Am I the Last Guy To Know?? Ruger Lever Gun?

[helice]

I went on the Ruger websight this AM to order a few owner's manuals and decided to look at their products. They no longer list any LEVER ACTION rifles. Has Ruger given up on their lever gun 44? If so When? Weren't they well recieved?

I have a Mini 30 that didn't shoot too well till a bunch was done to it. Was their lever gun the same? Keep writin', I'm Learnin'! Helice

[45-70 Chevroner]

To my knowledge Ruger has never made a lever action. I am a Ruger fan all the way. They make for the money very good rugged firearms. They have had thier share of problems especially in the revolver class ie. throat specs. I think they have solved that problem.

[NHlever]

Yes, both the lever .44 mag, and .22 were dropped some time ago. I guess sales weren't that brisk. I do see that they have recently reintroduced the .44 bolt action though.

[EMC45]

The lever was called the 96/44 (44 Magnum) It was magazine fed via a 4 round detatchable box mag. I think the same mag worked in their 77/44 (bolt action 44 Mag) and their semi auto 44 mag-The new one, the old one fed from a tube.

[45-70 Chevroner]

I'm not sure how I missed those two rifles. I must have a blank space in my memory. My brother had a simi-auto Ruger 44Mag. Does any one have a picture of the lever 44 and 22?

[Maineboy]

I'm not sure how I missed those two rifles. I must have a blank space in my memory. My brother had a simi-auto Ruger 44Mag. Does any one have a picture of the lever 44 and 22?

Go over to Gunbroker.com and do a search for Ruger 96 and you'll find a few for sale - with pictures. looks like they're going for $600.00 or better.

[scrapcan]

here is a link to a review with a picture of hte 96/44. The ss is a little brother to this one

http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/gear/2007/09/gun-test

[hickstick_10]

that gun is as ugly as a mud fence.

wouldnt mind there bolt action 44 mag though

[Corbi]

Go over to Gunbroker.com and do a search for Ruger 96 and you'll find a few for sale - with pictures. looks like they're going for $600.00 or better.

LOL, that is a bunch of money for a gun that ugly.

Corbi

[Four Fingers of Death]

They sort of look like a 10/22 with a lever. Out here you could get a Rossi 92 with twice the mag capacity at half the price.

[O.S.O.K.]

http://www.outdoorlife.com/files/imagecache/photo-article-right/legacy/outdoor/large_images/ruger96.jpg

There's the pic from up thread.

From what I remember, they had the same issues as the autoloaders - OCL and rifling really made them a 240 grain shoooter.

[Maineboy]

LOL, that is a bunch of money for a gun that ugly.

Corbi

It could be why they didn't sell.

[45-70 Chevroner]

Thanks for getting me back in line I do remember the 96 now. To me it looks like the semi auto 44 with a lever. And yes it does look like the 10-22 also. One thing about the 44, in factory loading a body shot on a cotten tail will leave the head and turn the rest into jerky strips. Not your best bunny-gun.

[lonewelder]

I have never handled the ruger lever 44 but,I have dropped a lot of deer with the semi-auto44.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I don't think they looked that bad, sort of similar lines to the Winchester and SAKO full wood lever (just more reliable is all).

They didn't sell well out here I suppose because of the cheap Rossis and they didn't sell well in the states because you can buy autos. Then again it just could be a rationalisation on Ruger's part, they dropped the Old Army and a few other lines.

[Fenring]

Hi everyone (my first post, I just happened to spot this thread while lurking....). I have a 96/44 and it's my primary pig gun. Light, slick and with a shorter lever throw than the Marlin. Good scope mounting setup (standard Ruger mounts) and with "modern" handling. The only downside is the 4 round magazine which of course also dramatically limits OAL of loaded rounds.

Here are three 96/44's that come away with my group of happy hog hunters. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/Fenring/Shooting/Ridge%202008/Picture076.jpg

I've just cast a bunch of Devastators for mine and am soon to test some loads for a couple of forthcoming pig hunts.

[izzyjoe]

welcome aboard pardner, the more the merrier. got some nice .44 leverguns there. like your avatar also. wow.[smilie=p:

[helice]

Fenring,
Great picture. I'm glad we could coax you out and on to the forum. Welcome aboard. Helice

[helice]

I've always thought these 96/44s looked like a cross between the Marlin 60 (22LR) and a Savage 99. Never shot one. Never seen one in the field nor at the range. Just liked the look of them. Thanks for the input guys. Helice

[izzyjoe]

:Fire: a good friend of mine has a 96/44, and they are deadly accurate and reliable as a slegde hammer.and his has acounted for alot of deer meat!!!! like he says they just die on spot.

[Fenring]

Yeah, mine's been very reliable and I use it mainly for hunting pigs from a dirt bike - lots of thrills, a few spills and a fair bit of dust. Occasionally some mud. :)

The 96/44 is very easy to field strip - one flat bladed screwdriver - if it ever gets gummed up. And it's tolerant of a lot of dirt. I had mine apart yesterday and cleaned the last remnants of Queensland red dust out and lubed it with Teflon bicycle chain lube. While I was there I put a little radius on the entire edge of the chamber. 240gr SWC's seated in a bit deeper and lightly roll crimped over the wadcutter edge now fly into the breech. :)

[Four Fingers of Death]

I haven't seen one on the shelves at any gunshop for years (in fact I don't really remember ever seeing them), but there is a 22 at the local gunshop now. It is a shame it wasn't a 44 or I would have been digging in my pocket for a deposit.

[Fenring]

I really don't think there were too many sold over here and TBH when people here think of leverguns they think of the .30/30.

I was lucky enough to chance upon two second hand 96/44's in the local gun shop, both in near new condition and both $500. So I got one and my mate got another, that was about 6 years ago. A year or so back, another mate picked one up but he paid a bit more - about $700 IIRC.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I wouldn't mind one, but in reality they wouldn't do anything my 444 couldn't do better. Come to thnk of it, they wouldn't do anything that my 1894 Marlin couldn't do either.

[Fenring]

The Marlin in .44 Mag has the advantage of the 10 round tube mag (it comes in very handy on mobs of pigs, one of the other blokes I shoot with has one). Myself, I don't like the feel or handling of traditional lever actions much at all and I never considered owning a levergun until I had a play with the Ruger in the shop. The lever throw is shorter and slicker than any other levergun I've tried and it feels just like the 10/22 as far as handling goes.

[Newtire]

I had a Ruger auto 44 (Deerfield=cousin of this lever gun) and it is for sure a light weight easy handling little carbine but the empties kept bouncing off the bottom of the scope and ending up jamming up the gun. If you stick to the little aperture sight it comes with or mount an aftermarket sight on it, I would think you would be happy.

[223tenx]

A friend just told me about one at a local pawn shop. I had to check it out as I'd never heard of one. Whoever owned it before had carved a deer hunting scene on it and it is rather gaudy looking. $550 out the door. I think i'll pass on it.