I have been reading the reviews for the Ruger 77-44 and the question of 200 yd shots....I hunt in Indiana on my property and have taken whitetail from a field edge tree stand @ 165, 145, 120 and 100 yds with a Savage 20 guage that I sighted in @ 200 Yds it is cheaper than the Ruger and they all ran less than 20 yds the 220f bolt action with a 3-9 Leupold $250 cheaper ....I'm not sure why you would want the Ruger although tje Ruger is a pound and a half lighter and 4 inches shorter...from a tree stand doesn't matter spot and stalk may make a difference