Seems time for Ruger to reintroduce the 44 Mag carbine

[styles]

What does ‘44 is too much for most people to buy’ mean? Cost, recoil?

 

[HPJeep]

If Ruger ever reintroduce it they'd be smart to make the receiver modular to enable for 44 mag, 357 mag, 10mm, 9mm and 30 carbine. And have it use common non-rotary mags. Of course this would never happen but it would be neat

 

[3Crows]

I think I would like the rifle just as it was before. We have enough large capacity tactical weapons available with huge magazines hanging out the bottom. The flush magazine is best for hunting and hand carry.

 

[CraigC]

I don’t understand - couldn‘t sell enough. There has always been and remains more demand than supply. However, Ruger should focus on an 1894 in 45. The 44 is selling below msrp on The street because of inaccuracy not demand.

Rugers always sell 20-25% below MSRP and have for decades.

 

[styles]

Rugers always sell 20-25% below MSRP and have for decades.

The 336 classic isn’t; when you can find one. There is a .01 auction over $1700 on gun joker right now.

 

[CraigC]

The 336 classic isn’t; when you can find one. There is a .01 auction over $1700 on gun joker right now.

That's a temporary situation due to availability and entirely besides the point. When the guns are commonly available, Rugers always go for 75-80% of MSRP.

 

[styles]

That's a temporary situation due to availability and entirely besides the point. When the guns are commonly available, Rugers always go for 75-80% of MSRP.

that’s like the gas station joke - when we are out of gas we sell it for less too.

 

[CraigC]

that’s like the gas station joke - when we are out of gas we sell it for less too.

Not really.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

They've never sold enough of them to keep them in production.

Wrong. They got too expensive to produce and sell at a profit. I have one.

 

[CraigC]

Wrong. They got too expensive to produce and sell at a profit. I have one.

You contradict yourself and confirm my post, lack of sales.

The first version was too expensive to produce because it had to be milled from steel billet. The 2nd version was compatible with investment casting and much less expensive to make. Neither version sold well enough to stay in the catalog.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

You contradict yourself and confirm my post, lack of sales.

The first version was too expensive to produce because it had to be milled from steel billet. The 2nd version was compatible with investment casting and much less expensive to make. Neither version sold well enough to stay in the catalog.

I can not comment on sales or lack thereof. All I know is that Bill Ruger claimed he couldn't make money on the first design; hence the re-design.
Apparently, he couldn't make money in the second design either.

I have one of the first designs with the milled receiver and factory peep sights. It is a very well-made rifle; the finish is excellent and the fit is very good.
Accuracy is adequate for the job, but nothing to write home about.

Mostly it sits in the safe. I sometimes think of selling it, but then I wouldn't have it.

 

[entropy]

Interesting time for this thread to show up. Since Jan. 1st, the day Balrog posted it, 2 friends and one customer acquired original Ruger .44 Mag. carbines. One got a good deal, $800. The other two were over $1000. All three were happy with their purchase. It was always a well respected woods gun in this area.

My dad had one back about '77-'80, great deer drive or thick brush gun. He loaded up some real hot thumper loads for drives, so hot he wouldn't shoot them through his 629. After he sold it he found 20 he'd loaded up for it, the bullets were seated so far out, I had to file the exposed lead JSPs down to fit in the cylinder of my Redhawk.
IIRC they weren't very accurate loads, but would have put the hurt on a deer kicked up during a drive. (Of course, my dad sounded like a tank brigade going through the woods, so he never jumped any, they were long gone by the time he got to where they had been.)

I think new made versions of the first model would sell, but as many have pointed out not enough numbers to crank up a production line.

 

[dogtown tom]

If Ruger ever reintroduce it they'd be smart to make the receiver modular to enable for 44 mag, 357 mag, 10mm, 9mm and 30 carbine. And have it use common non-rotary mags. Of course this would never happen but it would be neat

What "common non-rotary mags" exist?
I can't think of any box type magazine for .44 or .357 that is remotely common.

 

[dogtown tom]

Wrong. They got too expensive to produce and sell at a profit. I have one.

Nonsense.
They were to expensive to produce and sit in inventory when other Ruger models sold better. The cost of manufacturing didn't suddenly become "expensive", the market didn't want them.

 

[styles]

The 44 levers are everywhere. Maybe there isn’t much demand for 44?
I hope they will get on with a .45. Those have never been stocked more than a second.

30-30 is unobtainable. .357s sells for more than .44. Which seems odd.

 

[dogtown tom]

.357s sells for more than .44. Which seems odd.

It's been that way with Winchesters as well.
Might be due to the ability to shoot .38/.38+P/.357 still cheaper than .44mag

I have a customer that has 6-8 Model 94's in various configurations. He took a deer on his ranch near Fredericksburg with a .357 Trapper.

 

[BBarn]

At the time the 44 Magnum Carbine was being discontinued Bill Ruger is quoted as saying: "It is a deceptively expensive gun to make and sell at a reasonable price, and the demand has been dropping for the last few years. The fact is that the factory time can be more profitably spent on other projects, and unless a factory operates for profit, it will soon cease to operate at all."

At that time, Ruger products still sold at a lower price than most competing products of similar quality.

At the same time, Mr. Ruger also had high hopes for the XGI which never made it into production.

 

[Trey Veston]

I recently sold mine for $950. I didn't get enough. It was beautiful.

 

[Misplacedtexan]

Who doesn’t already have a Ruger M44 Carbine? Mine is tube fed. Was on my list of things to sell this year. Getting out of the 44 magnum game.

Had one in the early 80s, would love to have another.

 

[ECVMatt]

I would agree with others here that the beauty of this gun lies in its trim lines. I am getting tired of every new rifle having a magazine sticking out of the bottom. I would be more than happy to have a handy carbine with 4 or 5 rounds of .44 or .357 than one with a magazine extending from the balance point. I have no problem with larger capacity magazines being offered, however I would hope for a rifle being shipped with a flush fitting magazine!

I really have a hard time conceptualizing hunting with something like this:




Handgun caliber rifles are woods hunting guns to me and that seems like a lot of negatives for a few more rounds. I would rather just carry an extra magazine in the pocket.

 

[zaitcev]

I really have a hard time conceptualizing hunting with something like this:

I suspect that you may be forgetting about the concept of a rifle sling. If you're ready to shoot and stalk through undergrowth, you're carrying with two hands. If you're not ready to shoot, throw it behind your back.

 

[CraigC]

I suspect that you may be forgetting about the concept of a rifle sling. If you're ready to shoot and stalk through undergrowth, you're carrying with two hands. If you're not ready to shoot, throw it behind your back.

That's one option, if you're in an open area. In brushy areas, another is to carry it, in your hand. Like people have been doing for hundreds of years.

 

[adcoch1]

That's one option, if you're in an open area. In brushy areas, another is to carry it, in your hand. Like people have been doing for hundreds of years.

90% of my hunting is with the rifle in my hands. I like a sleek carbine like the little Ruger. Hardly ever use a sling.

 

[ECVMatt]

I suspect that you may be forgetting about the concept of a rifle sling. If you're ready to shoot and stalk through undergrowth, you're carrying with two hands. If you're not ready to shoot, throw it behind your back.

Nope, did not forget about the sling. All my hunting rifles have a sling. However the last thing I want in thick brush is a rifle barrel sticking up behind my back and out of my view or a large todger sticking out of the bottom. Both of those things are not conducive to efficient or stealthy movement. I much prefer carrying the rifle in my hand when moving through places like this:

 

[CraigC]

90% of my hunting is with the rifle in my hands. I like a sleek carbine like the little Ruger. Hardly ever use a sling.

Me too. I find myself using a sling less and less every year.