Guide To Ruger Firearms For Concealed Carry

Everything You Need To Know About Ruger Concealed Carry And Other Guns

Ruger is one of the best-known names in American guns, and Ruger concealed carry guns are some of the most popular ccw pistols on the market. They make some of the best guns at mid-level prices that one can buy for multiple purposes, including concealed carry, target shooting and plinking, as well as some of the best hunting rifles and handguns available at the price-point.

Sturm, Ruger and Co. Company Began In A Garage

Ruger, or more accurately Sturm, Ruger and Co., was launched in 1949 by Bill Ruger and Alexander McCormick Sturm. Bill Ruger had previously been a firearms designer for the armed forces during World War II, and had become friends at one point with Sturm, who came from a prominent family in Connecticut.

The genesis of the company was when Ruger successfully created a semi-auto .22LR pistol that was heavily influenced by the Nambu pistol, a Japanese semi-auto issued to many Japanese troops during the war and were sometimes brought home as captured war prizes. He managed to secure a couple of them and created his new pistol by reverse-engineering them in his garage and thereby creating the Ruger Standard.

Ruger supplied the design and engineering, Sturm supplied the company's logo and investment capital of $50,000. Within a few years, the pistol had proven popular enough to launch the company, though Sturm would sadly not live to see it as he died in 1951 from viral hepatitis.

Ruger History A Good Mix Of Handguns And Long Guns

The Standard was followed by the Single-Six, a single-action .22LR revolver based heavily on the Colt Peacemaker in 1953, which was in turn followed by the Ruger Blackhawk in 1955. The Blackhawk is much the same (a modified Colt SAA design) but was initially chambered in .357 Magnum, and later offered in many more calibers, as it was the first gun outside of the S&W Model 29 to be chambered in .44 Magnum.

In the 1960s, Ruger broke into rifles, creating the semi-auto 10/22 carbine, arguably the most popular .22LR rifle on the market, in 1964. They followed up with the Ruger 77, a bolt-action centerfire rifle based heavily on the Mauser K98 action like so many other bolt guns such as the Winchester Model 70. Toward the end of the decade, they released the Mini-14, a semi-auto rifle seemingly based on the M-14 but chambered in .223. It's remained a popular ranch gun ever since.

In the 1970s, Ruger turned released their first double-action revolvers, and by the 1980s began making semi-automatic pistols as well as quality revolvers. In the early 2000s, Ruger changed from DA/SA automatics to polymer-framed striker pistols (and the SR1911) as their dominant semi-auto platform.

Ruger rifles remain some of the finest entry-level long guns available, including the recent Ruger American rifle, doing away with the Mauser 98-based system in lieu of a simplified action. However, the Mauser action remains in service in the Gunsite Scout Rifle. The Ruger Number 1, a falling-block single-shot rifle first introduced in 1967, remains in production as well.

Ruger Handguns Of Note

Ruger handguns are some of the best available especially when considering performance relative to price paid. In fact, some say they're among the best, period.

Ruger's revolvers are highly regarded. The Blackhawk and Single Six have been in production for more than 50 years, with good reason. The Blackhawk in particular is heralded as one of the few single-action revolvers in production capable of handling modern cartridges, especially .357 and .44 Magnum and modern high-power loads of .45 Colt, which equal all but the most extreme .44 Magnum loads.

Ruger's Security-Six, Service-Six and Speed-Six revolvers of the 1970s are still very well thought of, despite being replaced in Ruger's catalog in the 1980s by the GP100 and SP101. The latter two pistols are considered some of the best revolvers on the market for carry, though the GP100 too large for most people to conceal easily. Short-barrel SP101 revolvers, however, are very viable concealed carry revolvers.

The GP100, though, is widely touted as one of the best .357 Magnum revolvers available, as it was designed from the ground up for that cartridge, and is capable of shooting the stoutest loads.

Speaking of stout revolver loads, Ruger's larger frame pistols are known as THE go-to guns for serious handloaders outside of Linebaugh, Freedom Arms or IWI BFR revolvers, and have been so for decades. The Blackhawk single-action and Redhawk, Super Redhawk and Super Redhawk Alaskan double-action revolvers are widely heralded for these properties.

This attribute is so well-known that the term "Ruger handload" exists as a result. Large-frame Rugers are able to tolerate loads that even the mighty N-Frame Smith and Wessons can't regularly shoot without adverse effects. Certain Ruger revolvers (such as the Vaquero) cannot, so be sure to consult the owner's manual and/or the manufacturer before firing +P or hot handloads.

Ruger's P-series automatics were highly regarded in their day. The 9mm models were most common, along with .45 ACP models and a handful chambered in .40 S&W. They aren't the best CCW pistols, as they were designed to be (and were employed as) service pistols. Today's Ruger semi-autos, however, are adept at both roles.

For concealed carry guns, the LCP, LC9 and LC9s are among the most popular subcompacts due to ease of shooting and price point.

The SR9, SR40 and SR45 series of polymer striker guns are accurate, reliable and packed with features that belie their moderate prices. Additionally, compact variants of the SR9 and SR40 are popular concealed carry pistols. Both full and compact sizes are can be had with stainless or blued steel slides, reduced or high-capacity magazines, ambidextrous slide releases and optional manual safeties.

The recently-released Ruger American is much the same, though is somewhat more streamlined than the SR series and given some additional features. The accessory rail is more aggressive as is texturing, grip furniture is more customizable and - unlike many other striker guns - no trigger pull is required for take down. Ambidextrous controls are standard, as are Novak sights. The American can be had in full and compact sizes, with chamberings of 9mm and .45 ACP.

The Ruger Standard certainly set one for .22LR semi-autos, and the Mark I through today's Mark IV .22 LR pistols are among the best of the type available.

Ruger also makes the LCR snub-nose revolver, which is available with a hammer for DA/SA operation or double-action only for easier concealment. The very popular LCR is one of the slimmest, lightest snubnoses on the market. Most models have 5-shot cylinders for .38 Special +P or .357 Magnum, though a 9mm revolver is available too (it does require the use of moon clips) as is .22LR, .22 WMR and .327 Federal Magnum. The .22LR LCR carries 8 shots, but the .22 WMR and .327 Federal versions carry 6.

Ruger Holsters

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Alien Gear makes holsters for a variety of Ruger firearms, though not all of them as we generally do not make concealed carry holsters for large-frame revolvers (At least not at the time of this writing) and we also do not necessarily make holsters for older Ruger handguns, such as the Speed Six.

Ruger automatics are well represented in Alien Gear's product lineup, including Ruger P Series holsters as well as current handguns in Ruger's lineup. Ruger LCP, LC9 and LC9s holsters are some of the most popular holsters sold by Alien Gear.

As Alien Gear manufactures holsters for a wide range of discontinued but widely popular firearms,the entire P series range is available, including the P85 through the P95. Ruger P series holsters by Alien Gear include the entire model range, so there is no need to settle for the holster we offer, and instead find the holster you want.

Additionally, Ruger SR9 holsters and SR9c holsters are available, including SR9c IWB holsters for concealed carry and Ruger SR9 paddle holster models for open carry, range or around the house use. We also have holsters available for the SR40, SR40c and SR45.

We also make a full suite of Ruger SR1911 holsters, for both full-size SR1911 holsters and SR1911 compact holsters.

Alien Gear was one of the first holster makers to bring a Ruger American holster to market, in addition to Ruger American Compact holsters. Few other holster makers are able to offer as many as holster models for both, including multiple IWB Ruger American holsters and Ruger American OWB holster models.

Future Ruger Firearms and Ruger Rumors

Last year was a very big year for Ruger, as the company not only unleashed the American, but also the American Compact and also the LC9s, a striker-fired version of the LC9 subcompact, normally a double-action only semi-auto with an internal hammer.

Additionally, 2016 saw the release of a dual-chambered Redhawk revolver. The cylinder is machined to accept both .45 Long Colt and but also .45 ACP with the use of moonclips, which are included with purchase. As Ruger's large-frame revolvers are the darling of handloaders, this gives buyers the ability to shoot not only the potent .45 Colt +P rounds (which equal or even surpass many .44 Magnum loads) but also allow for very economical practice as well.

Toward the end of 2016, there were two announcements of additions to existing product lines.

First, Ruger soft-launched a new GP100 chambered in .44 Special, which will be Day at the Range as well as the official debut. While not as potent as the .44 Magnum, the .44 Special is the parent case for the magnum, just as the .38 Special is the parent case of the .357 Magnum. As a result, hot loads of the .44 Special approach .44 Magnum performance.

Ruger also announced the Ruger American compact in .45 ACP. It differs from the 9mm American compact in that it has an additional half-inch of barrel length.

There aren't many rumors surrounding Ruger pistols for 2017, but one rumor is the Ruger Precision Rifle will no longer be offered in .243 Winchester, but will be offered in 6.5mm Creedmoor, which is fast becoming one of the preferred long-range shooting rounds.

Until recent years, Ruger specialized in arms for service or hunting, but has quickly established itself as a gun company with something for almost everyone, and at very affordable prices and very good performance.