Sounds like you just needed a recrown maybe? Stuff like this is gonna be a common issues as every maker is fighting a race to the bottom with these value brand rifles. Discontinuing the 77/22 and hard to find a new 77 centerfire on a shelf.
I have a 10/22 that I returned to Cabelas as I couldn't get it sighted in with open sights at 25yrds. Looked at 5 more and picked one, it was bit better but not much.
I fired 50rds and haven't touched it since, I'll probably just shim one side of the barrel instead of sending it back. Common problem with some lots of receivers, probably from same line.
__________________
 
|