Smith & Wesson Model-77A

                                                                Smith & Wesson M77A

                                            (Excerpt from my CD of Airguns and memories 57 Articles)

Smith & Wesson introduced their S&W Model 77A .22 cal. Multi Pump Air Rifle in 1971 when they entered the Air gun market.  The rifle was a very well made, robust Air Rifle weighing 6 3/4 lbs, OAL 40 inches, lever operated, with automatic safety, adjustable rear sight (elevation only), walnut stock and forearm with finger grooves, blued barrel, painted receiver and plastic spacer between barrel and pump tube.  Production ceased in 1978 from what I have read.  There were several business transactions, change of Company ownership etc; at the time that had an impact on the demise of the M-77A, I shall let others explore that!

I picked mine up at a local gun show in 1983 it was in excellent condition hardly a mark on it, in perfect working condition!  I had read some about it, the most significant, being the ability to utilize 20 pumps!!  This was basically twice the number of pumps associated with the Benjamin’s and Sheridan’s of those time frames!! I was a bit skeptical about this, but I later got a copy of the Owner’s Manual and indeed it stated a “maximum of 20 pumps”, could be utilized! (Note a copy of the OM is available for down load on; “GranttheKiwisairgunforum” in the technical section) For those who might be interested. (Note this rifle must be cocked before pumping)

I shot the M-77 A many times during the intervening years mostly using 12 pumps occasionally using the max of 20 and there was certainly an increase in velocity in doing so, I found the rifle to be accurate and very easy to pump up, significantly easier than a Benjamin on 10 pumps, even going to the 20 pump max was not bad!  As an example, the lever arm length from rear of pump arm to front pivot pin on a Benjamin model 317 is 13 inches, on the SW -77A it measured 18 INCHES significantly more leverage available!!

In 2012 the M-77A valve system was rebuilt and an actual field range test on accuracy and velocity was conducted.  One of the things exuding the engineering that went into this unit worth mentioning, is the M77A utilized a very robust pump arm lever lock system, on the Benjamin’s a simple curved solid spring located in the pump lever is used to keep the pump arm tensioned and locked in the up position after pumping.  The SW-77A uses a coil spring powered chisel wedge type latch system located in the receiver portion, there is a corresponding steel latch arm plate pinned in the forearm that pushes back and rides over the chisel latch for a very firm lock up.  I will include a photo for further clarification.  The rifle also uses something similar to the old falling block action rifles, in that the trigger guard is used to cock the action, interesting!!!  Cocking the action also automatically engages the safety.

I have seen very little written info on the S&W 77, I do remember a few blurbs here and there, of course this was a time frame in early 70s, and where air guns received little coverage as it was thought to be mostly kid stuff.  There were a few specialty periodicals Air Rifle Headquarters had their “Air Rifle Monthly” Publication and there were a few others that I can’t recall now, but for the most part there was very little, one would occasionally see something in one of the Firearm Publications regarding an Air Rifle but that was about all.  It wasn’t until the 80s and 90s when Beeman, Airgun News and Report, American Airgunner Magazine, Airgun Digest and others hit the market, that we started getting routine Air Gun coverage available on a larger scale.  I have over 50 of these old publications, nary a one has anything on the S&W M77A.  Not saying something doesn’t exist, I just have not seen it or missed it!!  Of course the advent of the net has made life much easier on us Air Gun aficionados regarding info, just a fingertip away now!!!

After the rebuild it was time for field range testing, shot from bench, target set at 25 yd.  Velocity/ Accuracy tested simultaneously.  I used Crosman 14.3 gr. and JSB 15.9 gr. pellets. S&W had their own labelled pellets but I do not have any of those.

Crosman:3-pumps = 360 fps
6-pumps = 500 fps
12- pumps = 620 fps = 12.2 ft. lbs
20-pumps = 730 fps = 16.9 ft. lbs

JSB Pellets:
3-pumps = 350 fps
6- pumps = 483 fps
12- pumps = 589 fps 12.2 ft.lbs.
20- pumps = 660 fps = 15.4 ft. lbs

The test revealed that for accuracy the JSB pellets were the ticket, the Crosman pellets generated higher velocities at 14.3 grs. But just had too many fliers!!

The JSB delivered 5 shot groups of .820” c-c using 12 pumps and 1.20” using 20 pumps, this is as good as possible for me with open sights, and one inch groups @ 25 yd. are just fine with me.  Nope not gonna scope this rifle it will stay as is!  One thing that was a little odd was that the 20 pump shots were a little higher on the target, would have thought they would be a little lower at the higher velocity.

Garey

Click on picture to enlarge.