Ruger 96/44 Levergun

[Lanark_Sixgunner]

I am looking for some feedback on the Ruger 96/44. I have heard mixed things on this gun, some seem to think it cheaply made and inacurate, others seem to like it alot.

Things on it that look good to me include: light weight, detachable mag, RUGER made, decent woods cal.

Yes, I am getting tired of loading and unloading my Marlin 1894 day after day, and wearing the brass at the same time.

Thanks for the imput!

Lanark Sixgunner

[Rafael]

I will never buy anything Ruger and neither should anyone who cherishes their liberty.
Here's why:

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=1143 (http://LINKADDRESS)

[Lanark_Sixgunner]

Rafael,

I understand where you're coming from, and to confirm your point I will copy a couple of Bill's quotes below:

He (Bill Ruger) was filmed on television news with Tom Brokaw and said:

"No honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun." [Even though nearly all cops carry more than 10 rounds to defend their own lives -- as our hired servants.]

and

"I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 or 30 round mags or my folding stock."

Yes, Ruger did say these things. But, I feel everyone should have the right to their own opinion. Obviously, since Ruger's death early this decade, the company has shifted away from his beliefs e.g. high-cap 9mm's, factory mini 14 20 rd. mags, AR 15 rifles, etc.

If you have not tried out a Ruger you have missed out on a very great treat. And, having obviously not shot one, I am not sure how qualified you are to even answer this post.

Lanark Sixgunner

[MissouriFree]

I will never buy anything Ruger and neither should anyone who cherishes their liberty.
Here's why:

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=1143 (http://LINKADDRESS)

1. Bill Rugeris dead and gone.
2. Ruger is a publically aded company now.
3. Massad had this to say on the subject ( the Ruger letter which he wrote after several people had been killed with Mini 14'):
The founder of the company, the late William B. Ruger, Sr., was a friend of mine. He positioned his namesake company as a leading manufacturer of robust, high quality, high value firearms that were, for the most part, “sporting arms.” Bill garnered the lasting enmity of hard core gun rights activists many years ago when he supported a ten-round magazine capacity cap, long before the Bill Clinton Assault Weapons Ban, which thankfully sunsetted in 2004. I discussed it with him, and disagreed to his face. He told me he did it because he dealt face-to-face with the elected officials on Capitol Hill, and they told him that the anti-gunners were presenting themselves as the voice of reason and compromise, while the pro-gun people were seen in Congress as intractable and not giving an inch

4. Ruger makes a damm fine gun and well worth the value. I have 3 and am about a ardent 2A as anyone here.

But for grins I tred to find someone on any the sites Inormally visit that would boycott ruger fo that reason- not much luck.. You cheat yourself out of a fine weapon if you take Ruger off the list.

[Rafael]

The only ruger I shot was a 9mm pistol that belongs to a friend of mine. Compared to other 9mm pistols I've shot it was average. Not bad, not great.
I agree that he had a right to his opinion and his opinion is what keeps me from buying anything ruger.

[Mr.B]

I have no experience with the Ruger 96/44 Levergun.

I own a Ruger 10/22, cant complain.

Ill utilize anything, no matter who makes it, or what they voted for…….that’s me.

As long as it helps me out. Kind of selfish but, then again life is full of irony.


I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists.

-Mikhail Kalashnikov

-B

[hunter63]

I didn't know they still made them, gonna have to look it up, saw one a lot of years ago, always like them.

I also don't care about comments made years ago, and I really like their products.

I have a couple of the 44 carbines, ( discontinued) looks like the 10/22, but has a tube magazine.

Shoots good for a brush gun, but the action gets sticky at 10 degrees below zero.

P.S I looked it up and, yeah, that's the one I remember, here is a site w/pic's

http://www.chuckhawks.com/lever_action.htm

[kawalekm]

In defense of the Marlin, one thing I could add is it is so easy to drop out the bolt by just removing one single screw on the lever. Once you pull the bolt you can easily clean the gun from the breach, just like a bolt action rifle.

If you really hate the loading gate more than anything else, maybe the puma rifle would be a good alternative. Here's what was said about it at http://www.notpurfect.com/main/puma.html.

"There are two ways, in which the big Puma may be loaded. There is the traditional way, through a loading gate on the right side of the receiver. The standard 45 Long Colt, loads through the gate with no problem, but the longer, 454 rounds are a bit hard to get up into the magazine tube. The solution to this, is to have the magazine open at the front, in the manner of countless 22 rifles, so that the rounds may be loaded down the front of the tube, and have the follower pushed in after them. It is nice to still have the traditional loading gate, but also quite helpful to have the more practical tube loading option, and a bit easier on the fingers as well."

Good luck to you,
Michael

[buster]

Hunter63, I think they are still made, Ruger catalog, 2008 shows them listing at $599.00

[hunter63]

Cool, as I was kinda lusting after the Henry "Big Boy" in .44 mag, maybe I'll look in to the Ruger.
Got a couple of .44 carbines, looking alot like a couple of 10/22, that I also have.
Thanks, I just haven't seen them for a long time.

[Tuckahoe]

I had a Ruger 44 many years ago. As I remember it only held five rounds. If the new ones don't hold any more than that I would rather have 11 rounds in a Marlin