Speaking of Ruger .44 Carbines

Dixiedog1

Dixiedog1

Active member
Looks like they are pretty desirable right now
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Gunbroker .44 Deerfield

I've been offered $1k for mine at the range fairly recently and thought the guy was nuts to offer so much...maybe not he could have just been trying to get one on auction sites and he knew what they were selling for. Either way mine wasn't for sale but I do find it interesting that they are selling at these prices.
 
Who would have thoght? I bought one new in 1969 my first deer and hog gun for less than $200.00. Wish I had it back it was such a handy little rifle.
 
Allot of pig hunters and bear hunters around here use them due to being in thickets and bays where short guns with lots of power are needed. the compact size and weight added with the powerful 44 load is handy over say a 30-30 or similar.
 
Not so sure it's nuts....I'd part with most of my rifles before the Ruger Deerfield went anywhere...the M1 action it was based on is very dependable and extremely well suited for the .44 mag. I ordered one as soon as they introduced the removable magazine M1 action copy Deerfield and have never regretted it. Now to me nuts is Ruger no longer making that or the .44 mag lever action 96/44 carbine they used to make.
 
Magnumitus rules the firearms world. The pistol caliber rifles are a niche that apparently doesn't pay the bills. For where I hunt they're almost useless but they're still fun to have.
 
Up here the woods are pretty thick so long shots are usually not an option....a .44 mag is an excellent dear and bear round that makes a nice large wound channel that is very desirable to me. I've got several other hunting rifles but the only other one that tends to make it out of the safe for hunting is my Ruger Frontier .243 scout gun....the other rifles I have are range queens for the most part.
 
Yea, it's nuts.

I could find one for $800 or less inside of a week. I have been looking at them recently.

MOF, I have seen 2 recently. I may just pick one up..........
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunYea, it's nuts.

I could find one for $800 or less inside of a week. I have been looking at them recently.

MOF, I have seen 2 recently. I may just pick one up..........


Were they new in box and the removable magazine models? If so that's a steal.....if they were used without being beat up it's a good deal but a new on at $800 or less is pretty much a thing of the past.
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunI recently saw one for $900 NIB. Seller said he would take $800. Saw another NIB for $795. Probably could have got it for less.

Take your pick. I'd buy one of these before I would pay $1325 or more.........

http://www.armslist.com/posts/451720/salem-oregon-rifles-for-sale--ruger-44-magnum-carbine-rifle

http://www.armslist.com/posts/526317/ral...d-carbine-99-44


You're comparing apples to oranges with the ones I see listed...although the original tube fed carbines are nice they aren't nearly as desirable as the Deerfield rotary removable magazine .44 carbines that are based on the M1 action...it's an entirely different rifle. The Deerfields were only available from 2000-2006
 
No doubt it's a sweet little gun but for that price I'll stick with my pre safety Marlin 1894.
Dixiedog,,, how accurate are the Deerfield's? (be honest;)
My Marlin shoots 1.5" at 50yrds with an aperture sight.
 
Accuracy depends on the load, handloads are in the 1.5-3" range at 100 yds...the Hornady XTP 240's are generally the best for me and they generally produce a 1.5-2" group at 100 yds. I've got a Bushnell Elite 2-7 scope with Firefly reticle on my Deerfield and it's a great match. To be honest after I got those groups I figured that's all there was going to be for accuracy and I never tried different primers, powders, or lengths. It shoots great with both 2400 and Lil' Gun powder using the XTP's


I don't think they will ever get 1" groups at 100 yds so I never tried to get there.
 
Originally Posted By: Dixiedog1
I don't think they will ever get 1" groups at 100 yds so I never tried to get there.

I hear ya,,, that's probably all anyone's likely to get shooting revolver round's in a carbine.
Heck,,, mine shoots plain old Winnie white box 240's so well I just stocked up on em and spend my time hunting instead of chasing internet groups. I've got plenty of rifles to reload for when I get to feeling like a bench gnome.

I can certainly see the advantage of a rotary magazine as opposed to tube feed in those little carbines but I still wouldn't pay that kind of money for one.
Someone's paying it though (according to that auction). To each his own eh?
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I would like to find a Ruger 96/44 lever action carbine myself....if I could find one in great condition I'd pay a fair bit for it. I owned one of them when they first came out also but I couldn't get it to shoot anything well, eventually I got discouraged and traded it off for a .35 Rem lever gun....I'd really like to have another Ruger .44 lever though, they were the best feeling lever gun I've ever handled.
 
Originally Posted By: Dixiedog1I would like to find a Ruger 96/44 lever action carbine myself....if I could find one in great condition I'd pay a fair bit for it. I owned one of them when they first came out also but I couldn't get it to shoot anything well,

Yea, that's why I asked about the Deerslayer's accuracy. Thought maybe some of the Mini 14's accuracy issues might have rubbed off on em since they're built on the Mini platform.
 
Originally Posted By: Dixiedog1You're comparing apples to oranges with the ones I see listed

Yes, I'll give you that. Truth is, I really didn't look over the listings I posted very much.

However, the 2 I did mention for
 
Come to think of it, I just may prefer the lever action myself. I only shoot once anyway.

As for deer hunting, > 2/3 of Michigan is a "rifle zone". The bottom 1/3 is a "shotgun zone". I hunt with muzzleloader or hand cannon, never a shotgun. While I've never been a fan of rifles chambered for pistol rounds, if the new law passes, I just may pick something up.

I feel I may as well go with a repeater, as my muzzleloader will do anything a single shot will do, given the restrictions which will be in place.

A hotly loaded 45 Colt via a Winchester or Marlin levergun would probably do me just fine. I'd love a 480 Ruger also, but I think only Puma made them and that don't get me too warm and fuzzy.

I like the idea of having another option, even though it really isn't needed.........
 


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