Ruger 96/44

snowwhite204

snowwhite204

New member
Looking at the local gun shop today and saw one of these on the shelf, used... I got the wild idea that it would make a great brush/drive gun for whitetails and even a decent truck gun for its size... Obviously would be a cake walk to load rounds but anyone have any experience with this rifle... Would like a few reports as to range, accuracy, etc... 44 mag ballistic charts are generally based off of a 4" bbl, and I would think that going to the 18.5" carbine length would almost double energy and give about 30% more velocity but not sure as I have never even thought about owning a .44 mag before. I am looking to either convince myself to buy it or brush it off as a wild idea that would sit in the safe and rot,
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either way I will live so lets hear it if anyone has experience with one!
 
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From what I've seen and read 3-4" groups @ 100yds seem to be the norm and used ones usually have a fairly stiff price tag.

Personally I'd rather have a Marlin 1894 or a Ruger 44 semi auto.
 
If its $300 or less snag it...usually they are way overpriced though.
The one I shot would not get better than 2" @ 100yds and that was with perfect handloads....factory loads would go bigger. That was in the mid 1980s also.
 
I like lever guns and I like the 44m. Out of a carbine should be fine to 100 yards on deer with a good bullet, both velocity and group size. Just don't expect more than minute of deer.

I picked up a semi 44 as a brush gun a couple years ago, but I rarely see close distances so it sits in the safe
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plus its the original ruger that they don't make parts for. Kind of scared to run hot loads through it in case I break it.

If its less than 300 and in good shape snag it and sell it on gb, usually go in the 400-600 range.
 
I'll probably pass on it... would be a fun plinking and deer gun but they are asking $410 for it with a cheap Jap 3-9 scope on it. In great shape but probably not worth what they want for it by the looks of things.
 


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