Buy it while you can still use it.

(Do you know what are more prevalent on this forum than Ruger fans? Enablers. It's fun to spend other people's money.)

 

Welcome from North Central Al

 

Welcome to RFC!

Yes an we have plenty of Ruger fans on these boards, as well as plenty fans of other brands and types.
One thing to know about this particular forum: it's HUGE!
This is the place to come to with any kind of firearm question, especially rimfires.

I dunno how many thousands of members come here, but it's a lot.
I myself happen to own a small but useful and VERY carefully selected collection
of Ruger firearms.

Top to Bottom:

•1975 180 series Ruger Mini-14 .223 ...pretty much as issued. I gave her a steel buttplate and
a trigger job. Ten round mag in place.
•2021 RAR 7x51mm in a Boyd's Stock with an M-carbo trigger spring, Vortex 3x9 scope
the stock is modded to accept AI magazines. Three round mag in place.
•2020 Ruger American Ranch Rifle 5.56mm in Boyd's stock... she sports a Ruger "flash hider"
and an M-Carbo trigger spring, a Vortex 2x7 scope and accepts AR magazines. None inserted.
•2020 Ruger 1022 with 3x9 Weaver .22 scope, stock from Stocky's, BX trigger, JWH bolt
aluminum tape bedding and bicycle tube barrel pad.

For handguns I own a 1978 NM Blackhawk convertible .357/9mm AND
a 2023 Ruger Wrangler .22LR. I like my weapons made in USA.

So I guess I'm a Ruger fan, clear enough. I also own a Henry .357 Big Boy Lever gun
and a Remington Mohawk 600 in .308 that's out for sale. You can see I'm not into
AR-15s or Smiths & Glocks etc... I'm not into hanging accessories on my rifles, so
no flashlights to draw fire, no silencers to draw paperwork, no dangling bipods, no huge
and cumbersome magazines (I own a couple of tens for each of my bolt guns, and a
few twenties for the Mini-14).

Plenty of "black" weapon fanciers on these boards, so if you need enabling with those
you'll have kindred spirits here.

But we have rimfire shooters from many nations as well as USA.

 

I have very nice Marlin Model 39AS lever action that is chambered in .22 S, L and LR with a 4X Leupold Vari X II scope, that I bought new circa 1990. Ruger now owns Marlin and has brought back the models 336 and 1994 so I guess that I now own a Ruger Model 39 AS.

 

I own 2 10/22s and an LCP. One 10/22 is stainless with laminate stock, volquartsen hammer and sear kit, decent shooter. Both 10/22s sat unfired in my safe for 7 or 8 years, just not my thing. I shoot my Speedmaster and Henry all the time. The LCP gets carried almost daily though.

I never got into the M77s due to my perception that they are less consistently accurate than other guns in their price range. I'd take one of their centerfire revolvers though for sure.

 

The Mini’s somewhat like the 10/22 there is alot for them. They are tuff to find used in my parts. Could be wrong but I don’t think they are too popular here. I really don’t run across anyone with one.
I’d like to have a shorter barreled tactical with the folding stock, black finish with black gray laminated stock. All of which is possible if you want to lay out the cash. The folding stock on the wood with the stainless doesn’t do it for me. But I really don’t need another.

 

I have no brand loyalty per se. Rifle, shotgun, & pistol I have many makers in the safe. I do have a half dozen Ruger Mk pistols but I also have S&W & Colts too as well as Llama, Taurus, even a Savage 1907. Appreciate em all.

 

My Dad's sole handgun when I was young was a Ruger 5 1/2" Single-Six, the first firearm I ever shot. So when it was my turn to pick a sidearm, what else would it be but a Ruger SS as well. A blued Ruger 6 1/2' Super Single-Six. A few years later, my first centerfire handgun - Ruger 6 1/2" .41 Magnum Blackhawk. My first shotgun was a Savage .410 single shot, my first deer rifle a Remington 600 Mohawk in .308 Winchester. All of these were purchased by my Dad, because I was not yet old enough to purchase on my own. After I became an adult, there were more Rugers added.

I am a Ruger fan too.

 

I'm a Ruger fan.
Currently
2 10/22
Rpr 22lr
SBH 44mag
Gp100 357
Lcp2 22lr.
Owned probably 20 others over the years
Next 22 rifle might be a cz for me
Now that Ruger owns marlin, my next center-fire could be a 357 lever. But might go Henry on that.
I like Henry alot to
Next handgun will be a gp100 with a 6" barrel
I think anymore Ruger revolvers are the best guns they make.
And the best revolvers on the market in the factory offerings

 

Let's see. 3- 10/22 carbines, 2- 10/22 Canadian Centennials, a Mk 1 Target, a Single Six Convertible, 3- #3 customs, a #1 custom and a Red Label. Ruger fan?

 

My favorite handgun is my blackhawk in 45LC. That thing is a tack driver and the stout frame allows full use of the generous colt case. A 300gr hornady xtp at 1300fps, whats not to love...

 

Father in-law had one, like you said tack driver.

 

I may be an outlier but I don’t have any ruger rimfires, I have a few vaqueros and Redhawks, but I really like the old M77 tang safety rifles. I have half a dozen or so and all of them shoot very good. Triggers are good on all the ones I have and I just have zero complaints. I’m a bit of a bolt action centerfire hoarder; 70+ 700 Remingtons yet I alternate between a 77 6mm and a weatherby for deer season. My 77 varmint in .22-250 may be the most accurate centerfire I own. I call it the confidence booster because I don’t know that I’ve ever missed a coyote with it, and I’ve shot at some that I probably shouldn’t have with it.

 

Good, you've completed step 1, identifying the hole in your collection. Time for step 2, fill the hole.

 

I have five 10/22s or clones, seven Bisley model Blackhawks and one Vaquero in 44-40. I've had a couple of Redhawks but none currently. Did I mention I like Bisleys?

 

Just remembered I have a Mark II also.

 

I was also a fan of tang safeties. Had a pair of M77 safety tanged, one I sold to my brother to keep it in family. A 6mm Remington chambered. It was the only 6mm bore I owned and a Savage 99 chambered in .250 Savage already claimed my heart.

The other - a .338 Winchester Magnum. Why the last one - my boyhood dream was to become an Alaskan hunting guide. The .338 at the time was a favored choice, so I bought one. Along with Remington 600 .350 Magnum, another Alaskan hunter recommendation.

I never became that guide but I still own both of those rifles. The ammunition costs for either is 'rather excessive' compared to standard big game rounds. But the dream still remains ...

 

That dream is the most important thing. I know where you are coming from. Keeps life going.

 

I like my Mini-Thirty. I had an AK before, but couldn’t find any way to mount an optic and have an acceptable cheek weld. When the finish (paint) started running off just from cleaning I decided it had to go. The Mini-Thirty is a much better firearm IMO. There is a lot of discussion online about them being over-gassed with folks carrying on about gas port diameters, but IMO it is designed that way just like the AK to ensure positive extraction. I did replace the firing pin to a slightly longer one to ensure ignition with steel-cased ammo.

 

That’s what I need to do also. I’m not having firing issues with the steel I’ve shot yet but dont want to be caught up without a spare pin. I’ve had mine since early 2008. I built up a small care package for my mini 14 years ago. This is something i need to work on.

 

Nice. I like the 'feel' of them. sort of like an M1/M14.

 

My eyes are getting to the point that I am having some difficulty with crosshair reticles. Maybe it is my bifocals. Anyway, I think I am going to change the optic out to an Aimpont 9000L red dot. The Mini-Thirty is not a precision rifle anyway.

 

Hope that works out good for you. I’ve been thinking about pulling the scope on my mini 30 also and just shooting open sights. Would be something different for a while. My eyes are not giving me any real problem yet but i guess I’m a prime candidate (65 & diabetic). Have it in pretty good check. The minute I take the scope off I’ll want it back on.

 

I have a couple Mark II's (6" standard & SS target), a Super Wrangler, a 10-22 standard carbine. My primary deer hunting rifle for more than 30years is a tang safety M77 RLS ultralight carbine in 30-06 w Zeiss 3-9x40. Another tang safety M77 RLS ultralight carbine in .243 w Zeiss 3-9x40. Both of these rifles are, IMO among the most handy rifles for Eastern woodland stalking and tree stand deer hunting.

 

I just had a post on the Super Wranglers. What a great Ruger product they put out with that. Seen it, touched it. Can’t see anyone going wrong buying one. I’ve had my Single Six convertible since 1980 + or - a year or so. 1979 I think. At that time they were not priced that high and there was not all that much similar. I think the Super Wranglers are the best move compared to the Heritage or Wranglers. Adjustable sights are worth it along with the Cylinder.
Not sure how much you’ve shot yours yet but I think the 22 mag shoots slightly better. Might be because of bore size. I squirrel hunt with mine, for the most part with the CCI Mini-Mags. Use the Mini-Mags in my rifle.

 

It's not a rimfire:
Ruger MPR 5.56 with 18 inch barrel.

 

Yeah, had that Alaskan Dream all worked out. A cabin close to a small river, a fishwheel by the dock. And a hired Indian camp cook named Curly.

My cousin from Washington state had much the same aspirations. But one of his boyhood friend DID go to Alaska and made it for one winter. ONE. Came back with 'So glad to get out of there alive - that environment will try and kill you !! So cousin said nope, and me in south Texas - Big Nope.

But it is still nice to think about.

 

Most people in Alaska live in subdivisions in houses that are very similar to what you would find in the rest of the country.

 

I have had a lot over the years but think I only own 3 currently. 2 ruger American ranch predators in 223 and 7.62x 39. I sighted the 7.62x39 in and I have never shot the 223.

I also have a really nice mini 14 that I’ve never shot. I was looking for a walnut stock for a stainless model I had bought and the search brought up this rifle. It’s pretty to look at though!

Chad

 

That IS some pretty furniture iron85.

 

Yes sir. When I saw it I wasn’t going to not get it. Found another one a few weeks later that was just as attractive. I wanted it too but I already have too many to shoot so I passed. The fella also wanted significantly more than I paid for this one.

 

Am down to a couple No 1's and a 3 screw SBH.

Thought maybe a Bearcat w adj sights might be fun for a trapline rig.

Trying to find a donor #3 to rebarrel for a deer rifle (.35 rem).

After I get an StG58 clone.

 

I wonder if the No3 will take a rimless ctg? A classic alternative would be 38-55 or one of the new wonder 35's. I think the 360 has rim.

I just remembered I saw a 375Win in a No3 recently. It looked like it would be a painful gun to shoot. No butt pad, short& light . The 375 was a heavy load. That could be loaded down to 38-55. The 38-55 seems to be making a comeback. I see a fair number of new lever guns on the shelf. And ammo.

 

While in the Navy in the mid-70s I read "The Modern Rifle" by Jim Carmichael and it changed my life. Actually, all he did was compared the Ruger M77s to the crap post-64 Winchesters and the cheap Remingtons they were making then. The Rugers had real walnut stocks, cut checkering, and beautiful bluing.
I bought a couple M77s and still love them.

Today I own four: one M77 Hawkeye FTW Ranch in 260 Rem, one tang-safety M77V in 220 Swift and one M77 MKII V/T in .223. And a M77/22 that was a gift in 1985.
Four 10/22s: one bull-barrel target, one LVT, one stainless international and one carbine.
And a MKIII 22/45 pistol with a red dot.

Hawkeye set up for longer range targets, 260 Rem.

10/22 Bull barrel Target with Jard trigger, Stocky's stock and Sightron 5-20x scope.

 

As a general rule, Ruger firearms pleased my aesthetic sensibilities. That was more likely than not a function of my having an appreciation for the same style as the founder. It always impressed me that he cared for form as well as function. The company’s products that the design dates back to when Bill Ruger was in charge are the only ones I find pleasing. I didn’t like everything he put out, but a lot of it I did. I have a few Ruger 10/22s that I am not that fond of their styling.