He was far from a twit and don't forget there is still a Ruger at the helm.
There, in a nutshell, is the reason that the Ruger policies haven't changed and probably won't in the near future.
The fact is that this is still America and people are entitled, repeat ENTITLED, to their opinions and beliefs.
Just because you don't like someone elses politics or beliefs doesn't mean they should change them to suit you.
How many here would be the first to get their hackles up if someone else tried to tell you how you should think or how your business should be run?
I see some of you saying Ruger should do this and stop doing that and then in the next breath you whine about how the politicians and the lawyers are forcing the companies to do something else you don't like. You can't have it both ways.
If you don't like Ruger or their policies then don't buy them. It IS just that simple.
Write them a letter if you feel strongly about it. Perhaps they'll listen eventually. Until then ****. We're tired of hearing the same tired old b
ewitching and moaning.
Just don't forget that Bill Ruger made his mark by making guns that no one else would make;
Heavy duty single action revolvers with coil springs. Back when Colt was making the SAA unaffordable in only 2 or 3 calibers and the Europeans were inporting clones of questionalble quality, Ruger debuted the Blackhawk. You could buy a Ruger .44 magnum before you could buy a S&W. And it was stronger and cost less money. Ditto the .41 Magnum. How many custom gunsmiths make a living hotrodding the old girl? The basic gun hasn't changed in over 40 years! Has Ruger had to redesign them so they'll withstand Buffalo Bore type loads? Is there a Super Blackhawk-10? Hell no there isn't. And just why do you think that is?
The Single-Six. When Colt was attempting to convince us that the 7/8 size Scout was an entry level .22 Ruger announced the Single-Six and then the Super-Single-Six with sights that actually held up. With interchangable cylinders more or less standard at a price that even a 15 year old boy with a small paper route could afford.
And don't forget the
Bearcat. Bill Ruger showed us all how sturdy a small single action revolver could be. His coil spring "experiment" worked. It worked so well that 20 years later they had to bring it back.
Fixed sight, centerfire, Cowboy revolvers. When SASS started how many suitable revolvers were there? Who answered the call? Go to any Cowboy shoot today and see how many Rugers there are compared to all of the others. Sure they'll be other brands but compare the prices. Count the number of after market parts for those other brands. Next to the 1911 the Ruger SA is the most fiddled with handgun out there.
An affordible .22 semi-auto pistol. Which by the way has remained in constant production ever since. Many other famous and well built .22 pistols have gone by the wayside but the Ruger Mark series is still going strong.
A reliable .22 semi-automatic carbine. Look at the number of self loading .22s that were on the market when the 10/22 was introduced. How many are still in production? Name ANY .22rimfire rifle in history that has as many after market options available for it!
The
Mini-14 was an affordable alternative to the AR-15.
It was designed to be a continuation of the Garand/Carbine/M14 action. It was meant to be a ruggedutility rifle not a match rifle. Hells Bellsâ„¢ they even adapted it to 7.62x39. Who else in America has jumped on that bandwagon?
Ruger made the very first
semi-automatic .44 magnum rifle. I believe they are the only ones who still do? Yes they dropped it for a while but they improved it and brought it back to be better than ever. They even made it itno a lever action model. WHo else has designed a new lever action in the past 40 years? Except for Browning who has designed a new lever action in the last 100?
The Ruger #1 has become THE single shot rifle.
Show me any single shot stronger, more reliable or made in as many variations.
The Ruger 77 rifle. When other manufacturers were cutting corners on their established bolt action rifles along came Bill Ruger. While others were dropping calibers Ruger was adding them. Everything from .17 Remington to .458 Lott. [/i[
The Security/Service/Speed-Six line was a viable/cheaper alternative to S&W K-frame revolvers. In fact they're partly responsibile for the creation of the S&W L-frame and the demise of the Colt double action line. S&W had to keep up and Colt couldn't/wouldn't)
The SP/GP series of revolver took the medium DA revolver to a new level in strength/sturdiness. And they're still affordable.
The Redhawk. Does anyone here know of a stronger DA revolver? Does any revolver adapt to scope mounting for hunting as readily? Does it need an "upgrade package" to handle hot hunting loads?
The Ruger P-series pistols for all of their ungainly charm seem to be able to go bang each and every time you pull the trigger fresh from the box. Do you hear people complaining that they don't work? Rarely. What you will hear is how they look. Just remember the prettiest girl doesn't always make the best wife.
The PC Carbine line. It accepts their pistol magazines. It works. Marlin tried and failed with the same concept.
Stainless Steel/ Ruger was one of the first to embrace the technology. AND they haven't forgotten that many of us still prefer Blued firearms. {i]Can you buy a blued .44 Magnum from S&W? Can you buy a blued .357 from S&W?
I could go on but you should have gotten the point by now.
Why should Ruger make a small revolver?
S&W, Taurus and Rossi already do.
Why should Ruger make a pump shotgun?
You already have such a loyal following in cheap 870/500/1300. Could Ruger recoup the cost of designing and tooling up?
Remember there have been very few Ruger failures.
The Hawkeye is the most well known and it was really Ruger's fault as much as the cartridge just didn't catch on.
Speaking of chamberings, Ruger has always be quick to champion a new cartridge. In some cases designing or redesigning a gun for it. Exapmles are .44 Remington Magnum, .41 Remington Magnum, .454 Casull, 17 HRM, 7.62x39, .40 S&W and .32 H&R Magnum.
Ruger didn't make guns to be pretty even though some of them are graceful and nice to look at. Their goal was to make guns that could be used for generations. That will fires untold thousands of rounds and beg for more. In the 1960s and 1970s, while Colt was making Commemorative revolvers that were works or art to be gazed upon like a Rembrandt, while S&W was trying to decide which gun to manufacture each month and creating an artificial shortage, Ruger was churning out rugged, dependable affordable guns that you could shoot! When is the last time you saw a Ruger that had been "shot to death?"
If it sells Ruger will keep it in the Catalogue forever. Look at a Ruger catalogue from 10 or 20 years and even 30 years ago and try to find a gun made then that isn't made today.
Look at a Colt or S&W or Remington or Marlin or any other big name gunmaker and see what has come and gone.
If you don't like Ruger products or their politics that's fine. Don't buy any.
Just stop being a cry-baby about it.