I have always had a fascination with limited runs of rifles. It seemed like a good way to make something unique without over committing production & inventory to a particular chambering. In many cases, the only thing that differs from regular production is the bore of the barrel. To my mind, it's the most efficient way to get something "custom" at close to the regular price (i.e. not breaking the bank).
So when I sent the original email to Randy's Hunting Center to find out the criteria they looked for, it was nice to have that info to satisfy my curiosity. But it's still an interesting target to try to hit (referencing the first comment in the thread by
@spike.t about "herding cats").
To my mind (and this is just a personal opinion that's no more valid than anyone else's), the process goes something like this:
1. If you're going to request a special limited run of a rifle, don't request something common that is readily available. What's the point of a special request if it's not special?
2. A limited run is not a pure custom. You have to get 49 or 99 other people to agree with you that the chosen rifle is a desirable one and then a run of cookie cutter copies is produced for everyone in the group. So the request needs to
be special...with broad appeal.
3. Asking for a rifle or a physical configuration that doesn't even exist is outside the scope of what a private retailer like RHC would ask a company like Ruger to produce. Asking for bolt action chamberings longer than 87mm (while desirable) wasn't going to happen. Reviving a defunct model was another bit of hopeful dreaming. Getting an entire production line retooled is a big ask & commitment.
But there was nothing wrong with unlikely suggestions since this was just a theoretical question in a forum. I appreciate all of the responses. I wanted to know how hard it would be to come to a workable consensus (pretty hard!). There were 18 chambering requests where the tally count was 1 so they failed on the broad group appeal requirement. Only a single requester thought it was a desirable choice.
At this mark, the Ruger #1 requests have stayed solidly with the 404 Jeffery & 300 H&H. No change there.
The Ruger African counts have adjusted a little as the 458 Win Mag & 338-06 have drifted up in requests:
The popularity of the 338-06 was interesting to me since it is effectively a reloaders-only choice with commercial production being both limited & sporadic. I don't think I've ever seen a limited run of rifles that had no commercial ammo before so it would be unusual.
