I get it, you have to cut costs, get rid of SKUs that aren’t selling, and take a practical approach to running a business. But man, there are so many heritage guns being cut that I think Ruger is risking a lot more than they realize.

So far, we’re looking at the SR1911, GP100, Super Redhawk, Redhawk, Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, SP101, LCR, and basically their entire revolver lineup, leaving only the Wrangler. They’re also cutting the PCC and Charger lineup, the No. 1 falling-block rifle, the Model 77 and Hawkeye, and on and on.

Here’s my hot take. Aside from the LCP 1 and 2, maybe the LCP Max, and perhaps the RXM, what does Ruger really offer that makes them stand out in an already flooded polymer market?

I rarely hear anyone talk about the Max-9, and it’s competing against the P365, Shield Plus, and Hellcat, which all seem to have a lot more notoriety. The Ruger American Rifle is decent in short-action cartridges, but when it comes to long-action calibers, I’d personally be looking at a Tikka or something similar.

This is where I think Ruger is making a mistake. They’re cutting products with decades of history and brand recognition to focus even more on markets where they’re competing against companies that already have a pretty solid foothold.

A lot of these guns were around when Bill Ruger first founded the company. The revolvers and traditional rifles are a big part of what built Ruger’s reputation in the first place. People knew Ruger made good revolvers, so maybe they’d buy a GP100 or a Blackhawk and later decide to try an SR9, LC9, or EC9. That reputation carries over into the rest of the brand.

I’ll give Ruger credit for the LCP. They helped make small .380 pistols a huge market, even with KelTec already in the picture. Ruger clearly won that sales battle. But outside of that, I don’t hear much about the Ruger American Pistol, and it’s competing in a market full of established duty-size pistols that already have loyal followings.

What I don’t understand is why Ruger can’t do something similar to what they’ve done with Marlin. They clearly have the ability to keep established designs going. Why not keep at least some of these older Ruger models around in limited production, even if they aren’t selling enough to justify full-time production? They did something similar with Marlin in the early days, so why not do that with their own heritage guns?

My concern is that Ruger is so focused on cutting costs and trying to compete in the polymer market that they’re getting rid of the things that made them different in the first place.

Smith & Wesson has its revolvers. SIG has the P365. Glock has its polymer pistols. Springfield, HK, and plenty of others have their own established followings. Ruger can compete with those companies, but why walk away from the products where they already have decades of history and a reputation people recognize?

Maybe I’m missing something on the business side, and maybe some of these models just weren’t selling enough. I can understand that. But there’s a difference between trimming a few slow sellers and cutting nearly your entire revolver lineup along with some of your most recognizable traditional rifles.

Honestly, I think this is a terrible move if it means Ruger is abandoning the products that made them stand out. I’d rather see them keep a handful of these guns in limited production than watch them slowly disappear altogether.

At the end of the day, my biggest concern is that Ruger is going to end up trying to fight it out in an overcrowded polymer market while losing the heritage that made people want to buy a Ruger in the first place. If all you’re left with is another company making polymer pistols and modern sporting rifles, what really separates you from everyone else?
 

Each bucket holds 400rds

After much procrastination after becoming an “adult” I got my long gun certificate and went out and found this: a 1970 production Winchester Model 100 chambered in 308. Definitely isn’t anyone’s first choice or the best choice but it’s what caught my eye and interested me. The major reasons were the local production, common caliber, (I could own it in my state) and partially the fact that it appears to be a scaled-up 10/22 which was my first gun as a kid definitely is part of it. I know they aren’t the MOST accurate rifle but for some casual target shooting and maybe use as a brush gun in the future it’s perfect.

Inherited a springfield gun. Stamped 1869. I thought it might be an 1865 or 1879. Or 1869 cavalry. But all the pics online have the wooden stock going almost all the way to the end of the barrel. This one seems to be different. Any help or any experts able to help me out on this one i would appreciate it.

Also looking for what caliber this might be as i want to shoot it.

I like shooting. And shot 500 rounds a week the past month of 9mm.

Im thinking of pickjng up a 22lr to reduce cost on ammo. But, none are that interesting to me

The hk mp5 replica looks cool, but everyone hates on it. I could pick up a ruger mark iv for like 400ish or a smith and wesson sport 22 for 350

But im still unsure if 22 is the route to go, maybe remanufactured 9mm instead?

Thoughts on thjs conundrum?

I've come across FirearmsDirectClub on instagram and found that they have extensively used airpods pro as hearing protection often shooting 50 caliber machine guns and using them as protection. They've done this hundreds of times in different posts often recommending it to their friends. I am quite sure this is unsafe is it not? Apple says on their website "

1. The Hearing Protection feature is not suitable for protection against extremely loud impulse sounds, such as gunfire, fireworks, or jackhammers, or against sustained sounds louder than 110 dBA."

Are these guys destroying their hearing or am I missing something?

Link to videos:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DeZZhCdN70e/

Went to install the Midwest handguard on my SP5 and the manual called for 30 in lbs on the smaller screws, which snapped the tip right off and now the tip is stuck in the screw.

Any tips for removing it?

Currently hunt with a browning hells canyon LR max 300 win mag, 185gr berger hybrid hunter ammo. Great accuracy, great put down power, just heavy.

Been looking to replace it and either it's a Browning X-Bolt Mountain Pro Carbon ($4250) or a custom Tikka T3X ($3200) Stupid accurate for the price and weight.

Plan is to get a proof pre fit barrel and throw it into a MDT HNT26 with a triggertech trigger.

Bare the gun will be about 6lbs 10oz. The only thing that I might do is get a custom cut proof barrel with a 1:9 twist to run 215gr ammo.

If you guys have a better option that's 300 win mag with a carbon proof or bartlein barrel I'm open to hear it.

I also would like to use this for hitting steel far away because why not.

I recently picked up a PSA AK-V and from their website it says it uses the same magazines as the scorpion. I was just curious if anyone knew what these metal strips were for at the top of the magazine, if they’re for durability or they serve another purpose. They’re also quite magnetic.

When I took my hunters safety course around 05-06 we were shown a vhs hunters safety video that had to have at least been from the 90s. There is a scene where a man was wearing red and blue on his face and was shot by another turkey hunter who mistook him for a turkey. I for the life of me cannot find this video and was wondering if anyone here would know or remember the video I’m talking about.

I'm curious as to if there are any manufacturers of AOWs ramping up production?

Like, where are my cane gun options? I want a 9mm laptop, please.

Hello everyone,

I recently came across what appears to be a Luxembourg-contract FN-49 sniper rifle, serial number 7150, potentially one of the 203 rifles produced for the Luxembourg contract.

The rifle is stamped “7150” and has an “AL” marking on the receiver. I’m currently trying to locate an original OIP 4× sniper scope that would be correct for this rifle. Ideally, I’d love to find the original scope that was issued with it, if it’s possible to trace it.

If anyone has information about this particular rifle, knows where I might find an original Luxembourg-marked OIP scope, or has leads on a scope and the correct ECHO mount, I’d greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks in advance!

I’m looking to purchase my first ever firearm soon I have no experience I want my first to be a handgun learn with it and grow from there. I was looking into the Glock 43x but some people said they wouldn’t recommend for first a gun I heard the m&p sheild plus could be a good contender or the Glock 19. I would eventually like to carry after I learn it and get comfortable enough with it but I guess I could buy a compact ccw gun after I learn from whatever I do buy. So as someone starting out with no experience what would you recommend to learn on that is beginner friendly and not over $500 if possible any feedback is appreciated thank you.

In Saint Petersburg (Russia), grenades, a rifle, and 2,000 rounds of ammunition were found at an elderly woman's home.