Blame the gorilla. Ruger .44 carbine finds a new home.

sigp220.45 · Sep 6, 2012

Not OUR gorilla of course. I meant this one:

Ever since I saw that ad as a kid I've wanted one of these. I've run across a few over the years, but they were either overpriced or I was undermoneyed or both.

A while ago I spotted this one in the old gun rack at Ron Peterson's great gun store in ABQ. A little dickering and I secured it for under four bills.

Its a very early one, and still in pretty good shape. Some dents and dings, just enough so I won't mind taking it javelina hunting this year.

If only gorilla season was open.

Any other fans of these?

David LaPell · Sep 6, 2012

I have one of those ads and I can tell you that Ruger would never run something like that now no matter what the circumstances of the kill were. As for the gun a friend of mine bought one of those Ruger's many moons ago for his girlfriend and she killed several deer with it, it was the only rifle she ever really liked and some very large bucks fell to her Ruger .44.

Old Corp · Sep 6, 2012

Fantastic little carbines. Have had one for about 20 years or so.

Encountered a guy that was unsatisfied with one because it wouldn't feed and shoot factory .44 SPECIALS!.
Traded him even for a much - used Ruger Security Six 4" blue .357.

Put a Weaver 1-3x scope on the Ruger Carbine and have taken a bunch of deer with it, including a 6 pt. Albino buck. It's my favorite 'close-in woods gun', and that's the majority of the type of terrain I hunt anyway.
Hornady 240 gr. XTP's shoot inside about 2.5" at 100 yards and have anchored every deer I've ever hit, pronto.

Good find. Enjoy.

Reddog · Sep 6, 2012

Ruger Deerslayer

I have one of these from 1961, serial # under 250. It has a white bead front sight and a Marlin made barrel. I've never hunted with it but it's very accurate with 240 grain jacketed bullets at 100 yards! Mine is from a time before Ithaca (sp?) sued Ruger for using a name too close to their Deerstalker and stopped them from using the name "Deerslayer". I have a PDF of the handbook on this rifle, if anyone needs a copy of it I can email it to you.
Dick

silentflyer · Sep 6, 2012

Had one years ago, sold it a mistake for sure, if I ever find another one on a "deal" I'll but it. Great little gun for knocking around the mountains with.

Cyrano · Sep 6, 2012

Pity someone doesn't make something like that, but a little heavier, in 500 S&W Magnum.

forresth · Sep 6, 2012

looks like a fun little gun, but I think I'd prefer my 44mag carbine in a lever action. It just seams more fitting to the round if that makes any sense to you.

P&R Fan · Sep 6, 2012

When I was a kid I read an article in my Dad's Rifle magazine about a guy who accurized one to take bear hunting. This was in the mid '70s. I actually still have the article. It really interested me and I always wanted one. About 12 years ago I found one at a gun show and paid $400 for it. I wouldn't take twice that amount for it today.

Jim

mc5aw · Sep 6, 2012

I have a similar, but much later dated, Ruger carbine in 9mm. No longer in production, it was marketed as a patrol car carbine, and accepts Ruger 9mm pistol magazines. Heavy for its size, but lots of fun to blast 9mm with. I accumulated a bag full of pistol lo-caps & hi-caps, and it is extremely accurate. I'm not a Ruger fan at all, but the 9mm carbine and 10/22 are nice cost effective additions to the collection.

bobcat · Sep 6, 2012

I gotta admit that I actually find that ad picture a little disturbing, but a nice rifle.

Frizzman · Sep 7, 2012

They seem to be a handy little rifle. I remember that ad and thought it was pretty horrible back then and still revolting today. That ad would cause me to want to avoid getting one of those if it was being used these days. Hopefully, we have advanced in our attitude toward such creatures since then.

Sprefix · Sep 7, 2012

Nice rifle(carbine). Hows that Haugen P220 holster holding up?

A10 · Sep 7, 2012

A buddy of mine has one, he hunted deer with it for a lot of years in Western Oregon. I don't currently have a .44 rifle and I'm thinkin' I need to start lookin' around for one....

Texas Star · Sep 7, 2012

Seems like the ideal small rifle to have at hand if just loafing around the woods when you might need to shoot an animal that attacks, or thugs.

Bigfoot protection? You bet! And a serious researcher or two can carry camera, binocular, etc. more easily if they have a trim, light rifle like this instead of a bigger one.

I'm really glad to see members post here that the accuracy is good to at least 100 yards. I read somewhere that accuracy was poor, a key reason why I never bought one.

Ruger makes a synthetic-stocked .357 bolt rifle now that seems a reasonable substitute for this auto item. I think they also make/made a .44 Magnum version. With a wooden stock, it looks a lot like a M-77-22 .

sigp220.45 · Sep 7, 2012

Sprefix said:
Nice rifle(carbine). Hows that Haugen P220 holster holding up?

Best belt holster I've ever had. I wear it everyday.

DOEBOY1 · Sep 8, 2012

I had one of these a few years ago that I let get away. Then I worked on a fellows rv pad and did some trading for another one that was in like new condition. I looked at it over and over on the way home and thought what a nice safe queen this would make. Walked in the door and my second boy says to me "dad i really like that gun and since mom is going to take me deer hunting this year I think you should....
Well they really did make them for using. good bye beutiful stock hello unforgetable childhood memories. Doeboy

Frank237 · Sep 8, 2012

bobcat said:
I gotta admit that I actually find that ad picture a little disturbing, but a nice rifle.

You and me BOTH!

I recall that ad...I was eleven years old in 1961. Maybe thats why I have never been a fan of most of the Ruger products?

FN in MT

NYlakesider · Sep 8, 2012

My hunting companion and lifelong best friend had one of the earlier carbines.. He put a 4xWeaver with pivot mounts on it and that little gun was quite accurate. He harvested plenty of deer in the Catskill mountains and father North in the Adirondacks with that gun.

Most shots were at 50 yards or less but he made a couple kills out to a 100 yards. Most all deer taken were one shot kills!

I now have the gun and it sits in a place of honor in my gun safe. Upon his death 10 years ago his children knowing our lifetime friendship gave me the gun. I shot it a few months ago and the little gun can still do a great job of hunting.

S&W ucla · Sep 8, 2012

" Kong not bad. He love little lady. Just protect her, take to top of building..." Neat Gun!

Gaffer · Sep 8, 2012

I have had one since Ruger made them in the Mannlicher stock. I have shot several deer with it, but you want to use the solid nose bullets. The HP bullets open up to quickly and do not penetrate enough to do a good job. Mine has a little Redfield, 2.5X post and crosshair scope and the whole thing is easy to carry. Love it!

Blame the gorilla. Ruger .44 carbine finds a new home.

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