Yeh, prices have seemed to go to the Stratosphere on the 77/22 series models. I'm glad I got one sometime in the mid 90's. Mine is a 22Magnum "all weather" model with laminate factory stock. It now wears a discontinued Simmons 44MAG 3-12x44 scope and shoots much better than what I've heard about these rifles that use the same type slip-in (not screwed in barrel) system that is used on the 10/22's. This system seems to be the big price increases of these models as like 10/22 rifles, one can do quite a bit of changing with barrels into a caliber they like, if they want to go with 17HM2 or bull barrel 22LR if they want.
And like me having a 22 Magnum, can go with another 22 Mag bull barrel or 17HMR. I do have both, a 22Mag stainless bull barrel and a 17HMR barrel from Green Mountain and a custom Richards "blue Electric" bench stock for this model. What made it a very simple swap for me, was by having the wood laminate stock over the plastic boat paddel one, was with a wood stock, the rifle came with a factory trigger guard that I didn't need to purchase extra.
I've since changed the rifle back to stock configuration over time when I saw how prices have gone beyond what I'd pay for one now. Only thing I didn't change was the aftermarket Timney 1.5 trigger I installed when I did the custom swaps years ago. It's too sweet to remove it back to stock.
