Wait time on Ruger No1s

[kombi1976]

About a month or so ago I ordered a Ruger No1 Tropical in 450/400 NE 3".
I live in Australia and a new distributor, NIOA Trading, has just taken over the licence so I knew there would be a bit of a wait.
Anyhow, I called the gunshop the other day to ask when the No1 was coming in.
He made a call to the distributor and was informed that Ruger had told NIOA to "stop calling and asking about your order".
The general drift was that the Aussie order, which has been growing all the time, was of no importance to them and they would get around to it when they felt like it.
Ruger No1s are literally impossible to buy new here, even standard cals like '06, 270 and 300 Win Mag, and NIOA won't even speculate when the current order will be sent.
As a result of Ruger's prioritising it could be 12 months before I see my rifle!

[crash87]

Ruger of new, is not the ruger of old, unfortunatley that is the way of the world, now as we know it, whether or not we want to tolerate it, is another story. A number of Rugers came out in the past, cataloged anyway, that just simply, were not available. Case in point, it was introduced, and it was 3 years before I saw their 1st trap gun, the year I saw it, it was no longer cataloged. Their SXS double was all the rage, while i've not seen one to date, I'm sure a few people have, not that I want one, I've moved on, i.e. CZ Ringneck.
    A while ago I read a story in a monthly magazine that accepts advertizing $$ from ruger. It went on a factory tour explaining how the company has streamlined it's production facilities. Utilizing Cells that can be changed quickly to switch production from one item to another. There by not having the problems of old in getting the product to the customer. Yea right! Maybe so, but I like you, I've not seen any changes. I was interested in the No.1 in the 9.3X74  before I saw it in the catalog, just before it was introduced at the S.H.O.T. show and the information leaked out early by the magazines that accept advertizing $$ from Ruger. Needless to say I've moved on. I'm sorry I can't help you with your, Hopefully soon to be purchased, No.1. With the 450/400, there are not alot of different options for you to not buy a Ruger, Ballard arms, does or did, make one in there 1885 model, called the safari I think. But while a fine rifle it is, it is out of my price range. I guess my post to your dilema in the end is just a way for me vent frustration from a gun company who used to be a gun owners dream, a company whom used to separate themselves from the others, but now is just like the others, interested in only doing what they have to, to appease their stockholders. But,  I do, thank you, for allowing me to do that. Crash87

[Rangr44]

It would be best for you to think about the way gun companies make guns, in general; and in particular about the way Ruger markets their new products.

Gun manufacturers aren't stockpiling anymore, nor are they able to produce every single item in their line at a given time.
Most manufacturers will, depending upon a particular item's popularity/demand, tool up one of their production lines for that particular model only every once in awhile.
The most popular & "in demand" items get production runs more often than niche items - which the #1 rifle definitely is for Ruger, and even moreso one in an esoteric chambering (even though newly introduced).

And, speaking of "newly introduced", Ruger has historically cataloged and "offered"  many, many of their guns - for up to as long as three years - w/o any intention of doing a full production run on them - That is - until they have more than enough distributor orders to justify a full run, or multiple runs as the case may be.

For instance - When Ruger first "introduced" their Gold Label SxS double shotgun, I paid a 100% deposit, and only got a refund when I still didn't get one after waiting two years.

"No wine, before it's time." 

.

[crash87]

It would be best for you to think about the way gun companies make guns, in general; and in particular about the way Ruger markets their new products.

Gun manufacturers aren't stockpiling anymore, nor are they able to produce every single item in their line at a given time.
Most manufacturers will, depending upon a particular item's popularity/demand, tool up one of their production lines for that particular model only every once in awhile.
The most popular & "in demand" items get production runs more often than niche items - which the #1 rifle definitely is for Ruger, and even moreso one in an esoteric chambering (even though newly introduced).

And, speaking of "newly introduced", Ruger has historically cataloged and "offered"  many, many of their guns - for up to as long as three years - w/o any intention of doing a full production run on them - That is - until they have more than enough distributor orders to justify a full run, or multiple runs as the case may be.

For instance - When Ruger first "introduced" their Gold Label SxS double shotgun, I paid a 100% deposit, and only got a refund when I still didn't get one after waiting two years.

"No wine, before it's time." 

.

       IF, firearms manufacturing is different process than  the manufacturing of other products?, I'm not aware of it, so I would say I do have some knowledge of the process. It therefore, in your opinion, is O.K. for a company to, not give you a product it advertises as having. O.K., I just don't agree,(my opinion.)

       So, you've had trouble procuring certain firearms from Ruger too. So you can relate to the frustration kombi1976 and many others have and are going through. At least Ruger has given them pictures of these Phantam firearms to look at and wonder "what could have been". Glad to hear you were offered a refund.

        If the last comment is about the complaint one would have over the problems, you, by your own admission have had, & others, in not being able to purchace certain Rugers, the TIME has actually passed. It has happened to many times to be ignored, but it also has become rather complacent for Ruger to fool the gun buying public.
         Again, The point I was making to kombi1976 was, there are other alternatives from other companies willing to give what they advertise in having. Unfortunatley for our Australian friend He is sitting in between the rock and a very hard spot as there is not much of an alternative, and as far as Ruger is concerned, they apperently agree and don't realy care.
                                               CRASH87

[kombi1976]

Well, for the record, I'll be hanging out for the Ruger.
It's all I can really do.
The only other rifle in the same class that really does it for me is the Steyr Prohunter Big Bore in 450 Marlin.
It looks great, especially with the mag extension, and opens up possibilities with that cartridge.
Imagine loading a 450 Marlin to 50k PSI in a nice modern action........   
Sounds like a dangerous game rifle to me. 
But there's a catch.
The Ruger costs AUD$1550.
The Steyr, on the other hand, costs AUD$2550!! 
So unless I come up with extra thou, and to be honest I really rather need it for my '55 VW Bus project, the Ruger is a better deal.
Besides, you look like a bit of a twerp wearing a pith helmet and carrying a stainless/synth rifle. 
Let's hope some more people worldwide order the No1H 450/400 so Ruger do a run and get me my gun.

[JPShelton]

       IF, firearms manufacturing is different process than  the manufacturing of other products?, I'm not aware of it....

Ruger makes things in lots.  As has been noted, they do not have the capacity to make every item in their catalog simultaneously.  They set up a plant to do M-77 Hawkeyes and keep cranking them out until distributor orders are satisfied.  Then they MIGHT move on to re-tooling the line to make No.1's.....  Maybe.

It therefore, in your opinion, is O.K. for a company to, not give you a product it advertises as having. O.K., I just don't agree,(my opinion.)

Ruger had a long history of doing this.  Remember the XGI rifle?

I certainly don't expect Ruger to "give" me a No.1.  I've owned two, not intersted in going that route again.  It would be nice if I could actually buy some of the products they advertised that sparked my interest and that they either made only a comparitive few of (side by side shotgun) or decided not to bother with (XGI) but I can understand why they do what they do.  They advertise the XGI, I decide I want one.  I pester every gun deal I know of, asking when they'll get them.  The savvy ones put a phone call in to their wholesalers to determine availibility.  If enough people do that, the wholesalers then pesters Ruger about making them. 

JP


       

[kombi1976]

Ruger makes things in lots.  As has been noted, they do not have the capacity to make every item in their catalog simultaneously.  They set up a plant to do M-77 Hawkeyes and keep cranking them out until distributor orders are satisfied.  Then they MIGHT move on to re-tooling the line to make No.1's.....  Maybe.

No offense, but are they businessmen or teenagers trying to get out of some of their chores?

I certainly don't expect Ruger to "give" me a No.1.  I've owned two, not intersted in going that route again.  It would be nice if I could actually buy some of the products they advertised that sparked my interest and that they either made only a comparitive few of (side by side shotgun) or decided not to bother with (XGI) but I can understand why they do what they do.  They advertise the XGI, I decide I want one.  I pester every gun deal I know of, asking when they'll get them.  The savvy ones put a phone call in to their wholesalers to determine availibility.  If enough people do that, the wholesalers then pesters Ruger about making them.

Far as I can see that's a shocking way to run a company.
The best way I can see of gauging how well something will sell is by doing a production run, not necessarily a large one, and putting it out there in the stores to see if it moves.
Compared to the money invested in R&D this is small.
Not making something from the catalog until someone orders it is a practice you can get away with if you're running a small bespoke business.
In a big business it's counter productive.
If you don't deliver orders within a reasonable time people take their money elsewhere.
Most big companies can't afford to have orders pulled all the time.
And, I might add, if the periodic production runs are BECAUSE of the orders being pulled they might avoid this in the first place if they delivered in a decent time.
But this won't solve anything.
Clearly Ruger aren't that interested in taking people's money.
They're more interested in making it easy for themselves.
A friend who is a Ruger stockholder said he was disturbed by the trend and encouraged me to write to their CEO about the issue.
He reckoned letter No1 and No2 would probably end up in the bin but No18 or 19 would make it to his desk.

[crash87]

 The XGI did get out there, then production stopped because of issues found, Liabitity issues, not unlike the 357 maximum with the gas cutting found after they got into the consumers hands.
 I've owned no less than 6 No. 1's, bought in a time when they were on the dealers shelf. When you could compare side by side and pick the one you wanted. Sadly all but one remains, 4 very accurate rifles sold/traded because of changing winds, 1, a 223 heavy barrel model that I was happy (luckey) to unload and my remaining, a 416. AND, NO Ruger DID NOT GIVE me any of them!! The reason I can be subjective and most critical of them promising ,BUT, not delivering.
  (It is interesting when one has a weak argument, to start taking words/sentences out of context.)
   But once again, as my point was, there are sometimes alternatives to get what you want. That is, to go to a manufacturer that has what you want, buy it, then you never have to look back. Who's loss is it then? (I've seen far to often how a caliber/cartridge was offered only to be pulled the next year because of lack of sales, SALES? most people never saw one to buy in the first place!) OR, you can put your money down and wait for a company, by everyones own addmission, promises but doesn't deliver on some of there products, unfortunatley the one's you want.
      So while your waiting J.P., Ranger,? looking at your catalogs and dreaming of what could be..... I'm going out to do some shooting, with and without a Ruger. CRASH87

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I think the problem is the distance and the distributor---and not that Ruger isn't making it. It would be safe to assume that any US manufacturor would be giving any Aussie orders a much lower priority than US orders.

I can go down to the local emporium and have my choice of 4 or 5 No1's any day of the week. Looking in the catalog--they have trimmed the caliber selection down quite a bit from what it was in the past---seems they are trying to provide more NO1's with less options.

[jack j]

Hello  Kombi.
                 I currently own 6 Ruger #1 Bs,The last one I purchased through a internet gun site.It was brand new.You can check out these sites -Gun Broker .com,-  Guns America .com, - & Guns International .com.--I know they would have the rifle you are looking for both new in box and also used.
This way if you locate one ,you can purchase it right away without waiting forever for it,and then you can cancel your exsisting order.If you have no luck with this then please write me back and I will give you more sites and dealers.
                             Jack

[kombi1976]

Thanks for the offer, Jack, but I actually live in Australia or I would've bought something off GunBroker already.
As it happens I've found a second hand No1 450/400 that's only had 6 rounds through it and has never been hunting.
The owner bought it to hunt water buffalo in the Northern Territory but ended up taking a 338 Win Mag instead.
Now he's building a custom 375 H&H on an old BRNO 602 magnum action and is selling the 450/400 to help fund it.
The owner is throwing in the rest of the box of factory ammo (14 rounds) and fired brass from the 6 he shot.
I should have it within a fortnight if the paperwork goes through ok.
I promise to post pics.

[kombi1976]

Here's the thread on my 450/400!! 

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,183274.0.html

[kombi1976]

Thought I'd let you guys interested know that I've posted a range test thread in the Big Bore part of GBO.
There's pics and a short vid of it too.
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,192053.0.html