I am looking at a Ruger Deerfield 44mag. I shoot a good many 44 mag rounds in pistols and was wondering if the Ruger carbine would hold up under heavy usage . I would like to hear from anyone that uses this carbine. I would be shooting 240 gr. jsp with 22gr.of H110 with std primer. Thanks,Dyno
Not familiar with that EXACT Ruger model but I've had the original .44 mag Ruger carbine and currently own a M77-44 Ruger. All Ruger's I've seen were strong and pretty well put together.
The problem with Ruger's now days is their accuracy and quality control has gone to hell. You will find guys who recently purchased Ruger rifles howling all over this website...me included. Ruger is in some sort of serious decline or just coasting on their name
Whatever, there are better .44 mag rifles to be had. Think twice about this purchase is my advice.
------------------ A well placed bullet is worth 1,000 ft/lbs of energy.
Posts: 19677 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 May 2002
The most accurate 44 mag rifle I've owned is a new Ruger model 77. In the past I owned a ruger semi auto, winchester lever and a remington 788 this new ruger will shoot under 1 inch groups with handloads most of the others shot 2-4 inch groups. My load is 23.5 grains of 296 with a nosler 240 gr bullet.
Posts: 21 | Location: Las Vegas NV | Registered: 18 April 2002
RK That 788 wouldn't shoot? Never seen one but wish I had one. Have had three 788's and know several others that have them, they all shoot way better than what they cost.
Dan, The 788 was second best around 2 inch groups. Have owned two other 788 both in 243 they were very accurate one would stay at .6 with handloads this was the short barreled version.
Posts: 21 | Location: Las Vegas NV | Registered: 18 April 2002
RK' 2" groups with a .44@100 yds. is great in my book. Have a friend that cleaned everybody at the Sat. semi-formal benchrest shoot with his 18" bbl 788 back in the 80's. It was in the new( at the time) 7/08. My first 788 was in .223 and it would shoot in the .5's with cheap bullets like Hornady SX's.
I don't personally have one of the Ruger carbines but I did sell a neighbor one about twenty years ago. He used it every year for deer and never had a harsh word to say about its performance. I know they made minor changes to the new Carbine.
I personally have one of the Marlin carbines that I've had for about ten years. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Did lots of cowboy shoots with it and never had a problem. It didn't like to feed semi-wadcutters but fed factory ammo and flatnose reloads flawlessly. Accuracy even with cast bullets in the micro groove barrel is outstanding.
-M
Posts: 4860 | Location: Lakewood, CO | Registered: 07 February 2002
