Ruger .44 Magnum carbine (tube magazine)

[sojournerhome]

Hello All,

I have a chance to purchase a Ruger .44 magnum carbine. The original tube fed magazine from about 1960-62? Has been sitting in a gun safe. Used little. Cared for a lot. I know the man. It has been well maintained and cleaned at least every six months.

HIs offer is for $450 and a half a military green ammo can of .44 magnum reloads.

What does everyone think? Is it worth it? What do I look for?

Thanks for the help.

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm thinking practically, not as a collector. If you meant to ask from a collector's standpoint, disregard what I say.

Do you like it?

Do you like it better than the NIB lever guns you can get for the price?

You may love it. If you do, the like-new carbine might be worth it to you. It's probably worth more to you than a random gun from a stranger, since you know it's really in the good shape it seems to be.

If you don't love it, it's not the only .44 Magnum brush gun you can buy.

 

[sojournerhome]

It is a nice rifle. I like it. For hunting in heavy brush in Texas it would be useful. But, if looking for practical is it worth the $450 with the ammo?

 

[Il Duca]

if looking for practical is it worth the $450 with the ammo?

Do you trust the man enough to use his reloads? If not, I would pass. But then again I never cared for the Rugers.

 

[ArmedBear]

That is a factor.

Reloads can be far better than factory loads, some can be half-assed, and a few can even blow up a gun.

Some reloaders are very meticulous, and make extensive use of powder tricklers and extremely accurate scales.

Others just use whatever powder the measure drops, and stuff in a bullet.

Some might even load dangerous overpressure rounds.

It all depends.

 

[tinroad37e]

Ruger 44

I have one of the little carbines. I recently found a Ruger 44 Deerfield (magazine fed) and bought it. The only problem with the tube fed Ruger 44 carbine is Ruger no longer sells parts for them, but certain parts can be purchased from Numrich gunparts. They are also prone to cracking stocks right behind the receiver. I have seen it a couple times and it happened to me once. I no longer shoot mine. It was the first deer rifle my father bought me when I was 11 back in the earlier 1980s, so it means alot to me. I've killed 11 or 12 deer with it.

If you're buying one to hunt with, I would purchase the newer Deerfield 99/44 model. Both models are built like tanks and you may never have problems with it, but I would spend the money on a newer rifle.

Look for finish wear on the loading gate on the underside of the rifle. It's a good indicator of usage. I've seen them with the finish completely worn off. However, I've never seen one with a shot out barrel. Be sure to look for cracks in the stock.

 

[dmazur]

I have one of these carbines, too. I like it a lot, within its limits. I believe you can still get scope mounts (2 piece base) and a 1-4X scope makes it even better. The earliest version didn't have a pushbutton near the loading gate to facilitate unloading as the later versions did. Also, Ruger had the owner's manuals available online as .pdf files, so if there is no manual with it, this is a source of Ruger info. The gas mechanism is a short stroke M1 carbine type, I think, not a Garand type and is very reliable. However, it doesn't like underpowered loads. I reload using Hornady 240 gr JHP's and Hodgdon 110 and get good accuracy. I think you'll like the little carbine.

 

[sojournerhome]

In evaluation

So,

Parts are scarce.
I trust his reloads but need to check what he reloads too.
So, I know what to check the stock and parts for wear.
But, do I want an older rifle if I am not interested in it for collecting?

Thanks, for all the good answers!
I think I'll skip this one and look elsewhere.

 

[roo_ster]

sojourner:

Keep your eyes peeled for a used Win/Browning/Rossi* 92 in .44mag.

Light, handy, and the smoothest lever action I have used. We bought my wife's for $120+tax.

* In order of cost.

 

[DnPRK]

I have 2 of the original Deerslayer 44 carbines. Both are accurate and hit anything within 100 yds like a bolt of lightning. I use them on jackrabbits at full gallop. Needless to say, I'd buy a pristine 44 carbine in a heartbeat. Buy it, you won't be sorry.

 

[Gordon]

I'm sure people do, BUT I shot alot of lead reloads with 2400 in mine 25 years + ago and clogged the gas system with LEAD!

 

[DnPRK]

Even though it is out of production, the manual is still available online. It cautions against use of lead bullets due to the potential to foul the gas port. Jacketed bullets shoot great and don't foul.

 

[eastwood44mag]

I bought mine new, no box or papers, few scratches, with 4-6 boxes of PMC for less than $300. Course, I got a steal on it, but that's another matter.

 

[Big Daddy K]

I love mine. I have a little fixed 4X on top. It is good to 100 yds easy. It will flat bang a gong.
Ya gotta have full house loads to cycle.
Ive had some PMC and Mag Tech that were not hot enough.
I stick with Remington or Winchester in 240 grn JHP. I would like to try some heavier Garret loads.
Anyway, I wouldnt take $450.00 for mine but I wouldnt give that much for another. I think you can find one at least $100.00 less. But you do know the guns condition and owner and thats a plus.

Also, the recoil is pretty light. My 10 year old loves it. In fact I will probably let him deer hunt with it this year in place of his 243.

 

[KINGMAX]

I had one of the new Deerfields. It was an okay brush gun for deer, hog, boar and Black Bear. One draw back was just a 4 round mag. That is not a hole lot of back-up. I traded it for a Tarus 45 Long Colt Pump action Rifle. I can put 14 rounds in the tube.