factory peep sight on 44 Carbine?

sunday bill · Sep 24, 2012

The serial number on the left side of its receiver says my new-to-me Ruger 44 Magnum carbine had a d.o.b. of 1975. Its rear sight is a peep that looks to me to have been factory-installed. In looking around this forum and other internet sites, most of these Rugers appear to have come from the factory wearing a barrel sight. Among those Carbines that sport a peep, I haven't seen a pic of one that looks exactly like this one......Did the Ruger factory install peeps on these handy little guns and if so, was there a variety of peeps offered? (Please pardon my lack of camera skills.)

sigp220.45 · Sep 24, 2012

There was a model called the RS, for receiver sight. I'm sure someone more in the know will chime in if yours is one of those.

SteelShooter · Sep 27, 2012

44RS was the catalog number for this and the Wiliams peep sight is inletted into a dovetail in the receiver. Have one and really like that rear sight configuration, mine has 102-XXXXX serial number and was made in 1976.

Enjoy yours!

sunday bill · Sep 27, 2012

Thanks sigp220.45 and SteelShooter. I've only had the chance to shoot mine with some 2400/240 gr. XTP loads. Had a shaky rest and had to hurry but its accuracy is certainly minute-of-poker card at 35 yards and its function seems flawless.......Plan to try 4227 and H 110 loads with the same bullet soon......Seemed quicker to shoulder and shoot than my favorite tang-peeped Marlin pistol-caliber lever-guns but not quite as steady, off-hand at longer yardages.

Edit to add: Just couldn't pass this baby at $300, o.t.d.

sunday bill · Sep 30, 2012

Manual max charge of IMR 4227/240 grain XTP HP books along at an average of 1670 fps out of my carbine with an extreme spread of 27 fps. For comparison, out of my 2.5" S&W 629 the avg. velocity was 1167 with an extreme spread of 29 fps with the same load......50 yard grouping from the carbine seems good but a taller front sight is needed as the peep is bottomed out and this load still impacts about 5"-6" high at 50 yds.....I'm startin to understand why some of yall like these little guns.

44rugerr · Oct 3, 2012

There was also a model R/RS a receiver sight with a sight blank fitted on the barrel slot. A very rare model, only two known. I have one.

sunday bill · Oct 5, 2012

Mine has no slot on the barrel for a rear sight. As to model, on the left of the receiver it simply says "RUGER CARBINE". Below that are the words "44 MAGNUM CAL." Just forward of that is the serial number (102-120XX). The receiver sight is fitted into a vertical slot on the side of the upper left rear of the receiver and held vertically in place by what I've heard referred to as a flush-mounted "bug" screw.......The rear sight was bottomed out when I bought the gun and p.o.i., as I mentioned earlier, was 6" or so high at 50 yards. I dug out an old 1894 Marlin gold-beaded front sight from the parts box and have seemingly cured my elevation problem...... 3" 3 shot groups landed very near p.o.a. and seemed easy from a rest on a rainy day at about 70 yards with the 2400/240 gr. XTP load. The 4227 load wasn't too shabby.....Eager to try H110 loads and fine-tune my sights with the 2400 load at 100 yards on a pleasant fall day.....I'm now a full-fledged fan of the Ruger Carbines.