So I was musing to myself the other day and got to thinking. Barring how you might feel about their products or company Ruger can fill damn near EVERY firearm need or want under one roof so to speak.

Semi automatic pistols
Rimfire pistols
Centerfire revolvers
Rimfire revolvers
Shotguns
Bolt guns
Semi auto rifles both sporting and defensive
Hell at one point BP guns as well.

With the acquisition of Marlin lever guns are back in the mix and Ruger had offered versions of lever guns in the past. They are basically only light a pump/semi shotguns.

Is there any other company with as wide of a product mix??

Shotguns? Well as a general, historic category perhaps. But their coverage currently certainly isn't there. And rather limiting even with the actual shotguns that they produced.

For instance, one specialized category that they're lacking: defensive/tactical shotguns. HUGE market thanks to current events. To extend it further, they don't have anything to answer the Mossberg Shockwave or Remington TAC-13/14. They also don't have anything to cover waterfowl hunting, unless someone really wants to subject their Red Label to a potential dunk in muddy, murky water...

Plus their last go-around with the Red Label O/Us around 7-8 years ago didn't go particularly well. Its QC stank to high heaven, which is why it got pulled off the market so quickly. Ruger was savvy enough to recognize a no-win scenario to get themselves saddled with covering those wretched things for the rest of their unworthy existence, unwritten lifetime warranty notwithstanding.

If we're taking the totality of both their current and past offerings into consideration, like with Ruger and their older discontinued shotguns, then Smith & Wesson would certainly qualify.

While S&W doesn't currently offer shotguns, they did in the past with stuff like the Model 1000 (semiauto), Model 3000 (pump), and Elite Series (double barrel) shotguns. Same with bolt action rifles, like their I-Bolt or Model A/B/C/D/E rifles. Even some lever action rifles and pistols dating back to the mid-to-late 1800s. And submachine guns like the S&W Model 76.

Edit: I forgot that S&W owns Thompson/Center Arms. So with that, they technically have current production black powder and bolt action rifles covered, plus .22 rifles, and even single-shot shotguns in the Encore lineup.

I don't think there is. They indeed have a very wide range of products, and also tend to make them available in a variety of chamberings. And not just center and rimfire revolvers, but DA and SA revolvers as well! The one thing I can think of that they don't do is defensive shotguns...I'd love to see them come out with a pump or lever-action shotgun...maybe with the demise of Remington they will see an opening and branch out.

My favorite thing about Ruger is that they seem to be a very practical company. They pay attention to what shooters actually want, and they make that stuff. And it's well-made stuff that works, at a price point that is attainable.

Ruger firearms may not be top of the line in terms of finish and appearance (not a Colt Python, for instance), but they are solid, well-designed, reliable guns that will provide a lifetime of service. From my blue-collar utilitarian perspective, Ruger really hits the sweet spot of functional quality in a firearm.

I like the 10-22 and the MK-II pistols, but little else in their lineup appeals to me

They are missing . . . .

A fighting Shotgun, my preference is the bottom ejecting Ithaca 37

What about a Sub-Machine gun for us MP5 users?

Or a light Machine Gun like the M16 and AR18?

A Battle Rifle? Along the lines of the G3k

quote:

Originally posted by colt_saa:
Or a light Machine Gun like the M16 and AR18?

The M16 and AR18 aren't technically "light machine guns", by the usual definition. They're classified as assault rifles, being lightweight select-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridge and intended for individual infantryman use from the shoulder.

Light machine guns will be larger and heavier, typically in a full size rifle caliber instead of an intermediate cartridge, fitted with a bipod, generally firing from an open bolt, most often crewed by a team of two, and intended for sustained automatic suppressing fire support. Belt feed is also common, although there are plenty of early examples of magazine fed LMGs too, so that's not a strict requirement. Quick change barrels are also common, although likewise not universal.

Besides, Ruger already produces a variety of AR15s, which could be converted to full auto if so inclined (and properly licensed). So that's functionally equivalent to a M16/AR18.

quote:

A Battle Rifle? Along the lines of the G3k

Ruger offers the SR762, a .308 AR. While it hasn't been adopted by any military, it would fit the definition of a "battle rifle", especially if outfitted with select-fire capabilities. (Although that's historically not a strict requirement of a battle rifle, considering things like the M1 Garand, FN49, SVT, Hakim/Ljungman, L1A1, etc. are all still considered battle rifles, despite being semiauto only.)

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Edit: I forgot that S&W owns Thompson/Center Arms. So with that, they technically have current production black powder and bolt action rifles covered, plus .22 rifles, and even single-shot shotguns in the Encore lineup.

Not to mention single-shot pistols. Which would be a little weird, IMHO, if there were more of a market for them - I'd bet Ruger could build one hell of a falling-block pistol for a reasonably sane price if Ruger thought the market was there.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
So I was musing to myself the other day and got to thinking. Barring how you might feel about their products or company Ruger can fill damn near EVERY firearm need or want under one roof so to speak.

Semi automatic pistols
Rimfire pistols
Centerfire revolvers
Rimfire revolvers
Shotguns
Bolt guns
Semi auto rifles both sporting and defensive
Hell at one point BP guns as well.

With the acquisition of Marlin lever guns are back in the mix and Ruger had offered versions of lever guns in the past. They are basically only light a pump/semi shotguns.

Is there any other company with as wide of a product mix??

CZ is pretty close. Only thing they don't have on that list as a current production item is a rimfire revolver and BP.

quote:

Originally posted by alptraum:
CZ is pretty close.

I was just thinking that.

FN would be close too, with a massive variety of just about any type of gun imaginable produced over the years, except for perhaps black powder muzzleloaders and single-action revolvers.


Come to think of it, Beretta would likely qualify alongside Ruger and S&W if we take into account past production. They've produced a huge variety of firearms over their history. I can't think of a category of firearm that they haven't made at one time or another.

I'm with Rogue and I'll say S&W is about equal to Ruger.

My T/C Compass rifle is marked Smith & Wesson Compass.

quote:

Originally posted by colt_saa:
I like the 10-22 and the MK-II pistols, but little else in their lineup appeals to me

Those are two of my favorites as well, but the Mini 14 and P89 are great too.

Umm.... No. And the current company posing as "s&w" only makes plastic junk. A pale shadow of the S&W of the past.

quote:

Originally posted by elberettas:

quote:

Originally posted by colt_saa:
I like the 10-22 and the MK-II pistols, but little else in their lineup appeals to me

Those are two of my favorites as well, but the Mini 14 and P89 are great too.

I do have a 14" KAC-556 folder, but Hannibal made me buy that one

Reviewing the Historical Videos I know that it never hits anything when fired

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by alptraum:
CZ is pretty close.

I was just thinking that.

Come to think of it, Beretta would likely qualify alongside Ruger and S&W if we take into account past production. They've produced a huge variety of firearms over their history. I can't think of a category of firearm that they haven't made at one time or another.

FN would be close, with a massive variety of just about any gun imaginable produced over the years, except for perhaps black powder muzzleloaders and single-action revolvers.

True for the others over time, and probably a few more. I was just trying to think of current production stuff. Outside of Ruger and CZ I can't think of anybody that covers all or most of that. S&W is probably the next closest.

quote:

Originally posted by alptraum:
I was just trying to think of current production stuff.

Well, to be fair, even the OP cheated on that, referencing stuff like shotguns and black powder guns that Ruger used to make.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

Well, to be fair, even the OP cheated on that, referencing stuff like shotguns and black powder guns that Ruger used to make.

Touché

Colt, Smith & Wesson and Browning... if we can use a time machine.

Yeah I cheated a little. . I was thinking CZ after the fact since I forgot about them having Dan Wesson.

As for SMGs and assault rifles etc. I was leaning more civilian side of the fence, that said they offer PCCs, 7.62 semi autos, AR’s etc.

I forgot about Smith having shotguns in the wayback.

For what it’s with this wasn’t a “My favorite” company post as Ruger isn’t mine by a long shot but damn they have a solid catalog going.

I'll agree with CZ...they're a very diverse company. I imagine a lot of that comes from being THE gun manufacturer in the Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia...and the Czechs have a long history of manufacturing their own stuff (not just guns). And they do a pretty good job, especially considering the limitations that were imposed on them behind the iron curtain.

FN has a big line up.