William B. Ruger Dies

[Murle]

William B. Ruger



PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - William B. Ruger, founder of Sturm, Ruger and Co. Inc. , one of the largest firearms manufacturers in the United States, died Saturday. He was 86.



The company, which has plants in Prescott, Newport, N. H. and Southport, Conn. , makes rifles, shotguns, pistols and precision investment castings used in the aerospace, automotive, general manufacturing and golf markets.



Ruger, who was born in Brooklyn in 1916, had a hand in the design of every firearm his company ever produced.



He teamed with Alexander Sturm to form the company in 1949. His first firearm for the company, produced that year, was a . 22-caliber target pistol that is still in widespread use today.

 

[TomGolden]

What a terrible loss to the firearms world. God rest him and be with his family and all those of us who proudly own and use his outstanding firearms.



Tom

 

[Cummins4Life]

Sorry to see him go.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

My first handgun was a Ruger Mark II and I still have it to this day after putting at least 50,000 rounds through it. This is very sad news for me. With firearms manufacturers rolling over left and right to the govt, Ruger was one who stood tall thus far. I sure hope it doesn't go down hill after his passing .

 

[Sled Puller]

A very sad day.

 

[Morphious]

I still remember shooting dad's Ruger blackhawk 44magnum with the 11 1/2 inch barrel..... nothing sweeter made.



Morph.

 

[Sled Puller]

What better way to show your feelings?



List your favorite Rugers.



1) 357 GP100

2) Mini-14

3) 10/22

4) any single-six

5) P-85

 

[Bigsaint]

I agree, what a loss to the entire shooting community. If you have never read how he got his start, you should. Let's just say he started very small, with a small workshop while making the original . 22LR pistol to what he has now.



While Bill's centerfire auto handguns never did much for me, everything else he produced sure did. I currently own too many to list, but they include several of the #1 Tropical rifles, several of his centerfire bolts in assorted calibers, many of his single action centerfire revolvers, several of his double action centerfire revolvers, one Mini-14, and several of the . 22LR MK2's.



My favorite... all of them for different reasons. The simplicity of design and the fact that most any firearm he ever produced can be taken down quite easily is the strong point in Ruger firearms in my book.



I, like Steve, started out with the MK2 . 22LR as my first handgun. Mine was the tapered barrel ( 6") with fixed sight version. Taught me alot and never let me down.



Scott W.

 

[A Johnson]

A sad day indeed.



As generous as Bill was to the shooting community, I hope he has a good team that will carry on the tradition. I suspect he does.



I just hope that there is someone with a love of firearms and an ingeneous mind that will continue the tradition of new ,great designs.



I have been loyal to Ruger for years, and will continue to be. I always favored the #1 and #3 rifles, they just look and feel so classy, at a price a working stiff can afford.

I have a whole list of other Ruger products but my 416 Rigby #1 is hands down favorite rifle. In handguns I'm most partial to my 51/2" blued Redhawk 44. Its the gun I carry day in and out for varmits and such that need immediate attention. - A Johnson

 

[mdlowry]

I picked up my first gun about 2 1/2 years ago. It's a GP-100. My second one is a SP-101. Lately I've added a . 41 magnum redhawk. Oh, and there's the Blackhawk that off at the gunsmith being BOMBed. (www.reedercustomguns.com/revolvers/index.htm)



Didn't care for his support of the 10 round limit though. Did make good guns though.