Ruger Model 96

Last updated
Ruger 96
Ruger 96.jpg
Ruger 96/17 (bottom) compared to Ruger 10/22 22WMR (top)
Type Lever-action rifle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
Manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Produced1996 - 2009 [1]
Variants96/17 (.17 HMR)
96/22 (.22 LR)
96/22M (.22 WMR)
96/44 (.44 Mag)
Specifications
Mass5.25 lb (2.38 kg) [2]
Length37.25 in (94.6 cm) [2]
Barrel  length18.5 in (47 cm) [2]

Cartridge .17 HMR, .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .44 Magnum [2]
Action Short-Throw Lever-action [2]
Feed systemRotary magazine:
10-rounds (.22 LR)
9-rounds (.17 HMR & .22 Mag)
4-rounds (.44 Mag) [2]
Box magazine:
25-rounds (.22 LR)
SightsGold bead front, folding leaf rear [2]

The Ruger Model 96 is a series of lever-action rifles produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. They featured a short-throw lever action, cross button safety and a visible cocking lever. [2] The 4 different variants of the Model 96 represented the four calibers the rifle came in: 96/17 for .17 HMR, 96/22 for .22 LR, 96/22M for .22 Magnum and 96/44 for .44 Magnum. All four models had a hardwood stock. [2]

Contents

96/22

The .22 LR 96/22 feeds from the same magazines as the popular Ruger 10/22 series. From the factory, it comes with the standard flush-fitting 10-round rotary magazine. Since it shares the magazine with the 10/22, the capacities available for the 96/22 include 10, 25, 50, etc. It utilizes the same v-block and barrels from the late model v-block style Ruger 77/22. Because of this, with an allen wrench, the owner can replace the barrel with a 77/22 barrel. To use a 10/22 barrel, the process is the same as converting a 10/22 barrel for use in a 77/22. Both the 77/22 and 96/22 have dual, opposed extractors. A slot for the left side extractor must be cut into a 10/22 barrel to use it in a 96/22 or 77/22. [3]

96/44

The .44 Remington Magnum 96/44 feeds from a four-round rotary magazine. It does not share magazines with the Ruger 77/44. The action of the 96/44 does not anchor itself directly to the stock with an action screw as almost all rifles do. There is a block on the underside of the barrel that is threaded for the action screw. The stock is attached to the barrel, and the barrel to the action. The rifled barrel has a twist rate of 1 turn in 20", allowing heavy hunting bullets to stabilize. This is relatively rare for .44 Magnum firearms, which usually are rifled at a rate of 1 turn in 38 inches. The 1:20" twist enables the use of 325gr ammunition for hunting large game. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-shot</span> Firearm that holds one round of ammunition

In firearm designs, the term single-shot refers to guns that can hold only a single round of ammunition inside and thus must be reloaded manually after every shot. Compared to multi-shot repeating firearms ("repeaters"), single-shot designs have no moving parts other than the trigger, hammer/firing pin or frizzen, and therefore do not need a sizable receiver behind the barrel to accommodate a moving action, making them far less complex and more robust than revolvers or magazine/belt-fed firearms, but also with much slower rates of fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action (firearms)</span> Functional mechanism of breech-loading

In firearms terminology, an action is the functional mechanism of a breech-loading firearm that handles the ammunition cartridges, or the method by which that mechanism works. Actions are technically not present on muzzleloaders, as all those are single-shot firearms with a closed off breech with the powder and projectile manually loaded from the muzzle. Instead, the muzzleloader ignition mechanism is referred to as the lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruger Mini-14</span> Semi-automatic rifle

The Mini-14 is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Introduced in 1973, the design was outwardly based on the M14 rifle and is, in appearance, a scaled-down version chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, though with its own gas system design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lever action</span> Type of firearm action

A lever action is a type of action for repeating firearms that uses a manually operated cocking handle located around the trigger guard area that pivots forward to move the bolt via internal linkages, which will feed and extract cartridges into and out of the chamber, and cock the firing pin mechanism. This contrasts to other type of repeating actions such as the bolt-action, pump-action, semi-automatic, fully automatic, and/or burst mode actions. A firearm using this operating mechanism is colloquially referred to as a levergun.

Savage Arms is an American gunmaker based in Westfield, Massachusetts, with operations in Canada. Savage makes a variety of rimfire and centerfire rifles, as well as Stevens single-shot rifles and shotguns. The company is best known for the Model 99 lever-action rifle, no longer in production, and the .300 Savage. Savage was a subsidiary of Vista Outdoor until 2019 when it was spun off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire</span> Rimfire cartridge

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, also called .22 WMR, .22 Magnum, .22 WMRF, .22 MRF, or .22 Mag, is a rimfire cartridge. Originally loaded with a bullet weight of 40 grains (2.6 g) delivering velocities in the 2,000 feet per second (610 m/s) range from a rifle barrel, .22 WMR is now loaded with bullet weights ranging from 50 grains (3.2 g) at 1,530 feet per second (470 m/s) to 30 grains (1.9 g) at 2,200 feet per second (670 m/s).

The Ruger 10/22 is a series of semi-automatic rifles produced by American firearm manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co., chambered for the .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge. It uses a patented 10-round rotary magazine, though higher capacity box magazines are also available. The standard carbine version of the Ruger 10/22 has been in production continuously since 1964, making it one of the most successful rimfire rifle designs in history, with numerous third party manufacturers making parts and accessories for upgrading and customization. The 10/22's aftermarket is so prolific that a complete 10/22 can be built without using any Ruger-made components.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlin Model Golden 39A</span> Lever-action firearm

The Marlin 39A is the oldest and longest continuously produced shoulder firearm in the world. The current variation gold trigger lever-action .22 Caliber Golden 39A is produced by the Marlin Firearms Co. of New Haven, Connecticut. The Golden 39A was last constructed in Remington’s Marlin factory in Ilion, NY. Production ended with the bankruptcy and closing of the Remington Marlin factory closing and sale to Ruger in September, 2020.

Marlin Firearms Co. is an American manufacturer of semi-automatic, lever-action, and bolt-action rifles. In the past, the company, now based in Madison, North Carolina, and formerly based in North Haven, Connecticut, made shotguns, derringers, and revolvers. Marlin owned the firearm manufacturer H&R Firearms. In 2007, Remington Arms, part of the Remington Outdoor Company, acquired Marlin Firearms. Remington produced Marlin-brand firearms at its Kentucky and New York manufacturing facilities. In 2020, Sturm, Ruger & Co. bought the Marlin business from bankrupt Remington Outdoor Company.

The Marlin Model 60, also known as the Marlin Glenfield Model 60, is a semi-automatic rifle that fires the .22 LR rimfire cartridge. Produced by Remington Arms in Huntsville, Alabama formerly in Mayfield, Kentucky, formerly by Marlin Firearms Company of North Haven, Connecticut, it was in continuous production from 1960 to 2020 and the company says it is the most popular rifle of its kind in the world. Major features include a micro-groove barrel, a cross-bolt safety, hardwood stock with Monte Carlo comb, and brass or blued steel inner magazine tube. The Marlin Model 795 is a very similar rifle and based on the Marlin Model 60, changed only to accept a detachable box magazine.

The Marlin Model 336 is a lever-action rifle and carbine made by Marlin Firearms. Since its introduction in 1948, it has been offered in a number of different calibers and barrel lengths, but is commonly chambered in .30-30 Winchester or .35 Remington, using a 20- or 24-inch barrel. Currently, the model with a 24-inch barrel is only available in .30-30 Winchester. The Model 336 is now back in production as of March 27, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruger Model 77 rotary magazine</span> Bolt-action rifle

The Ruger 77/22 is a bolt-action rimfire rifle chambered for the .22 Long Rifle, .22 WMR, or .22 Hornet. It has a removable rotary magazine which allows the magazine to fit flush with the bottom of the stock. The 77/22 was introduced in 1983 and was based on the centerfire Model 77 Mark II. Each rifle comes with scope rings and a lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruger Single-Six</span> Single action

The Ruger Single-Six is a single-action rimfire revolver produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. The Single-Six was first released in June 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlin Model 1894</span> Carbine, Pistol-caliber carbine

The Marlin Model 1894 is a lever-action repeating rifle introduced in 1894 by the Marlin Firearms Company of North Haven, Connecticut. At its introduction the rifle came with a 24-inch barrel and was chambered for a variety of rounds such as .25-20 Winchester, .32-20 Winchester, .38-40, and .44-40. Variants in other chamberings remain in production today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruger M77</span> Rifle

The Ruger M77 is a bolt-action rifle produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It was designed by Jim Sullivan during his three years with Ruger. It was designed primarily as a hunting rifle featuring a traditional Mauser K98-style two-lugged bolt with a claw extractor.

The Marlin Levermatic was a family of lever-action rifles created by Marlin Firearms in the 1955. The Levermatic differed from the traditional lever-action rifles, such as the Marlin 39A, in that it employed a cam-and-roller system giving it an extremely smooth and short lever motion to reload a new cartridge.

The Ruger American Rifle is a family of budget-level hunting/sporting bolt-action centerfire rifle made by Sturm, Ruger & Co., which also produces a line of rimfire rifles with similar designs called the Ruger American Rimfire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruger Deerfield Carbine</span> Centerfire semi-automatic rifle

The Deerfield Carbine or Model 99/44 is a .44 Magnum semi-automatic rifle produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It uses a rotating-bolt short-stroke gas-piston. It was introduced in 2000 and discontinued in 2006.

The Ruger Model 44 is a semi-automatic rifle chambered in .44 Remington Magnum designed and manufactured by American firearm company Sturm, Ruger & Co. It uses a 4-round tubular magazine and was produced from 1961 to 1985.

Ruger American Rimfire is a rimfire bolt-action rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. in the United States. The firearm has some visual similarities with the larger centerfire Ruger American Rifle, and both are marketed as budget hunting rifles.

References

  1. "Ruger Product History". Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Peterson, Philip. Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values: The Shooter's Guide to Guns 1900 to Present (16th ed.). p. 429.
  3. Cassell, Jay (1 November 2009). Shooter's Bible: The World's Bestselling Firearms Reference . Skyhorse Publishing Inc. pp.  451–452. ISBN   978-1-60239-801-6.
  4. Taffin, John (13 November 2006). The Gun Digest Book of the .44. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 239–240. ISBN   0-89689-416-9.