<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>y86295exv99w1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<PAGE>


                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

[STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. LETTERHEAD]

                                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


For further information contact:
William B. Ruger, Jr.     603-863-3300
Stephen L. Sanetti        203-259-7843


               STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. NAMES NEW PRESIDENT


SOUTHPORT, CONNECTICUT, May 6, 2003 - The Board of Directors of Sturm, Ruger &
Co., Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen L.
Sanetti to be its President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

        Mr. Sanetti is a 23-year veteran of the company, beginning as its
General Counsel in 1980, and also serving as Vice President since 1993.  He
joined the Sturm, Ruger Board of Directors in 1998, and was named Vice
Chairman, Senior Executive Vice President, and General Counsel in 2000.

        Mr. Sanetti is also well known in the firearms industry.  He was
Chairman of the Legislative & Legal Affairs Committee of the Sporting Arms and
Ammunition Manufacturer's Institute from 1993 - 2001, and presently serves on
the Board of Governors of both the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the
Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Foundation.

        He graduated with honors from the Virginia Military Institute in 1971,
and received his Juris Doctor degree from the Washington & Lee University
School of Law.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate
General's Corps, and was Chief Prosecutor and Chief of Criminal Law for the 1st
Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.  Beginning in 1978, he represented Sturm,
Ruger in various product liability cases, and is a former Director of the
Product Liability Advisory Council.





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                                                                         Page 2

        Steve Sanetti is also a lifelong firearms enthusiast, target shooter,
gun collector, and amateur gunsmith.  He was President of the 1970-71 VMI Rifle
and Pistol Club, a 3-year Varsity Rifle Team letter winner, and coach of the
VMI Rifle Team while in law school.  He is an NRA Certified Rifle, Pistol, and
Home Firearms Safety instructor, and a member of the New Hampshire Firearms
Safety Coalition, the Fairfield County Fish and Game Protective Association,
and the Arms and Armor Society of New York.  He was captain of both the Ruger
Pistol Team and its Sportsman's Team Challenge Competition Squad.  He has
written many letters to editors, testified before a Congressional Subcommittee,
and has appeared on "60 Minutes", all in support of responsible firearms
ownership.

        Sturm, Ruger was founded in 1949.  Since 1950 it has never failed to
show an annual profit and has never required financing from outside sources.
The Company's business segments are engaged in the manufacture of the world
famous RUGERR brand of sporting and law enforcement firearms and titanium and
steel investment castings for a wide variety of customers and end uses.  Plants
are located in Newport, New Hampshire and Prescott, Arizona.  Corporate
headquarters is located in Southport, Connecticut.

                                   #######








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