Sgt. Gunner
Ruger guns are among the most durable and well-built guns on the market today. What’s more is that Ruger builds virtually all types of guns, from .22s to pocket pistols to well-built revolvers to tactical rifles to hunting rifles and so on. When you buy a Ruger, you know you’re buying a gun that you can use for a lifetime and then one day pass on down to future generations.
Ruger has made dozens of different models over the years, but there are some of their most notable ones (and ranked by you guys):
#1 Ruger Mark IV 22/45
The 22/45 is a version of the Ruger Mark pistol with a grip that is designed to mimic a 1911. That means that if you own a 1911 pistol, the Mark 22/45 pistol will feel extremely similar and be a great training or plinking companion. The 22/45 also has a polymer frame and is therefore much lighter in weight than other versions in the Mark series. The basic manual of arms with the 22/45 remains the same as the Mark IV.
Nicholas#2 Ruger American
The Ruger American rifle is Ruger's budget hunting rifle lineup, commonly sold in combination with a scope at a budget price of around $500 or less. The American differs from the M77 in that it has a push feed action rather than a controlled feed, and for having a tang mounted safety behind the receiver rather than the three position safety of the Hawkeye.
It also has an adjustable trigger and length of pull, and is most commonly available in either a blued or stainless steel finish with synthetic furniture. As with the Hawkeye M77 it is available in virtually every centerfire rifle chambering.
#3 Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum
The Ruger GP100 in .357 Magnum is a tank of a revolver. This was built in the late 1980s as a successor to the Security Six, which was also a great revolver. The GP100 is incredibly beefy, having more metal built into the frame and the cylinder. Ruger states that the GP100 is capable of firing an unlimited number of full power .357 Magnum rounds without needing to cool down.
In contrast, numerous other .357 Magnum revolvers on the market need to cool down after firing enough rounds, or else the cylinder and action can lock up. The GP100 is available in both 6 round and 7 round configurations, in blued or stainless steel, and in a number of different barrel lengths. If you're looking for a revolver that can take a lot of abuse and continue to run, the GP100 is a great option.
#4 Ruger Mark IV .22 LR
The Ruger Mark IV .22 LR represents the current generation of Ruger's .22 pistols, which are designed to closely resemble the Luger or Nambu pistols from WW2. Available in a 4 inch or 6 inch barrel length and in many different variations, the Mark IV is different from past versions of the Ruger Mark series because it is significantly easier to take down. Previous Mark pistols had a very complicated field stripping process, but the Mark IV is designed to be much easier to take apart with the single push of a button on the back of the frame.
#5 Ruger 10/22 .22 LR
The Ruger 10/22 in .22 LR is perhaps Ruger's most famous firearm. Introduced in the 1960s, the 10/22 was originally designed to be an 'adult's .22' with the same level of quality as people were expecting from their more expensive centerfire hunting rifles. The 10/22 is today one of the most customizable firearms on the planet, with roughly the same number of aftermarket parts as the Glock, 1911, and the AR-15.
Magazine capacity ranges from the ten round rotary magazines up to the big 100 round drums. The 25 round Butler Creek and Ruger BX-25 magazines are arguably the most popular magazines to buy for the rifle. All in all, the 10/22 is simply one of the best and most popular .22 rifles on the planet today, and likely will be for many more decades to come.
#6 Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum and .45 Long Colt
The Ruger Redhawk is to .44 Magnum revolvers as the GP100 is to .357 Magnums. This revolver is built specifically by Ruger to handle extra stress, and has a longer cylinder than most other .44 Magnums on the market so it can be hand loaded to specific cartridges as the user so desires. In addition to .44 Magnums, certain versions of the Redhawk can also chamber and shoot the .45 Long Colt round.
This does not exist with all Redhawk revolvers and it's your responsibility to confirm that your specific gun can. The Redhawk is certainly very heavy, but it's also very tough. As with the GP100, it has extra metal built into the cylinder and frame so it can handle full power .44 Magnum rounds without a fuss.
#7 Ruger LCP .380 ACP
When it was originally released in 2008, the Ruger LCP was a major hit. It has since become one of the most popular concealed carry pistols in the United States today, due to its extremely compact size that makes it small enough to fit inside of a pocket.
The LCP is chambered for the .380 ACP round and holds six rounds of ammunition in the magazine. It has a long and heavy double action only trigger pull. Because of its small size, it is snappy and this combined with the heavy trigger means it will take some time getting used to. The LCP has since been developed into a more ergonomic version with a lighter trigger called the LCP II, but the original LCP remains in production too.
#8 Ruger M77 Hawkeye
The Ruger M77 Hawkeye is Ruger's prime hunting rifle. The M77 utilizes a controlled feed action that is based very heavily off of the Mauser action to the point that it is nearly identical. The claw extractor ensures proper loading and extraction of cartridges from the internal box magazine into the chamber.
The Hawkeye is the third generation version of the M77, which was originally designed to compete with the Winchester Model 70 and the Remington Model 700. As with the Model 70, it has a three position safety, with the first position locking up the bolt, the second position freeing the bolt but preventing the trigger from being fired, and the third position allowing the weapon to shoot.
The M77 is today available in a wide number of different configurations and calibers, including .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Magnum, and .300 Winchester Magnum to name a few.
#9 Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle .308 Winchester
The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, or GSR for short, is a Model 77 rifle that has been reconfigured into the Scout rifle concept as envisioned by Colonel Jeff Cooper. The Scout rifle concept is simple: a .308 bolt action rifle with a short barrel, a detachable box magazine, open sights, and a tactical rail mounted forward of the receiver for an optic. Cooper argued that such a rifle would be the one rifle to have if you could only have one.
The Ruger GSR is one of the best selling Scout rifles on the market today, and certainly one o the most durable. It comes with either a 16 or 18.5 inch barrel length and in either blued or stainless steel. The caliber chamberings are in .308 Winchester, 5.56x45mm NATO, and .450 Bushmaster.
#10 Ruger Vaquero
The Ruger Vaquero is Ruger's take on the Colt Peacemaker. It's notable for having a more beefy frame in order to take more abuse (as with the Redhawk and GP100). The cylinder is also freed just by opening up the cylinder release, whereas the Colt Peacemaker required you to bring the hammer back to half cock (there is no such feature on the Vaquero).
The Vaquero is available in either a 4.75 or 5.5 inch barrel, and most commonly in either .357 Magnum or .45 Long Colt. An even beefier version called the Blackhawk is also available with raised target sights, but is likewise based on the Colt Peacemaker platform as well.
