With Ruger seeming to run all the No. 1s through Lipsey's as limited-run models, what would it take to get them to do the following?
A left hand American Rifle Compact, or better yet, Ranch Rifle, in a nice short range deer caliber, like .35 Rem, .44 Mag, .450 Bushmaster, or a light mid-range caliber like .243 Win., 6.5 Grendell, .260 Rem., 6.5 Creedmore, or even 7mm-08? Or the thumper .358 Win.? OK, I don't think I'd really want to spend alot of time at the range with a 16" 5.5 pound .358. But the .35 or .260 Rem. would be sweet.
There are precious few left hand carbines out there, and while I'm sure Ruger wouldn't sell a boatload of them, I'd think, given that lefties are starved for both rifle and caliber options, the affordable American Rifle in such configuration would sell well, at least for a limited run model. They do have a left-hand American action, so it would seem to me all they'd need to do would be to stick the short barrel on it, at least for the Compact model.
Much as I'd like another #1 in .44 Mag. or .275 Rigby (that's just cool) to go with my 6.5 Swede, I'm not likely to buy another $1,000 deer rifle with nice wood in the next couple years. Give me a left-handed carbine .35 or .260 Rem. @ about $350-$400 that I don't mind taking out in the rain for 2 or 3 days, well, that's another story entirely.
I'd have snapped up one of those sweet little CZ 7.62 x 39mm carbines years ago, despite my luke-warm opinion of the caliber, if they'd made it on a left-hand action, but CZ never seemed inclined to do so. I've also pondered the Savage offerings, and while I understand they are perfectly decent rifles, I just haven't warmed up to them. I think Ruger could bring out the Left Hand American Ranch Rifle at a substantially lower ticket price than the Czech gun and even less than the Savage 11 / 111 and grab an admitted small market that has been, in my opinion at least, almost completely overlooked. Yes, the Axis is available on a left hand action, but not in anything less than a 22" barrel, and not in 6.5 Grendell, .35 Rem., 44 Mag. or .450.
I'm sure I'm not the only thinking the same thing.
A left hand American Rifle Compact, or better yet, Ranch Rifle, in a nice short range deer caliber, like .35 Rem, .44 Mag, .450 Bushmaster, or a light mid-range caliber like .243 Win., 6.5 Grendell, .260 Rem., 6.5 Creedmore, or even 7mm-08? Or the thumper .358 Win.? OK, I don't think I'd really want to spend alot of time at the range with a 16" 5.5 pound .358. But the .35 or .260 Rem. would be sweet.
There are precious few left hand carbines out there, and while I'm sure Ruger wouldn't sell a boatload of them, I'd think, given that lefties are starved for both rifle and caliber options, the affordable American Rifle in such configuration would sell well, at least for a limited run model. They do have a left-hand American action, so it would seem to me all they'd need to do would be to stick the short barrel on it, at least for the Compact model.
Much as I'd like another #1 in .44 Mag. or .275 Rigby (that's just cool) to go with my 6.5 Swede, I'm not likely to buy another $1,000 deer rifle with nice wood in the next couple years. Give me a left-handed carbine .35 or .260 Rem. @ about $350-$400 that I don't mind taking out in the rain for 2 or 3 days, well, that's another story entirely.
I'd have snapped up one of those sweet little CZ 7.62 x 39mm carbines years ago, despite my luke-warm opinion of the caliber, if they'd made it on a left-hand action, but CZ never seemed inclined to do so. I've also pondered the Savage offerings, and while I understand they are perfectly decent rifles, I just haven't warmed up to them. I think Ruger could bring out the Left Hand American Ranch Rifle at a substantially lower ticket price than the Czech gun and even less than the Savage 11 / 111 and grab an admitted small market that has been, in my opinion at least, almost completely overlooked. Yes, the Axis is available on a left hand action, but not in anything less than a 22" barrel, and not in 6.5 Grendell, .35 Rem., 44 Mag. or .450.
I'm sure I'm not the only thinking the same thing.