Who Loves the Ruger .44 magnum Carbine?

[Gordon]

With 180 grain Sierra bullets and a case full of H110 , 29 grains was the sweet spot in the Ruger carbine for function and accuracy . It shoot 2" 100 yard groups with scope at 4.5x at that range out of a Caldwell Lead sled. The recoil isn't bad for 180 grains at 2100 FPS ! The gas action softens it , but the curved aluminum butt -hurts ! in a T shirt for a magazine full. This is a ferocious BlackTail load, but prefer 240 grain softpoints for hogs at about 1700fps.

 

[ChanceMcCall]

With 180 grain Sierra bullets and a case full of H110 , 29 grains was the sweet spot in the Ruger carbine for function and accuracy . It shoot 2" 100 yard groups with scope at 4.5x at that range out of a Caldwell Lead sled. The recoil isn't bad for 180 grains at 2100 FPS ! The gas action softens it , but the curved aluminum butt -hurts ! in a T shirt for a magazine full. This is a ferocious BlackTail load, but prefer 240 grain softpoints for hogs at about 1700fps.

I've never thought there was much recoil with the gun, but then, I am comparing it to the Marlin lever actions, including their .44 magnum which I also own. The .444 marlin has a very significant recoil which is why I rarely use it, although I really like that gun as well.

I think recoil is, in part, a function of how well a gun fits the shooter. In the areas of trap, skeet, sporting clays, shooters talk constantly about shotgun fit, but it is rarely discussed with rifles. While I know it is also important with rifles, I also know that the average shooter doesn't shoot most of his/her rifles enough to justify the costs involved of having a rifle fitted, and, there are very few qualified gun fitters available today. The ones that are, are normally very busy with the shotgun clay shooters anyway.

The Ruger is certainly not a target gun, nor even a fun range gun. Your 2" 100 yard groups is very good for this or any brush gun, but not so much for long range guns. I can, and have, shot lots of deer in the spine (including a running one) at 50-75 yards with this gun, freehand and with no scope, and that is good enough for me. ( I prefer spine shots over the front haunches because I never have a deer I have to chase if I do my job, and I don't waste meat.)

If I were hunting mule deer in the western states, this gun would be almost useless to me. Every western deer and elk I'v shot were at very long ranges for me, and I spent considerable range time, getting the rust off my long range skills every time I was going West to hunt. That does mean very tight groups from a very accurate rifle in a much different caliber and bullet configuration.

However, for the shorter distances most of us east of the Mississippi encounter, and the type of larger game we hunt (whitetails and black bear and hogs) I love this gun.

 

[Gordon]

with most factory loads it is indeed a 4 moa gun to 100 yards at least. Those 2" were tuned special 180 loads and done on a sled. The recoil is not that bad, as I said gas action softens things BUT the butt plate is pretty rude unless wearing heavy garments. This actually is a great hog gun over dogs, one of the best. As you said, deadly in 75 yards or less.

 

[Vernon102]

Never owned one. Been around a few. Have a friend who has the lever version.
After reading a recent article (IIRC Rifle/Handloader), it seems the accuracy issue is related to the rate of twist used. For whatever reason Ruger and Co used a twist rate more suited to pistols.
To be accurate it requires a one in 18 twist to shine.

V.

 

[Salmoneye]

Most likely it was the difference between handgun ammo and rifle ammo. It also hates cast lead.

Someone will have to define for me the difference between .44 Mag "Handgun", and .44 Mag "Rifle" ammo...

I am well aware of the differences in the SAMMI specs for barrel groove diameters, but have never heard anyone advertise or distinguish between ammo types...

 

[ChanceMcCall]

Someone will have to define for me the difference between .44 Mag "Handgun", and .44 Mag "Rifle" ammo...

I am well aware of the differences in the SAMMI specs for barrel groove diameters, but have never heard anyone advertise or distinguish between ammo types...

Most .44 magnum ammo is designed with a revolver and shorter barrel in mind. To cycle the carbine requires more energy and a hotter round. Also these rifles do not do well with cast lead because shavings can get into the gas system. As a general rule these rifles are most accurate with 240 grain ammo, but there are times when heavier rounds at short range make more sense. Some really powerful rounds from makers like Buffalo Bore have cases that are too long for the carbine but not for revolvers. They do have two rounds that will function, but again be careful of the uncoated lead.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I bought a used one a few years ago, after couple years started having feed problems, would jam all the time. found out Ruger doesn't make the needed parts anymore so I gave it to a friend and I think he got it working. Meanwhile I still have a Modell 77 in .44 mag I love for hogs in the brush.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I've got both a Deerfield carbine and a 96/44. Love them both. Never had an issue cycling, except when I tried 44spl in theDeerfield. Shot fine, just wouldn't cycle.

Wasnt aware there was an earlier version of the carbine.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Someone will have to define for me the difference between .44 Mag "Handgun", and .44 Mag "Rifle" ammo...

I am well aware of the differences in the SAMMI specs for barrel groove diameters, but have never heard anyone advertise or distinguish between ammo types...

Thank you for mentioning this! I reloaded and fired A LOT of .44 Magnum and .44 Special ammo from when I was about 15 until 26 or 27 (with breaks). Seriously, I'd guess at least 15,000 rounds in that time frame. I'd read a few references to "loading .44 Magnum to rifle specs" but always just dismissed them. I'm assuming with the OP means is that the little Ruger .44 Carbines require actual, full-power, 240-grain jacketed .44 Magnum ammo loaded no longer the SAAMI-spec maximum OAL. Which would make sense being a gas-operated, tube-fed semi-auto. Lead bullets would gum up the gas port and lower-power ammo won't have the gas volume to function the action.

While I've never had a semi-auto .44 Carbine, I did have a 96/44 for a while. It was roughly the same length and dimensions as the Carbine, maybe slightly trimmer and lighter. I liked carrying and looking at that rifle. The semi-auto carbines intrigue me, though I might hold out for one of the newer Deefield (99/44?) models with the detachable magazine.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Both the Deerfield and 96/44 are nearly identical in dimensions and weight. Though the magazines are technically different, mine both interchange without issue.

As for the rifle vs handgun loads, my old manuals list loads for both, as well as many loads for say .357mag and others.

 

[Hasaf]

I had a 77/44 (the bolt action carbine) in the 90s'. It was stolen and I kept wanting to replace it. As it stands, I am budgeted to replace it early next year (2019). Frankly, I have very good memories of it and miss it a lot.

 

[Hookeye]

My dad has a '66 sporter. When IN allowed PCR I filled an antlerless tag w it.
65 yard shot, Norma 236gr factory ammo.
He's still got it.

Not for sale LOL

Off the bench it'lll keep em in a palm sized group at 75 yards, iron sighted.
Dunno if it could be bettered w a scope. He won't let me scope it.

I've shot pretty nice groups w other guns, off the bench (front bag only) and irons so suspect it won't be much better.

 

[200Apples]

Someone will have to define for me the difference between .44 Mag "Handgun", and .44 Mag "Rifle" ammo...

This is usually a distinction made only in bulletmakers' Reloading Handbooks. I've never seen .44 Mag "Rifle" ammo on the shelf for sale in retail chain sporting goods/gun stores.

In the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, 9th Edition, there are data for .44 Mag handgun, .44 Mag T/C (Thompson/Center) and .44 Mag rifle... T/C and rifle loads can be a bit hotter because of their stronger barrel chambers and actions than one finds in most handguns.

A 240 grain jhp can be travelling along at a good 1350 fps from a 7-1/2" revolver barrel using 21.2 grains Alliant 2400 propellant. Using identical cartridge components but assembled for a stronger rifle action and an 18" barrel, the same 240 gr JHP can be cooking along at 1700 fps using just three-tenths grain more (21.5 grains) 2400.

What I like to see is the .44 Magnum 300 grain XTP whistlin' out the muzzle of a (18") lever gun at 1300 fps (2400) or even 1400 (H110) fps. That is a respectable load from a cartridge with less than 2" OAL and from a long gun weighing under 7 lbs. Think of it as a .45-70 Lite. Heehaw.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Had my lever ruger 96/44 out last night on a deer hunt. Such a great brush gun; light, compact, and powerful! I was however, unsuccessful.

 

[Flyer898]

I finally acquired a gas operated carbine made in the early 60s with the factory receiver sight. I have not shot it yet, but I plan on starting with handloads with the Hornady 265 gr. flat point over WW296. This was the most accurate load in my Redhawk.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I bought one from Sears back when they sold guns. I paid $129.95 plus tax. They make decent short range hunting guns, but don't expect sub moa groups. I got rid of mine because I could never warm up to it.

 

[Chuck59]

I had one for many years, but just couldn't warm up to it. It is expensive to shoot.. jacketed bullets only. Heavy loads needed to cycle the action. I much prefer my Henry Big boy.. it drops brass right at my feet, and will shoot about any load. That said, I don't hunt with it or carry it in the field. That would be a different thing altogether. Different strokes for different folks..

 

[redneck2]

My hunting buddy used one of these to take a 183 class buck at about 70 yards. One shot, one kill

 

[MEHavey]

". . . Doesn't like lead bullets . . . " is is another one of those as-reported-in-the New-York-Times perpetuated "facts".

I very specifically got the rifle to shoot our local gongs ... which requires lead .. . and so had Tom Ellis ship me one of his ACC43-265MG moulds, cast up #2 alloy w/ gas checks & liquid ALOX, loaded it over a full case of Vihtavouri N-110 for 1,700fps, and get dependable 2-2¼" groups at our 100-yd "gong" show.

Pulled it apart last night after 75-80 rounds working up the load to look at the piston/chamber . . . . which were spotless.

It's a nifty little rifle which -- for the same reason as the Model-12 -- is both bomb-proof milled steel* and now too expensive to manufacture in today's mass market environment.





* White Labs was unable to blow it up with 100,000psi compressed loads of Bullseye back in 1960.

 

[loose noose]

What's not to love, I've had one made in the 70's which is in like new condition, although I've shot the heck out of it, it keeps coming back for more. My most accurate load is the 240grn. Nosler JSP in front of a maximum load of H110 and a Magnum primer. BTW I did try the 180grn. projectiles, but they thru them low and left, and I couldn't get the Weaver peep sight to adjust for it without almost out of the spectrum. I've taken a few whitetail deer in N/E Wisconsin, and UP Michigan, with the longest shot right at an estimated 70 yards, all one shot kills none the less..

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Just picked one up. The rifle was checkered by the previous owner. It was his 1st attempt at checkering, he did it last year, at the age of 95.

 

[BigBlue 94]

At 95, I'd say he did a darn fine job. Nice looking carbine

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Thanks, I think he did a heck of a job.

 

[loose noose]

I'd say he did a fabulous job, at 95 it's hard to believe that this is his first attempt, at 71 I won't even attempt hand checkering.