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bamaranger · September 8, 2016, 04:01 AM

Be it an AR pattern rifle, or the finest BP revolver ever made (the Old Army), Ruger's logic is the same.......if the product doesn't turn the profit they want, it's gone. To do that, they have to sell "X" number at "X" price, and their discontinued models (all of them) failed the math test. Old Ruger (with Bill) made some niche firearms that nobody else would make, likely 'cause Bill said so. I've read at least one commentary by Bill Ruger stating words to the effect "we will make "X" gun as long as I'm running things." Bill Ruger and that mindset is gone. New Ruger (w/o Bill), operates exclusively as initially stated. My take on it...not been to a Board meeting.

The other part of the equation is two fold:

1) It seems that as a culture (shooters) are satisfied with the original direct impingement/gas system on the AR. As a culture, we tend to resist change.
2) As noted by others, we're cheap, who wants/can drop 2K on a rifle, when a serviceable model can be had for less than half that? Note the rapid growth of the price point bolt rifle (like Rugers "American").

September 8, 2016, 04:01 AM	#5
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,799	same answer Be it an AR pattern rifle, or the finest BP revolver ever made (the Old Army), Ruger's logic is the same.......if the product doesn't turn the profit they want, it's gone. To do that, they have to sell "X" number at "X" price, and their discontinued models (all of them) failed the math test. Old Ruger (with Bill) made some niche firearms that nobody else would make, likely 'cause Bill said so. I've read at least one commentary by Bill Ruger stating words to the effect "we will make "X" gun as long as I'm running things." Bill Ruger and that mindset is gone. New Ruger (w/o Bill), operates exclusively as initially stated. My take on it...not been to a Board meeting. The other part of the equation is two fold: 1) It seems that as a culture (shooters) are satisfied with the original direct impingement/gas system on the AR. As a culture, we tend to resist change. 2) As noted by others, we're cheap, who wants/can drop 2K on a rifle, when a serviceable model can be had for less than half that? Note the rapid growth of the price point bolt rifle (like Rugers "American").