Ruger .380

[ScottD]

Yup, hopefully Ruger got this one right. If so, I'll buy one in a heartbeat, even if it costs more than a P3AT. Your buddy needs to send it back to KT if, like so many others, it won't function properly. How many rounds does he have through it? I'd at least try 100-150 rounds of something cheap (WWB) to see if it gets better or clears up altogether, but I'm betting it won't. If he does send it back, have him call KT before sending it and DEMAND that KT sends him a pre-paid postage mailer. They did it for me after some persuasion the THIRD time it went back.

 

[DougDubya]

Kellgren either owned or worked for Intertec and was the designer of the Grendel.

Now THAT was a neat, interesting little arm. I wish Kel-Tec would update that design to fit into their continuum of arms. Because, sometimes, you feel better with ten shots than six.

 

[Malodorousroadkill]

Well, it looks like who I think the daddy is. But unless it gets some really awesome reviews from real people its just a fancier kel-tec. I had a p32, and it didn't work right, I had to send it back, and I sold it. I now carry a Smith 638. I think its time ruger had an airweight that was designed around a long service life of .38 +P. However, I think a compact ruger single stack 9mm would have done them very well. Kahr has the corner on those I think.

 

[ScottD]

Dougdubya, it was unique, but ugly! Mine never functioned well, even after sending it back. Went the way of the dodo not only for me, but for good! And that is not a bad thing at all. Besides, who wants a semi-auto self defense pistol with a FIXED internal magazine like the stoopid P10? Again, not-too-bright George realized this after a few YEARS and came out with the P12, which has a removable magazine...just like every other SANE semi-auto pistol design out there. It was a real PITA to clear a round jammed into the back of a casing that didn't extract/eject with that idiotic design and not being able to remove the mag and pull the slide back to let the live round fall through the mag well. My P10 did it all the time, too, among other oddities.

 

[OregonJohnny]

"Your buddy needs to send it back to KT if, like so many others, it won't function properly. How many rounds does he have through it? I'd at least try 100-150 rounds of something cheap (WWB) to see if it gets better or clears up altogether, but I'm betting it won't. If he does send it back, have him call KT before sending it and DEMAND that KT sends him a pre-paid postage mailer. They did it for me after some persuasion the THIRD time it went back."

I sort of feel bad for him, because it's a bit of an "I told you so..." kind of situation. I scoffed at the Kel-Tecs for so long, and then he bought one. I had to act excited for him at first, but now he's pretty upset with it. I believe he had about 100 rounds through it before the fluff and buff, and has about 150 rounds through it since. Still problems on every magazine. He's tried cheap ball ammo and pricey self-defense HP loads. Nothing works. I told him to contact Kel-Tec and send it into the factory and to request an extra mag with it for the trouble. He's looking into it.

But as far as this new Ruger, I think I'll send him the link and tell him to sell off his P-3AT. He named his chocolate lab Ruger. I'm sure he'd have no problem forking over $300 for this new (hopefully better) firearm.

 

[DPris]

Ruger rep this morning said no license, no connection between the two companies.
Denis

 

[12many]

Does anyone have a release date? Any plans for a 9 mm?
Thanks

 

[ScottD]

Don't know about 9mm plans, but I've read people who pre-ordered were told to expect them in the March to summer time frame.

 

[esq_stu]

I really really want this Ruger to be a quality gun, and will get in line to buy it if it is. I'd pay more than the price of a KelTec for something that size that works. In fact, if they're in short supply, I'll even consider paying more than retail for the Ruger. I was very disappointed in my P3AT and I sold it because I could not afford to bet my life on something I could not rely on.

 

[ScottD]

I hear ya. Although no one's gotten their hands on one, this Ruger just "seems" so much better and exudes higher quality than the P3AT. I watched the shot show video on Personal Defense TV and when the reviewer was working the action, it just sounded so much more solid and less "tink tink" toy-like than my P3ATs. I think it looks a lot better, too.

 

[lee n. field]

Does anyone have a release date?

I emailed one place I deal with, to see if they had any. Got a note back today. Per them, Summer '08 at the soonest.

I hope they're wrong.

<Homer voice>But I want it now</Homer voice>

edit to add----

Tom Gresham's Guntalk this week, at the SHOT show. Ruger man (Sanetti?) said they were "flying off the shelf" and expected to ship thousands by the end of the month.

 

[ScottD]

Ouch. I was hoping for sooner than that!

 

[Soybomb]

Considering all the issues I've seen posted in here about Kel-Tecs and their (uh-hmmm) reliability out of the box, I'd buy a Ruger hands down.

It's weird that just 2 weeks ago, I was thinking, "Man, I wish SOMEONE would make a super-reliable pocket-auto in .380 for under $400".

I'm not sure how well that thinking will hold up honestly. We don't know that it will function out of the box because it isn't a keltec or weighs a little more, or even costs a little more. Making a reliable tiny lightweight pistol seems to be a challenge at any price, you just read about more of the keltecs because thats what most people buy. A quick pop over to the rohrbaugh forums will let you see that spending $900-1000 and far better machining and materials doesn't mean you're getting the glock of pocket pistols either. After playing around with these guns for a while my take on it is that if you want to push the envelope of concealable pistols, you have to be willing to do some work and put up with some hassle til you get yours to work right. If you're not willing to do that, the j-frame aisle is that way

 

[-v-]

I think Soybomb is definitely onto something there. My take is, the Ruger .380 is a KelTec clone with some changes to get around the patent. However, I feel a lot of the P-3AT's shortcomings are a product of its design, and unless you go to a completely new design, you will still have those flaws. Main question is, would you rather send your small .380 back to KelTec's factory or Ruger's factory?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I like the way Ruger is going lately!

Was looking at a kel tec but will give this a look first.

 

[outerlimit]

Let's allow the lawyers to worry about the patent/legality stuff.

This gun looks very interesting.

I'm still waiting for a SS framed +P capable Rohrbaugh R9 to come out, but this may be a future purchase as well.

 

[lee n. field]

to get around the patent

I read in a different forum (In-ter-net hearsay, YMMV) that there are no patents on the original Kel-Tec design.

 

[DMZ]

Ruger rep this morning said no license, no connection between the two companies.
Denis

Might you be considering a review Denis?

 

[jon_in_wv]

I spoke to my dealer today. She called her distributor and Ruger. She told me the Rugers will ship in March. She said it may be a month or two after that before she can get one for me. I'm getting one as soon as I can. I'll post a review after I get it. I already own a P32 that has been flawless. The Ruger execution of the design looks very promising.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

If Ruger get's this one right, they will clean k/t's clock and eat their lunch too. Nothing like good old competition.

 

[DPris]

DM,
Have a request in, they're saying another month or so.
Denis

 

[rwschill]

Ruger LCP

Yesterday the Ruger rep said the LCP will be available in good volume in March. I assume he met 2008.

 

[average_shooter]

Anybody find any reviews yet? I'm hoping somebody reputable has been able to get an advance pistol to review. The only info I keep coming across sounds like Ruger's initial press release.

Are you guys reserving yours getting price quotes yet? How much at the retailer?

And I am really thinking that I'm going to go ahead and jump on this bandwagon...

 

[guajiro]

I recently found out that the kel tec was unavailable in California. Does anyone know if the Ruger will be sold here?

 

[jon_in_wv]

What patents would the .380 Keltec have the .32 didn't have? The design is the same. They can't patent making a .380 and I'm sure the patents on the P32 expired long ago. Also, this isn't the first time a keltec design has been copied. We've heard of SKYY pistols right? And have you ever really looked at the design of the Taurus Millennium pistols? They borrow pretty heavily from the design of the P11. In fact, the metal frame with plastic pinned in frame is pretty heavily copied now. I think Keltecs patents on everything are probably up. They better get ready for some healthy competition. I like my P32 but I'll take the LCP over the P3AT any day.