Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NYSE:RGR) are on a roll. The gunmaker recorded a 45 per cent rise in fourth-quarter sales vs. the same period last year. As msnbc.com’s Motley Fool reports, Ruger’s results easily exceeded Wall Street’s expectations for the gunmaker’s revenue and earnings. And that’s growth on top of growth; in 2011, sales rose 29 percent compared to 2010. Ah, but—is Ruger’s big bad boom stretching Bill’s brand too thin? No ’bout a doubt it: Ruger CEO Michael Fifer loves him some brand extensions . . .

“In 2011, new product introductions were a significant component of our sales growth,” Fifer’s folk revealed. “New product sales represented $98.6 million, or 30 percent, of sales in 2011.”

While Ruger’s new value-priced SR1911 was a huge hit and QC seems A-OK, our SP101 .22 had a 14-pound trigger pull (you read that right) and the new SR22’s trigger stacks like an Amazon warehouse robot.

But that’s just me, bitchin’ and moanin’. We hear tell that Ruger’s got a one-year waiting list for some of its popular products. The company will hit its “million gun sales in a year” target no problem. In fact, Ruger recently raised the target to 1.2m.

If Obama’s re-elected and HR 822 (The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act) makes it into law, fuhgeddaboutit.

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29 COMMENTS

  1. I finally took delivery of a Ruger SR1911, and it’s one of the best pistols I’ve ever shot. An outstanding example of the gunmaker’s art.

    • Indeed. Ruger has always been known for rough reliability, but the SR1911 is a whole new class of pistol. Out of the box fit & finish comparable to 1911s that cost twice as much. Now, they do use MIM parts, and the receiver is cast. There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. But that appears to be the only shortcut. And I suspect that if any company has the metallurgical know-how to apply these processes appropriately, it’ll be Ruger. Since it is a standard 1911 (no attempts to improve upon John Browning except for ergonomic safeties and sights) you’ll have no problem upgrading individual parts if you prefer. I see no reason to change a thing.

    • About 2 weeks ago I FINALLY received the SR1911 I had on order since last April. It was well worth the wait, as it is one of the finest pistols that I have ever owned. EVERY 1911 magazine I had worked fine, including Colt, MetalForm, GI issue, and some no-name generics, in combination of 7, 8, and 10 round capacities. I have had no failures of any type, using everything from light weight hollow points, jacketed match wadcutter, an assortment of other JHP, and of course, the traditional 230gr hardball.

      The trigger is excellent, and the accuracy was beyond expectation. Fit and finish are as good, if not much better, than other 1911’s that I bought at up to twice the price.

      While Ruger is officially mum, I look forward to a Commander, Officer, and compact version of the SR1911. They will totally bust my budget for years, but they will be worth it!

  5. Unfortunately, in my parts it seems the SR1911 is harder to find than Sasquatch, as my smaller FFL simply laughed when I asked about ordering one and the big box store nearest here has a 40 person deep waiting list.

  9. I keep looking for a .22LR SP101. None of my local shops have any. The smaller shops say there is several month long waiting list, and the bigger shops say they sell out within minutes of them going on the shelf (if they make it that far).

  11. Picked up a KP95 last year for under $300 but had to wait three months for it to arrive at my local gun shop. Very happy with it; the trigger is smoother than expected and the wife and our 13-year old enjoy shooting it. That’s about all I can ask for.
    Really longing for a Gunsite Scout (yeah, yeah, I know but oh well…). The same store can’t keep them in stock. They’ve had exactly two batches available during the past year and both have sold out within a month.
    Guess I’ll just have to pick up that Smith&Wesson M&P15 instead…

    • Skip the Gunsite Scout. There’s more to a Cooper Scout rifle than just a long eye relief scope. Light weight is a big part of it. And the current Gunsite Scout is way too heavy. However, the new Ruger American rifle already makes weight, and has an action that looks remarkably like the Steyr SBS action, which is used in the Steyr Scout. This will undoubtedly become the basis of a new Ruger Scout, which will be as light as Cooper intended. And probably about half the price of a Steyr.

  12. i had a p944 in 40sw for a bit, a bit bulky, but felt good in the hand because of its steel frame as well as helping with the snappiness of 40. the sights were so small, i could not handle it, I’m not exactly old either, so it got hawked.

    i like my 22/45, aside from being tricky to take down, ut after you have done it a couple of times, its pretty easy.i have the mk 3 model so it have to put in and take out the stupid mag a couple of times when taking it down. stupid mag disconnect.

  14. I thought gun sales were declining? Isn’t that what the Brady Bunch says? Does this mean they can’t be trusted? Oh what is the world coming to? My faith in mankind is crumbling.

  15. so impressed with the quality, reliability, and practical accuracy of my 10/22 that i want a gunsite scout and mini-14. maybe through in an american rifle since they re gonna be so cheap…

  16. The mixed message that I’m increasingly hearing about Ruger on the street is appreciation for their great customer service in responding to problems yet increasing criticism of Ruger’s quality control methods of newly manufactured guns.

  17. Answer: Kimber Stainless II

    Question: What did John buy when he finally got tired of looking for an overpriced SR1911 actually in stock somewhere?

  18. I just picked up a new 5 1/2″ blued 22/45 on sale. The first thing I did was put in a MK II hammer to get rid of the mag safety. The trigger is still a little heavy but it works fine and I have some other things to do to it. I also changed out the wood grips for slightly thicker 1911 grips. Fits very well. Seems to be very accurate. Now I am waiting to get a deal on the 4″ 101s in .22 and .357.

  19. O Saint Browning please entreat the Good Lord to allow His servants Sturm, Ruger to not stray from the path of righteousness, to avoid the QC slothfulness of the so called Freedom Group at all costs. Ask Him to guide their good American hands as they dedicate themselves to the Lord’s work of keeping pure the bloodline of American firearms

  20. Pardon my ignorance, but maybe someone can describe what it means when you say, “the trigger stacks.” I recently bought an SR22 and really like it. I’ve been looking for a .22-LR pistol and the SR22 seems to fit my needs perfectly. I put nearly 300 rounds through it (Federal Champion bulk and CCI Stingers). Not a single malfunction right out of the box.

    • “Pardon my ignorance, but maybe someone can describe what it means when you say, “the trigger stacks.””

      They mean that the weight of the double-action trigger pull gradually increases as you approach the point at which the sear releases, or in the common parlance, breaks.

  21. There are issues. I’ve been thinking about an LC9, which is the size and caliber I would like for a pocket pistol, but the customer reviews are mixed. I think I was browsing on Cabelas, and several complained about the rear sight coming lose and disabling the gun (the sear or some such is underneath it) requiring a return to the factory.

    • Why buy an LC9 when you can get a Kahr CW9 thats the same size except you can actually get a 3 finger grip on it without a pinky extension and it’s same price but has a much, much better trigger.

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