Ruger makes AFFORDABLE pistols, rifles, and revolvers. Why don't they make affordable shotguns?
gramps
gramps
Shotguns
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GunnyGene
Hawkeye
gramps said:
Too many other well established shotgun makers. It's a very competitive market, so likely not enough profit in it for them.
See this: https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/11/3/a-look-back-at-the-ruger-red-label-shotgun/
First, you need to accurately define "affordable"..... in some cases, anything more than a $150 single shot is not considered "affordable. For most bird hunters, something around $300 - $400 is "affordable", whereas serious target shooters would start somewhere around $2,000. In any case, breaking into one of these markets is a tall order, as there are already a couple well-established products in each category. In order to make a go of it, you would need to offer an improvement over the existing product and meet or beat their price.... an uphill battle when their manufacturing is established, and you're starting from scratch.
The Red Label probably failed because it never took off with the trap, skeet, and sporting clays crowd. Some loved it, but most hated it. Priced as it was, it never had a chance when competing for the bottom of the market with the Turkish and Russian guns of the time, even though it was a better gun. A little more refinement toward making it a target gun, even at a little higher price, and it may have survived. I dunno.
The Red Label probably failed because it never took off with the trap, skeet, and sporting clays crowd. Some loved it, but most hated it. Priced as it was, it never had a chance when competing for the bottom of the market with the Turkish and Russian guns of the time, even though it was a better gun. A little more refinement toward making it a target gun, even at a little higher price, and it may have survived. I dunno.
I am seeing more and more Red Label shotguns appearing on the used market.
I would like to see a pump action field gun with a unique design come from Ruger.
I do hear what is being said. Lots of quality products in the market today.
Bill
I would like to see a pump action field gun with a unique design come from Ruger.
I do hear what is being said. Lots of quality products in the market today.
Bill
Remington and Mossberg have taken the pump shotgun about as far as one can go, scores of models and this year detachable magazines. Remington, Winchester/Browning, and the imports pretty well have the auto loader market sewed up for sporting guns. There is just not a lot of territory for Ruger to cover. Of course, they entered the revolver, auto pistol, and rifle market and kicked butt. They need to concentrate on making my 41 Magnum GP-100, it's only 1/100 inch bigger than the 10mm. Bob!!! :mrgreen:
Buckeye Bill said:
Remington offers the 870 Wingmaster in right and left hand models, the express in 3" and 3-1/2" and dozens of variations of lipstick on a pig, Mossberg offers about a bazillion variations on their basic pump, the BPS is bottom eject (right hand/left hand friendly). The old Ithaca 37 also was bottom eject, not sure if they're still available new. Pricey, but the all-time great, the Winchester Model 12 can be had on the used market..... what's left in terms of "unique"?
GunnyGene
Hawkeye
wwb said:
The AA-12. :mrgreen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOoUVeyaY_8
It would be tough for Ruger to effectively compete against the 870, the simplest and best shotgun ever made. The 870 is made in Trap Grade and Field Grade Wingmaster models all the way down to the department store-priced Express. I don't know how Ruger could better the best, either in performance or price.
Sure, how about one in the $300-400 dollar range. They brought out an AR design with all the competition. Keltec brought out the KSG, but slapped a high price on it, and it is a pump instead of a semi auto.jjas said:
gramps
GunnyGene
Hawkeye
gramps said:
Companies don't usually do well if they get away from their core competency. Not just in the technology, marketing, etc., but also because it dilutes their reputation that they've spent a great deal of time developing and securing. A company's reputation is their most valuable asset. Rugers is revolvers in particular and handguns generally.
I've seen it happen. As an example, that I'm intimately familiar with, most people think of Boeing as an airplane company because that is what they sell. Boeing is in reality an Engineering company, and one of (if not the) worlds best, and that is their core competency. What they sell (be it commercial jets, boats, defense items, or potatos) exists only to maintain that core competency. And yes, Boeing has sold potatoes and boats during their history.
First off the table is full. There is no category of shotgun that is not pretty well saturated. There is even a 7 shot lever action out there. Building a reasonably omnivorous shotgun isn't that easy or cheap. Yes there is the Black Eagle but that's a $2k gun. The only shotgun that will feed all ammunition is a single or double break gun and those go from $150 to $9,000. The KSG has come down in price and is pretty good for some special situations. Mossberg and Winchester both have magazine fed pumps and IMI has a bullpup semi auto based on the TAVOR. I don't see a niche in the shotgun world that needs filling.
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