The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Opinions on Ruger Deerfield .44 mag semi-auto carbine

bamaranger · April 5, 2011, 06:08 PM

Three hundred bucks for a Ruger .44 auto, old or new model, is a good price, if the thing is in any kind of shape.

Personally, I believe the new model, with detach mag, Mini type action and trigger group, and the 1:20 twist as opposed to the older 1:38 in the old tube feed models, are more accurate and a good bit more durable. Plus they use the Ruger Ring set up which makes scoping easy. I can't find one for less than $500.

I do have two of the old tube feed models, and a Mini-30, for what its worth.

The accuracy in my old models is pretty dismal with heavy slugs. Switching to 180 and then 200 gr bullets helped plenty, but robs the .44 of all the advantages of big heavy bullets, which I believe is what makes the .44 so deadly. Lots of guys report good results with 240's and the old rifles, but mine don't. The new model, with the tighter twist, should handle the big 240 gr and up slugs easily.

April 5, 2011, 06:08 PM	#21
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	$300 Three hundred bucks for a Ruger .44 auto, old or new model, is a good price, if the thing is in any kind of shape. Personally, I believe the new model, with detach mag, Mini type action and trigger group, and the 1:20 twist as opposed to the older 1:38 in the old tube feed models, are more accurate and a good bit more durable. Plus they use the Ruger Ring set up which makes scoping easy. I can't find one for less than $500. I do have two of the old tube feed models, and a Mini-30, for what its worth. The accuracy in my old models is pretty dismal with heavy slugs. Switching to 180 and then 200 gr bullets helped plenty, but robs the .44 of all the advantages of big heavy bullets, which I believe is what makes the .44 so deadly. Lots of guys report good results with 240's and the old rifles, but mine don't. The new model, with the tighter twist, should handle the big 240 gr and up slugs easily.