Post by fmj on Sept 1, 2011 11:43:45 GMT -5
For quite some time now i have been hunting for a .44 magnum semi auto rifle. Well, the ONLY company to ever have made such a critter is Ruger. It turns out they no longer make them, nor have they for over 20 years.
Gunbroker.com has had a few from time to time, but I wasnt thrilled with paying the amount of money they wanted for them + shipping fees + transfer fees. Then i finally spotted one locally. It was in a shop on consignment, but after closer examination it turned out he wanted STUPID money for it.
In discussing my dilemma with a couple of my gunnut friends, they suggested i tag along with them to Indy and the Indy 1500 gun show. Well it being a Sat. and me not having anything else planned i figured WTH, take a road trip with a couple friends and drool over guns sounded like a great way to burn a Sat.
Sat. arrives and we leave the house at the butt crack of early (0500) and get to the indy fair grounds good and early. We were some of the first in line to enter when they opened the doors. We wandered about for a couple hours looking at the wares. My buds traded off what they brought to trade and purchased what they came to purchase. But i had yet to see what i was looking for. I had seen many Ruger 10/22's and butt loads of .44 mags in lever action, both blued and stainless but no Ruger Semi Autos. I was about to despair when across the aisle i see it!! So i bolt across the aisle, shoulder 4 guys out of the way, pick it up and it IS a Ruger Model 44. Out of an estimated 100K guns (both vendor and private owned) I found THE ONLY Ruger Model 44 on the premisis!!
Then the dickering began in earnest. After about ten minutes of sharp haggling, i turned over a handful of bennies. I even came in $200 under what i had budgeted for the gun! (its amazing how the sight of a fistfull of benjamins takes the bicker right out of a seller ) I then promptly blew all the savings on .44 mag ammo, .44 240 gr JHP bullets, a scope and assorted other reloading equipment.
Sunday morning, i promptly headed to the local range to test this new rig out. I was worried about function and wether or not it shot straight. It had a clean bore and plenty of rifling but one never knows when dealing with a 44 y/o firearm. Well, it turns out the rig shoots fine and groups very well...it actually shoots better than i do. She has a few "flaws" or "character marks" on the stock but i figure thats to be expected from a 44 y/o gun. Its obviously been used and has most likely taken her fair share of game. Hell, i am 41 and have more "Dings and character marks" then this gun does.(see below)
Now for some pics....
As purchased...
"Character marks"...
After mounting sling, new scope and rings...i will be mounting different rings and scope as these dont work for what i am intending.
How she groups...
Gunbroker.com has had a few from time to time, but I wasnt thrilled with paying the amount of money they wanted for them + shipping fees + transfer fees. Then i finally spotted one locally. It was in a shop on consignment, but after closer examination it turned out he wanted STUPID money for it.
In discussing my dilemma with a couple of my gunnut friends, they suggested i tag along with them to Indy and the Indy 1500 gun show. Well it being a Sat. and me not having anything else planned i figured WTH, take a road trip with a couple friends and drool over guns sounded like a great way to burn a Sat.
Sat. arrives and we leave the house at the butt crack of early (0500) and get to the indy fair grounds good and early. We were some of the first in line to enter when they opened the doors. We wandered about for a couple hours looking at the wares. My buds traded off what they brought to trade and purchased what they came to purchase. But i had yet to see what i was looking for. I had seen many Ruger 10/22's and butt loads of .44 mags in lever action, both blued and stainless but no Ruger Semi Autos. I was about to despair when across the aisle i see it!! So i bolt across the aisle, shoulder 4 guys out of the way, pick it up and it IS a Ruger Model 44. Out of an estimated 100K guns (both vendor and private owned) I found THE ONLY Ruger Model 44 on the premisis!!
Then the dickering began in earnest. After about ten minutes of sharp haggling, i turned over a handful of bennies. I even came in $200 under what i had budgeted for the gun! (its amazing how the sight of a fistfull of benjamins takes the bicker right out of a seller ) I then promptly blew all the savings on .44 mag ammo, .44 240 gr JHP bullets, a scope and assorted other reloading equipment.
Sunday morning, i promptly headed to the local range to test this new rig out. I was worried about function and wether or not it shot straight. It had a clean bore and plenty of rifling but one never knows when dealing with a 44 y/o firearm. Well, it turns out the rig shoots fine and groups very well...it actually shoots better than i do. She has a few "flaws" or "character marks" on the stock but i figure thats to be expected from a 44 y/o gun. Its obviously been used and has most likely taken her fair share of game. Hell, i am 41 and have more "Dings and character marks" then this gun does.(see below)
Now for some pics....
As purchased...
"Character marks"...
After mounting sling, new scope and rings...i will be mounting different rings and scope as these dont work for what i am intending.
How she groups...