The amazing wood Ruger can drudge up

I'm a full customs guy, but Ruger never fails to impress, you usually don't even have to look very hard. Why Rugers sell for what they do, and aren't considered a premium brand over other contemporary brands still boggles my mind. All of mine are rock solid reliable, gorgeous guns of a level of quality I just don't find in many other makers. Especially at their price! Even more interesting is I know there are guys on here with Rugers that outdo mine handily, all in a production rifle that sells at typically zero premium.

Ruger; Master Maker, Pitiful Marketer.

i agree that those rifles of yours have very nice wood on them. but IMO the only reason that rugers seem like a premium rifles is because there is because the bar is set so low these days.

the #1 reminds me of a 1970's vintage winchester 94 much more than of a 1950's vintage example.

again IMO, those husqvarnas currently on the market are much nicer than the rifles ruger is making and are much cheaper, only problem is most people want a scope.
 
I'm a full customs guy, but Ruger never fails to impress, you usually don't even have to look very hard. Why Rugers sell for what they do, and aren't considered a premium brand over other contemporary brands still boggles my mind. All of mine are rock solid reliable, gorgeous guns of a level of quality I just don't find in many other makers. Especially at their price! Even more interesting is I know there are guys on here with Rugers that outdo mine handily, all in a production rifle that sells at typically zero premium.

Ruger; Master Maker, Pitiful Marketer.

Lest we forget the squint-inducing stainless finish with ugliest-in-the-industry stynthetic stocked rifle. ;)

Yeah, some have nice wood, but most are just mediocre walnut. I like their high gloss bluing and the older ones have decent fit/finish, but they've never been known as accurate or lightweight, which sells in todays market. The floorplate has always been a gripe of many as well, up until the steel Hawkeye version. Their synthetic stocks are terrible in all respects, which is why new ones can be bought for $65 from Brownells.

And the 375 RSM is a $2000+ rifle new, so hardly entry level.

Enough factors to keep them from attaining any higher status.
 
Lest we forget the squint-inducing stainless finish with ugliest-in-the-industry stynthetic stocked rifle. ;)

Yeah, some have nice wood, but most are just mediocre walnut. I like their high gloss bluing and the older ones have decent fit/finish, but they've never been known as accurate or lightweight, which sells in todays market. The floorplate has always been a gripe of many as well, up until the steel Hawkeye version. Their synthetic stocks are terrible in all respects, which is why new ones can be bought for $65 from Brownells.

And the 375 RSM is a $2000+ rifle new, so hardly entry level.

Enough factors to keep them from attaining any higher status.

As far as the wood, some maybe mediocre walnut but all other factory guns don't even reach that level of mediocrity.

And $2000 for a full size magnum is still a very reasonable price to pay.

As for my money and guns only custom, vintage or new Ruger's.

Gian
 
I'm a full customs guy, but Ruger never fails to impress, you usually don't even have to look very hard. Why Rugers sell for what they do, and aren't considered a premium brand over other contemporary brands still boggles my mind. All of mine are rock solid reliable, gorgeous guns of a level of quality I just don't find in many other makers. Especially at their price! Even more interesting is I know there are guys on here with Rugers that outdo mine handily, all in a production rifle that sells at typically zero premium.

Ruger; Master Maker, Pitiful Marketer.

Ya know most rifles sold these days that are in the 1000.00 price point are very good shooters for the most part. Ruger number ones have a long standing rep. for so so accuracy. I do not recall anyone talking about the one hole groups that they are getting from their number one. FS
 
My No. 1 - 257 Roberts, love the wood and handling.

Will it shoot one hole groups..... maybe someday with some good loading but for now with factory Winchester it shoots less than 1" at 100 yards and i've rarely found a fcatory rifle of any kind that would do much better with factory ammo, so I'm not complaining about the accuracy.

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As far as the wood, some maybe mediocre walnut but all other factory guns don't even reach that level of mediocrity.

And $2000 for a full size magnum is still a very reasonable price to pay.

As for my money and guns only custom, vintage or new Ruger's.

Gian

Nothing wrong with Ruger, but nothing special about them either, I own a couple and like them OK. The new Winchesters have equal or better wood and once we get into higher end factory guns, Kimber and Cooper pull way ahead.

Don't take it personally. ;)
 
Nothing wrong with Ruger, but nothing special about them either, I own a couple and like them OK. The new Winchesters have equal or better wood and once we get into higher end factory guns, Kimber and Cooper pull way ahead.

Don't take it personally. ;)

Hey Bearkilr,

Nothing personal at all, I know we all have our preferences and favorites, otherwise there would only be a need for one model rifle in one caliber.

Just saying for my money, Ruger is the only new factory rifle I would buy.

Gian
 
Everyone has good points, none of my No.1's have been bugholers, but all have been better than I presumed they would be (I feared 3", not one of mine has been worse than 1.5" and I've had quite a few). That said, today a 1" gun really isn't impressive, it's par for the course, but it's good enough for my uses by far.

Yep, Rugers are generally "heavy" (standard weight, in reality), and they're also probably the toughest guns in the class, every drawback has its flipside. As a side note, the RSM is "cheap" for what it is, no other integral quarter rib rifle, with express sights and all the other doodads, retails for even double the cost of the RSM.
 
As a side note, the RSM is "cheap" for what it is, no other integral quarter rib rifle, with express sights and all the other doodads, retails for even double the cost of the RSM.

Agreed, imo it was their flag ship piece with the deep bluing and nice wood. Of course they discontinued it...:confused:
 
Agreed, imo it was their flag ship piece with the deep bluing and nice wood. Of course they discontinued it...:confused:

Probably discontinued since their profit margin was zero on that particular rifle and they can't charge more as it still bears the Ruger name. Also, for less than half the price, you can get the African or Alaskan in 375 Ruger.
 
Likewise my #1 .416 purchased in the late 90s had beautiful wood. I recently purchased an as new LH Hawkeye in .270 (sight unseen) for my son. I hope it has decent wood, but some of the 77s I've seen have been pretty blasé.
 
A number of years ago, I ordered up a #1B Ruger in 300 Win Mag.
It came with the most gorgeous piece of wood on the buttstock.
However, the forestock was super-plain, and detracted from the package.
Nevertheless, it was a very accurate rifle, and would make 3150 fps, using Norma MRP and the 180 Partition.
Eventually sold it to someone who felt they could not live without it.
BTW, Rugers are not the only "stock" rifles that show up with nice wood.
Regards, Eagleye.
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