Today, there are few firearms brands that have reached the level of acclaim and positive notoriety like that of Ruger. For nearly a century, they’ve developed award-winning handguns and rifles, many of which have remained popular decades after their introduction.
Today, their lineup includes a myriad of semi-automatic handguns, revolvers, bolt-action rifles, and AR-15 variants, displaying significant growth since their first endeavors.
History of Ruger Firearms
The Sturm, Ruger & Company Inc., better known as just Ruger, was founded in 1949 as a partnership between Alexander McCormick Sturm and William B. Ruger. Before their partnership, William Ruger, better known as Bill, had been working on a project to recreate and redesign a pistol based on Japanese Nambu pistols recovered after World War II. After successfully recreating the pistol, he partnered up with Alexander Sturm to form the Sturm, Ruger and Company Inc. in Southport, Connecticut. During this time, the two developed their first pistol model, the Ruger Standard.
The Ruger Standard was a unique pistol at the time of its creation. Sturm and Ruger had incorporated design elements of the popular Luger pistol and the Colt Woodsman sporting pistol making it really appealing for the American market. It quickly became a popular rimfire pistol model, propelling the company’s success, enabling further firearm developments. Ruger eventually began developing different handgun types, including revolvers like their GP100, and rifles as well like their famous Ruger 10/22.
Today, Ruger is still headquartered in Southport, CT, and their product lineup has expanded to include a vast array of firearms, and each one is American made in one of their production facilities across the U.S. Their lineup has evolved tremendously from their beginnings as well, as they now offer a plethora of unique pistol and rifle designs.
Ruger Pistols and Revolvers
Rimfire Pistols
The Ruger Standard’s success led to many improvements and modifications, culminating in the Ruger Mark IV. The Mark IV shares many of the same features as the original Ruger Standard but has been upgraded for greater accuracy and modularity. The Mark IV includes various models, each suited for different tasks. The Mark IV Standard, calls back to the original design, featuring a 4.75- or 6-inch barrel, a 10-round magazine capacity, polymer grips, and a blued finish. Being chambered in .22LR, it has minimal recoil, making it a great pistol for plinking and training.
Another popular model is the Mark IV 22/45, which is much lighter than the Mark IV Standard and comes with adjustable target sights, with some coming with picatinny rails for mounting optics, and threaded barrels for suppressors.
Ruger also offers rimfire revolvers, with the Wrangler being their flagship model. The Ruger Wrangler is reminiscent of older single action army revolver designs. It’s available in various barrel lengths and finishes, making it perfect for range shooting with a classic western aesthetic.
Semi-Auto Pistols
Ruger’s pistol line has evolved to include a plethora of semi-auto pistols, including popular ones like the Ruger Security 9, LCP, and Ruger-5.7.
The Ruger Security-9 is designed with everyday/concealed carrying in mind. It’s a 9mm pistol that comes in multiple configurations to better suit individual needs, featuring either a 10- or 15-round magazine capacity, and either a 3.42- or 4-inch barrel.
The LCP is a micro compact single-stack pistol that can come chambered in 380ACP. As it stands, it’s one of the smallest semi-auto pistols on the market. It has a 2.8-inch barrel, and a 6-round magazine. There is a slightly larger double-stack option available, the LCP Max, that has the same barrel length, but features a larger 10-round magazine.
Lastly, the Ruger-5.7 is one of the more recent additions to the Ruger roster. As its name suggests, it’s chambered in the popular 5.7×28 cartridge. It boasts an impressive 20-round magazine capacity, a 4.94-inch barrel, and comes standard with adjustable fiber-optic sights. Depending on which one you look at, some come with optic-cut slides, allowing you to run mini-reflex or pistol red dot sights.
Revolvers
Ruger produces some of the industry’s most popular revolvers, such as the GP100, Redhawk, and Vaquero.
The GP-100 is one of Ruger’s flagship revolvers. It can come with either rubber grips, wooden ones, or rubber grips with wooden inserts. Likewise, it comes with either a black or stainless-steel finish and can feature either a 3-, 4.2-, 5-, or 6-inch barrel. A medium-sized revolver, it’s available in multiple calibers such as .22LR, .357 Magnum, 10mm, .327 Federal, and .44 Special. There’s also an upgraded model, the GP100 Match Champion, that comes with an upgraded trigger, stippled hardwood grips, and fiber optic sights.
The Redhawk, Ruger’s large frame revolver series, has many of the same features as the GP100 but can be chambered in more powerful cartridges. It can come chambered in .44 Magnum, .45ACP, and .357 Magnum. These revolvers can come with either rubber or wooden grips, and a 2.75-, 4.20-, 5.5-, 6-, or 7.5-inch barrel. Another variant of the Redhawk, called the Super Redhawk, shares many of the same features as the standard model but comes with upgraded sights and is available in even stronger chamberings like .454 Casull.
Ruger’s Vaquero pistol is essentially a modern take on the classic single action army revolver. As such, it’s a single action pistol that comes chambered in.45 Long, .45ACP, or .357 Magnum. Currently, it’s available in either blue or stainless finishes and features either a 3.75, 4.62-, or 5.5-inch barrel. Something to note is that the shorter 3.75-inch models come standard with a bird’s head style grip. Because of the Vaquero’s classic styling, it’s a common choice for cowboy action shooting and other western-themed shooting disciplines.
Ruger Rifles
Ruger Rimfire and PCC Rifles
Ruger’s rimfire and pistol caliber carbine, like their 10/22 and PC Carbine, stand out as some of the most sought-after products they offer.
The 10/22 is arguably Ruger’s most popular rifle they make. Great for plinking at the range or training new shooters, it’s available in multiple configurations that come with different barrel lengths, stock materials, and accessory options. They have many options for performance/competitive shooting and others that are simpler in-design for recreational shooting. There are even specialized options like 10/22 Takedown. It breaks apart into two halves, making it a great rifle for backpacking, hiking, and small game hunting. When paired with the Magpul Backpacker stock, the two halves can lock together in easy storage.
Their PC Carbine is essentially a scaled-up version of the 10/22, sharing many of the same design elements. It’s a pistol caliber carbine chambered in 9mm that takes Ruger SR-9/Security-9 magazines, though it does come with a magazine well insert that makes it take 9mm GLOCK mags. Each model comes standard with iron sights and an upper picatinny rail, and they each can be broken down into two halves like the 10/22 Takedown.
Ruger AR-15/AR-10s
One of their other popular rifle series is their AR-556 AR-15. It’s available in three variations: the standard, Free-Float, and MPR.
The AR-556 Standard is, as its name suggests, as standard AR-15. It’s complete with mil-spec furniture, a fixed front sight post gas block, and an upgraded Ruger Pistol grip. Some models do come with upgrades, like Magpul furniture and different finishes.
Their Free-Float models are essentially the same rifle as the standard, however they come with a free-floating M-LOK handguard. Just like the standard, they come with mil-spec furniture.
The Ruger MPR is a more premium option. Like their free-floating AR-556, the MPR features a full-length M-LOK handguard but comes standard with upgraded Magpul furniture, an enhanced trigger, and other upgrades. Some precision configurations even come with Magpul PRS (Precision Rifle Series) stocks and upgraded carbon fiber barrels from PROOF Research.
Ruger also has also dabbled in making AR-10s. Their AR-10 model is known as the SFAR (Small Frame Armalite Rifle) and is nearly the same size as the MPR and other AR-15s, sharing many of the same features. Though it’s slightly larger than an AR-15 to accommodate larger caliber ammunition, its size allows it to be lighter and more maneuverable to a better fill a role as a more powerful AR variant. It’s available in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor and has multiple variations, including standard and precision configurations.
Ruger Bolt-Actions
Aside from their many semi-auto rifles, Ruger is also very prevalent in the precision shooting and hunting scene with their many bolt-action rifles.
One of their most well-known bolt-actions they offer is their Ruger American Rifle. In their most basic configuration, these rifles come with synthetic stocks, internal magazines, and an upper picatinny rail for optics. Upgraded models come with detachable magazines, threaded barrels, and at times, camo stocks. Plus, when chambered in 5.56 NATO, 300 Blackout, .308 Winchester, and 6.5 Creedmoor, take standard AR-15 and AR-10/SR-25 magazines, respectively. With these features, these are great bolt-actions for hunting.
The Ruger Precision Rifle, or RPR, is purpose-built for long distance shooting. Each one features a fully adjustable stock, allowing you to easily adjust the length and comb for an optimal cheek weld. These rifles also come standard with detachable magazines, upgraded muzzle brakes, full length M-LOK handguards, and upper picatinny rails for mounting optics. This rifle series is available in a ton of different calibers, ranging from more common options like .308, 6mm PRC, and 6.5 Creedmoor, to much larger calibers like .300 PRC, .300 Win-Mag, and .338 Lapua Magnum.
Other platforms
One of the most notable rifles offered in their lineup is the Ruger Mini 14. The Mini 14 is quite similar in design to the M14, but it’s chambered to take the smaller .223/5.56 cartridge. Mini-14s are available in a ranch configuration with a wooden stock or a tactical version that comes with a black synthetic stock. There are select models that come with enhanced chassis systems that have folding stocks and picatinny rails. Additionally, they also produce a rifle known as the Mini-30, which has the same features, but is chambered in 7.62×39.
Ruger also offers unique platforms that call back to the classic designs of decades past. The Ruger NO. 1 (Number One) is one such rifle. It’s a single-shot rifle that utilizes a falling-block breech mechanism, a design that was first introduced almost 200 years ago. Still, it’s great for handling the pressure of larger calibers. As such, this rifle is available in more niche chamberings compared to Ruger’s other rifles. Depending on the model, it can come chambered in .257 Weatherby Magnum or .275 Rigby, though, there is another that’s available in 6.5 Creedmoor.
Conclusion
With nearly a century of innovation and success, Ruger remains one of the most successful firearm manufacturers. Starting as a developer of rimfire pistols and revolvers, they have grown into one of the most recognizable brands in the industry.
The incredible variety of products in their lineup, from smaller rimfire pistols to AR-15s and even old-school falling block rifles, highlights their extensive range of offerings. Still, what’s mentioned above only provides a brief glimpse into the expansive library of Ruger firearms, so we highly recommend researching each model to find the one that best fits your needs. If you’re on the fence about which caliber your next range gun should be chambered in, check out our guide on rimfire vs. centerfire cartridges.
