That Ruger was the perfect brush gun for deer hunting in Michigan, which is why I recommended it to my brother. I added a bit of then-high-tech by putting a Gen 1 Aimpoint red dot on it. State of the art, nobody had seen anything like it. Why did Ruger ever discontinue it?
Not sure but my favorite ruger now is the stainless number one in 45-70.... I have added a NECG grip cap compartment which holds their No 100 peep for the ruger as a BUIS an had the stock modified with a 5 spare round compartment for spare ammo.
I covered that with a simple uncle mikes spare stock sock with spare rounds an use a Leupold 1.5-6X scope on warne QD lever mounts. Scope dies peeps go on. 14 spare rounds of garretts hammerheads.
My favorite all round hunting rig.
They come back with that carbine I bet they would mess it up.... Can’t go back IMO.