Ruger Precision Rifle

Accurate, dependable, affordable.....

Ruger's Newest Bolt-Action Repeater

MSRP: $1,399

Featuring the combination of bolt-action accuracy and the customizable AR-15 platform, with the versatility of accepting multiple magazine-types, we have an affordable tack-driving winner of a rifle.

Medium Contour Barrel (.75 at the muzzle)

Enter the world of long range shooting. Upper receiver and one-piece bolt body are CNC machined from pre-hardened chrome/molybdenum alloy steel. The lower receiver is machined in two pieces, right and left, from 7075-T6 hard-coat anodized aluminum. Available calibers are .308 with a 20 inch barrel, 6.5 mm Creedmor with a 24 inch barrel and .243 Winchester with a 26 inch barrel.

Not the lightest rifle, at 9.7 lbs without a scope, expect this beauty to tip the scales at around 15 lbs with the addition of a scope, bipod and stock-mounted monopod. In the accuracy department the Ruger easily exceeds 5-shot groups of under 1 inch at 100 yards. According to Ruger, 5-shot groups averaged .83" after testing multiple rifles.

This excellent accuracy is achieved through the design implementation of a linear recoil path, directing recoil forces straight back into the buttstock of the rifle upon firing.

Replaceable Barrel

Barrel specs: 4140 chrome/moly steel with 5R rifling, which translated means that there is a land placed opposite each of the barrel's grooves, which results in less bullet distortion as it engages the grooves, aiding accuracy. Rounder-edged lands result in less powder fouling and bullet jacket failure. Barrels are free floated in the fore-end. Barrel twist rates are tailored to longer bullets of the type used for long-range shooting.

Barrels are threaded at the muzzle with thread protector. A Picatinny rail is affixed to the top of the receiver. Marksman trigger with lever-in-blade design, adjustable between 2lbs., 4 ounces to 5 lbs.

American action with 70 degree bolt-throw and three lug bolt design.

"Multiple Magazine Interface" feature means high compatibility with a variety of magazines, such as DPMS, M110, SR25, PMAG and AICS. 

The buttstock is easily adjustable in the field for up to 3-1/2 inches adjustment to the length of pull and 3/4" of comb height. Not quite as easily adjusted, the cant of the buttpad can be be adjusted up to 9 degrees in either direction. The buttstock has a left-folding hinge and can be locked in the folding position.

Highly customizable with AR-style components. Affordable, relative to the field, combining the best of AR rifles and bolt-action accuracy, this one looks like a winner.

Recent gun review articles: G&A Single Stack 9mm  Comparison Test

Soft-Shooting .380

Ruger's LC9 gets toned down to a .380 version for the recoil-sensitive. 

What separates this gun from the run of the mill pocket .380 is that they kept the locked breech action unchanged from the 9mm version, necessary in more powerful pistol calibers like the 9mm and higher to keep spring rates at a low enough resistance to allow the pistol's slide action to be cycled by hand without calling in the Incredible Hulk. It also has the effect of lowering felt recoil by keeping the action locked closed until just-fired cartridge pressures fall below a certain level. .380 caliber guns are normally of the blowback variety, which means snappier recoil and stronger spring rates.

Ruger LC380

$449.00

At the usual bullet weights of 90 grains, velocities range from approximately 850 to 900 fps, excepting the Corbon load at 1,100 fps. While it's not the pocket blaster the 9mm version is, it will still get the job done at close range self-defense situations. Gun magazine reviews say, "accuracy is good to brilliant". "The LC380 worked reliably with all ammo tested". 

If you need a mild-mannered, affordable, concealable and well made pistol for discreet carry, look no further than the LC380 from Ruger.

What are they saying around the web about the LC380 so far?

• The stainless steel loading indicator ruins the lines of this pistol when it pops up.
• Points naturally, well balanced.
• Tiny safety may be hard to find in stressful situations.
• Long trigger pull and it clicks twice on return, once early, before it's actually reset.
• Straightforward take-down/field stripping.
• Super-reliable.
• Light recoil.
• Fits even large hands nicely.

22/45 Lite

New Guns:

Ruger 22/45 Lite:

22/45 Lite

Summary: At 22.8 ounces is 19.2 oz. lighter than standard bull-barrel Mk III. Other changes are primarily cosmetic.-K.A.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown Rifle

Rarely do I have a desire to buy another rifle, having filled most niche areas with my small collection, which includes my short-barreled Remington .308 bolt action for brush hunting deer and hogs, my Arsenal AK-47 assault rifle for home defense should a gang of thirty show up, and my lever-action model 94 for everything else. Then Ruger recently came out with the 10/22 Takedown, which I think is a must have:

$389.00

Easy Takedown

Quick Reassembly

Backpack-Style Carry Bag

 Specs:

Caliber: .22 LR Capacity: 10 Sights: Gold Bead Front, Adjustable Rear Length of Trigger Pull: 13.50" Weight: 4.67 lbs Material: Barrel Stainless Steel, Black Synthetic Stock Barrel Length: 18.5" Overall Length: 37.0" Gun Reviews: I could only find one review so far. Here are the main points: Completely New Design Record sales mean they are currently unavailable All-weather design Aluminum alloy receiver, stainless steel bolt and barrel Carbine style, black fiberglass-reinforced polyester resin stock with composite barrel band Due to the design of the "click adjustable ring", the gun can be locked up tight no matter how much it “settles in” over time-meaning it stays accurate. "Surprisingly Solid" "The scope returned to the same zero every time", between breakdown and reassembly over a dozen times. "No malfunctions" during extensive testing. Trigger pull between 5 and 6 lbs. Plenty Accurate "Great survival gun" with light weight ammo Good luck finding one anytime soon..........

New Guns-Late 2011

New guns of note:

Beretta "Nano"

$475.00

The Beretta Nano is the ultimate evolution of the micro compact carry pistol. Utilizing a removable, serialized sub-chassis the Nano pistol can be easily modified with replaceable grip frames and is simple to disassemble and maintain......website

 

Ruger SR40

$525.00

Ruger Website

Intro'd in 2010, but I just noticed it and now it's on my wish list-K.A.........................

PF-9 vs. LC9 Pocket Pistols

Pocket 9mm Comparison:

                         Kel-Tec PF-9

                                                                               Ruger LC9




                                 Specs:

              PF-9                                                   LC9

• Length: 5.8"                                             6.0"
• Height: 4.4"                                             4.5"
• Barrel: 3.1"                                              3.1"
• Sight Radius: 4.7"                                     4.6"
• Front Strap Height: 1.7"                            2.3"
• Back Strap Height: 2.6"                            2.7"
• Weight Empty: 14.6 oz.                            17.1 oz.
• Weight Loaded (147 gr): 18.5 oz.             21 oz.
• Capacity: 7+1                                           7+1
• Max. Width: 0.98"                                     1.05"
• Max. Grip Thickness: 0.89"                          .97"
• Frame: Matte Black Polymer                      Matte Black Polymer
• Barrel and Slide: Alloy Steel                       Alloy Steel
• Trigger Pull: 5 lbs                                        7.4 lbs
• Trigger Travel: 3.3"                                     3.3"
• Warranty: Lifetime                                      None Written

Summary: Kel-Tec PF-9 $333.00
Slim and easily concealable. Available in blued, parkerizing or hard chrome. +P rated. 1 magazine and 2 floor plates, one flat and one with a finger ledge. Fixed sights with an excellent sight picture; rear sight adjustable for windage. Checkerboard grips provide excellent traction. Magazine release not easily accidentally hit. No data on whether this is a drop-free magazine. Gun fires without magazine in place. Snag-free out of the pocket. No mechanical safety; internal hammer-block. Good serrations in rear of slide. Light rail groove that did easily snag on clothing. Simple takedown procedure. Reassembly slightly more difficult. Long trigger reset required. Easily rapid-fired. Tendency toward trigger-pinch noted. Heavy recoil with most defense loads.

Summary: Ruger LC9 $443.00
2.5 oz. heavier than the Kel-Tec (17% heavier), steel sights and trigger-plastic on the Kel-Tec, thicker and longer slide, right-handed thumb safety, loaded chamber indicator, includes 1 magazine and 2 floor plates, includes polymer carry-box and pouch, nice matte-blued finish, slide and barrel-alloy steel, polymer frame, Italian-made magazine-like the Kel-Tec, swelled grip, frame cutout tended to cause thumb interference with trigger operation, identical trigger pull length (double action only), more room in the trigger guard, stiffer trigger pull (4 lbs+), "way worse trigger than the Kel-Tec with noticeable stacking at the end", highly visible white-dot steel sights-drift adjustable, front sight tended to snag on clothing, trigger return-reset shorter by 1/8", magazine disconnect means gun is useless without the magazine. Easy takedown and reassembly, beveled magazine opening for easier insertion, slower in rapid-fire, less felt recoil than the Kel-Tec.

Synopsis:
The Ruger is "Heavier, thicker and harder to shoot well"

"An imitation Kel-Tec by Ruger doesn't quite measure up to the original."

                                                                                                   

Ruger LC9

$443.00

A handy pocket nine......

"The LC9 is a double-action-only, hammer-fired, locked-breech pistol with a smooth trigger pull. Control and confident handling of the Ruger LC9 are accomplished through reduced recoil and aggressive frame checkering for a positive grip in all conditions. The Ruger LC9 features smooth "melted" edges for ease of holstering, carrying and drawing." Ruger Website

Specs:

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 7+1
• Manual Thumb Safety
• +P Rated
• Slide Locks Open After Last Shot
• Loaded Chamber Indicator
• Firing Pin Safety
• Model # 3200
• Slide and Barrel: Blued Alloy Steel
• Grip Frame: Black, Glass-Filled Nylon
• Length: 6.0"
• Barrel Length 3.12"
• Width: .90"
• Height: 4.5"
• Weight Empty: 17.10 oz.

Gun Reviews:

• "Easy Takedown Process"
• "Good Sights"
• One magazine with flat base pad and finger extension piece
• Low Profile Mag Release (a good thing)
• "Smooth DA Trigger Pull"
• Good accuracy at 15 yards
• "6.3 lb Trigger Pull"
• Right-hand only thumb safety
• Rounded edges for pocket carry
• No malfunctions with a variety of ammo

The Word on the Street is.........

• Too many safeties
• I'll stick with my Glock 26.
• "Too big for a pocket gun."
• Internal key lock is unnecessary

Ruger GP100 .327 Federal Mag

$701.00

"One extra round in the chamber, comparable energy to the .357 magnum, with less recoil."

Specs:

• Catalog # KGP-4327-7
• Caliber: .327 Fed. Mag.
• Capacity: 7
• Material: Stainless Steel
• Adjustable Rear Sight
• Barrel Length: 4.2"
• Overall Length: 9.50"
• Weight: 40 Ounces

Features:

• Combat Style Hogue Rubber Grips
• Single Action Trigger Pull: 4.5 lbs
• Double Action Trigger Pull 10.6 lbs

Ballistics:
(3 1/16" Barrel) Federal Premium 85 grain clocked at 1,422 feet per second, American Eagle 100 grain was clocked at 1,410 fps/442 ft.-lbs muzzle energy.

Notables:

• Superior Accuracy Single Action from the Bench
• "Great trail gun"
• 
  

Gunletter closed until further notice............

Dear Readers,

I regret to inform you that I will review no more guns until ammunition becomes more available.

I see no reason to waste time on writing gun reviews if we can't shoot the damned things.

Thanks for your indulgence. Good luck in finding another hobby.

Sincerely,

Me

Best in Class 2008

Top gun picks of 2008, according to a reputable gun consumer magazine:
(Prices reflect 2008, probably much higher now because of the anti-gun stance of the current administration)

Rifles:

Military Type Sporting...............

Fulton Armory FAR-15 Predator Varmint

Precision 003020 223 Remington, $1995

Youth Sporting.................

New England Firearms

Sportster SS1-217

17 Mach 2, $169

Marlin Model 60 22 LR, $179

North American Big Game....................

Weatherby Stainless

Vanguard 270 Win., $673

BerettaTikka T3 Lite.300 WSM, $595

PISTOLS

Compact Defensive..........

Bersa

FireStorm 380 ACP, $307

.22 Target..............

Ruger MKIII6 Standard, $342

Full-Sized Compact Defensive......................

Stoeger Cougar 8000 $469

Shotguns:

Defensive.............................

Remington 11-87 Police

12-gauge 3-inch No. 9861, $850

Sporting..........................

Winchester Model 101

12 Gauge, $900

Browning BPS No. 012211813

3-inch 20 Gauge $566

Revolvers:

Ruger SP101 KSP-3231X 32 H&R Magnum, $572

(actually, by now you should just get the .327 magnum version)

Taurus RagingBull

.44 Magnum 444B8, $625

S&W 625-3 45ACP, $900