Ruger Wins both Handgun and Rifle of the Year!

[billt]

Then can someone please advise why did they bring out a crappy bolt action 44 mags and not re-introduce the 96/44 preferably with a bigger capacity magazine, imho one of the best bush gun's ever, ideal for busting hogs or deer, wide range of ammo available and one of the best magazine designs ever.

One word, sales. Just because someone, or several for that matter like a certain gun, doesn't make it profitable for a company to produce it. Companies rely on large sales demographics before they commit to produce a given model or type of product. Look at the Marlin Camp Carbines in 9 MM and .45 ACP. I've yet to talk to a person including myself, who didn't like them. Yet, in spite of that Marlin couldn't sell enough of them to warrant keeping them in production.

I'm sure it's much the same with the Ruger 96/44. They didn't sell, so they stopped making them in favor of something that would. You have to understand that just because you personally don't prefer a certain gun, that in itself doesn't make it "crappy".   Bill T.

[Badgersmilk]

Until a total redesign happens, your not going to see the 96/44 ever again.  Production wasn't stopped because of a lack of sales, it was stopped because they couldn't produce it cheap enough to be competitive with other smaller caliber designs in the market.  The receiver requires a ton of mill work to produce.  =  Expensive to manufacture.  Same reason it's semi-auto father is forever gone.

The 1911's continued success?  Nostalgia.  No accounting for that and simple mindedness. The LC9's success?  Manufacture pushes distributors to move them.  Most guns are sold because weak minded, or people who just don't know better are told total BS to promote sales of high profit margin items "professional advise" in the stores!     Don't believe that?  Hang out in any gun store for a few minutes and just listen! 

[billt]

The LC9's success?

A lot of guns, like clothes, are trendy. For some reason America has a current obsession with pocket pistols. The .380 has been around forever, but it never really sold well. Then, all of a sudden, they can't keep them on the shelves. The LCP is small and cheap. It is also a .380. Ruger figured a sequel in 9 MM might just be the ticket. Thus far it has. Mind you a Glock 26 isn't much more difficult to conceal, and gives you a 12 round capacity. People still flock to these smaller framed guns. Fad or not, they are selling, and selling well.  Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

Its kind of sad that people will cheerfully shell out $1500 plus for an AR that's not useful for anything other than punching paper or SD, but balk at spending $800 for a good semi .44 mag (or lever) that's a great hunting gun, fun on the range, and more than good enough for SHTF situations. In fact for those of us in urban/suburban areas, its the better choice by a long shot.
FQ13

[sledgemeister]

Its kind of sad that people will cheerfully shell out $1500 plus for an AR that's not useful for anything other than punching paper or SD, but balk at spending $800 for a good semi .44 mag (or lever) that's a great hunting gun, fun on the range, and more than good enough for SHTF situations. In fact for those of us in urban/suburban areas, its the better choice by a long shot.
FQ13

^^ what he said!

The stupidity of the sheeple never ceases to amaze me.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

Its kind of sad that people will cheerfully shell out $1500 plus for an AR that's not useful for anything other than punching paper or SD, but balk at spending $800 for a good semi .44 mag (or lever) that's a great hunting gun, fun on the range, and more than good enough for SHTF situations. In fact for those of us in urban/suburban areas, its the better choice by a long shot.
FQ13

I'm not getting why it is "sad"? People like what they like, and buy what they want. It is the main reason we have so many different guns to choose from. Not everyone likes Vanilla.   Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

I'm not getting why it is "sad"? People like what they like, and buy what they want. It is the main reason we have so many different guns to choose from. Not everyone likes Vanilla.   Bill T.

By sad I mean this. People follow the herd without thinking about what is best for them. If they did we would have a larger menu, as opposed to our options being limited to what "tastemakers" define as cool. I mean seriously, unless you have coyote issues or the SHTF, that AR is just an expensive plinker. Its fun and I like mine, but a multi tasker it ain't. On the other hand, If folks didn't buy into the hype and started to think "Gee, I do X, Y, and Z, and have B dollars, what would I want, regardless of what "The American Rifleman" says I should want?" I think we would see a different set of demands causing more products to be produced and more options out there to choose from. As it is, the market share is so overwhelmed by ARs, AKs, Glocks (and clones), 1911s and pocket pistols that other neat ideas get squeezed out.  Not entirely of course, but it would be nice to see more scout rifle type offerings that go outside the box. That wasn't my most eloquent post, but I hope you get the gist.
FQ13

[billt]

By sad I mean this.  that AR is just an expensive plinker. Its fun and I like mine, but a multi tasker it ain't.
FQ13

The fact is , for whatever reason, the AR-15 is the best selling rifle in America at the present time. For many reasons. Many buy it because they fear the gun grabbers. Some because of self defense reasons. Some shoot High Power Matches with it. Others plink. Some buy it for the "cool factor". That's pretty "multi task" if you ask me.

I have a $3,000.00 Browning Citori Grade Vi Trap. It weighs a ton, and is only good for one thing, busting clay targets. Yes. I could do it with a $200.00 Mossberg, but the Citori does it much better. It's the same with .22 target pistols. You can spend $400.00 on a Ruger, or $3,000.00 on a Hammerli. Both shoot the same cartridge. I don't think anyone buys a gun because they saw it in the American Rifleman, they do because it's what they want. The American Rifleman, or Guns & Ammo will just bring their attention to it, nothing more or less. If you're on a tight budget with firearms, you choose more carefully. But some like to explore the possibilities. I don't much worry about what I spend on guns because I know most all of them will never be worth less. That raises the comfort factor when I buy.  Bill T.

[Badgersmilk]

Awesome to see people speaking their minds on this, not parroting what media says!    LOVE IT!

So FQ, when are you trading in that poodle blaster for a pair a AK's?!?  Anyone of sound mind and clear conscience is going to have a hard time arguing 7.62x39 isn't a fine all around rifle for most shooting tasks on this continent.  Of course, before someone gets all crazy!    No, it's not ideal for 500yard shots at ground squirrels, or killing Alaskan Grizzly.  But how many out of 100,000 average people on this continent do either?  Yeah, 308 is great, and will reach out and touch long range critters better.  But consider cost and which caliber is honestly more practical to you.  NOT what the media tells you is more practical to you.  I'll give you an AK, and an AR10 to carry through the woods hunting for a few hours and think about.  Then tell me which one you like better.  

While pocket pistols are a trend.  They are also the first realistic, practical trend in years!  .380 is ballistically speaking, an excellent round for SD!  And again, crazys just stay in your corners!  I'm sure you will need to shoot 18 people through car windshields tomorrow.  So you go ahead and arm yourselves accordingly!  The media will surely be there to help guide you on that.    

Media will always be pushing new products as "better than anything ever!" because like politicians, that's how they make money, lie!  

[alfsauve]

So onward and upward.

Will the new revolver just announced be the 2011 winner?

'course like the Scout, it's really not new, just worked over a bit.