Ruger Hatred- Why

H

hube1236

New member
When looking to buy my first gun, I was first looking to purchase a Ruger Auto. My friend has one and loves it. I shot it (I did not consider accuracy- because I am not that accurate) but I liked the feel, the action and by god, the look. As I visited many forums on the 'net- liking this one the best-I found that the Ruger auto (regardless of model) over .22 is reviled. Almost everybody has Woodies regarding any revolver, but do not like the auto. Every gun shop in town spoke poorly of ruger autos, but highly of revolvers- except one. The salesmen are non-commissioned, and basically refered to the Ruger as the Chevy Trucks of guns. They ain't pretty, but they start everytime. I talked myself into a different, twice as expensive gun, but still do not see the biggie with putting Rugers down.

As I am not advocating anything, I would just like to hear from a few Ruger haters and a few Ruger lovers. Why on each?

[This message has been edited by hube1236 (edited June 11, 2000).]
 
The Ruger P95 was one of my first guns--the one I learned to shoot on. Put about 3k rounds through it and NEVER a hiccup (wish I could say that about my other guns), even with my limpwristing. The thing ran and ran. I shoot freehand so I don't know how its accuracy would compare with other guns on a bench rest. But, the Ruger's accuracy at 20 yards is at least as good as the Glock 19 or the BHP. Plus, the recoil is extremely mild. I sold it (still miss it) because I bought into this "the Ruger is a cheap gun" crap.
 
The only reason I don't own a Ruger semi-auto pistol is that I found the gun was designed for someone with a bigger hand than mine. I'm 5-7, and the controls (ie, safety and slide release) were hard/impossible for me to reach. I also found the grip a little chunky. However, if you have bigger hands or don't mind those problems, Ruger makes a fine gun (I've got a 10/22T Rifle and I've shot my dad's Speed-Six extensively).
 
Some folks just refuse to believe you can buy a reliable,accurate gun for a reasonable price. The only centerfire Ruger auto I`ve ever had is my P-97 .45 but after shooting it for almost 2 years I`d gladly buy another Ruger auto. Don`t listen to gun snobs,they`re just trying to justify all the money they wasted! ;) You should see how snippy they get after you shoot circles around their $600 whatever with your $350 Ruger! :D :p Marcus
 
I guess I would qualify as an ex-Ruger hater.
I couldn't hit anything with the ones I tried so I assumed the guns were not accruate. The Ruger triggers are "different". I got a deal on one that I couldn't refuse so I bought it. I learned the trigger on it and found that it was just as accurate as any of my other 9mms, and unbelieveably reliable. I've been shooting it a lot over the last year or so, in IDPA and plate games. I've found that the problem was "not" with the gun. I now own several P series in 9mm and 45acp. I believe they are the best deal out there, and they give up nothing to the more expensive guns.

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Good shootin to ya
Plateshooter
 
I, too, get tired of the reflexive, knee-jerk anti-Ruger schtick.

From everything I've seen, the P-95s and P-97s are rugged, well-built guns. They are simple, easy to strip and service, and will eat <i>virtually anything</i>. They were originally designed as service pistols. At times, I think their lower price has caused some people to poo-poo them as less accurate than others but all the reviews I've read have put them right up with the expensive items in this category.

Their smooth contours make room for them to be built like tanks. I'd liken their contours to those of shrouded, streamlined steam locomotives: Either you like 'em or you don't. The P-95 does have large grips, so individuals with smaller hands might not be as comfortable with them as others. The P-97 has smaller grips. They use MecGar magazines and plenty of high-quality, pre-ban full cap 9mm mags are available for the '95.

Another plus with these pistols is that all controls except the slide lock are ambi-dexterous. Bill Ruger is a lefty, after all.

Well, there you go. I guess this one was positive.

Bobbalouie
 
Are you guys set to full auto? ;)

With me it's not a reflex. I tried Ruger pistols and found them to be lacking in the accuracy, hand fit, trigger pulls, and balance departments. Reliability has always been 100%. Since I can find pistols to fit my hand better I go with those.

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So many pistols, so little money.

[This message has been edited by Tecolote (edited June 11, 2000).]
 
I had a P-90.IT was very inaccurate.All different kinds of ammo and at least 6 shooters tryed it.Best group 20 yds was 8 inches.Sadly lacking in erganomics.Doesn't point worth a darn.I will say it feed everthing I could get in the mag but for me thats not enough

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beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain
 
I had a P95DC. Reliable but not accurate. It seemed large, but in actuallity was smaller than Beretta's. I think that 90 and up got more positive comments, while 95 and 97 are excellent. The 95 that I tried had a long trigger pull but it was smooth. They are good. I would not feel ill armed if I were carrying one. Like the 97 alot.
 
These kinds of arguments always remind me of the ad with the Porsche that has the guy scratching his head trying to figure out how to get lumber home in it.

Different guns do different things. You should evaluate them based on the gun's ability to perform its intended "mission". The lever action 30-30 has a specific niche, as does the tricked-out 7mm Mag with a scope that costs more than my first car. You wouldn't compare them, would you?

The Ruger series pistols were designed to go bang every time and launch lead reasonably accurately for the minimum cost, possibly to help Ruger get more PD contracts. It performs that job just fine. It's not a Sig, or a Glock or a Berretta nor was it intended for the same purpose.

Now if the darn thing weren't so ugly.......
 
nothing wrong with the average Ruger semi auto that is not wrong with 75% of stocks Colts and 50% of stock S&W's. they just need some TLC to make them shoot like a dream.
you don't hear 1911 freaks for the short comings of commercially produced Colt and clone 1911's and i have shoot some of them that made the Rugers look like Star Trek pistols in terms of accuracy and reliability.

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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what is for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.
Let he that hath no sword sell his garment and buy one. Luke 22-36
They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song of Solomon 3-8
The man that can keep his head and aims carefully when the situation has gone bad and lead is flying usually wins the fight.
 
My first so called "serious caliber" handgun was a P-95. I really liked it but should have considered the size first. I am a small stature man 5'4 1/2"
(don't forget the 1/2!) and it was just too big. Never had a problem with feeding,it was plenty accurate and I felt, very rugged. Some folks are "snobs" when it comes to inexpensive guns, but maybe they have had bad experiences related to less expensive guns. I traded mine for the KelTec P-11 as it fits me better.

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And if you hear from my Louise, won't you tell her I love her so?
 
For many years, the gun shop owners loved to see me coming. I have owned 16 hanguns since 1990 when I first got interested in pistols at the age of 26. I have owned and enjoyed Glocks, Sigs, Berettas, Tanfoglios, Makarovs, 1911's just to name a few. Man have I been taken to the cleaners on impulse orders with a trade-in!

The one thing that makes me feel uncomfortable is when you read the instruction manual for a handgun and it states something to the effect of "extended use of +P or +P+ ammo will cause excessive wear and shorten this gun's lifespan." I'm sorry when you shell out $500+ for a weapon it should be designed to shoot reliably and repeatedly with any factory loading.

The two makes of handguns that I can think of that do not prohibit the use of high-pressure loads are Glock and Ruger. I know I have bashed Glock on the Kaboom deal but my G22 never gave me a minute's trouble and I shot lead and reloaded rounds through it. The frequency of the reports for Kabooms does alarm me, nevertheless. Anyway, life is full if trade-offs. With the Ruger you get a tough, reliable handgun at a good price that will shoot any factory-loaded ammo out there in virtually any bullet configuration. You do have to come to grips with the fact that the low price means your trade-in value will be nothing unless a major gun-grab occurs,in which case, a Makarov would bring $600.00 like they did before Glastnost when they were not imported on a large scale. Additionally, the trigger on a Ruger takes some getting used to and really does'nt break in until the 1000 round mark.

Back in the positive corner, Ruger mags and holsters are in abundance even for the new P97 and factory eight-rounders are only $20.00 a pop. I have noted on the P90 that the aluminum frame is extremely durable. Whereas the frames on the Sigs and Berettas I have owned always gets gouged and dinged as the slide seats in to the frame, the Ruger frame hardly shows any wear. It is interesting to note that during Ruger's testing phases of the P95, they froze and thawed out the weapon and ran 20K rounds of +P and +P+ ammo with no signs of appreciable wear. Keep in mind that there are no steel frame inserts on the polymer Rugers. Likewise a gun rag did a 5,000 round test on a P97 .45ACP and had no malfunctions and again the pistol had no signs of noticable wear afterwards.

The Ruger P Series thing is a weird deal in a sense. First, there are many more pistols out there with greater accuracy, better refinements and nicer looks but you won't find any more durable--------inexpensive or not inexpensive. Secondly, the Ruger P series keeps getting better in terms of accuracy. The lock-up on the P97 renders better accuracy. I have gotten 1.5" groups at ten yards shooting with two hands and NO rest using 230 grain S&B, 185 grain Winchester Silvertip Hollowpoint and UMC 230 grain ball ammo.

As I get older, I find myself spending more time Duck and Deer hunting with my father who is at the end of his 60th decade. As such, I am spending more money on Duck Blind Shotguns and Deer Stand Rifles. After all, I have had handguns in the past that cost almost $800.00 and had to be sent back to the factory NIB so why should I take any chances when I know the $350.00 Ruger P series will be reasonably accurate and totally reliable with no post-buy modifications?

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
 
You owned 16 handguns since 1990? Hell, I still own more than that. :-) A couple of them are Ruger MK-II's, but I don't own any of the centerfire Rugers. I don't have anything against them, just didn't strike my fancy when I was buying a gun yet.
 
Lots of people bash Ruger just because of Bill Rugers politics. They feel he sold the gun community out by agreeing to a hi cap mag ban. If you want to take a real beating try talking up a Taurus product. :D
 
Johnwill:

A Ruger P Series is not fancy but they are functional. If you have the means, by all means exercise them.

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."

[This message has been edited by Will Beararms (edited June 11, 2000).]
 
Yes, Bill Ruger, acting as a spokesperson for the industry, pushed the mag limit bill. I am interested to know who else he spoke for since the truth of the matter is others supported this as well and he was their spokesperson.

While we are on Politics isn't it odd that no one has bashed Glock for having Paul Januuzo slip around to meet with DOJ officials. Per the WSJ, Glock considered going along with Smith and Wesson. Equally disturbing is the fact that Glock has engaged in the ballistic fingerprinting scam. Beretta and Ruger are'nt doing it. I am law-abiding and as such am innocent until proven guilty. The "you don't have to worry unless you break the law" dog does not hunt here.

If we are gonna bash Ruger, we need to take a hard look at Glock as well or do the ends of the Glock Perfection justify the means?

Bill Ruger gave a $Million with no tax shelter to the NRA in contrition. He has since avoided any similar moves. If S&W renounced their deal and made concrete moves to make up for the damage, I would support them at this point but not if it goes on much longer.

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."

[This message has been edited by Will Beararms (edited June 11, 2000).]
 
I owned a Ruger P-94 in .40 cal for two years. I shot a thousand rounds through it without a hitch. It fired first time, every time. I dropped it, banged on it, even used it as a hammer once (unloaded). It was utterly and completely dependable. The hammer mechanism and decocker felt precise and firm.

It was not pretty. It would not group 5 shots any closer than 3.5" at as short a distance as 20 feet. It's grip was slippery and tough to get used to.

I could cure the grip problem--and did so--by spending 15 bucks on a Hogue rubber grip with the finger grooves. That move improved the platform a great deal and made the gun seem much more controllable.

I could not cure the inability to group. I could not make it prettier. I enjoyed the heck out of the gun, but, ultimately, it had to go.

As somebody at TFL says with their signature post "life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun."

When all I had to spend was 300 dollars for an automatic pistol, I don't feel I could have spent my money anymore wisely than spending it on a Ruger P-series. As soon as I had more money to spend, I traded the Ruger in on a Springfield 1911 "Loaded".

The Ruger taught me how to shoot and what to expect from a handgun. Unfortunately for the Ruger, it taught me to expect more than it could offer.

PS: You're right about the revolvers--I wouldn't trade my Ruger GP-100 or my Vacquero for a Colt or a Smith of comparable caliber straight up.

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Take the long way home...
 
3 of my 11 guns are Rugers. I have 7 more Rugers on my wish list. If you like them, by all means, go with your feelings!
 
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