's why I'm posting in the Gunsmithing forum.

Friend is selling it cheap because he's a nice guy. I don't have to do anything to the gun, its just that I would like to, and that's why I'm posting in the Gunsmithing forum.

That is good with me. I was just looking to save you some money if I could. Besides, I'm a fan of the Hornet :) .

Cheezywan

Both the 22 K-Hornet and the 17 Ackley Hornet really excell in the Ruger bolt action when mated with one of the larger 1.062" diameter bull barrel ans the two are screwed together instead of using the v-block because it allows for a more perfect alignment and fit between both the action and the barrel. Also, either the 22 K-Hornet or the 17 Ackley Hornet will feed just fine without any problems from the Ruger magazine....

A

I edited this post when I realized my mistake of saying the 77/22 Hornet barrel had a v-block like the 10/22. It does NOT have the v-block and is threaded into the receiver. I was thinking of their .22 magnum...

Try the .14 Walker Hornet. 10 gr bullet at 4200 fps!

Or, go bigger, to the 270 REN - a hornet just necked up to a straight-wall. 90 gr bullet at 1900 fps.

:cool:

I forgot all about the 270 REN and it is an excellent round! I have built a lot of T/C Contender and H&R barrels for this cartridge and have done a couple of the Ruger's in it years ago. The only problem in the Rugers is that you have to seat the bullets a little on the deep side to allow them to fully function in and through the magazine....

A

When did Ruger start using a V-block mounting on the hornet like they use on there 10/22? I have three 22 Hornets made by Ruger. The first was purchased just after introduction in the early 90's when they became available. The second was picked up about six years later. Finally the last was bought less than six months ago. All have threaded barrel/receivers as far as I can tell or there press fit if not. There's nothing remotely resembling the 10/22 v-block system that I can find or see on the hornet rifles.

My Ruger 77/22 in .22 WMR has the V block barrel installation. My 77/22 in .22 Hornet has the threaded barrel installation. Both are from early production runs.

From what I've seen all the early rimfires I've worked on have the V-Block barrels including the magnum rimfires. I've not looked at the center fire 77/22's or 77/44's. You can buy the 77 rimfire replacements from Brownell's and several other places.

From what I've seen all the early rimfires I've worked on have the V-Block barrels including the magnum rimfires. I've not looked at the center fire 77/22's or 77/44's. You can buy the 77 rimfire replacements from Brownell's and several other places.
Howdy...I have a 77' Hornet and the barrells threaded in.....you might try the .19 caliber page which can be found here : http://www.jamescalhoon.com/19caliber.php and this re-do of the Hornet is a humdinger of a varmint cartridge...I would do it if i had the $$$$...

the rifle itself is great, except for the trigger, which SUCKS, but it's fixable....soften the trigger return spring a tad and hone everything nicely...mine's now about 1.75 lbs and crisp as a new $100.00 bill....

my pet load is : Hornaday 35 grn V-Max bullet, 11.7 grs Hogdens H-110 powder, CCI magnum primer, and seated just short of the ogive...this load gives right at 3000 ftscnds on my Chrony Beta, and feeds comfortably thru the rotary mag ..... wonderful out to about 150-175 yds on squirrels and sich :)


The OL' OutLaw....