Are All Current Rugers Garbage?

[czhen]

Garbage is a very strong statement to define a manufacturer with line of products as Ruger has. Vaquero single actions revolvers are very strong and with solid records (ask SASS shooters.)
Ruger Mark II-III-IV or 22/45 line are hard to beat in accuracy right out the box.
Please compare materials quality, spare parts, after market options and service and you will see that Ruger win in many products. If you have a Ruger 77, Mark II-III tapered or Nº1 to spare me I will disposed for free.

 

[TarDevil]

I no longer have a .22, but still have my SR9c (and always will), my LC9s (keeping it because it was a present from my wife). I'm now buying S&W's. I like the commonality between calibers. They fit my hands well and shoot good.

While I like Ruger, they just can't stick with a product line. Smith does.

 

[twarr1]

Ruger is a house divided. Manufacturing and marketing are churning out “whatever buyers want right now” which seems to be be ‘cheap’. Customer service, on the other hand, is desperately trying to keep up with the task of fixing manufacturing’s ‘get it out the door’ quality issues. That said, Ruger still makes some good quality products, like their revolvers.
In my opinion, the SR semi-autos were great handguns, even the Security 9 is a good gun for the price point, but Ruger, trying to keep up with the competition, flopped on the overpriced, uncompelling American.
Are all current Rutgers garbage? No. But it seems Ruger management isn’t concerned about not achieving that label

 

[JohnB-40]

I own 9 Ruger firearms,the oldest a 10/22 bought in 1980. A couple have had very minor problems and those were solved quickly by a call to their CS. These required some part,that were in my mailbox within a week,free with no questions asked.
In these days where the suits in the head office don't care about anything except enriching themselves,most of the great products once made in the USA are in the decline,quality wise....Sad,but a sign of the times.

 

[Buzznrose]

I have owned neither, but from all I’ve heard, the new Marlin rifles are superior to anything made by either JM or Remington. Better materials, CNC, improved parts and designs…

I really like my friends Mk4 Hunter .22. Shoots very well. Not a match trigger, but that’s no surprise, is it?

I recently bought a GP100. I like it. Shoots great. I have minimal revolver experience so I cannot say how it compares to other brands.

I’m considering a SR1911 in 9MM hard.

I like Ruger a lot. Never had a bad gun from them. I’ve had a dozen Rugers and all worked fine.

Disclaimer: I’m a Glock guy, so my opinion with regards to real men guns should be taken with a grain of salt (a splash of lime, and a shot of good tequila)…

 

[Otto]

They aint what they used to be, but are still better than today's S&W.

Better than the Model 41? That’s highly doubtful.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Better than the Model 41? That’s highly doubtful.

I would take a Mk4 Target over a M41 anyday. My M41 was beautiful junk.

 

[AlexanderA]

An important thing to note about the Mark pistol series is that it has a very large "installed base," which in turn supports a very large aftermarket accessory / improvement industry. Few other guns have this ability for off-the-shelf customization.

 

[ontarget]

The Marlin 60 has a junk trigger mechanism that’s a pinned together sheet metal mess. Very little that can be done with it other than the chore of replacing springs, which does nothing for the gritty feeling of them.

The Marlin 60s I own (approx. 12 of them) all have triggers appropriate for their intended use and price point.
If you want a match trigger, buy a match rifle, not a working man's utility rifle.

 

[Rittmeister]

I really like both my MkIII bull-barrel 22/45 as well as my MkIV Lightweight, which I've tricked out with a comp and red-dot. Both are very accurate and have yet to have a single reliability issue.

Just my $.02

 

[Skylerbone]

Very little that can be done with it other than the chore of replacing springs, which does nothing for the gritty feeling of them.

Side note, @JCooperfan1911 Only JM Marlin rifles are any good, even the new Ruger made “copies” are barely capable of…oh, well we’ve all heard that one too. However, as it stands I’ve had the opportunity to work on a few variants including the 60 and most recently the similar 70P.

In addition to a spring kit, I took the opportunity to examine the sear which was fine and to stone the hammer which had multiple striations making for a nasty, gritty feel. Between the two, I’m at sub-4 lbs with a smooth pull, albeit slightly rolling rather than crisp.


If you’ve ever taken a Marlin semi-auto apart it was likely covered in sludge as this one was.


The hammer.


If you look closely, you can see just how rough the hammer hook is.


Another view of the hammer and its almost serrated edge. I actually began cleaning it up with a small file then switched to stones and polished to 600 grit. Night and day feel and I plan on adding a DIP trigger soon.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Ive got two Mk IIs. Not because of their reputation, but because thats what was available. The Mk III had not come on the scene yet. Great pistols. But you also need to remember that this is the internet, where things earn a reputation and keep it forever.

I own seven single action ruger revolvers, from an Old Model Single Six to a wrangler bought a couple years ago. I customized the wrangler, so i had it torn completely apart a few times. Everything is well done, and the trigger is lighter than all five of my single sixes. The action isnt as smooth as the SS's but i wouldnt expect it to be for a 200 dollar gun.

I also own an old and a newer 10/22, and older mini-14, a M77, and a couple M77 MkIIs, a 96/44 and a Deerfield Carbine 44. All of them are good. Not super high quality, but kinda like the Craftsman tools before they sold out. They work, do the job, and look pretty good doing it without being too expensive for the common man.

 

[js8588]

Love my Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt. It's the absolute last gun I'd ever part with.

My blued GP100 in 327 Federal is perfect in every respect.

I occasionally carry my American Subcompact and will be buying a second because I prefer a thumb safety which mine doesn't have. Fit and finish are top notch and the trigger is as good or better than my wife's Canik Elite. Fits my hand like a glove.

I love my Ruger Hawkeye Africans in 6.5x55 and 9.3x62. Wish they'd make a 30-06 & 270 Winchester. Sub MOA they are not, but those wispy barrels sure make carrying nicer.

A 375 Ruger Guide Gun is in my future as I'm sure are a few of the new Marlins.

Ruger makes a fine firearm.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

The Marlin 60s I own (approx. 12 of them) all have triggers appropriate for their intended use and price point.
If you want a match trigger, buy a match rifle, not a working man's utility rifle.

Or buy a 10/22 and toss a BX trigger group in it, or something as cheap as a match sear.

Then you’ll have a “working man’s utility rifle” that you won’t have to make excuses for.

 

[ontarget]

Or buy a 10/22 and toss a BX trigger group in it, or something as cheap as a match sear.

Then you’ll have a “working man’s utility rifle” that you won’t have to make excuses for.

So you have to modify your 10/22 to make it a good trigger? So in it's stock form it's no better than an M60? Right?
I do have a very nice 10/22 carbine as well.
Also unmodified, and also a good working man's rifle.
I'm sorry, but as soon as you start listing the mods required to make your stock gun great, I stop listening to how great such and such is.
No different than the guys that buy a 500 dollar 1911 then put 800 bucks of upgrades in it. It's no longer a stock gun and can no longer be compared to a stock gun.
You can't fairly compare your 10/22 with a BX trigger to a stock M60. Sorry.
Incidentally I don't think the OP is trying to compare stock Ruger offerings to his new Kracken either.

 

[3Crows]

I have a Mark II and a Mark IV. I prefer the Mark IV.

I am amazed by the build quality of my new Marlin SBL.

I like Ruger, always have and probably for the foreseeable future will continue to think highly of them.

And I will take CNC precision any day over handmade unless the handmade is really handmade and fitted by real artisans and I cannot afford that.

My data point opinion on several new and older Ruger products, they are as good now as ever and possibly better. And they have good service to correct those that are not better.

Colt, lol! They come pre-scratched, my only customer service experience was abysmal and there is a thread right now about a Colt revolver out of time, brand new. I guess I tire of company bashing. People seem to expect custom built at mass market price. I think Ruger always has and continues to hit the sweet spot of balance between quality and price, a delicate balance.

Not picking on anyone but in this thread it was mentioned that Ruger does not stick with a product, well, some do come and go. But then Remington was accused of not innovating and producing the same old thing over and over. Which is it! Innovation or the same thing over and over. And, Ruger has a balanced product line (shy on shotguns) that is not just ARs. Us Fudds like guns too. Just not black ones.

3C

 

[d'zaster]

I have a MKiii hunter that has was a great right out of the box. Later i spent some time and money on aftermarket parts/upgrades and it is really a nice shooter.

 

[plainsdrifter]

"Are All Current Rugers Garbage?"
Blasphemy, pure Blasphemy!

 

[TTv2]

So you have to modify your 10/22 to make it a good trigger? So in it's stock form it's no better than an M60? Right?
I do have a very nice 10/22 carbine as well.
Also unmodified, and also a good working man's rifle.
I'm sorry, but as soon as you start listing the mods required to make your stock gun great, I stop listening to how great such and such is.
No different than the guys that buy a 500 dollar 1911 then put 800 bucks of upgrades in it. It's no longer a stock gun and can no longer be compared to a stock gun.
You can't fairly compare your 10/22 with a BX trigger to a stock M60. Sorry.
Incidentally I don't think the OP is trying to compare stock Ruger offerings to his new Kracken either.

I am also dismayed at this and it does appear to be common among brand fanboys. If a Ruger has any issue with the trigger, the fix is buy more stuff or do more work and then it's just fantastic, but if it's a Taurus or a Kel Tec then you bought garbage and it's not worth ever spending more money on to improve. Have to polish chambers in a revolver with a Ruger? Hey, the design is good, so attaboy, but if you have a Rock Island that needs the feed ramp polished? Well, that's just another example of the inferiority of foreign manufacturing.

The hypocrisy speaks volumes.

 

[plainsdrifter]

Ruger has a custom shop fir them finicky people. Go look see.

 

[old fart]

I own a Ruger Wrangler been perfect in shooting and accuracy, got a Ruger American 308 rifle, under nickle size group at 100 yards, got a Ruger Mark IV 22/45 I had to send back but had a new one back in my hands in 7 days and it's perfect. Called about a recoil pad for my American and Ruger sent me a whole stock with pad for free, they even sent an extra mag back with the Mark IV. All companies now days have lemons with the high demand, what separates the good companies from the bad is customer service and I have not found one better than Ruger.

 

[James Fonteneaux]

The Marlin 60 has a junk trigger mechanism that’s a pinned together sheet metal mess. Very little that can be done with it other than the chore of replacing springs, which does nothing for the gritty feeling of them.

I've never had an issue with ours. Out of all the guns we own, my Model 60 has killed more vermin/pests than any of them. It is the leader of the trio of cheap chicken coop defenders. Sharing that role are a 20 gauge Maverick 88 youth model shogun and the aforementioned GP100 with rat shot. I've never had the inclination or need to tear the 60 down because it's never given me a reason to. To be fair, I've had a few 10/22s come through, and we currently have one. It's been fitted with a scope and a screw on adapter for my suppressor. I bought it for my wife because it's a pretty rifle and I thought she'd like it. It's fun to shoot and very accurate, but when it's time for business, the 60 usually gets the nod. I've never felt the need to replace any of their triggers.

When I replied to the original post, I wasn't paying attention to the fact we were in the Autoloading handgun section so to stay on topic, I've had very few Ruger auto pistols. I had a P95 years ago, it was ok but not my favorite. It's long gone now. More recently, I had an LCP in .380. I liked it for what it was, but my cousin needed a CC pistol, so it got traded. I currently have the PC charger in 9mm. It's technically a pistol and it's eaten everything I've fed it. It's not a finely crafted piece of art, they could have cleaned up the machining marks better, but I didn't buy it for that and I don't get wrapped around the axle over it. The earlier comment about the reliability of the PCs being due to glock magwells was tongue in cheek for those who didn't get it. That's an awesome idea they had to allow that flexibility, and one of the selling points of the guns for me. When I look to buy a new handgun, I've honestly not really considered the Rugers much. I usually end up with a Glock because that's what I'm used to. YMMV

 

[WVRJ]

I have a Mark III Competition Target with the flat side barrel and I'm tickled pink with it.Super accurate with decent ammo,reliable and has the best trigger that I've ever experienced in a Ruger firearm.I had a Mark II and traded it because of the trigger.I have a Precision Rimfire and the weak link in it was the trigger,but I liked the rifle enough to spend the money for a Timney 2 stage.I have a Vaquero that I opened up and polished things up a bit and it's a heluva good pistol.I've had several of their M77's over the years and they were good,solid hunting rifles,but their weak point was always the trigger.Back then I could buy a Remington 700 with the Walker trigger,clean it up and adjust it and that trigger would be far superior to the Ruger,but that's no reason to say that any of the Ruger rifles I've had were garbage.They have always made good products,and been a very innovative arms maker.There's a lot more competition in all the categories of firearms that Ruger makes and they have to compete with foreign made products that are made overseas by much cheaper labor and a lot of those guns are very well made at a price that can be hard for a company with an American labor force to go up against.But all Rugers are garbage?No,not as far as my experience tells me,and I tend to trust it a bit more than an internet review.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Ruger is very well known for the last decade or more to push out more defective product than usual compared to other gun makers.

Do you have a source for this? I am not asking out of doubt, but curiosity. If you don’t and it’s just an anecdotal observation, no worries.

I’m interested in figures that show what percentage of products a manufacturer produces that result in a return for a defect or issue. My personal observations are that Ruger, SIG, and S&W sell a large quantity of guns. For instance, people seem to routinely criticize SIG and say that they use consumers to test their products versus working out the bugs before release. Perhaps, manufacturers release poor products and/or perhaps manufacturers fail to sufficiently test products. However, another explanation is that a manufacturer sells such a high quantity of a given product that the number of complaints seems high, but is actually a very small percentage of the total amount produced, but appears high when compared against manufacturers who produce less volume and, therefore, have less products “in the wild” that consumers can criticize.

 

[Barr]

DPMO, defects per million opportunities. The great equalizer to “normalize” how many defects between various sources.