Ruger Mfg Stats 2004 and 2014

[Coop]

Oooops - the forum word processor did not like my table Sorry - Coop

Hi Folks. I've always been a numbers guy, and, always curious about my favorite firearm manufacturer. Back in 2006 I copied the BATFE FA Mfg report for 2004 and decided to wait ten years and see where we were. The 2014 data was published in February. Very interesting numbers, and Ruger has done an outstanding job in ten years. Its in a table form, so I hope it works to be easily readable.

2004 Firearm Manufactured and Reported to BATFE:

Pistols All Makers .22 Only 211,473 Total 728,511
Ruger .22 Only 45,099 Ruger Total 99,002

Revolvers All Makers .22 Only 88,570 Total 294,099
Ruger .22 Only 33,888 Ruger Total 90,310

Rifles Total All Makers 1,325,138
Total Ruger 248,884

Shotguns Total All Makers 731,769
Total Ruger 7,405


2014 Firearms Manufactured and Reported to BATFE:

Pistols All Makers .22 Only 424,822 All Total 3,633,454
Ruger .22 Only 195,498 Ruger Total 718,713

Revolvers All Makers .22 Only 200,739 All Total 744,047
Ruger .22 Only 50,309 Ruger Total 277,942

Rifles Total All Makers 3,379,549
Total Ruger 703,695

Shotguns All Makers 935,411
Total Ruger 4,446


Note 1 - Total Pistols and Total Revolvers includes .22 Cal.

Note 2 - 2014 includes Ruger NC plant

Note 3 - Does not include Misc. Firearms totals

Note 4 - All data is from BATFE website under statistics

 

[RSIno1]

Almost 1 3/4 million guns. Over 8,500 per work day. What is the secret Ruger found that all the old guard big name gun manufacturers lost?

 

[mohavesam]

1. Move manufacturing to the supply chain and convert the factory to JIT assembly & test. The Dell model.
2. High-Speed Injection PEEK plastic moldings and semi-skilled parts-bin assembly/looser tolerances vs. the old methods of labor-intensive skilled hand-fitting assembly.
3. Machine-blasting & automated spray-on finishes vs. the old methods of metal-polishing and small-batch blueing.

Think "Italian pizzeria vs. Dominos".

 

[contender]

It is true that modern manufacturing methods have greatly increased production & made Ruger the biggest multi-line firearms manufacturer in the country.
It's the same model that Bill Ruger used when he started the company with the Standard Auto. High Standard, & Colt were making & selling semi-auto .22's using the slower, more costly methods of manufacture. Bill came along, figured out that instead of a lot of milling & hand fitting, he could stamp & weld the frames for a .22 cheaper & faster. His methods allowed him to build something & sell it for less than the cost of others to produce a similar product.
The secret is to keep the quality necessary to make sure it sells & people accept the methods. Recent methods,,, such as MIM parts have worried some folks,,, and only time will tell,,, but as long as any company is willing to figure out ways to build a quality product AND save money,,, they will succeed.

 

[pete44ru]

.

2004 / 2014 BATFE Reports:

PISTOLS:
All Makers .22 Only: 2004 = 211,473 / 2014 = 424,822 + 200%
Ruger .22 Only: 2004 = 45,099 / 2014 = 195,498 + 433%
All Makers Total: 2004 = 728,511 / 2014 = 3,633,454 + 498%
Ruger Total: 2004 = 99,002 / 2014 = 718,713 + 725%


REVOLVERS:
All Makers .22 Only: 2004 = 88,570 / 2014 = 200,739 + 226%
Ruger .22 Only: 2004 = 33,888 / 2014 = 50,309 + 149%
All Makers Total: 2004 = 294,099 / 2014l = 744,047 + 253%
Ruger Total: 2004 = 90,310 / 2014 = 277,942 + 308%

RIFLES:
All Makers Total: 2004 = 1,325,138 / 2014 = 3,379,549 + 255%
Ruger Total: 2004 = 248,884 / 2014 = 703,695 + 283%

SHOTGUNS:
All Makers Total 2004 = 731,769 / 2014 = 935,411 + 28%
Ruger Total: 2004 = 7,405 / 2014 = 4,446 - 40%



It looks like the only area where no significant gains in production were made by Ruger was in making shotguns.


.

 

[RSIno1]

Ruger Total:[/b] 2004 = 7,405 / 2014 = 4,446 - 40%
It looks like the only area where no significant gains in production were made by Ruger was in making shotguns.
.

Yeah - this really didn't work out.

Ruger Announces Redesigned Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun
October 24, 2013
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) announces the launch of the newly redesigned Red Label over-and-under shotgun....... The shotgun now features refined inner workings.
"After 32 years of production, we put the Red Label on hiatus in 2011," commented Ruger President and CEO, Mike Fifer. "We knew we could employ newer technology, improve the design and deliver a better performing Red Label. We have done that and restored the Red Label as the best American-made, over-and-under shotgun on the market."