Ruger made a semi-auto rifle in .44 mag many years ago. They dropped production in the 1980s because it was too expensive to manufacture. If they are preparing to build another one, I am sure that it would have to meet stringent cost-control standards as well as be utterly safe and reliable. With updated CNC production, this goal is probably possible. However, considering how many people complain about the recoil of the Ruger Police Carbines, I wonder if a new rifle in .44 mag would find a niche in the firearms market. The PC models are direct blowback in design. Would that design work for the hotter .44? It seems that Ruger would need to go with a gas-operated system, which leads to higher costs, increased maintenance, and diminishing returns in performace since the .44 is still a pistol round--not a .223. Would any engineers out there care to comment?
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Thomas Hobbes: "The reason I help the man is that by doing so I end my discomfort at seeing his discomfort."