After a bit of sideways movement doing other things in the business I want to put this prototype back on my list
So Ive tried contacting Ruger to determine manufacturing numbers for the Deerfield and 96/44 lever and Ruger are dis-inclined to give out this information.
Does anyone have any real idea as to how many Ruger Deerfields and 96's there are out there in US? I guess we only have 96's in Australia and if prototyping for production become a bit expensive I'll need to do the 96's in the US and maybe even the Deerfields to get a good return.
I also had a look at some pictures of the Deerfield magazine to see how it was different to the 96 magazine (I cant buy one here without owning the gun and owning a semi is prohibited to most license holders in Australia) and it seems the feed lips are the same so if the contact points are the same and the only difference in the bottom rounded base and the mag well is identical, then the same magazine will fit both. That would be excellent if they did.
In Australia we will be limited to 10 rounds and given we will likely prototype by filling the existing mag exterior with the base and guts removed to fit a pistol mag we arent going to get more than 10 shots anyway.
So does anyone have a finger in the sky idea of numbers?
Anybody know of anybody doing any other aftermarket mag that I needn't bother?
Good hunting Ruger brothers/sisters.