What happen to Ruger?

[enysse]

I think I lost respect for Ruger today. I was doing a gun search. And found that they do not offer anymore guns in the bolt action above the 375 level other than the 375 Ruger and 416 Ruger. What a shame! They still offer options in their single shot rifles but no bolt action????

 

[BRICKBURN]

E all those big calibers must not sell to the masses.
They do sell to the Wesley Richards crowd though!

I guess you go to hunt Elephant with a Ruger you will really being showing your stuff! One shot or....

 

[enysse]

They may not be a huge sale for sure, but they claim on all the hunting outdoor channels that they, along with Horandy should be first in the mind of hunters everywhere. I really like CRF, but if they are not in the game...how can you recommend them to someone else?

I guess buy a CZ.

 

[James.Grage]

Enysse

This has been on Ruger for a period of time.

That is why you need to look around if you want to purchase American made firearms. In large bore.

That was one of the reasons that i was looking at a custom made rifle made in the USA.

 

[35bore]

You are right E, did a search myself. There use to be a lot on Gunbroker, but, checked there and all I found were 2 model 77's in 458 win mag, oh well, they are still around at least. Good luck with your search. BTW what were you looking for exactly.??

 

[enysse]

Well I was wondering why nobody mentions Ruger for affordable dangerous game rifles? Found my answer rather quickly! I admire the single shots that Ruger make, but find them expensive and not practical for hunting....and that is just my two cents. I'm a huge Ruger fan....but not such a "big fan" of them and Horandy for pushing the 375 Ruger and 416 Ruger. I like history.... 404 Jeffery, 416 Rigby, 458 Win and heck 416 Rem are more practical choices than these "new technology" products. And everyone should be making the 375 H&H.

 

[RickB]

I would have to agree! I am a huge ruger fan. I am not as big into the nostalgia part but why not make the larger rifles as well? Cost must be the only thing? I am not in the rifle making industry so I really don't know what cost goes into tooling up for different calibers. That is the only reason for not making the bigger guns. My dad has been looking at a .375 for buffalo. He has looked at CZ, winchester, and howa. But keeps coming back to the ruger. But I am not here to start another .375 debate! I am disappointed in ruger for not offering the larger calibers. But as a buisness why compete against your own creation? Ruger made a buisness decisions to promote the .375 ruger. You have to eliminate the competition to help yourself be sucsessful. Just my two cents.

 

[sestoppelman]

Eric, I think saying you have lost respect for Ruger due to the lack of large caliber offerings is a bit harsh. True, they dont offer much in the way of big bores other than their own but who does? Most makers offer a few but none offer all. I suppose CZ comes as close as anyone but other than the custom shop guns they aint made here. As for the Ruger No. 1 not being practical for hunting?! Really? See any recent pictures of Craig Boddington lately in Africa? As often as not you will see him standing over one perforated critter or another holding a Ruger No. 1 rifle! Expensive they are but well worth it, they are fine guns. Stir.. Stir..

 

[Red Leg]

The Ruger Model 77 Express (RSM) in .375 H&H and .416 was a beautiful, well made rifle with wood, fit, and finish far above the new Hawkeye line. I am told the purchase price of the Express would have been north of $ 3K with today's production costs. One can still find them on the auction sites and they are a tremendous value typically selling for around $1500. RUGER 77 MAGNUM RSM 375 H&H - Ruger 77 Rifles

 

[Norwegianwoods]

I am happy with my 375 Ruger, so why would I need them to offer me a 375 H&H?

I couldn't care less about history when it comes to cartridges. I want something that works well.
I don't care if it was made 100 years ago or yesterday.

I totally understand Rugers thinking.
Why offer something that competes with your own cartridges?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Why offer something that competes with your own cartridges?

Because others do and many still want/prefer the classic calibers.

 

[enysse]

The Ruger Model 77 Express (RSM) in .375 H&H and .416 was a beautiful, well made rifle with wood, fit, and finish far above the new Hawkeye line. I am told the purchase price of the Express would have been north of $ 3K with today's production costs. One can still find them on the auction sites and they are a tremendous value typically selling for around $1500. RUGER 77 MAGNUM RSM 375 H&H - Ruger 77 Rifles

I totally agree with you Red Leg, there are some tremendous deals on the used gun market.

I looked at the "African" version of the Hawkeye....I thought the price was right but nothing above 375 to get excited about. I'm sure there were compromises made...to keep the company alive in today's economy. No wonder the custom gun market is in such demand.

 

[enysse]

Eric, I think saying you have lost respect for Ruger due to the lack of large caliber offerings is a bit harsh. True, they dont offer much in the way of big bores other than their own but who does? Most makers offer a few but none offer all. I suppose CZ comes as close as anyone but other than the custom shop guns they aint made here. As for the Ruger No. 1 not being practical for hunting?! Really? See any recent pictures of Craig Boddington lately in Africa? As often as not you will see him standing over one perforated critter or another holding a Ruger No. 1 rifle! Expensive they are but well worth it, they are fine guns. Stir.. Stir..

Scott, I think for how much hunts cost, I'm not taking a chance with a single shot. 90 percent of the time, I have never needed more than one shot, but that only covers game up to eland. I would not take a chance on anything like a cape buffalo or cow elephant....I saw last weeks "Tracks Across Africa" and those elephants looked to put those hunters in the grave. Probably dealing with poachers and farmers enough in Zimbabwe..made them pissed off. And yes I realize it's TV....and everything is edited. But carrying a shell in your hand or somewhere else to put in your gun for a second shot...may work for non dangerous game. I wouldn't even try it unless someone was paying for my hunting trip. Yes, carrying a single shot through the woods sounds nice on the back and arms....but the extra weight of a double or bolt action is worth it.

I think Ruger makes one of the finest actions out there of the market! I have never had a misfeed or a failed ejection. I guess I disagree with some of the business directions they have made on the higher end guns.

At the end of the day, they have to find a market for their firearms, and make a profit.

 

[35bore]

Eric,

Further searching I found that if you just Google "Ruger 77" and whatever caliber you choose, I chose the 458 Lott, there were several that had them in stock, i.e. Budsgunshop, even Cheaperthandirt had one. Though not cheap anymore, they are out there.

That being said, I totally agree with you on the single shot aspect. It is fine for deer woods or like you said a plains game hunt, but, I would rather pack that little bit of extra weight to have that follow-up shot if it was needed. There is NO WAY I would risk it on something that could eat me, stomp me, or put me at a 30ft. higher elevation than I was when I shot it.

Some of the others have posted that Ruger is just trying to push their newer calibers with the new rifles, and maybe that it so, but I really don't see the new Ruger Hornady series taking off like wildfire. In the 375 and up caliber range, they are trying to hit a fairly small market of people/buyers. I feel these same buyers, after reading on this forum about peoples thoughts on the new Ruger calibers, are happy with the old tried and true 375 H&H, 416 Rem and Rigby, 458 Win and Lott, etc...Ruger will come back around, I think it was a bad business decision and the powers that be at Ruger will come to realize it. Scott.

 

[enysse]

I did some extensive searching and have found everyone in the firearm industry is cutting back. CZ discontinued a number of options. Things must be tough.

Found out the 416 Rigby has a huge market right now...a lot of options. There is still a lot of 458 Win. on the market. And the 416 Rem has been decreasing. And if you can 404 Jeffrey...good luck, expect to pay for it. Everyone talks about the double gun market being way up...well the bolt action market must be down...either due market saturation in the used gun available or the fact people just are not buying. And I think the custom gun market is way up!

 

[35bore]

The main reason I got rid of my 416 Rigby and went too the 458 Win Mag, was,,,,,,,,,,,,(pause for effect),,,,,,,,, when I bought my 416 Rigby the ammo was around $135 per box, then the last box (about 1 1/2 yrs ago) was $173. I thought there were too many PH's who endorse the 458 WM and so few mention the 416 Rigby, so I made the switch. I bought a Ruger 77 in 458 win Mag, and loved the rifle but, fell on some hard times myself and got rid of it for the cash. Times seem to be a little better and currently I am having a custom built 458 WM built. Sorry Eric not on the 77 platform.

Everything not pertaining to this thread aside, I still think Ruger will come around and see the Ruger/Hornady thing is not working out so well for them. Too many traditionalist.

As far as the firearms industry cutting back, if you think about it, everyone, o.k. not everyone, but most firearms lovers want a big bore, with the way things are, maybe there is just not the demand at this time. I am pouring concrete in January, for the first time in 4 years, people are starting to spend cause we get this dumb ass out of office this year. The gun industry will come around and realize the don't have to re-invent the wheel to sell guns. Scott.

 

[BryceM]

I really like the CZ in .416 Rigby, but if you don't reload, it's VERY expensive to feed. If you do reload, it's a dream cartridge in a modern action. I can't see too many reasons to hunt dangerous stuff without at least three or four in the tube. To really trust it though I'll probably have it given a once-over by the after-market upgrade guys before it goes across the pond.

 

[Norwegianwoods]

Because others do and many still want/prefer the classic calibers.

All gun companies are cutting down on the calibers/cartridges they are offering in their guns now.
The times are very difficult for the gun making industry.
Making a magnum length action for just one or 2 cartridges is very expensive.
With the 375 Ruger and the 416 Ruger, a normal long action can be used cutting the manufacturing costs by very much.

I think that there only are going to be less new guns offered in the big bores and most of big bores sold will either be second hand or custom made.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I think it makes sense from Ruger's perspective. If we are honest, it is a very small percentage of shooters with any practical use for anything over 375HH. The very few animals that can justify something larger are extremely expensive to hunt, and while there are a few few people who will scrimp and save to hunt an elephant, the majority of people with use for something bigger than 375HH can afford a custom rifle.

A factory Ruger is simply not the dream rifle of too many people with a real use for something bigger than a 375HH. The man who makes a habit of hunting elephant and now even buffalo can afford a bespoke rifle and he's not in the market for an off the shelf Ruger.

The man who may want a big-bore rifle the way a Japanese factory worker wants a set of golf clubs, that is, as an achievable piece of a fantasy he will likely never be able to afford is Ruger's market. That man is currently struggling under an economy that doesn't leave much room for dreams of Africa. That man used to buy a 458 and dream of one day heading to Africa. Now, he saves his money and dreams of one day having a secure job.

 

[enysse]

I think you hit the nail on the head Bert the Turtle.

I thought Ruger would have gotten rid of their single shot rifle lines a long time ago. Sales must be strong still.