Hi Georgian,

I don't think you'll find anything to dislike about the M96. You can always keep a loaded spare magazine in a pocket or pouch......for easy reloads. (Not very likely to ever need that many on a hunt...but it makes for an easy, quiet, way to carry spare ammo.)

Best of luck!

Dave

Hey y'all,
Don't rule out the 77/44. I bought the stainless model a few months ago and absolutely love it. It will definitely be going to the woods next deer season.

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A little trivia for you, Way back when Ruger made the Original Deerslayer. Ruger changed the name after Ithaca sued or was going to sue Ruger for the Deerslayer name. Ithaca's Deerslayer was a registered trademark of theirs. As far as I know that is a true fact.

About the new Ruger Deerfields.I've never shot one but have handled a couple of them. They appear to be a well made gun,which we expect from any of the Ruger line.Before I would buy a new Deerfield I would look for one of the original 44 carbines.You can find one of the early models in like new condition for less then the new Deerfields are.That's just my opinion.
Ruger Redhawk

Ruger.. your right on the money with that asessment. The old carbines are better built and look better then the current models..

Its not in the ball park with the Ruger Auto but I have been playing around with a little NEF 44 Mag single shot. This is a fun little gun to shoot. It shoots very well with 44 specials which are mild of report and a good little close up varmit and plinking gun. I wish I would have grabbed one of these years ago. FUN Fun Fun.

sir i am new on the site,but have a question.ihave a 44 ruger carbine and would like to have an approx value.i have had it for several years and do not want to part with it.what a great shooting gun.it is a deerstalker 44
serial number 2474..also would like to know approx manuf date.
thanks greek

Greek, according to Ruger it was built sometime in 1962 and would indeed be a keeper. The older model deerslayers were much better made then the new version of the deer slayers which I owned (1980). I handled two older ones this week in a SC gunshop and they were in pretty good condition and the owner was asking 530 and 650 for them. A better indicator would be gunsamerica. The auction sites may have a few for sale also.

Greek welcome to the forum, You have a nice rifle in that early Deerslayer.Prices vary allot depending on condition. I've seen them on Gunsamerica from 350.00 and up.Last year I bought a NIB from a friend for 300.00. It's not as early as yours is.But it's unfired with the box and all the paperwork.Unfortunately the box is showing age from storage and insects eating on it.I'm with OEH when he says the older ones are better then the new Deerfields.I'm not sure why Ruger would have discontinued them.Probably sales weren't what they had expected.You can also see when any Ruger was manufactured by going to www.ruger-firearms.com I forget exactly where it is on their site but you'll find it easily.Let me give another small piece of advice.DON'T post you guns serial numbers on this or any other site.For security reason you're better off not mentioning the S/N's If you want to give a range use X's
Eg 1234xx G2146xx.
Ruger Redhawk

RUGER, the reason they stopped making the old deerslayer that Greek has is because it was too expensive to produce because of machining required, this was told to me by a gunsmith and a gun dealer. The one I had did not have the real nice blueing sort of matte finished and the bolt didn't close up like the older ones, I wonder if it was investment cast. I wish I could find an old one laying around in 100 % it would make my day. I still should never have sold the 44 deerslayer I owned that was one heck of a good carry gun and dropped deer like they ran into a concrete wall.