Ruger recently released their (bad) financial results. Their financial documents give some insight into the gun market as a whole:

"• The primary causes for the year over year decline in demand for the Company’s products during the third quarter included:

 the reduction in overall consumer demand, combined with high inventory levels at retail,

 retailers buying fewer firearms than they were selling, in an effort to reduce their inventories and generate cash,

 these factors led to aggressive price discounting by many of our competitors (this price discounting was not matched by the Company, and likely resulted in lost market share).

• The reduction in consumer demand for the Company’s products was further exacerbated by:

 the lack of significant new product introductions from the Company, and

 the continued limited availability of rimfire ammunition (which the Company believes adversely affected retail sales of .22 rifles, pistols and revolvers)."

Yes, the general economy, overall, has not been healthy and Ruger, like every other company, is at the mercy of the FED and market whims.

I also think that the gun-buying public, a much smaller percentage of the gun-owning public, is rather small and competition is extremely fierce, especially in police or LEO contracts. Ruger continues to lag behind in the LEO market where Glock, SIG, and S&W continue to hold the lion's share of sales.

Ruger built its initial success on filling some wide gaps in the firearms market. Seventy years later, there are fewer gaps to fill, if any, resulting in many new firearms, even cartridges, having a moment in the sun, then to be forgotten.

Hunting opportunities are also shrinking. Once huntable land is plowed into housing developments and malls. Once-friendly landowners are far more resistant to allowing strangers to hunt their land. A landowner I helped represent incurred a civil liability when an invited guest wounded a neighbor with an errant shot, fired uphill, and striking the neighbor, a measured 2850 feet away.That landowner no longer allows anyone on his land.

Despite no presence in the LE and military market, it seems like they would do pretty well in the (admittedly over-saturated) CCW area with their reasonably priced products.

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Because of the metric system?

I think Ruger has a great variety of firearms available that can fit anyone's needs. They are made in USA and have an affordable price tag for entry level guns. Customer service is good too. I personally dislike their SR line of polymer pistols but that's just me. Never thought that they have financial issues...

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Jorge

Ruger is somewhat to blame for their loss in earnings over the last couple of years. Some of the stocks they are putting on their new rifles now are just hideous, and folks don't like them!

Ruger has long been the leader in the .22 cal market, they would have been better advised to invest in increasing the ammunition supply than trying to build firearms that are trying to compete with glock and smith in the areas they already own (law enforcement and military).

Ruger has one of the strongest double action and single action revolvers on the market. I've personally proved that many times. I think with them constantly trying to follow the trends way too closely there discontinuing models of certain calibers way too early. The sales hit a lull it's discontinued. Example the redhawks in 357 & 41 Magnum. There selling online like crazy but still not offered in brand new by ruger? Ruger missed the boat on the redhawks for sure. The ruger DA revolver has no screws to come loose under the Magnum frame flex. With its vertical solid sides on the frame the strength is in the solid vertical. It's design is spot on.

The down fall is ruger is a fairly new company with no centuries old history yet. Colt and s&w have been rival companies for many centuries now.
I still believe there is a place for Ruger with its top notch quality products in firearms. I've been very happy with the performance of my ruger revolvers for 45 years. They have served me well.

I have there semi auto in the target 22's but don't have any experience with there pistols in 380, 9mm, 40cal, 45acp etc.

My suggestions to any gun manufacturer right now is not to discontinue models and calibers but to limit the manufacturing numbers so your customers can still enjoy them all. The market is there waiting like a little kid on Christmas eve and Santa isn't coming with what we really want.

I don't own any Ruger hand guns but I do own two of their rifles; a 580 series Mini-14 Ranch Rifle and a Gunsight Scout Rifle in .308. Both of them are extremely accurate and dependable. I would certainly hate to see Ruger fall by the wayside.

Bob

Bill Ruger built this company from the ground up with his own two hands, After he died the company tried to go too big to fast, and this is the results.
A lot of company's have done this after the founders death.

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John

In the 3rd Quarter Conference Call, it was repeatedly mentioned that a competitor to Ruger is discounting it's products 40% this year at the wholesale level to help reduce excess inventories, etc.

Who is that competitor?

Jeez, with all the new Ruger SA's I've bought in the last two years I would have thought they would be in better shape!

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Stay safe people!

I bought 3 Rugers this year... but 2 of them were used. Just one brand new one this year and one on the horizon for next year.

I like to think that I'm doing my part.

This is probably generic to much of the firearms industry - they ramped up capacity during the 2009-'13 firearms boom and are struggling with a still active but downsizing market. Having all the used guns from the past few years have probably put a big dent in new retail sales. I personally don't see any deficiencies in their product lineup but they don't seem to have a large LE market presence.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Own many Ruger fire arms, plan to own many more.

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Molon Labe!

The trend away from revolvers (except small, very light CC versions), and the fact that so many people are now afraid of the perceived liability risk of cocked-and-locked 1911's, can't have helped them. They make very good revolvers, and the reviews I see of the 1911 models say they are excellent guns at a reasonable price.

Face it, revolver and cocked-and-locked .45 ACP fans are a diminishing breed.

I wouldn't mind at all having one of their P-series pistols, though they are butt ugly and have the ergonomics of cigar boxes. They have the reputation among people I know of dependability and reasonable accuracy. But the public wants sexy plastic and gnat-weight revolvers they can't shoot well.

Sad.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Rugers market has always been sporting and self defense. No military to speak of, and limited law enforcement. Last I knew though, the largest federal law enforcement agency - the Federal Bureau of Prisons, was still issuing the Ruger P series pistol.

I would be pretty sure most other firearms manufacturers are suffering the same problems. That's what happens when a market booms, then returns back to normal. A new market boom is unfortunately, only another bad election, school shooting, or some other panic situation away...

Larry

Wait just a second now, are you trying to say that the firearms market is not like the housing market where values and sales volumes can only ever increase?

Ruger and all the other manufacturers capitalized on the "gun legislation scare" of the last 6 years and were financially rewarded for it. I suspect the panic is now basically over and anyone who wanted a firearm now has a firearm and ammo to go with it.
I would predict a continuing slowdown in firearms orders and demand.
This can be readily seen at just about any shop or gunshow. People madly scrambling around trying to buy AR15s and ammo appears at this point to be a thing of the past.
At the last gun show I attended last week you could walk right up and buy any kind of ammo you wanted possibly with the exception of 22s. However there was plenty of this available on the gougers tables.
Jim

Ruger really has nothing to offer, at least to me. They don't make anything that someone else doesn't already make better and just a little more expensive. Maybe the sp101.....that's about the only thing I'd buy

I am not done buying firearms. Though personal finances have been limiting me to accesories for the firearms I already own along with reloading components.
There may be a revolver in the best future or a handgun for the wife.

I have been helping my wife and a good friend through the CC handgun selection process over the past few months. My wife is a diehard stainless Smith fan, my friend has minimal experience with handguns. We spent a lot of time on the range with rental guns and my 642. Before this started the Ruger LCR would have not entered my thinking. I tried to steer both down the 642/442 route. This week my friend picked up an LCR in .38 Spl and my wife will probably end up with the same in .22 Mag. If she doesn't, I may buy one just as a fun gun/understudy to my 642. It is a homely little mutt, but it is $150 (and one round) less than a 351. The LCR .38, oddly, came in at $25 more than a no-lock 642.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Maybe they should start making .22 ammo?

Bill Ruger was Anti CCW, they didn't start making small hide away guns until after his death.
He also testified to congress before the AWB that no one besides the police or military need a mag that held more that 10 rounds.

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John

I agree with this entire post but an intrigued by the comment of Redhawk .357 and .41 mag. Did they ever actually make such animals?? I would love 2 of each in 4" and 7.5".

Rugers reputation was forever damaged by Bill Ruger's comments. However, I do like the guns they no longer make such as the Security Six and old model Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks. Like S&W they have gotten away from what folks really want and now offer something less. The difference is that S&W has done a better job of marketing their new and inferior product, convincing many that its as good or better. Ruger has failed to sell that same argument.

Yes. Not sure about barrel lengths but made those calibers. Pricey when they appear on GB or Ruger forum.

I would support ruger if they offered there redhawks in 41mag and in 357 mag. If they offered the normal redhawks frame again not the super redhawks. The redhawks in 357mag has a super thick wall on the cylinder.
The redhawks is awesome in 41 Magnum too. There selling online as quick as there listed. What does that tell us?

I worked for one of the biggest machine tool manufacturing companies in the country. Back when the interest rates hit 21% in '83 it put the brakes on the machine tool business. The company had ten orders to manufacturer the lathe grinders for the jet engine manufacturer and they turned it down. They could of kept Americans working. The problem was white consolidated owned 51% of the companies shares. When they took over the company Mr Bullard transfered the pension fund to the union to run. White consolidated wanted to get there hands on those millions of dollars in the pension fund. White said no money from the pension fund they will close the doors on the company. They closed it.

We let the cheaper imported machine tools hit our shores. They buried our machine tool business.

All these companies are worried about is showing there share holders profits. At the cost of the American workers lives. It's big business.
At certain economic times they should be happy to be in the black and to keep Americans working. The big profits aren't there anymore. If they can't have the whole pie be happy with a piece of the pie. Greed is ruining our country.

Mainly 5 1/2" & 7 1/2" barrels.

Several mentioned Ruger making rimfire/22 ammo.

I think it is a great idea. Buy a brick of 22 LR and get a free pistol.

Maybe some new products would help. How about a 10/22 size carbine in 9mm utilizing a pistol mag or bringing back a .44 mag or .357 carbine. A .17 or .22mag 10/22 since a see good supplies of these cartridges

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Old Guys Rule!

With the possible exception of the .17 and .357, they already tried all those options. They were short lived efforts.

They did offer a complete line up of calibers in the redhawk model.
It came in, 357mag, 41mag, 44mag, 45LC, 454 casull, 480ruger.
As soon as the sales and demand for the 357 & 41 mags dropped off they discontinued them. I wanted a big frame 41Magnum so I purchased my first s&w n frame. Thanks ruger.

I think colt and ruger are in cahoots to see who can discontinue handguns faster.

Thank god we still have s&w still offering there classics.

I like all revolvers/guns but I support the only manufacturer who still offers what I want.

I realize the double action revolver may die next to the single action revolvers, but I hope not. Since these big steel S&W "N" Frames are the only handguns that are legends in there own right still handling the Magnum calibers they should be around forever.

Ruger makes their money on .22LR.

No .22 ammo, no need to buy any Rugers. Seen it many times. 10/22s marked down to Airsoft price range and nobody buying because there's no .22 ammo. Might as well be a tomato stake.

I have shot my very stout Magnum loads that we only can shoot out of a ruger. I've been probably shooting proof loads+. The ruger revolvers lack nothing in quality. I can honestly say this. Don't do this at home. Stay within the limits when reloading.

My ruger redhawk in 44mag with a 5 1/2" barrel does shoulder holster very nicely.

I know if I were in the market for a rifle, they wouldn't even make the "maybe" list for that very reason. I like a nice piece of walnut and blued steel. Synthetic stocks, of any type, and stainless do not appeal to me at all.

I had a chance at a M77-RSI with the mannlicher(sp?) stock in .308 back in the late 80's. Had a nice Leupold scope on it, too. I thought it over, left the gun shop to think about it, decided I had to have it, only to return and find out it was gone. Regretted that ever since.

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Been up since before breakfast

I am still doing my part and boycotting anything with Bill Ruger's name on it, but at least the company knows there is difference between a pistol and a revolver.

Marlin called that one the Camp 9.

Both Ruger and Smith & Wesson suffered in the late 90s due to politics. Bill Ruger made an off the cuff remark about magazine capacity and Smith made a deal with the devil. Both companies seem to have learned from those mistakes and moved on. I'm not walking around with a Taurus on my hip so I guess I have too.

They need to make .22 ammo, that is were the money is right now. They can give rifles away with ammo purchases.

This summer I bought three nice .22 hand guns at bargain prices. The .22 shortage even effects the used market. Ed

Ruger called it the Police Carbine. Ruger Police Carbine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Where are these low prices on 10-22's, I'd like to pick one up.

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John

I have looked at the new rugers lately at a few gun shows. Personally I think the quality is not what it once was, I own a 22,32 single six, security six 357, and a old 3 screw superblack hawk. I believe the new model don't seem to have the fit and finish of my older hand guns.

Well.Im gonna do my part. Im buying a New Stainless 1911 full size, and a new stainless 10-22 carbine, in the next couple of weeks. I like to tinker with 10-22s, everytime I get one I like, freinds talk me out of them, then I have to get another,lol regards Ernie

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Rimfires Makes me "Insane"

Seems like I saw them for $189 a week ago.
Think it was these guys, you might want to get on their email notification for future deals.

Ammunition, Magazines, Rifle Parts, Bulk Ammo and Rifle Accessories - Palmetto State Armory

Ruger would be money ahead if they could make SP-101's, any caliber, that didn't have to have aftermarket trigger work/mods in order to be usable.

Kinda a drift here, Much as I like playing with a 10-22, I KNOW after I buy one, I will spend more (250-300) to get it to "run" to my liking than I gave for the rifle, kinda of the appeal of it I guess. Theres a cottage industry on stuff for these things. Theres a group off people thats takes these little rifles pretty darn seriously, and can put over a Grand in them FAST, besides optics.......I like em alot, but after I put one together (many over the years) I wonder why I do that? lol. Regards Ernie

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Rimfires Makes me "Insane"

I bought a Ruger Mk.III 22/45 target model because of the availability of aftermarket parts for it. I wanted the ability to tinker with more than just changing out the grips.

I've owned many Ruger products over the years, some of which I wish I'd never sold or traded. With the exception of a Mini-14 I bought back in the early 90's, all of them were quality products. My fixed-sight Single Six .22 LR is one of my favorite revolvers. In the past two months, I've bought two new Ruger long guns: an All American .22 LR for plinking, and a M77 Hawkeye RSI .30-06 that's been on my bucket list.

Seeing this thread made me go out today and order a Ruger 77/44 stainless steel bolt action .44 Magnum carbine. I've always wanted one, and knowing Ruger will probably slow production in the future, maybe stop altogether slow sellers like the 77/44 made me "Pull the Trigger" so to speak....

As my eyes age, the ability to scope a 5.25 pound .44 Magnum carbine is appealing. I'll pick it up on Friday, I'll post a range and hunting report later!

Ruger has missed the boat just like other gun companies by discontinuing models and not making replacement parts. You have an older mini break on you and they will not repair it, they just want to sell new guns. Comes a time companies will lose sales because they don't repair older guns.

Most of us keep our guns for years and when they break the companies no longer service their products. You can buy old car parts forever but have a ruger mini bolt break in an older gun and all you have is parts.

Most people just don't have expendable cash anymore. Seems that anything but price point guns run $700-1000 or better, at least for the stuff I like. I have enough guns, don't need or want anything bad enough to part with that kind of money. I prefer brite blue steel revolvers and blue steel and walnut rifles, and apparrently, others do too, but a new Winchester 70 Alaskan lists for $1300, new Weatherbys almost $2000, then you gotta scope it. The prices on used Smiths and Colts indicate lots of interest, same with the rifles. The firearm market is an indicator of the economy, like everything else, and let's face it, I don't need a new gun, but I do need to eat and keep a roof over my head.