Anyone like the Ruger 96 lever rifle?

[Bill_G]

i've been looking into buying my first lever rifle. i see lots of talk on the Winchester and Marlin rifles.....but almost no comments on the ruger 96 lever.
Anyone like or dislike this rifle? Why is it so little bought by people?

Thanks...............Bill

 

[Stiletto Null]

I'm sure they work OK, but they're kind of hideous.

 

[Jack19]

Well, the 96/44 only holds four rounds. The 96/17 and 96/22, I think, hold nine. The Marlin 1894, in .44 Mag, holds six more rounds than the Ruger.

Both are fed from what I can only describe as neutered magazines. I think they would be much more popular if Ruger would make extended mags for the 96 series.

Theres a good article on the 96/44 in ShootingTimes' "Guide to Ruger Firearms 2007."

 

[Ranger J]

I am seriously considering getting one because.

1. It has the same accurate barrel as my .44 Deerfield with a 1 in 20 twist.
2. I will be able to shoot cast bullets in it, something that I can’t do with the Deerfield. This translates to shoot cheap.
3. It is ugly as homegrown sin, but because of that they are usually relatively cheap. If you can stand the sight of it (My Marlins probably won’t let it in the same safe with them) it probably will be a shooter. As to the ‘short’ magazine question. If you are using this for hunting you will have one in the chamber and four in the mag. Many thousand bolt-hunting rifles have this same set up and seem to work fine. Honestly how many shots does it take to kill a deer?
RJ

 

[mainmech48]

I had a Ruger 96/22 for a while. It was, and is, a nice little carbine. Mag holds 10 rds ( in .22 LR, anyway) and is very similar to the 10/22's. Will not interchange, IIRC. May be due to different feed ramp geometry, as the release mechanism looks the same.

The trigger pull wasn't very spiffy, but what new .22 in its price range doesn't leave something to be desired on that count anymore? Nothing that a good 'smith or a bunch of shooting couldn't cure.

Accuracy was on a par with what I've come to expect from a quality-made rimfire these days ie: perfectly adequate for anything but formal bullseye with most loads and medium-impressive with the stuff it preferred. The action throw is long, a la the Savage 99 which it strongly resembles, and it was solid if a bit tight OTB. That too will slick up with use.

I gave it to my niece when she married, as she'd rediscovered shooting when she wed an avid hunter and recreational shooter. She likes it just fine.

Couldn't say why they don't seem to sell well, unless it has something to do with being a bit pricey for the plinkers compared to most popular semi-autos and not "traditional" looking enough for the narrow focus nostalgia types.

Let's face it, the centerfire 96 is tailored for a very shallow niche in the short-range hunting carbine market. When you consider that Ruger has a semi-auto that's in direct competition to it and has better appeal to the SD/HD market (if the aftermarket jumps in with added capacity mags, anyway) it's probably an endangered species.

 

[Jim Watson]

I figure Ruger came up with those lever actions when it looked likely that the AWB would be a total ban on retail sale of any semi-automatic. Plan B rifles, that they decided to keep going to look for niche sales.

 

[nemoaz]

Yeah, I don't buy Ruger. See Clinton AWB designed by Bill Ruger.

PS I don't care if he's dead. I won't be happy until the company is dissolved. Hopefully the other manufacturers are watching and paying attention.

 

[Jackal]

Both are fed from what I can only describe as neutered magazines. I think they would be much more popular if Ruger would make extended mags for the 96 series.

Yup. Why doesn't someone make a 30rd hi-cap for this? Now that would be cool.

 

[ECVMatt]

I think they are handy little carbines..

I have always liked the Savage 99 and this has some of the same attributes. I have no problems buying Ruger products, but then I also don't wear tinfoil hats either. Rugers are great and I would say go for it.

Matt

 

[usmccpl]

I got one in 44 and couldnt find anything better when I need something with better range than my redhawk. When I roam they fields to check fences or find lost critters I cant carry my M-70 and I might need more range than the revolver if bigger critters grabbed the one Im looking for.





one shot one kill

 

[_N4Z_]

PS I don't care if he's dead. I won't be happy until the company is dissolved. Hopefully the other manufacturers are watching and paying attention.

Yes, and perhaps in your perfect world those "other" manufacturers will hire up all the American workers that would lose their jobs if you had your way.

Please.

How bout a nice sugar cube for that dead horse.

 

[Nhsport]

I have mixed feelings on ruger products. By all reports Ruger has the most advanced and up to date factories (they reportedly cast parts for many other gun outfits along with other sporting goods)But although they sometimes offer products no one else does the final end product more times than not comes up short of what it could be.
The SP101 pistols,rinfire 22 pistols and 10/22 (I am especially fond of the 10/22T) are really nice and really what the other gun companys set their sights on.
The semi auto center fire pistols are solid and value packed but due to horrible triggers and huge weird grips are most difficult for many folks to shoot decent.
I have been around the block with a Ruger police carbine,I really like the design and concept but the triggers are so horrible the darn things are unsuitable for anything but a doorstop .
Single action pistols-Just plain wonderfull! Old Army Blackpowder-one of a kind in the industry, but then the double action revolvers are a far distant second to the S&W line,mostly because of the heavy heavy triggers and partly due to the brick like shape.
Mini 14 ,mini 30,and ranch rifle--again a great concept with a solid reliable gun,great scope mounting system (with rings included along with new gun-wonderfull!) but the nasty barrels don't have the accuracy of a 60 year old rusty milsurp. combine this with the nasty trigger (again!) and the corprate BS policy not to sell mags over 10 rounds and it makes me want to throw the darn thing in a lake.
Don't tell me about Bill Ruger being dead and bygones being bygones-The corporate policy is STILL that we peons are not to be trusted with a firearm that will hold more that 10 bullets.
I guess what bugs me most about Ruger is that I really like the concept of many of their products but they just don't seem to be able to follow thru and deliver with most of them.

 

[bearmgc]

I had one in 44,mag/sp for awhile, and as mentioned, the concept seemed pretty good to have a compact carbine. But in reality, the accuracy for mine was not that great, and no sling. It was a cheaply made/looking lever action with a crappy trigger. Marlins have a higher round capacity. I sold mine and bought a used Marlin 1894, and it has a slick action and much better accuracy, and can be used with a sling. Its prettier too

 

[Jim Watson]

Bill Ruger did not do anything that any other gunmaker has or will not do to keep their lucrative government contracts. Remember the S&W "deal?" The new management has withdrawn from it, but don't bet on them staying friendly to the American Commoner if a big contract depended on them promising not to sell guns to the subjects as good as what they sell the rulers.