These are some of the best handguns Ruger produces today.
One of the more storied American gunmakers is Sturm, Ruger & Co or simply Ruger as most hunters and shooters prefer to call it. This is a company that is known for quality firearms. From the bolt-action Ruger American rifle to the AR-556, they have a great reputation for centerfire rifles.
However, they also make some fine handguns too. Whether you are looking for a semi-automatic 9mm pistol for concealed carry or a larger revolver for big game hunting, they are sure to have something to fit your style.
These are our picks for some of the top handguns made here in the USA by Ruger today.
Ruger SR1911
Who doesn't enjoy a classic 1911-style semi-auto pistol? Ruger makes many different varieties including a full-size, "officer style" compact, competition and target guns all modeled after the classic Colt M1911 originally designed by John Browning. The frames, slides and barrels of these guns are made from stainless steel which makes them durable and gives these guns a great look. The slide features an oversized ejection port for better cycling. The triggers are made of aluminum while the firing pin and hammer are made from a tough titanium. These are very safe firearms with a thumb safety and beavertail grip safety built in. Ruger gives plenty of options to change the fit and feel with the replaceable grip panels. The SR1911 comes chambered in 9mm Luger, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto, all ideal for self-defense applications.
Ruger-57
Looking for something with a larger capacity, accuracy and speed than your standard 9mm? Consider this gun chambered in 5.7x28mm, a bottlenecked round capable of blistering speeds of up to 2,800 feet per second! The Ruger-57 offers a 20+1 magazine capacity. The barrel length is 4.94 inches and it and the slide are made from alloy steel. Ruger has also drilled and tapped this slide because of the popularity of optics for this platform. This handgun has a fiber optic front sight and an adjustable rear. It's ambidextrous thanks to the 1911-style safety. This firearm gets rave reviews for owners for how well it performs and how fun it is to shoot. The only complaint we have seen from users is that the 5.7x28mm ammo can be a bit tough to find. However, this round has better speed and stopping power than a standard 9mm and you're going to be hard pressed to find another pistol that offers this kind of capacity standard.
Ruger SP101
Many people prefer the reliability of a good wheel gun and the SP101 revolver is a solid choice for a defense pistol. These double-action revolvers are available in both blued and stainless steel. They feature a triple-locking cylinder and a grip frame where you can put in either a rubber or hardwood grip. They have made the grips so there is no exposed metal for better ergonomics. Ruger made takedown of these guns simple with no tools required. That way you can easily make quick adjustments at the range and spend less time cleaning them. These double action revolvers are chambered in 9mm, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and .327 Fed Mag. They also make a rimfire option in .22 LR.
Ruger LCP II
One of the lightest, and easiest to conceal Ruger handguns is arguably the LCP II. These handguns come in around the 10 to 12-ounce mark, making them perfect pocket or purse guns. The frames are glass-filled nylon and the slides are hardened steel. These guns feature integral sights, but they also make a few variants that include a Viridian E-Series laser sight for rapid target acquisition. These guns have 2.75-inch black oxide alloy steel barrels and a textured grip frames for better ergonomics. Ruger also offers these guns with a variety of stylistic finishes to fit any shooter's tastes. These guns come chambered in .380 ACP, and .22 LR. The other really big plus of these guns is the price point. Many of them can be had for $300 or less, making it a great option for shooters or concealed carriers on a budget.
Ruger Super Redhawk
Looking for a powerful hunting revolver or bear defense gun? The Super Redhawk is a solid option to consider. These stainless steel guns feature cold hammer-forged barrels, integral mounts for scope setups. They also have red ramp front sights and adjustable rears for anyone wanting to go old school. Ergonomics-wise, these guns feature Hogue Tamer grips for better handling. These single-action revolvers pack quite a punch with caliber options like .44 Rem Mag, .454 Casull, .480 Ruger, and even 10mm Auto. As a bonus, a few models are dual chambered. The .44 Magnum also chambers factory .44 Special and the .454 Casull chambers factory .45 Colt. For bear defense, consider the "Alaskan" models which feature a shortened 2.50-inch barrel length.
Ruger Mark IV
It's hard to go wrong with a classic rimfire pistol like the Mark IV. Ruger makes a ton of variants of this pistol chambered for .22 LR. There is one for almost every practical application from hunting to competitive target shooting. These guns feature a one-piece CNC machined frame, a cold hammer-forged barrel and an ambidextrous safety. Cleaning and maintenance of these guns is easy thanks to the one-button takedown system. An absolute must when talking about a pistol chambered for .22 LR. The low recoil also makes this a great option for training new shooters. Ruger also makes some polymer grip frame tactical models that feature weaver and picatinny rails for the mounting of sights and other accessories.
Ruger Security-9
Built specifically with everyday carry in mind, the striker-fired Security-9 has quickly become one of Ruger's more popular 9mm offerings. And why not? The 1.02-inch slide gives this gun an incredibly slim profile and it offers magazine capacities of up to 15+1 rounds, so you don't have to sacrifice the number of rounds you're carrying for sake of comfort. These pistols feature a nylon frames with textured grips, and hardened alloy steel slides. These pistols feature a manual safety and an integrated trigger safety. Ruger builds these guns with drift adjustable sights, but they also make a few versions with Viridian E-Series laser sights too. The best thing about the Security-9 is the price. A few variants come in at just over $300, making them affordable for any budget.
Ruger Super Blackhawk
Looking for a western-style revolver with a little bit of modern flair? The Blackhawk may be the gun for you. These single action revolvers offer plenty of variety as Ruger makes blued and stainless varieties. These guns feature a variety of different Western-styled hand grips that will look great on any cowboy's hip. The barrels are cold hammer-forged and rifled to provide excellent accuracy. If you're looking for more bang for your buck, pun intended, consider one of the convertible models that are dual chambered. The .357 Mag will also shoot 9mm Luger, .45 Colts will also shoot 45 Auto, and the 10mm Autos will shoot .40 Smith & Wesson. These firearms are great fun at the range, but also make great work guns for farmers and ranchers too.
Ruger American Pistol
Another handgun that is quickly gaining in popularity due to its versatility and reliability. This is a solid and slim carry option. Ruger builds this gun as either a "Pro" or manual safety model. The Pro comes in at just 1.40 inches wide and the manual is 1.51, making for an easy carrying gun. These striker-fired pistols feature a wrap-around grip system and ambidextrous controls. They are fitted with Novak Lomount carry 3-dot sights and a MIL-STD-1913 picatinny rail for mounting accessories. The American Pistol is built with an integrated trigger safety and an automatic sear block system. These pistols are chambered in 9mm and .45 ACP. As an additional bonus, the magazines for these guns are compatible with Ruger's popular PC Carbine rifles.
Ruger LCR
Looking for a lightweight concealed carry revolver with smooth lines and a variety of caliber options? The LCR may be what you are looking for. These are tough little guns made from aerospace grade aluminum with stainless steel cylinders. The ergonomics are excellent for shooters with smaller frames or those with arthritis problems thanks to the Hogue Tamer Monogrips. The LCR is the "hammerless" model, which will make for a smoother draw from concealment. There is also the LCRx, which has an external hammer. Ruger has chambered these revolvers in .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, 9mm, .38 Special, .22 LR, and .22 WMR. The .38 Spl is also rated for +P rounds for a little extra firepower. Ruger also packages some of these guns with Crimson Trace laser sights for even easier target acquisition. The price point for these revolvers is solid too, coming in between $500 and $700.
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NEXT: SIG SAUER CROSS RIFLE FOLDS THE GAP BETWEEN TACTICAL, HUNTING PURPOSES
