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Posted: 10/14/2024 11:45:35 AM EDT
| About 30 years back in high school I worked at a gun shop doing minor gunsmithing. Mostly cleaning guns. Had a few Ruger 44 automatic carbines come through and as I recall they were relatively complex and full of small parts but again I’ve not handled one in decades. I just bought one. I guess out of nostalgia. What do I need to know about them? Loads they like and such. |
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Originally Posted By FB41: The one I used to own (Deerstalker) performed best with 240 JSP ammo. I remember it being a heavy recoiling sumbitch too. My Winchester model 92 .44 magnum has a tiny curved butt plate. It leaves a bruise every time I shoot it. It’s honestly worse than my belted magnums. |
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This was my grandfather's, complete with 2.5x scope and tip rings. Lots of Arkansas deer fell to this gun. It likes both 240 and 180 JSP, but he always used 240 for hunting. Attached File |
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I believe Ruger made at least two different versions over the years (maybe more) I think I have heard Ruger does not support any of them as far as repair and spare parts. Years ago I sort of looked at a couple that were offered up as used guns . The thing that made me step back was reported bad results with lead bullets. Being a semi auto of course requires a certain power level load to have it operate well. So many good lever actions out there that are way more flexible in their ability to run a wide range of ammo from mild 44spl on up to full house heavy bullet 44mag loads. If one puts a bit of training into the operation of a lever gun and slicks up the stock action a bit a lever gun really is hardly slower than a semi auto. I understand the loads are a bit on the light side but if you look at what the dedicated cowboy action shooters can do with a lever gun it is pretty impressive. At this time I am the happy owner of a north haven real deal Marlin cowboy rifle in 44mag with the octagon rifle barrel and recently I picked up a Rossi stainless carbine that has been fun also. I guess that is lots of info on something the OP isn't interested in but there you go. Just consider , The Ruger semi is fussy with ammo and if you ever have problems with it good luck trying to find somebody to fix it or supply parts and the lever carbines and rifles shoot a wide range of loads and are available in a wide range of looks and finishes both new and used. |
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The original had a tube mag that loaded in the bottom. The second used a rotary mag. Nice guns that sell for more than they sold for. Deerstalker Deerfield |
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"But the new Admin. is a Master in IDPA"
"MASTER in IDPA..."
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"But the new Admin. is a Master in IDPA"
"MASTER in IDPA..."
"is like C Class in IPSC!"
| I have one made in 1963 from what the serial number research says. It seems to shoot well. I hand load 200gr xtp for it and it seems to like it. I know these guns aren't tack drivers but this one seems to average around 2in or so at 100yds. If I can figure out a way to get the barrel into my lathe then I'll thread it for a can. I have a hybrid 46 that would look good on there. |
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Originally Posted By ICU: I have one, it has some history & sentimental value to me... As mentioned earlier its no longer supported, so I wont risk breaking it. Just sits there looking good  I am in the same boat. I do not want to shoot it much because of parts being not available. I am afraid if something breaks, I will be SOL. I have of the later deerfield versions (the one that has the mini 14 style action and 4 round rotary magazines. It had feed and ejection issues. The ejection issue was the extractor spring being weak. I lucked out and found one at numrich but I think I bought the last one. Turns out the mag that was in it was for the 77/44 and the spring was not strong enough to present the rounds before the bolt started moving forward to feed (it cycles fast). That was the feeding issue. I lucked out and stumbled across a spare mag at a gun show and found it had a much stronger spring. With it, it works perfectly. I have bought one of the aftermarket 10 round mags for it, but have yet to try it. |
| I've a Deerstalker that was my grandfather's. Great gun. It's definitely hard to find parts for and tough to sort out issues. I'm currently sorting a couple. Disassembling it is tricky if you ever have to. They do kick like a mule for such a cartridge... it's like it's defying physics somehow. Love that thing though. |
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Awesome guns. I wish Ruger or someone else would make a decent semi-auto in .44 Magnum or .357 Magnum.  Semi-auto in 44 Magnum! |
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Originally Posted By Homesteader375: I've a Deerstalker that was my grandfather's. Great gun. It's definitely hard to find parts for and tough to sort out issues. I'm currently sorting a couple. Disassembling it is tricky if you ever have to. They do kick like a mule for such a cartridge... it's like it's defying physics somehow. Love that thing though. Mine too. I think they are over gassed to make sure they will cycle most anything, even weaker stuff. Downside, they will kick a lot. I thought about ways to make the gas adjustable on mine but did not want to start modding parts that could not be replaced. |
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I have one made in 1976. Handy little carbine. I killed my heaviest buck with it. I would limit it to 75 yards and under. Not the most accurate gun ever invented. It’s a .44 so it has its limitations. |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: I wish Ruger would bring back this classic maybe in a 10mm if you need a rimless cartridge to make it but 44mag is awesome in a carbine. 
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I sell firearms produced by the finest child labor in the world, be it Filipino, Muslim, Mormon, Arizonan, or Texan.
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Not Quite what I had in mind. Not a fan of Ruger reinventing Kel-tecs Rather have the old school iron and wood Ruger theme. |
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: Not Quite what I had in mind. Not a fan of Ruger reinventing Kel-tecs Rather have the old school iron and wood Ruger theme. Originally Posted By cherenkov: Originally Posted By backbencher: https://ruger.com/productImages/19307/detail/1.jpg Not Quite what I had in mind. Not a fan of Ruger reinventing Kel-tecs Rather have the old school iron and wood Ruger theme. Pay the man: https://www.gun broker.com/Semi-Auto-Rifles/search?PageSize=96&Sort=4&View=1&Ch-manufacturerName=Ruger&Ch-model=Other%20Model&Ch-Caliber=.44%20Mag (Link broken intentionally to prevent ARFCOM selling your data) |
I sell firearms produced by the finest child labor in the world, be it Filipino, Muslim, Mormon, Arizonan, or Texan.
| Not sure if it’s been mentioned yet- but many of these had issues with the stock cracking just under the rear tang. When buying a used one, if you can, try to inspect this area. |
"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it cost nothing to be a patriot." -- Mark Twain
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I forgot about posting this thread. My rifle so far shoots adequately to kill deer and pigs inside of 100 yards. Doesn’t cycle my hornady 265gr FTX loads as well as some JHP loads I have. Sometimes they take a nose dive and/or tries to double feed. Very mild recoiling rifle though. Just need to find a load it likes. |
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I imagine those have a 1:38 twist barrels on them. In the late 90's, I tested a bunch of different 16" rifle barrels (AR-15) chambered in 440 Corbon, 44 Rem Mag, and 44 Auto Mag. 1:38 twist shot great up to 265gr bullets, but 300's were sketchy for stabilization. I also tried 1:18 (standard pistol twist) and those shot poorly with just about everything. I ended up settling on 1:25 twist, which is still available from Pac-Nor Barrels today. 1:25 shot great regardless of bullet weight in all three calibers. Tony Rumore Tromix |
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My 1964 carbine shoots great with 240-gr XTP’s. Replace the recoil spring, the alloy trigger housing can crack under recoil and effectively end the gun’s life. Uh, I’m no macho glutton for punishment but I’ve never felt the recoil to be excessive. Mini-14 rubber buttload will fit the carbine stock. 2” at 100 yards with a 4x scope. Taken at least twenty deer since 2005. My favorite game getter. |
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Originally Posted By Buckeye33: Maybe Ruger would do better releasing these again rather than a crappy copy of a crappy glock. Their marketing department must be full of morons. Love my RXM. Would love a 44 Carbine too. Sorry yours is crappy. |
Sweet baby Jesus on fire. Gonna need a damn lawyer and a miracle to pull my ass outta this.
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Ruger should bring back the deerfield and update it some. Do like they did with the PC carbine and give it interchangeable mag wells. One to use the factory style mag, and another to take desert eagle mags. OR, someone needs to build a 44 mag AR that with a mag well adapter that takes desert eagle mags. |
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Originally Posted By Jeeps-And-Guns: Ruger should bring back the deerfield and update it some. Do like they did with the PC carbine and give it interchangeable mag wells. One to use the factory style mag, and another to take desert eagle mags. OR, someone needs to build a 44 mag AR that with a mag well adapter that takes desert eagle mags. @TonyRumore |
I sell firearms produced by the finest child labor in the world, be it Filipino, Muslim, Mormon, Arizonan, or Texan.
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Originally Posted By AtomicOutdoorsman: Well it took me long enough to get this thing threaded. Seems to have came out nice. I'll try and shoot it tomorrow to see how it does. Threaded 5/8-24 with my hybrid 46 on it. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/147286/1000121741-3612683.jpg  My 77/44 just got home from SRT Arms but I hadn’t considered suppressing my automatic. |
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Excellent hog gun. No recoil. Short range. I killed my first mounted deer with one decades ago. Still have it in the gun safe. My son killed his first feral hog with it. |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
| My dad ended up buying several of the original Deerstalkers back in the 80’s, cheap, from various folks he knew. After about a decade or more of me hassling him to sell me one, he gifted one to me about 20 years ago. Very nice rifle, but I am in the same boat as everyone else- afraid to use it too much as you can’t get parts. Won’t be parting with it anytime soon though. |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say…
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: I wish Ruger would bring back this classic maybe in a 10mm if you need a rimless cartridge to make it but 44mag is awesome in a carbine. I’d absolutely buy an improved 44 Mag Deerfield or even a 10MM unless they used Glock mags. |
You see that head come apart?
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Originally Posted By Ruin: I’d absolutely buy an improved 44 Mag Deerfield or even a 10MM unless they used Glock mags. Originally Posted By Ruin: Originally Posted By cherenkov: I wish Ruger would bring back this classic maybe in a 10mm if you need a rimless cartridge to make it but 44mag is awesome in a carbine. I’d absolutely buy an improved 44 Mag Deerfield or even a 10MM unless they used Glock mags. They almost had ya:
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I sell firearms produced by the finest child labor in the world, be it Filipino, Muslim, Mormon, Arizonan, or Texan.
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