Posted something similar in the Lounge before seeing this. Concerning, seems like a race to the bottom for polymer, stamped steel and Cerakote finishes. To me it seems like a company forgetting what made them great with things like discontinuing the Blackhawk. Hope this is just a temporary thing rather than revolvers, 77 rifles and No. 1’s disappearing forever.

Article from the American Rifleman.

https://www.americanrifleman.o...everal-major-models/

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
GP100 has been in production since 1985, SP101 since 1989.

By contrast, the Security Six, Service Six and Speed Six lasted only 16 years.

All of the the tooling still exists for these discontinued guns and you can bet that many of those models will reappear from time to time, and people will snap them up.

Revolvers are not obsolete but they take a definite backseat to self-loading pistols in today's world.
.

GP 100 and SP101 were the 3rd and 4th pistols I bought back in the mid 90s. I did not buy another revolver until possibly 5 years ago. It’s really not too surprising to be honest. Walk into any LGS and there are very few revolvers on the shelves. At this point I equate it to outboard motors. The 2 stroke went away. Evinrude went under because they didn’t adapt. Some loved them but not enough for the model to make it. Same thing here.

Hard to get a good buggy whip these days.

How about a manual transmission? All the reviews say this car is great, but really needs a manual transmission. A few days ago, I was lamenting that what's really missing is a lightweight small car with a manual transmission that was fun to push at legal speeds. That's a lie. There's the Miata, BRZ, the Mazda 3, some VWs.

Same thing with revolvers. They are available, they are beautiful, and we all love them, but we just don't buy them. They will be missed.

Kinda surprised that they would shelf the GP100, Redhawk, SP101 etc…. Their large frame revolvers have been staples of their lineup for decades.

I have a GP100 6” SS bought new in 1990 at a Walmart for $300. Lots of dating in that one sentence now….

Another thing that might be behind this is the technology producing the guns in question. Ruger uses a lot of investment casting, which is nowhere near as cost-effective as it once was compared to other technologies that are held in higher regard.

For example, a Ruger SP101 is no longer significantly less expensive than a comparable Colt or S&W, because the main thing driving its cost is now just the material itself (they’re all made with a lot of steel).

Grabbed a Match Champion that I've been putting on the back burner for years. The stock levels changed WILDLY overnight.

quote:

Originally posted by MacGyver:
Another thing that might be behind this is the technology producing the guns in question. Ruger uses a lot of investment casting, which is nowhere near as cost-effective as it once was compared to other technologies that are held in higher regard.

For example, a Ruger SP101 is no longer significantly less expensive than a comparable Colt or S&W, because the main thing driving its cost is now just the material itself (they’re all made with a lot of steel).

Sometimes the old ways are best (pinned barrels). Maybe Ruger had too many revolvers returned with canted barrels. "OK boys and girls, that's enough for now, shut it down"

The lost wax investment casting is why Ruger is Ruger. Hope they figure it out.

quote:

Originally posted by JonDaddy82:
Grabbed a Match Champion that I've been putting on the back burner for years. The stock levels changed WILDLY overnight.

I just put a Match Champion on layaway tonight. I think it was the only Ruger revolver they had left.

Damn, I have a 3” GP, a 3” SP101 & a 2” SP101…was waiting for a 44mag SBH…prolly never happen now. I’m sure the used market prices will do nothing but go up

On the secondary market, prices may stay the same or actually go down for a good while, when every yay-hoo with a Ruger revolver to sell puts it on the market thinking it's a good time to do so.

supply/demand

Bide your time, find your gun.

There is a place for revolvers however the semi-auto is superior in most situations. Service Six in 357 was ago to woods gun for decades before becoming a car travel companion.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
Ruger has been racing to catch up with the likes of Remington and Savage for years. Time to stop circling it and go down the drain. You already drove away a large portion of your long time customers with poor quality control and awful fit and finish. Keep pumping out ugly plastic junk and be rid of the rest of them too.

Remington and Savage LOL

I am very sad to hear this, but relieved that I have the Ruger revolvers I want. From the list of what they are keeping I don't see anything I want to buy. While I might have bought another GP100 or Super Redhawk in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
On the secondary market, prices may stay the same or actually go down for a good while, when every yay-hoo with a Ruger revolver to sell puts it on the market thinking it's a good time to do so.

supply/demand

Bide your time, find your gun.

I have a GP100 I could let go, but I am by no means desperate to get rid of it, so I won't be looking to sell it unless some even bigger yay-hoo makes me an offer I can't refuse. I may reconsider if I see them start going for "Can't believe anyone would pay that for a Ruger" sort of prices.

I’m part of a dying breed, I absolutely love revolvers. I’ll never sell my GP100 4”, thought about buying a Redhawks.357 but geez I have 10 revolvers, mostly Smith’s and Colt’s and don’t need anymore!

How did the Mini 14 survive the massacre? It can't be that big of a seller for them.

My SP101 2" is one of my favorites. It was my first revolver.