Author Topic: Custom "Rugers" vs FA Revolvers (Read 1981 times)

blklabs · « **on:** April 05, 2006, 03:48:57 PM »

So for the follow up post for my 475 vs 500 S&W one

Which performs better for a hunting firearm .....

I was looking at Gary Reeders guns, but they have all that engraving, I have no problem paying 1500 for a pistol, but I don't want to pay that much just b/c it has engraving on it. I want an extremely accurate, long lasting revolver that I can pack - 6 - 6.5" barrell.

I like everything about the FA guns except that you can't use the LN bullets. How much will this hinder the versatility of the 475? How much of a difference in recoil also does something like Gary Reeder's Gun fighter grip greatly reduce felt recoil or is it all a line of BS. I know with the 475 I am going to be in a world of hurt anyways ..... but every little bit helps.

Thanks for the input fellas.

myronman3 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2006, 04:03:54 PM »

i dont think this is what you are asking... but i figure, you put all that coin into a ruger, in the end, it is still a ruger. prettier, yes. nicer, yes. but still a ruger.

after my bad experiences with ruger, three to be precise, i am done with them. custom or stock, doesnt matter. i shoot a f.a. now, and until that lets me down, i will continue to shoot it.

Win 73 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2006, 04:41:07 PM »

My Rugers include two Blackhawks, a Single Six, a Mark II, a P89 9mm, a P97 .45, and a 10/22. I have never had a seconds trouble from any of them.

Bullseye · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2006, 06:51:17 AM »

I agree with the other poster, it is still just a Ruger. I have had five different Rugers and now have none. I have never spent the money to move up to a Freedom Arms but have switched to S&W. I like them much better and mine shoot much better. I just cannot see putting customization money into a basic gun that I do not think is that good.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2006, 08:08:20 AM »

I'm with myronman3 and bullseye on this one. I'd get a Ruger if I was willing to live within its limitations, and would not put much into customizing one, except maybe a trigger job and a scope, and perhaps magna-porting.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2006, 11:47:26 AM »

I voiced my opinion under the .476 or 500 post. Sorry guys but a linebaugh or bowen or ben forkin built gun is about a close to being a ruger as a porche is to being a vw

jeager106 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 06, 2006, 02:03:29 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale

I voiced my opinion under the .476 or 500 post. Sorry guys but a linebaugh or bowen or ben forkin built gun is about a close to being a ruger as a porche is to being a vw

Llyod: do you always make such good sense!
I agree 100%, the stock Ruger isn't the same gun when Linebaugh, Forkin, Bowen get done with them.
The resale value will also attest to that fact.
Not one thing wrong with starting out with a F.A. though.
If you get a F.A. you are done with it, if you get teh Ruger and want more from it you have to send it out, but it's worth the time and bucks.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** April 06, 2006, 02:24:19 PM »

half the fun is the anticipation. Im due my new .500 that dustin linebaugh is building me anyday. If you saw his work youd understand why im sitting on the edge of my chair watching for the fed x truck. This 500 will be a bisley vaquero blued case hardened octagon 4 inch barrel and every other option he has. I talked to him a couple weeks ago and he said his gun is going to be flat beautiful and wants to take pics of it for his websight. My buddy Al just got his new dustin gun a couple months ago and its the same but stainless and i DARE you to find any better fit and fininshed handgun anywhere at any price. Is as tights as any FA gun ive handled and boys thats TIGHT! Hes shot many loads into one hole and thats impressive shooting when your talking very heavy loads in a .500 that small. Would i like a FA gun you bet! id be proud as hell of one. Would i trade this new gun dustins building me for one. NOT EVEN TWO! Why because its just as good of a gun mechanicaly and I DESIGNED IT. ITs just what i wanted not a gun that was sitting on a shelf ready for shipping. Everything about it is what i wanted not FA not Dustin ME! If you get a chance to handle any of his guns jump on it hes an artist not a factory worker.

Camel 23 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2006, 03:02:04 PM »

Lloyd, I bet that one makes it to the top shelf in the safe when you're not shoot the crap out of it!

Skeeterbaymac · « **Reply #9 on:** April 06, 2006, 04:11:33 PM »

I won't bad mouth Freedom Arms I don't think anyone can! They are fine Fine guns. But I sure wouldn't bad mouth a Linebaugh or a Bowen. I don't have any experience with Clements or Reeder so I can not and will not comment on them. But if Bowen had been making pistols when I was younger! I would have never gotten married! Once I got mine it was love at first sight. :lol:

These custom guns are works of art and they are not even close to a stock Ruger. Mine is stainless so it's not fancy looking like Lloyd's. But she is so tight the fit/finish is out of this world and the accuracy is way better than I am. When you hold it, it is just an extention of your hand. The handling quality of my Bowen is way better and diferent than a stock Ruger. Just my opinion but if you found yourself owning one I think you would be a happy man.

That all being said I still don't think there is a thing wrong with stock Ruger's either. I own many and have carred one for many many years. Those stock Blackhawks put up with being on and off tractors and equipement all day and being banged against every thing and yet not one repair. Sure the accuracy is not of a custom gun, but it's good enough for me to get the occasional short range coyote, fox or chuck. They definetly are MOA of bear, deer and moose. Yes they are not as good as a custom gun. The fit and finish of the newer ones is going down hill (in my opinion) But for every day use those stock blackhawks work pretty well and as well as need be for most (including me). I wouldn't trade my flat top or my Bowen for nothing

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #10 on:** April 07, 2006, 12:54:00 AM »

Well said skeeter and ill tell you a little more. A stock Ruger is a fine gun and more gun for the money then anything on the market. A prime example is a superblackhawk a gun no gun nut should go without owning. Ive acutally had out of the box rugeres that outshot some customs ive seen. The all though at least need a trigger job before any serious field use. Clements is one i forgot to mention. IVe got more of his customs then the rest of them put together. You will not find a finer gun for the money out there. His work is top notch and his prices are a bargin compared to the rest and the nice thing is his web sight is like a trip to the candy store. Threres about nothing he wont do and hes more then willing to take on even the smallest project right down to just a plain action job. Hes a fine personable christain man too. I trust him with any project. Sometimes he gets put in second place behind guys like bowen or linebaugh but i think thats because every gun the others do are about full blown customs and some guys with clements guns have a few things done to there gun and call it a custom when actually all they have is a tuned ruger. I think alot of the hoopla about how a FA gun is so superior to a custom ruger comes from guns like that. Putting an action job on a gun and a base pin doesnt give you a custom gun. Compare one to a custom thats had a new top shelf barrel and a new linebored cyl fitted up by one of these guys and then compare them fairly. But you get what you pay for and thats why fa guns go for as much as a custom. Theres no way to do it other then hand fitting them. One more thing. When i look for a custom myself i look to someone like one of the linebaughs clements forkin ect because i know that they built the gun not some smith in there shop and when they stamp there name on it there reputation goes with it.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 07, 2006, 03:32:24 AM »

I can say this from my personal experience. I had a Super Redhawk 454 Casull the went to Jack Huntington and had the hammer bobbed, ghost gray bead blasted off, the scope ring area welded and machined. The barrel cut to 2 1/2 inch and a inverted muzzle crown and a new front sight added. It also had the cylinder machined to accept moon clips. The gun shot 45 ACP, 45 Win Mag, 45L/C and 454 Casulls. It also had an action job and trigger job. If anyone does not think a custom Ruger does not hold its value or increases, I got $1300 for it from my buddy that wanted it more than I did. I paid more for my Freedom Arms but sold it for less than I got for my Custom Ruger.

I am not taking anything away from Freedom Arms, they are a great gun, but don't take anything away from a custom Ruger either.

crawfish · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2006, 04:39:05 AM »

Quote from: blklabs

So for the follow up post for my 475 vs 500 S&W one

Which performs better for a hunting firearm .....

I was looking at Gary Reeders guns, but they have all that engraving, I have no problem paying 1500 for a pistol, but I don't want to pay that much just b/c it has engraving on it. I want an extremely accurate, long lasting revolver that I can pack - 6 - 6.5" barrell.

I like everything about the FA guns except that you can't use the LN bullets. How much will this hinder the versatility of the 475? How much of a difference in recoil also does something like Gary Reeder's Gun fighter grip greatly reduce felt recoil or is it all a line of BS. I know with the 475 I am going to be in a world of hurt anyways ..... but every little bit helps.

Thanks for the input fellas.

Since you asked about Reeder" guns I'll kick in to the pot. I have two Reeder Rugers a Kodiak Magnum and an Ultimate .41. First off neither of my guns have any kind of engraving except the caliber, model, and Reeders logo. He will do engraving if YOU WANT it. I didnt. The cost of the gun is for his custom work not engraving.
My now Reeder Rugers are as different from their original form as a caterpillar is to a butterfly. The Kodiak Magnum is a duel cylinder .41RemMag/.41GNR and the Ultimate .41 is now a five shooter .41RemMag. IMO Reeders work is worth every penny and is in the same class as Bowen and Clements. Although I personally like my Reeders my granddaughter would fight you for her Clements worked Rugers. As another poster said you get what you pay for. I myself like to shoot heavy for caliber cast lead so I went to the guy that could set up my guns like I wanted.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #13 on:** April 07, 2006, 05:16:51 AM »

sounds like you have a couple nice reader guns. Only of the most accurate long range (real long range) handguns ive shot is Kelly Brosts reader 41gnr that thing was just scary out at 600 yards. Only thing that turned me off was the naked lady engraving. Im a little more conservative then kelly and if you know him you know what i mean. I would be proud to own one sans engraving. There a real well built gun.

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2006, 01:40:13 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale

Only thing that turned me off was the naked lady engraving.

Was the lady fat, or something? :-D

Jim

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2006, 11:58:19 PM »

Nope Jim i like naked girls probably more then most :eek: They just dont belong on guns

SJPrice · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2006, 02:35:30 AM »

This is my rifle
This is my gun
This is for fighting
This is for fun

sorry, just seemed to pop out of my head.

sawfish · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2006, 11:07:38 AM »

Lloyd,

You should not have made a point about the naked girl thing. I wonder if Renee wull have her filed off poor old Kelly's gun before he gets home. By the way, do you have a link for clements and/or huntington. All of the links I could find for Jack are inoperative. Thanks.

Sawfish

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2006, 11:52:47 AM »

http://www.clementscustomguns.com/

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2006, 11:53:19 AM »

http://www.clementscustomguns.com/

sawfish · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2006, 10:10:38 AM »

Thanks for the link.

RAC · « **Reply #21 on:** April 23, 2006, 04:51:46 PM »

Those stock Rugers will out shoot 99% of the shooters that shoot them. I think FA's are great; I have a couple. But to me there is nothing like a custom Ruger. Here is a Clements Custom Flattop 44 Special. It is one of the most accurate sixguns I have shot.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2006, 11:15:28 PM »

sure is a pretty gun pal!! When are you going to post some pics of your throphy wall!!!

RAC · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2006, 01:46:12 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale

sure is a pretty gun pal!! When are you going to post some pics of your throphy wall!!!

I hope I can get them back in 6 to 9 months. It takes forever for that stuff to get finished.