Ruger 96/44 are they any good?

[6.5x55swm]

I might be buying one of these rifles soon, just looking for feed back

 

[John Y Cannuck]

My wife loves hers, fast handling brush gun. Not terrifically accurate, but good for deer within the cartridges range. The action is very fast.
The recoil is surprisingly stiff for such a small cartridge.

 

[primus1]

They are ugly but functional, its too bad you can't get a decent walnut stock for them.

 

[kell2784]

Good for anything under 150 yds. Any further, I'd look at using something else. Mine fed nice, and was great to carry around. I also don't have one anymore, and probably wouldn't buy another one.

 

[pharaoh2]

Would you consider a 1894 Marlin? It's just my opinion, but I think the Marlins a nicer looking rifle, and probably just as accurate.

 

[6.5x55swm]

I would perfer a Marlin to. But the 96/44 is $300 new, it's a replacment for my Ruger 44 mag carbine. How accurate are they? My carbine would shot 2 inch groups at 100yds. That's all I want, something that fires a big bullet and good group for 100 to 150 yds. I would trade the 96/44 for something else, I shoot left if any one cares to trade.

 

[kell2784]

A Marlin would be nice, or so I'm told. Don't expect any tight groups with a 44 mag case. You will achieve minute of deer though, which is all you need.

 

[Win/64]

The Henry "Big Boy" is a very nice lever. Super smooth with great wood.

 

[Whelen B]

If it's $300 new just buy it and try it. They usually sell for around 560 I think. Could sell it used for more than 300 probably.

I have a good friend who loves his when tending bait piles. He uses 300 grain XTPs or Gold Dots at around 1750MV or so I seem to remember.

 

[transitsc]

They're great little rifles, and actually are well made. Quick action, neat magazine set-up and pull to the shoulder very nicely. Mine gets under 2" groups with open sites. Yes the stock may not be walnut, but it's a solid little deer rifle that does what it is designed to do. The action is surprisingly fast. The only negative comment I would have is it's a thick rifle around the receiver area and may prove difficult for someone with smaller hands to carry around in the bush.