Ten Things I've Learned about Rugers

[Black Fly]

Here are some things I've learned about Rugers, some from shooting and some from here on the forum. I bought my first back in '72 and have owned a bunch and still have quite a few.
I posted this here because it's the most active forum, but applies to the long and short Rugers, big and small bore, bolt, semi, shotgun, pistol, revolver, smokeless and black, stainless, blue and multicolor. all of them.

1. Cleaning rods wear out Rugers faster than shooting them.
2. Rugers shoot better after a thousand rounds.
3. Rugers take a likin' and keep on tikin'.
4. Although I've owned forty some, and all have been accurate, some folks will never own an accurate Ruger.
5. I can't keep a NIB Ruger in that condition. It's easy to put a gun back in a box, but it's harder to unshoot it. :oops:
6. You can dress them up, put in new triggers, new wood and grips, but they're still Rugers.
7. It's nice to own well made, American made firearms made by a company that stands behind it's product.
8. While Bill Ruger worked to elliminate it, I like plum colored bluing.
9. Ruger collectors can find more variations to a factory production gun than I thought could exist
10. Bill Ruger was a hell of a lot smarter than me.

Not on the list, but there are a lot on nice folks here on this forum. :D
Bfly

 

[Salmoneye]

I like the way you think, and I love #4...

8)

 

[roaddog28]

Here are some things I've learned about Rugers, some from shooting and some from here on the forum. I bought my first back in '72 and have owned a bunch and still have quite a few.
I posted this here because it's the most active forum, but applies to the long and short Rugers, big and small bore, bolt, semi, shotgun, pistol, revolver, smokeless and black, stainless, blue and multicolor. all of them.

1. Cleaning rods wear out Rugers faster than shooting them.
2. Rugers shoot better after a thousand rounds.
3. Rugers take a likin' and keep on tikin'.
4. Although I've owned forty some, and all have been accurate, some folks will never own an accurate Ruger.
5. I can't keep a NIB Ruger in that condition. It's easy to put a gun back in a box, but it's harder to unshoot it. :oops:
6. You can dress them up, put in new triggers, new wood and grips, but they're still Rugers.
7. It's nice to own well made, American made firearms made by a company that stands behind it's product.
8. While Bill Ruger worked to elliminate it, I like plum colored bluing.
9. Ruger collectors can find more variations to a factory production gun than I thought could exist
10. Bill Ruger was a hell of a lot smarter than me.

Not on the list, but there are a lot on nice folks here on this forum. :D
Bfly

Very good post. I have owned Rugers since 1972 too. I started with a Mark I. More accurate than me. I owned the Mark for about 12 years. I sold it to a boss I worked for so he could get his kids into shooting. The Mark I I owned was always reliable and never had jamming issues. I fed cheap and expense ammo.
Since the Mark I, I have bought two Blackhawks, one Single Six, one Security Six, one Police Service Six, a GP100 and my latest new Ruger a SP101 22LR. Other than my GP100 I have had very good luck with Rugers. They are reliable well built and for the average man like me a "working man gun". I am well into my sixties now and still enjoy taking my Blackhawks, Single Six and Sixes out to shoot. I actually still miss my old Mark I. I now have other handguns like S&W. But I cut my teeth on Rugers. To me Bill Ruger designed well built reliable guns for people that could not afford S&W or Colt handguns. Rugers are still my favorites.
Regards,
Howard

 

[AlanJ65]

They're like Lays potato chips...you can't have just one.

 

[WAYNO]

Black Fly...

That was a nice, positive post, and I agree with your points. :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

 

[Lee Martin]

Great guns. For the money, there's no better conversion platform than a Ruger SA.

 

[SteveRuger]

Black Fly...

That was a nice, positive post, and I agree with your points. :mrgreen:

WAYNO.

:D +1

 

[BlackEagle]

You are obviously a Ruger expert.

:D

 

[kelbro]

Ruger just went up a notch in my book. I had a Mark I for a long time. Mark IIs, now Mark IIIs. Always had a Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk or two. Single-Sixes. 10-22s. An LCP. All good, reliable, accurate guns that didn't break the bank. I considered them industrial utilitarian pieces. That is until I got a Super Redhawk 45/454 last week. This is a fine piece of equipment. Smoother, slicker, better looking and better fitment than any of my other Rugers except maybe my Lipseys Bisley 44 Special.

 

[Major T]

I am still shooting a Mark I 6"+ that we bought used in a pawn shop in the early 60s. Dad tried to wear it out for almost 50 years. Now that is my job. Also have a bull MkI that I bought from some co worker in the 70s. I haven't been able to use it up either. Both are amazingly accurate. I taught three daughters to shoot, starting with the bull barrel-single loaded at first. My four single actions are all good shooters. I agree that they get better with age, just like women. Enjoy, jack

 

[Tellico]

Black Fly I agree and I have been buying them since 1953. They all shoot better than I can and I have never broken one. Never wore one out.

 

[flatgate]

Thanks for sharing your views!

flatgate

 

[mattsbox99]

I really gotta agree with No. 4! :D

Good post, BFly!

 

[RugerHound]

One of the best "Generic Ruger" related posts I've seen! lol Can't disagree with any of it! :)

 

[slowhand]

Only thing i can add is when you lock more than one up in the safe,they seem to multiply all by them selves.At least that's what I have told SWMBO.Dave

 

[americal]

GREAT POST :) started the first grade in 1954 so its fairly easy to keep the ruger ship dates with what grade I was in---seems like 100 years ago :lol: what a great SA to come out in the 1950's.

 

[Ruger4Life]

I would suggest a #11:

The Ruger single and double action revolvers provide the ultimate platform for custom work more than any other revolver.

JMHO

 

[Chief_10Beers]

Here are some things I've learned about Rugers, some from shooting and some from here on the forum. I bought my first back in '72 and have owned a bunch and still have quite a few.
I posted this here because it's the most active forum, but applies to the long and short Rugers, big and small bore, bolt, semi, shotgun, pistol, revolver, smokeless and black, stainless, blue and multicolor. all of them.

1. Cleaning rods wear out Rugers faster than shooting them.
2. Rugers shoot better after a thousand rounds.
3. Rugers take a likin' and keep on tikin'.
4. Although I've owned forty some, and all have been accurate, some folks will never own an accurate Ruger.
5. I can't keep a NIB Ruger in that condition. It's easy to put a gun back in a box, but it's harder to unshoot it. :oops:
6. You can dress them up, put in new triggers, new wood and grips, but they're still Rugers.
7. It's nice to own well made, American made firearms made by a company that stands behind it's product.
8. While Bill Ruger worked to elliminate it, I like plum colored bluing.
9. Ruger collectors can find more variations to a factory production gun than I thought could exist
10. Bill Ruger was a hell of a lot smarter than me.

Not on the list, but there are a lot on nice folks here on this forum. :D
Bfly

None of my Rugers were accurate, not a single one! Then I started reloading and shooting a heck of alot more, now they are all accurate :D :lol: !..............................................

 

[BlackEye]

They're like Lays potato chips...you can't have just one.

+1

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Excellent post.

Although I've never owned a Mini-14, or any of their centerfire automatic pistols or one of their newer polymer anythings, I have examples (quite a few examples of some) of about everything else made by them and couldn't agree more.

More importantly, I rely on the one I carry so that I might continue to enjoy all the other things in life, should the need ever arise (and we all hope it never does).

 

[OldNavy]

Black Fly -

You had the insight to write what many of use could have written.
Mine would have started: "In July 1969, on the day after my 21st birthday, I bought a fixed sight 6" Ruger Mark I..." I had been dating the young woman who was with me when I bought it for six months at the time. Our third date was to take her out and teach her to handle a pistol. She has now been my wife for more than 41 years.

My nomination for rule #11 is: It is better to spend $500 on a Ruger plus $150 on gunsmithing than to spend $650 on a Smith & Wesson. Afterwards, you'll like the Ruger better--and so will your grandchildren.

Note: I don't have anything against Smith & Wesson. I've owned at least six over the years. For some reason Rugers are simply more satisfying.

 

[45Colt_Man]

Well I don't know how Ruger handguns compare to other manufacturers. Rugers are all I own in that category but after using the ones I have, I don't see a need for any others. (Can't afford Freedom Arms :o .)

Dana

 

[black029]

Concerning #4
I had a tang safety .338 Win Mag that I could have used as a varmint rifle (sub minute 5 shot groups, many almost half that @ 100 yards,with a 4X scope, when I had eyes), and a #1 heavy barrel in 22/250 that would have been hard pressed to hit an elephant at 100 yards. Well, a slight exageration.
Otherwise, the vast majority have been well made and great values. I am impressed with the current offering's quality, as revolvers lock up as they should, and there are not many rounded off flats, due to bad polishing.
Now if they would fix the indexing on the non-Vaqueros

 

[jbntx]

...
1. Cleaning rods wear out Rugers faster than shooting them.

You lost me here?
Is this sarcasm?