Few things are more American than Sturm, Ruger & Co. and the guns the company produces. Since 1949, the company has made guns for hunting, recreation and personal protection. With production facilities in three states, millions of Ruger firearms roll off of the production lines each year. Ruger has a solid reputation for building durable guns that are reasonably priced. Because of this, the company’s products, namely compact Ruger handguns, are popular with hard-working Americans throughout the country. Compact Ruger handguns represent a quality investment that won’t break the bank of the rancher or the city-bound single mom. While Ruger’s traditional rifles and rimfire guns are very well respected, much of its modern production is focused on building arms for concealed carry and self-defense. From pocket pistols to magnum revolvers, the compact Ruger handguns offer the American buyer a range of high-quality options for personal protection.
Ruger LCP
Light and small, the Ruger LCP took the concealed-carry market by storm when it was introduced. Popular with armed citizens and law enforcement officers alike, the gun is small enough to carry discreetly in almost any situation. The gun weighs less than 10 ounces unloaded, and it is only 0.82 inches thick. The Ruger LCP holds 6+1 rounds and has a concealed hammer.
Ruger LC9s
Slightly larger than the LCP, and chambered in 9mm instead of .380 ACP, the Ruger LC9s hits a sweet spot with many people looking for a gun with the right balance of power and concealability. While not as petite as the LCP, the LC9s is still very thin—only 0.9 inches wide—and only weighs about 17 ounces. The LC9s is less than an inch taller than the LCP. The single-stack magazines hold seven rounds, giving the owner ample felon repellant for most situations. Extended magazines that hold nine rounds are also available. The guns are outfitted with low profile, but completely useable, three-dot sights. The sights are dovetailed and can be replaced with something more to your liking if desired. The LC9s is a striker-fired, not hammer-fired, handgun. The slide and barrel are blued steel while the frame is made of glass-filled nylon. Versions of the LC9s are available with and without a manual thumb safety.
Ruger LC380
Chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge, the Ruger LC380 is the bigger brother to the company’s LCP. The LC380 has a larger grip and sights, making it an easier gun for many people to shoot. It weighs in at 17.2 ounces and holds 7+1 rounds. A very thin gun at only 0.9 inches wide, the LC380 makes for an excellent concealed-carry option.
Ruger SR9c
The largest gun on this list is the SR9c. While thicker, taller and longer than some of the other options, the SR9c brings serious fighting ability to the table. Chambered in 9mm, the magazines hold 17 rounds, providing enough antidote for nearly any armed assault. For residents of oppressed states, 10-round magazine guns are also available. The SR9c platform uses a glass-filled nylon frame with either a black nitride-finished alloy steel slide or a brushed stainless steel slide. The three-dot sights are dovetailed into the slide. Aftermarket night sights are available from Trijicon, XS Sight Systems and others. A reversible backstrap is standard on the SR9c pistol. This gives the shooter an option of a flat or arched backstrap to best fit the gun to their hand. If you prefer a larger-caliber pistol, Ruger also sells a .40 S&W version of this gun called the SR40c.
Ruger LCR
It’s tough to beat the Ruger LCR for a concealed-carry revolver. When the original LCR was introduced in 2009, I was immediately impressed by the smooth trigger pull and light recoil when compared to similarly sized products from competing manufacturers. Ruger uses a patented cam system to reduce friction in the trigger pull, and houses it in a polymer fire control housing to keep weight low. If you like a revolver for self-defense, there is probably an LCR for you. Ruger offers the guns in .38 Special and .357 Mag. More recently, the company introduced a 9mm version of the gun that uses moon clips to quickly load and extract empties from the cylinder. For anyone with significant weakness in the hands, Ruger also offers the LCR in both .22 LR and .22 WMR. Most of the LCR models have a 1.875-inch barrel and hold five rounds. The .22 LR holds eight rounds while the .22 WMR holds six.
Ruger SP101
For traditional revolver fans, there are few compact revolvers that are more rugged than the SP101. Ruger built these wheelguns to be tough, using stainless steel frames, barrels and cylinders. The all-steel construction ensures durability for the lifetime of its owner, plus the extra weight helps absorb recoil and reduce muzzle flip. SP101 revolvers are available in a number of calibers and barrel lengths. For concealed carry, Ruger offers three guns with a 2.25-inch barrel: one in .38 Special and two in .357 Mag. These guns all have a satin stainless finish and black rubber grips. A fixed rear sight paired with a ramped front sight is standard on these guns. The cylinders will hold five rounds.
