Ranger 2 review

[redhawk4]

It really comes down to knowing your gun that you want to use to protect your life.  The problem is not a "Fatal Flaw" because your technique isn't compatible with the firearm.

If you carry one, you had better have been practicing pulling it out and doing whatever you need to do to make it go bang.  It the gun you love gets too heavy to carry, gets caught on your shirt, gets suck in your pocket, has a hard to use (or remember to use) safety, jams, chokes, pucks, or whatever, that is not the gun to be carrying around.  Enjoy it at the range.

Exactly

[grayelky]

JeremyS,
First, Welcome! I hope you hang around for more than just this topic, as I suspect you could add solid information to the forum.

I have not taken one of my BTs to the range yet, as they are both safe Queens. Once production gets going, I will correct that. In the amount of time I have handled one around the shop, and had customers fondling one of them, I have never accidentally opened the cylinder, neither have any of the customers who have handled it. Once I start actually shooting one, that may change. I do not think it will be an issue for me, as I cock my minis with much less thumb than you do. I do appreciate you bringing to the attention of this board the fact the potential is there. I also feel you have placed a "CONDEMNED" tag on the Ranger because you and one more person have had the same experience. There have been quite a few on here who have taken their Rangers to the range and fired quite a few rounds through them. If this condition was as prevalent as you indicate it will be, making it unsafe for self protection, I am fairly confident it would have surfaced by now. In stead of declaring it unfit for self defense, I think it would have been more accurate to describe the circumstances (as you did), and make people aware of the potential issue.

[Bigbird48]

I agree Grey, tagging it as a Fatal Flaw was not called for and I'm sure will have some impact on sales.There are some problems with the gun but non that arn't fixable and none that I would call a fatal flaw. Granted I'm a little frustrated right now as I've owned a Ranger II since Oct and still haven't been able to carry it. I hope to get it back soon and all problems fixed.

[bill_deshivs]

It really comes down to knowing your gun that you want to use to protect your life.  The problem is not a "Fatal Flaw" because your technique isn't compatible with the firearm.

If you carry one, you had better have been practicing pulling it out and doing whatever you need to do to make it go bang.  It the gun you love gets too heavy to carry, gets caught on your shirt, gets suck in your pocket, has a hard to use (or remember to use) safety, jams, chokes, pucks, or whatever, that is not the gun to be carrying around.  Enjoy it at the range.

"Technique" goes right out the window when you're being attacked and are clawing at the hammer to get it cocked.
There are other flaws that are becoming obvious with the Ranger 2. Loose hinges are pretty frequent, and I'll wager that frame stretching will be a problem, just like it has been with most top breaks. I believe the Ranger should have been made in .22lr only.
I really hope I'm wrong, because I like the gun.

[Ruger]

It is not "Technique" that counts in a stressful situation, but muscle memory; the automatic use and familiarity of the weapon.   If one chooses to carry a weapon, it should be familiar enough to use, just like the brake in your car.  If a child jumps out in front of your car, do you depend on "Technique" or does your body use that brake without thinking?

And why all this discussion on how and why the ranger has failed as a Self Defense weapon?  I don't recall ANY billing or marketing by NAA that it is suited for that or that it was made for that purpose. If you so choose to use it that way, it is your choice.  I purchased all my minis because I like them, and they are fun to shoot and own.

[smokeless joe]

I purchased all my minis because I like them, and they are fun to shoot and own.

Me too!

[JRobyn]

This makes me wonder about his thumbing technique. This subject just made me question though; I wonder how the frame of the Ranger's would hold up to being carried in one's back pocket and being sat upon somewhat throughout the day. Anyone have any thoughts on said matter?

Yeah;  I don't sit on my gun.   

I don't believe in carrying a gun in a back pocket, given that where I'm from you'd be a fool to carry a wallet back there because it would be gone in heartbeat. I wouldn't want to feel something and turn around to see a thief holding my gun or even just lose it unknowingly to a criminal, so I won't be sitting on mine either.

Implying opening the BT action is inevitable when trying to cock the Ranger is rather like saying it's inevitable you'll release and drop your magazine from your pistol in the same circumstances.

Or that it's inevitable that the your thumb will slip off the hammer and the gun will accidentally discharge.

My 146 barrel latch is quite tight.  So much so that it is sometimes difficult to get it open or closed.  I am considering asking NAA to "adjust" it a bit.

145 opens and closes very smoothly with just modest force.

I like the way the BT and latch works.  If I have to develop a new skill to avoid the latch, I CAN DO THAT!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98nNpzE6gIs

(I did go to GT.)

[Kimber1911]

         Ruger, I'm with you all the way. I carry a Pug when I can't carry a 1911 4".    TTFN        R

[ds10speed]

I agree that it's not fare to call it a "Fatal Flaw", I didn't buy the Ranger II to use in a down in the dirt gun fight. I bought it because it is a very precise work of art that is fun to shoot and very collectable. I have other guns to use as carry weapons, ones that I don't care if they get dropped or beat up. I plan on keeping my Ranger II in pristine condition.

[RogueTS1]

Well despite those issues; what do y'all have to say about the BT's hinge to withstand being sat upon? Too fragile? More than strong enough? What?

[PaducahMichael]

I don't know it for a fact, but it seems a bad idea to sit on a gun that COULD be damaged. Wouldn't the answer to your question depend on a lot of stuff - like how heavy are you? How will the Ranger be positioned? I just prefer front pocket carry.

[redhawk4]

Well despite those issues; what do y'all have to say about the BT's hinge to withstand being sat upon? Too fragile? More than strong enough? What?

I think you'd have to be extremely heavy with buns of steel and sit down from a great height on a very hard chair before that could remotely be a problem when you look at how it all ties together at the back of the frame where the action closes.

[Ruger]

I agree that it's not fare to call it a "Fatal Flaw", I didn't buy the Ranger II to use in a down in the dirt gun fight. I bought it because it is a very precise work of art that is fun to shoot and very collectable. I have other guns to use as carry weapons, ones that I don't care if they get dropped or beat up. I plan on keeping my Ranger II in pristine condition.

AMEN!

[redhawk4]

I don't agree it's a fatal flaw at all. It has to do with familiarity with the firearm. Many other guns have potential pitfalls too, the ability to hit the cylinder release catch, drop the magazine out or a safety you might forget to release.

[RogueTS1]

Well despite those issues; what do y'all have to say about the BT's hinge to withstand being sat upon? Too fragile? More than strong enough? What?

I think you'd have to be extremely heavy with buns of steel and sit down from a great height on a very hard chair before that could remotely be a problem when you look at how it all ties together at the back of the frame where the action closes.

I am not too heavy; 6' at aprox 195 lbs or so and don't forget in jeans, the back pockets are not directly under one's (or at least my) rump. They sit slightly above the part of one's ( once again at least my) rump hits a chair. Also there is a firm leather holster surrounding the little gun.

[Oddball]

I can see why Jeremy would call this a fatal flaw since he wasn't the only one having the problem that day. However that doesn't mean everyone will have this problem as evidenced by other posters on this topic.
All of us who've been shooting for awhile should know by now that some shooters and guns don't work well together, that's not necessarily the fault of either its just the way it works out.

[BIGBEAR]

just got my new ranger. i can open it ok. but after closing and trying to cock the hammer. it won't cock.
it doesn't want to move, unless i rotate the cylinder at the same time while cocking the revolver.
after cocking 1st time it will cock normally.

whats wrong

[OV-1D]

  First of all WELCOME to the ward , on the Ranger just go ahead and send it back before you get excited and hurt yourself , . Include having them check the crown and firing alignment .

[redhawk4]

just got my new ranger. i can open it ok. but after closing and trying to cock the hammer. it won't cock.
it doesn't want to move, unless i rotate the cylinder at the same time while cocking the revolver.
after cocking 1st time it will cock normally.

whats wrong

This has been a common Ranger II flaw, but the good news is it can be fixed. I had those issues, but after the second trip back to NAA it's fine. I don't have to do anything now other than close the barrel and cock the gun, no need to fiddle lining up the cylinder. I think there was some problem with the hand and the "star" on the ejector being out of whack somewhere that was causing the binding.

[JRobyn]

I made some comments in the other thread.  BTW, another thing that can cause this is if the ejector/star does not completely seat back in its recess in the cylinder.  If it is sticking up even a little, it will hang up on the back of the frame when closed and prevent the cylinder from turning.  Both of mine had this problem.  I thoroughly cleaned and de-burred the stars and their recesses, and the star/ejector rod and it cured mine.  You can easily test this by completely removing the cylinder and pushing in the ejector rod, then let it gently return into the recess.  Does it fully seat? 

[dbrn]

Hello,  I just  took my new Ranger II  out and put  90  rounds  through it.  Had  no  malfuctions of any kind.  hammer worked  fine. cylinder fine, no latch problems. Great  little gun  to shoot.  am very  happy. so far so good.   Dan   

[smokeless joe]

Hello,  I just  took my new Ranger II  out and put  90  rounds  through it.  Had  no  malfuctions of any kind.  hammer worked  fine. cylinder fine, no latch problems. Great  little gun  to shoot.  am very  happy. so far so good.   Dan   

That's good news Dan