Did the Ruger 9.3x62 African not sell very well? Just wondering why they dropped it (I'm not in the market for one). Ruger is doing a lot of strange things lately.
Matt

I can't say for sure that it didn't sell well. I looked for one toward the end of the year, and like almost every other gun, they just disappeared from the shelves. Ruger has done a short run on this and that caliber for a long time. I bought one of the 257 Roberts in 72, they only made 2000 of them, and then there are those 358 carbines, the Whelen, the 350 Mags, the 250 Savages, and on and on. I think they have a marketing/sales plan that includes making short runs of special calibers and configurations for brokers, like Lipseys. For a manufacturer, that process makes a lot of sense, tooling, set up, etc are all covered and sales of product are guaranteed. It makes a lot more sense than making a bunch of stuff that you hope will sell. I would expect, they will make some more 9.3's in a year of so, or maybe not. You just never know. If you're interested in one, I'd drop them a line and let them know.
Bfly

I'm sure they sold every one that they made.

I don't think there is enough demand to make them every year, so I would expect limited runs from time to time.

I'd like to see an Alaskan version.

So many US hunters shy away from cartridges w/metric names. A shame.

Ruger is headed down hill fast if you don't believe Me just look at their new catalog

I had two of them, and they were about the nicest factory rifle I have seen since the pre 64. I sold both 9.3x62 almost overnight. They made a special run of them and they are in great demand today..The 2 I had were the special run of gloss blue and it was the nicest blue I have ever seen on a factory rifle..then they dropped that one and came out with the bead blast..I am not a fan of bead blast, the little pores hold moisture and they seem to rust in humid climes like Tanzania. I am told the pits also hold oil, but that hasn't worked well for me for whatever reason.

Ruger does special runs, most often it seems for Lipsey.

For anything unusual, get it when they come out, because it won't be around forever.

I picked up an SS international stocked 7X57 Hawkey a couple of years ago. Special run and fetches twice what I paid for it.

I hope Ruger brings it back. It was a nice addition to their African "battery"; a bigger bore size than the 338 but not the recoil of their 375 Ruger. Kind of like adding a 35 Whelen to the line up, with a better rifling twist, and legal for DG in some countries. I was lucky to buy one when they were available.

I have one and like it very much. It has proven to be very accurate with all bullets and Varget, RL 15 or IMR 4064 often giving groups of just a ragged hole of 1". I am taking mine to RSA in June for Buffalo.

The African line was theirs to screw up and this year they did royally!
They added a hideous muzzle brake and dropped the 9.3x62.
They did a short run of 223 which is a great trainer for the big calibers. I was lucky enough to get a 223, and a 338WM before they ruined them. I'm taking a 9.3 to Africa in July. One of the sleepers was the RCM in 308 and it's gone this year as well.
The African line is the most aesthetically pleasing rifle they offer. Or was till they bolted that abortion on the end.

And botch they did on the African Series. I could see the .375 maybe needing a brake, for the ladies, younger generation and those of us who hate recoil, but butt ugly for sure.

Larry Sellers

Can I ask "Why not just get a CZ 550"?
Peter.

quote:

The African line is the most aesthetically pleasing rifle they offer. Or was till they bolted that abortion on the end.

Ain't that the truth!! Whoever decided that screwing a sewer pipe into the end of barrel was the answer to "perfecting" the African line needs to put the crack pipe down go to rehab and start over!

Ruger seems to do short runs of several less popular rifles every year & I for one have benefited from that.
Every couple of months I look to see what they have pulled out of the hat for a special run.

Having said that, the brake stuck on the 375 really IS bleedin' 'orrible & pointless.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Can I ask "Why not just get a CZ 550"?
Peter.

No lefties.

CZ is a viable alternative, at least it was for me!

Ruger is adapting to an exploding marketplace that doesn't include a "run" on traditional hunting rifles. They have nearly tripled their handgun production to meet the demand and their semi-auto rifle sales are strong as well. Right now, the public wants semi-autos and Ruger is a smart company adapting to supply that demand. I'm sure they will devote more resources to their hunting rifle production when things slow down a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodhits:
Ruger is adapting to an exploding marketplace that doesn't include a "run" on traditional hunting rifles. They have nearly tripled their handgun production to meet the demand and their semi-auto rifle sales are strong as well. Right now, the public wants semi-autos and Ruger is a smart company adapting to supply that demand. I'm sure they will devote more resources to their hunting rifle production when things slow down a bit.

Right, but who did they ask that told them to put muzzle brakes on their guns? When someone shows up at the range with a damn muzzle brake next to me, I pack up. I can't stand getting smacked in the face and ears (even with double hearing protection) by the brake.

I would never buy one of the new rifles. I like a lot of what Ruger puts out, but not this latest crop.

It would be an easy build. Just buy a stainless Howa or CZ action send it to SSK and when you get it back, throw a Boyd's stock on it. Simple as pie. However, the best alternative would be to just buy a CZ. I have one and they are great shooters.

There is another choice and this is the one that I am mulling over. Buy a Winchester Stainless Ultimate in say 300 WSM, send it to SSk for a re-barrel with a 20 inch barrel and a 1/12 twist in 9,3 B&M. You will have a dandy short and handy little rifle that will give you better performance and be a joy to carry.

The Ruger was a nice rifle. Now it seems they have lost their way with these new Star Wars rifles.
CZ is the easy choice as they make several variations.
Less bucks and equally good are the "export only" Savage 116s 9.3x62 which have the "extra" of being an easy "switch barrel" rifle to 270, 280, 06, 338-06, 375 Whelen and 400 Whelen. All you need is a barrel vise, nut wrench, headspace gauge and new barrel.

Looks like the price of my Gunblast M77 9.3x62 just went up. Too bad Im not selling it.

[/QUOTE]

Right, but who did they ask that told them to put muzzle brakes on their guns? When someone shows up at the range with a damn muzzle brake next to me, I pack up. I can't stand getting smacked in the face and ears (even with double hearing protection) by the brake.[/QUOTE]

No argument there.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
It would be an easy build. Just buy a stainless Howa or CZ action send it to SSK and when you get it back, throw a Boyd's stock on it. Simple as pie. However, the best alternative would be to just buy a CZ. I have one and they are great shooters.

There is another choice and this is the one that I am mulling over. Buy a Winchester Stainless Ultimate in say 300 WSM, send it to SSk for a re-barrel with a 20 inch barrel and a 1/12 twist in 9,3 B&M. You will have a dandy short and handy little rifle that will give you better performance and be a joy to carry.

Better still - buy a NH or SC CRF M70 in 270 or 30-06, send it to JES in Oregon and have it rebored and rechambered to 9.3x62 for about $225 (round trip) and back on your door step in less than 3 weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by A7Dave:

quote:

Originally posted by Woodhits:
Ruger is adapting to an exploding marketplace that doesn't include a "run" on traditional hunting rifles. They have nearly tripled their handgun production to meet the demand and their semi-auto rifle sales are strong as well. Right now, the public wants semi-autos and Ruger is a smart company adapting to supply that demand. I'm sure they will devote more resources to their hunting rifle production when things slow down a bit.

Right, but who did they ask that told them to put muzzle brakes on their guns? When someone shows up at the range with a damn muzzle brake next to me, I pack up. I can't stand getting smacked in the face and ears (even with double hearing protection) by the brake.

I would never buy one of the new rifles. I like a lot of what Ruger puts out, but not this latest crop.

I totally agree with your thoughts about muzzle brakes.
At least you can easily remove the muzzle brakes from the Ruger rifles.

I'm looking at the CZ550 Full Stock in 9.3X62. I have a Swede in X57 and a double in X 74. Just as well have the 62. But who sells multi cavity .367 bullet molds? NEI used to have one in 315 gr I think. 285 gr in a wide meplat would be nice. Packy

One good trait that Ruger has is that it is not afraid to try things outside the box and if they don't sell well they drop it and move on -- sometimes to a worse idea and sometimes to a better one.

As a guide I absolutely despise sissy slots on the muzzle but my guess for the reason Ruger added them to all the 375 and 416 rifles is that, because of their little recoil lug, wood stocks don't hold up and a muzzle break was a simple " fix"
But Ruger is not stupid and if they don't sell they will change it.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Can I ask "Why not just get a CZ 550"?
Peter.

I hate the CZ stocks with a purple passion. Reason enough?

I also like to buy American, and the 9,3X62 Hawkeye African is far more pleasing to hold and carry than the CZ clubs. I tried an American CZ in 9,3, and it didn't fit me at all. The stock was fat. It didn't have sights, either.

quote:

Originally posted by A7Dave:

quote:

Originally posted by Woodhits:
Ruger is adapting to an exploding marketplace that doesn't include a "run" on traditional hunting rifles. They have nearly tripled their handgun production to meet the demand and their semi-auto rifle sales are strong as well. Right now, the public wants semi-autos and Ruger is a smart company adapting to supply that demand. I'm sure they will devote more resources to their hunting rifle production when things slow down a bit.

Right, but who did they ask that told them to put muzzle brakes on their guns? When someone shows up at the range with a damn muzzle brake next to me, I pack up. I can't stand getting smacked in the face and ears (even with double hearing protection) by the brake.

I would never buy one of the new rifles. I like a lot of what Ruger puts out, but not this latest crop.

I understand they come with a nice thread protector as well as the break.

"Stupid is as stupid does Forrest"public
Ruger is probably Americas best "stock firearms"
maker. I consider the rest less than so.

The gunmakers at CZ, Mauser, and Husqvarna can produce mass market guns that trump what is made here. I have 3 European style CZ's, 2 Rugers.
I still prefer the CZ over all others.

quote:

Originally posted by luv2safari:

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Can I ask "Why not just get a CZ 550"?
Peter.

I hate the CZ stocks with a purple passion. Reason enough?

I also like to buy American, and the 9,3X62 Hawkeye African is far more pleasing to hold and carry than the CZ clubs. I tried an American CZ in 9,3, and it didn't fit me at all. The stock was fat. It didn't have sights, either.

I dont like the eastblockdesign of the cz too.

I suspect I'll have to have a Ruger African in 416 Ruger..I have a hacksaw and I'll give mine a nice circumsision.

However, a brake is handy if properly installed to screw in under the barrel band and have a false muzzle that will also screw in under the barrel band front sight..I like a brake when filing in sights, testing loads, and sighting in big bores..The POI seldom changes contrary to some posts I've read, or perhaps I just been lucky, but even if it did I always check them with out the brake when I'm done.

I don't hunt with a brake on my rifles. but if a client wants a brake on his rifle then so be it, especially if it improves his shooting and that is often the case for brake users..God gave me fingers so I use them in my ears if need be!

I also keep some of those foam plugs handy, the ones on a string around the neck are handy.

Also a brake is butt ugly on nice rifle IMO...

I'm glad I got mine when I did. I need to replace the stock with something that fits me better and won't retain moisture, but the gun shoots plenty fine, even with the cheap Prvi ammo I've fed it so far.

I don't know what happened but I will buy one if I come across one.

Cal30

An aside on the bead blast finish. Degrease and use a Duracoat of your choice. It worked well for me on a smooth finish SRH 9.5" I wanted to dull down.

I have a Remington 721 that I sent to JES reboring and it shoots and functions flawlessly.


I want a Ruger Mark II in one very badly..

Ive even considered buying an 06' and sending it to get rebored .What a nice cartridge it is.


Cal30

quote:

Originally posted by 4barexpert:
The Ruger was a nice rifle. Now it seems they have lost their way with these new Star Wars rifles.
CZ is the easy choice as they make several variations.
Less bucks and equally good are the "export only" Savage 116s 9.3x62 which have the "extra" of being an easy "switch barrel" rifle to 270, 280, 06, 338-06, 375 Whelen and 400 Whelen. All you need is a barrel vise, nut wrench, headspace gauge and new barrel.

Try a Blaser R93/R8, make the change with a hex head wrench.

Well, as a result of this thread I picked up a CZ 550 in 9.3x62. Love the gun and quite accurate with the loads I have tried. As a Blaser owner, I cannot say that I would recommend the Blaser "system" due to it's expense, unless a full commitment were to be made. $1K for a barrel, when you can buy a CZ for 600 bucks doesn't make a lot of sense unless you really like the other Blaser features like the bolt action etc.
Peter.