Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Guys, I need some help and opinions on the Ruger Deerfield and the M96 lever action
carbine, both in 44 MAG. These little guns look very handy and very nice, I just wish that
they had a bigger magazine capacity. I don't know whether I would want one of these or not,
although they look very tempting. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

I don't have any problem buying Rugers at all but I would stay away from those 2. If you want a really compact carbine buy the deerstalker(discontinued) find a 1960's model with the machined reciever and there is a great little deer rifle.

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Hi Georgian,

I'm not sure if there have been any problems with either of those models, (maybe oldelkhunter has had, or heard of bad experiences?), but my brother has had a model 96 since the second year they were out. He has never had any problem with it, at all.....and you'd have to pry it out of his son's hands. For all intents and purposes, my nephew is the new owner.....and he'll tell you so!

They've taken five or six deer with it already, it shoots well, (good consistent groups at 100 yards....they mounted a fixed 2 1/2 power scope), and he has never had a malfunction of any sort! They put several hundred rounds per year through it, on average.

I wouldn't have trouble recommending it, in my experience!

Dave

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

I have one of the old Deer Stalker carbines and love it, this was my deer gun for a couple of years, unfortunatly my dad cut the stock down to fit me better as a young lad which was great at the time but now its kinda short.

I have been having some trouble getting handloads to function properlly. I think this is an operator error and not a malfunction on the rifle itself, dont use it much anymore, I'll take it out to the range and pop a few rounds through it once in awhile just to shoot something diffrent.

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

AKbound...its not the reliability of these 2 guns..they are after all Rugers and they all work well. Its just maybe the handguard on the deerfield and the way the action looks with that exposed clip(too militaristic) and I just plain like the old deerstalkers better. If they put a better grade of wood on the 96 I would be more interested in it also .

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Hi oldelkhunter,

I'll give you that......it is pretty plain looking!:) I suspect they did the handguard that way because it is in vogue with today's buyers. And I suppose it dissipates heat (their explanation...I'm sure).;)

Dave

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Georgian, I just sold a Winchester Model 94AE (44 Mag.) and purchased a Deerfield for my son to shoot because he like my 10/22 so much and it is identical to it. We went to the shooting range and put 50 rounds throuh it. He shot the gun 10 times better than he shot the Winchester (I moved the scope from the Win. to the Ruger). I was very impressed and so was he!! We now have a new favorite gun. Only problem now is when he hunts with me I will have to give it up to him. The gun performed with cheap ammo as well as the Winchester with premium ammo. The 4 round clip is all you need to shoot deer with. The gun action reminded me of the M1 carbines I use to own. I loved their light weight and ruggedness but the caliber was to small for hunting.
The gun weight is light (6 3/4lbs.) and the barrel does not heat up as much as I thought. The gun is a little pricey ($485), but it comes with scope rings mounted. The gun was worth every bit what I paid for it.

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Thanks for all the replys yall. Which is the best btw. the 96 and Deerfield?
I like em both, but I just can't choose which one.

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Hi Georgian,

It's probably going to come down to your preference! They both are pretty nice and serve the same function. In Pennsylvania semi-auto's are illegal for hunting.......so the levers (and pumps) are much more popular here.

Either way I think you'll be happy!

Dave

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Thanks akbound. I think I like the lever gun better. I don't know bout
our regelations much in Georgia, but I know lever gun are accepted.
I could also live to deal with the 4 round mag, just load a round into
the chamber before I put the mag in, and you have five quick shots
ready. Both of the Ruger carbines look right dandy, and mighty handy,hehe
maybe I should become a poet instead of a gun enthusiast............Na, guns
have more of a draw than writin words, lol Thanks!!

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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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RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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.:D

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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.

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

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 % :D 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.

RE: Ruger 44 Carbines
 

Thanks OEH, I didn't know the reason ,what you said makes allot of sense.
I hope you can find a 100% Deerslayer.I feel lucky finding mine NIB for 300.00.A old buddy bought it and never fired it. I think he lost interest in guns.He had a few others I dabbled with him over.Like a NIB Buckeye Special 32H&R mag w/ a 32-20 cylinder. My 44 Carbine was made in 1980 so it wasn't one of the first production models.The first run went from 1961-74. The second run went from 1975-85.
Ruger Redhawk

I checked my records that 44 carbine was 300.00 not 3 and a half.Error corrected. RR