rintinglen
04-12-2020, 02:57 PM
I no longer rush to be the first in line to buy a Ruger, no matter how much I desire the gun in question, but I have been burnt too often by Ruger's modern era "QC" to risk the aggravation involved in returning firearms. Consequently, when they came out with a mid-framed 44 Special, I delayed, being afraid of the firearms equivalent of the old "new car bugs." I am glad I finally got off the stick and bought one though. To put it in a word: wow.
260194260195
First, the action is the best I ever have seen on a factory Ruger. It is smooth, much better than the other Rugers I own. It seems to be in perfect time, no spitting, nor off-center primer hits and it just plain wants to shoot. The above target was the first 20 shots fired from the revolver. Granted, it was only 7 yards, double action, slow fire, but the first five shots cut a clover leaf, all-touching just at the top of the 10 ring (please excuse the sideways picture, I can't seem to get it to rotate). The next 10 did nearly as well, shredding the center of the X-ring while I used Kentucky elevation to lower the impact. I only had 20 rounds with me, so I ran the target out to the fifteen yard line, and went single -action, head hunting with the last five rounds. I can't shoot much better than that with any iron-sighted gun. It has continued to shoot well with just about everything I have run through. Though it seems to be particularly partial to the NOE wadcutter.
That load was a hand load using the excellent NOE 432-236 wc over 4.5 grains of Red Dot. It is very accurate, at least out to 50 yards. That is the furthest that I have shot this gun. Sadly, what with retirement, moving across country, and now the corona virus self-isolation, I haven't been able to do any shooting since January. But the 280 odd rounds I have put through it have brought many a smile to my face. I replaced the over-sized factory grips with a set of more compact Altamonts. The speedloaders are HKS CAA, 5 shot, Charter Arms, but work just fine. The holster is one of my Saturday Afternoon Specials for general field carry. I will walk just about any where in the continental 48 wearing this. Did I mention it also shoots the Skeeter Load like nobody's business.
260194260195
First, the action is the best I ever have seen on a factory Ruger. It is smooth, much better than the other Rugers I own. It seems to be in perfect time, no spitting, nor off-center primer hits and it just plain wants to shoot. The above target was the first 20 shots fired from the revolver. Granted, it was only 7 yards, double action, slow fire, but the first five shots cut a clover leaf, all-touching just at the top of the 10 ring (please excuse the sideways picture, I can't seem to get it to rotate). The next 10 did nearly as well, shredding the center of the X-ring while I used Kentucky elevation to lower the impact. I only had 20 rounds with me, so I ran the target out to the fifteen yard line, and went single -action, head hunting with the last five rounds. I can't shoot much better than that with any iron-sighted gun. It has continued to shoot well with just about everything I have run through. Though it seems to be particularly partial to the NOE wadcutter.
That load was a hand load using the excellent NOE 432-236 wc over 4.5 grains of Red Dot. It is very accurate, at least out to 50 yards. That is the furthest that I have shot this gun. Sadly, what with retirement, moving across country, and now the corona virus self-isolation, I haven't been able to do any shooting since January. But the 280 odd rounds I have put through it have brought many a smile to my face. I replaced the over-sized factory grips with a set of more compact Altamonts. The speedloaders are HKS CAA, 5 shot, Charter Arms, but work just fine. The holster is one of my Saturday Afternoon Specials for general field carry. I will walk just about any where in the continental 48 wearing this. Did I mention it also shoots the Skeeter Load like nobody's business.