Sold on Ruger

[Bernie Lomax]

I recently accidentally dropped the slide of my old, beat-to-$h1t LCP off a second story balcony onto the concrete walk below and damaged it so that it couldn't fit back on the frame. I sent the gun in to Ruger asking if there was anything they could do to fix it, and telling them that if they could fix it to go ahead and do so and send me a bill. When I got an automated phone call from FedEx just a couple of days later, indicating that it had been sent back, I thought for sure that they couldn't (or wouldn't) repair ye olde LCP and were sending back my broken gun to be sent off to the gun graveyard. Imagine my surprise when the gun arrived the next day and I opened the box and saw that Ruger had replaced the slide, barrel and all the other parts, all for free. It looks and feels like a brand new gun. And they didn't charge me a single cent. I got so much for nothing, I actually almost feel guilty.

Ruger kicks ass and can have my business anytime. Just ordered 100 rounds of Hydra-Shok (my chosen carry round) from Midway and will go to the range and see how this baby functions in a few days. But given Ruger's stellar reputation, I seriously doubt there'll be any problems.

There's one downside to this situation though: now I don't have any excuse to buy that Kahr CW380 I had my eye on...

 

[BigWoolyBanjo]

I have to ask the question that everyone wants answered:
How do you acidentally drop a slide from a balcony?

You're right. Ruger rocks! My brand new Red Label 12 ga was having light strike and FTE issues. In less than 2 weeks I recieved it back with 2 new barrels & new ejectors. No charge!

 

[Bernie Lomax]

I have to ask the question that everyone wants answered:
How do you acidentally drop a slide from a balcony?

LOL, I knew someone would ask that.

I was cleaning the gun on the balcony outside the front door of my apartment because I didn't want to dirty up my apartment. If I'm going to do a real thorough cleaning, I'll clear off the kitchen table and put newspapers down on it and clean inside, but this was just a minor cleaning, done to clean off the salt that gets everywhere on the gun from sweat when I go running with it IWB every morning in the hot Arizona sun--as you can probably imagine, salty, dried sweat will corrode a gun like nobody's business if it's not regularly seen to. Anyway, I didn't want to go to all the trouble of running up to the store, buying newspapers, clearing off all the junk I have on the table, putting down the newspapers and then picking up and replacing all the junk that goes on the table after the cleaning when the whole cleaning would be over in five minutes. Also, every time I clean guns inside, my apartment stinks to high heaven for a whole day afterward from the chemicals and I get headaches and a funny metallic taste in my mouth and I want to avoid that as much as possible too.

So anyway, there I was holding the slide on the top of the railing with one hand while scrubbing it with a brush and some eezox with the other and it slipped out of my hand and fell onto the concrete walk below.

Now that I think about it, the guys at Ruger were probably scratching their heads wondering the same thing as you. In the letter I sent, I wrote that it had been dropped off a balcony but I don't think I explained how it happened.

In any case, it's back now and good as new, and I'm grateful for Ruger's great service.

 

[splithoof]

Yes, Ruger has great products in my experience. I use an older SP101 that just keeps going after umpteen untold thousands of rounds of all sorts run through it; the finish is well worn from endless presentations from various holsters, and the stock grips are marred from all the above use, but still work perfectly. It's two bigger brothers, a Super Redhawk .44, and a GP100 .357 keep going as well. My kids and their cousins have tried to wear out a MK-678 .22 pistol, but after 30K+ it also keeps going, with a cleaning every six months. As for their rifles, I am partial to the GSR. A pair of them we use on the ranch have accounted for many meals, and have held up well in the harsh outdoor environment exposed to the elements in the open jeeps and on horseback.
While the AR platform is not of my interest, the Ruger examples, both .223 & 7.62 that I have tried out seemed to be well put together and functioned 100%.

 

[Field Tester]

Bernie, what are you using to clean your firearms? You should not be left with a metallic taste.

 

[19-3Ben]

my old, beat-to-$h1t LCP

repair ye olde LCP

Dude, the LCP only came out in '08. Just how "ye olde" could it possibly be? I have one from the original production run (serial number puts it in the first couple thousand off the line) and I think its one of my newest guns!

If an LCP is a "ye olde" carry gun, I wonder how one would describe my 1973 Speed Six that I carry regularly, and has a 35 year head start on the very first LCPs. (and I know there are guys here who carry 1903/08 Colt's etc that make my Speed Six a whippersnapper in comparison!!)

 

[Bruno2]

I like a lot of their products. I am a big GP100 fan. Toughest revolvers on the planet. The 10/22 is iconic and every kid should own one.

Their bolt guns are good guns, but I don't buy them. I don't buy their auto pistols except for the LCP I bought for my daughter to carry. I also do have a MKII now that I think about it.

One of the members here (I think BigFatDave) is a CCW instructor in MO. People that have never owned guns bring brand new .
,never fired and right out of the box pistols to take their class with. This guys swears that the Ruger auto pistols are the only ones that consistently run perfect right out of the box. No feed failures, failure to fire . He claims he has seen every brand have a hiccup at some point except the Ruger autos.

I think that is a testimony for the quality.

 

[horsemen61]

I am a huge ruger fan as well I broke my LCR when I first got by trying to disassemble it and they picked it up fixed it had it back to me in 5 days good as new

 

[Bernie Lomax]

Dude, the LCP only came out in '08. Just how "ye olde" could it possibly be? I have one from the original production run (serial number puts it in the first couple thousand off the line) and I think its one of my newest guns!

Well, I've been carrying it everywhere I go for about five years, so it feels old to me.

If an LCP is a "ye olde" carry gun, I wonder how one would describe my 1973 Speed Six that I carry regularly, and has a 35 year head start on the very first LCPs. (and I know there are guys here who carry 1903/08 Colt's etc that make my Speed Six a whippersnapper in comparison!!)

I have a Speed Six, too. It's my favorite handgun.

This guys swears that the Ruger auto pistols are the only ones that consistently run perfect right out of the box. No feed failures, failure to fire . He claims he has seen every brand have a hiccup at some point except the Ruger autos.

My first automatic pistol was a P-85. It was well-used when I bought it and looked like it had been through hell and high water, but it never skipped a beat, even when firing the cheapest ammo I could find. That thing was like a garbage disposal. It would eat anything I fed it and ask for seconds.

Bernie, what are you using to clean your firearms? You should not be left with a metallic taste.

Eezox and Butch's Bore Shine.

 

[OARNGESI]

Im sure your story isnt any near the strangest thing they heard

 

[BruceB]

Yesterday I visited my favorite dealer's shop here in Reno NV.

They had apparently just bought a Ruger collection, and in some ways it was like a tour of the company's history in handguns... ALL LIKE NEW.

Although all the single actions were New Models, there were....

-blue and stainless Single Sixes, both standard and convertible models in various lengths, including a "Buntline"

- a BEARCAT

-a 6" GP100

-several older Standard Model .22 autos

-Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks in various lengths, including a Super in .45 Colt, as well as Bisleys and a Vaquero

Those are the guns I recall right now. Although they are all in new condition, my dealer has honestly marked them as "used".

The highest price I remember on these Rugers was $450, and most were in the $400-425 range.... the .22 auto pistols were less. If there had been a .357 single action in the mix, it would have a new home right now!

There was also an interesting 10-22..... MANNLICHER (full-length) stock, nice checkering, good walnut, shadow-line cheekpiece... $319, and I was tempted.

Every Ruger I've ever owned (a LOT of them) has served very well indeed, and none ever needed a return to the factory. It sure is good to hear of their good service when required, though.

I love going to that store!

 

[19-3Ben]

Well, I've been carrying it everywhere I go for about five years, so it feels old to me.

Oh, I hear ya, believe me. I have carried mine around since I got it, back when you couldn't find them yet! The slide has wear on all the high spots, etc... and it definitely looks well carried. It feels old to me and I can't remember CCWing before my LCP was an option.

It's just funny because it really really super duper is not an old gun!

 

[JTHunter]

Splithoof - your comments are making me feel better about some guns my family owns.
My mom has an SP101 snubbie in .38 Special and I have a blue GP100 in .357 Magnum. I also have a .22 Convertible (LR/Mag) revolver and a 10/22 making Ruger the most numerous in my collection.

Sounds as if W.B. R.'s company is in good hands.

 

[splithoof]

^^^Good luck trying to wear out that SP101. Your mom has a perfectly good carry gun that will last generations. If she ever runs out of ammo, it will make a dandy impact weapon. I have used mine in several events we have hosted, and it is actually fun to fire it from retention, or from a jacket pocket (that's what thrift store $2 coats are also for), and have let many new shooters use it for comparison before they spend money on a purchase. I will also say that the SP101 is a hoot to use at night, especially when shooting magnum ammunition. With the right powder that little beast breathes fire, if that is what you want. Otherwise I load it with ammunition that reduces flash when possible.

 

[bannockburn]

BruceB

I would be sorely tempted as well by that Mannlicher stocked 10/22 at that price!

 

[Bernie Lomax]

Update: Finally got down to the range this morning to test her out and she ran like a champ. I put a hundred rounds of hydra-shok down range without a single hiccup. As far as accuracy is concerned, this gun isn't a tack driver, but it's combat accurate and can easily hold minute of bad guy at 20 ft, which is good enough for me.

Like I said, I'm sold. Ruger can have my business any time.

 

[wojownik]

Good to hear about Ruger CS. Love the balcony story. Reminded me of when I was taking down my first 1911. Spring and plunger spring right out the window of my first floor apartment - hot July, no a/c, window wide open...

The good news was that I was on the first floor and it made a graceful arc right onto the lawn in front of my window. The bad news it that it landed just a minute before the lawn service guys ran it over with their mower. Never saw a trace of it again. Truly an Inspector Clouseau moment.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Ruger is my favorite gun company of them all, especially right now. They know how to make a gun, and they know how to make it right!

 

[1911 guy]

Ruger autoloading handguns have never been accused of being pretty to look at, but they've always enjoyed a reputation for being reliable and the company stands behind them. Pretty much a win-win when selecting a CCW handgun. Pretty isn't a top concern. Reliability and customer support are, however. I never liked the placement of the controls on the old P series, but they worked every time. Could do a lot worse than a Ruger. Glad to hear of yet another example of outstanding support.

 

[XD Fan]

I hear these kind of stories about the customer services of many of the big gun manufacturers.

 

[FROGO207]

I have had a couple "knowledgeable" gun owners look down their stuffy noses at my good sized collection of Ruger firearms as a bunch of "poor mans S&W"----their exact words. I have nothing but great to say about Ruger and their customer support that I have needed. They are no Colt or S&W to be sure but they are rock solid in the quality for what they cost area and a better bargain for the cost than the other mentioned makes IMHO. I am a happy Ruger owner many dozens of times over FWIW.

 

[Schwing]

LOL, I knew someone would ask that.

I was cleaning the gun on the balcony outside the front door of my apartment because I didn't want to dirty up my apartment. If I'm going to do a real thorough cleaning, I'll clear off the kitchen table and put newspapers down on it and clean inside, but this was just a minor cleaning, done to clean off the salt that gets everywhere on the gun from sweat when I go running with it IWB every morning in the hot Arizona sun--as you can probably imagine, salty, dried sweat will corrode a gun like nobody's business if it's not regularly seen to. Anyway, I didn't want to go to all the trouble of running up to the store, buying newspapers, clearing off all the junk I have on the table, putting down the newspapers and then picking up and replacing all the junk that goes on the table after the cleaning when the whole cleaning would be over in five minutes. Also, every time I clean guns inside, my apartment stinks to high heaven for a whole day afterward from the chemicals and I get headaches and a funny metallic taste in my mouth and I want to avoid that as much as possible too.

So anyway, there I was holding the slide on the top of the railing with one hand while scrubbing it with a brush and some eezox with the other and it slipped out of my hand and fell onto the concrete walk below.

Now that I think about it, the guys at Ruger were probably scratching their heads wondering the same thing as you. In the letter I sent, I wrote that it had been dropped off a balcony but I don't think I explained how it happened.

In any case, it's back now and good as new, and I'm grateful for Ruger's great service.

I hate to worry you unnecessarily but a metallic taste in my mouth was the reason I went to see my doc back when I was diagnosed with high lead levels. It came and went for a few months and I finally could not stand it anymore. If you have it often, I would go get checked.

 

[1911 guy]

Quote:
I have had a couple "knowledgeable" gun owners look down their stuffy noses at my good sized collection of Ruger firearms as a bunch of "poor mans S&W"----their exact words.

And several handguns that S&W makes could be best described as "overpriced Rugers, Springfields, etc".)

Being a Smith & Wesson doesn't somehow grant the status of being a finely made firearm. I have handled a couple long guns made by them that would best serve as wiffle ball bats. Admittedly none of their pistols (except the defunct Sigma Series) are junk, but not all of them are worth top dollar.

 

[WestKentucky]

Glad to see things turned around. I might consider purchasing ruger again now that they have their ducks in a row so to speak. I hope they keep this up because my experience about 3 years ago wasn't very pleasant and pushed me off a bit.

 

[BP Hunter]

I love Ruger customer service. A while back, I purcahsed a used Ruger Gunsite scout. The box only had the rifle and manual - nothing else. I called Ruger and let them know what I bought thinking that I would have to buy the accessories. Lo and behod, in a week, I received a package from them which included the scope rings, 3 spacers for the stock, allen key and other stuff that should have come with a band new purchased rifle. And I paid nothing!