I have come across one of the old Ruger 44 Carbine's at a local pawn shop. Over the years I have come close to buying one many times. This one is the plain carbine and is probably 90% plus condition. I can get it for $225 which is quite a but less than I see them selling for around here these days. The serial number dates it to 1967 production. Are these reliable and reasonably accurate (like 3" or so at 100 yards) rifles? Any owners out there offer a view?

I strongly suggest you buy it. Should you be disatisfied with it, for any reason, I'll take it off your hands.

Ed
The first centerfire rifle I ever had was just such a Ruger.I never had a problem with it. Later when I started reloading it still shot reloads perefectly. I killed a lot of deer with that rifle, longest shot @ 125 yards. It has a slow twist [1 in 38 I think]twist bbl. They shoot small groups with 240,s out to @ 75 yards, after that they open up a bit, but still shoot plenty good for deer and pigs. That price is way below the average asked.I even shot some Keith SWC bullets that I cast [linotype] with no problems, but it is not recommended to shoot lead bullets as they might foul the gas piston.
They did not have heavier bullets back then but 270 and 300gr bullets seem to shoot better in my 44 Mag Winchester lever I have now.

I've owned one for more than 20 years, and am very happy with it.

3" @ 100 sounds about right, although the rifle can be very fussy about ammo. As far as factory goes, mine has trouble keeping 240 gr. Remington SPs on the paper, but will keep similar MagTechs in about 2 1/2. Top handload so far is a Hornaday 240 XTP/H110 combination @1800, also around 2 1/2". I'm starting to play around with 240 Swift A-frames, and they may be showing signs of doing a little better.

It's a great whitetail rifle, and has served for javelina and hogs. If you buy it, I doubt that you'll have regrets.

I bought it and took it to the range today. With a 3X Leupold on it and shooting 240 gr XTP's over 24 grs of H110 it consistently kept five in an inch and a quarter or so at 50 yards. I think will give the 300 gr XTP's a try. I plan to put a Williams WGRS receiver sight on it. Questions, how often do you dismantle and clean yours and anyone use hard cast bullets?

Ed
As stated above I shot a few linotype bullets in mine, but it is not recommended. Shoot your rifle at 100 yards with the 240's and 300's and let us know what happens. I killed a lot of deer with my Ruger 44 and I do not ever remember having to shoot one more than once.

I got one for $180.
Mine had a peep sight mounted on the rear and was a little beat, appearance wise, but like new mechanically.
They usually go for $400 in very good condition.
I put a 2.5X scope on it and had a wide variety of loads to try at the range.

The 240 gr JHP 24 gr H110 loads for my model 29 were not very accurate in the Ruger, but the 300 gr cast loads were one hole groups at 50 yards.

I got either leading or a stuck bullet from a light load, becasue the muzzle split like a bananna [a stuck bullet will stil cycle a gas action]. I ran into a collector who says he has seen allot of carbines like that. There is no source for barrels. I welded a .429" ID pipe on the end, but the extra velocity without riflings makes groups so bad they are hard to believe.