Ruger American Predator 22-250

[luv2safari]

I ordered one today that will replace my Savage 340 in 222 as my coyote rifle. With more urbanites from Kalipornia moving in around my desert oasis the dogs are getting skittish. I figured I needed 100 yards or so more practical range from a coyote gun now. I have a Burris FFII 4.5-14 sitting around I took off a sold 6.5-300 Wby that needs somewhere to land, so it's going onto the 22-250.

I am wondering if there are any Ruger American tricks to make good-shooting rifles even better? How about aftermarket stocks to replace the awful stock stock?

These were my coyote guns. I'll still use the Valmet BBF in 12ga/222 with the 2.5-8 VariX III on it for close in shooting with BB or #4 Buck in the 12ga barrel; the 222 barrel shoots well with 52gr or smaller bullets.

I think I'll sell the 340 Savage, and it comes with two magazines. The old Weaver K4 scope will come off and stay here. It had been on my dad's Mdl 70 '06 for most of my life.

Savage 340 being replaced with the Ruger:

Valmet 12/222: (Had a 2.75 Redfield on it once)

I gave this same model Valmet to a good friend in OK who uses it as a pig and coyote gun.

 

[Anchorite]

Nice. You’ve made a great choice. My oldest son still has my Savage 222 that a client gave me 25 years ago. He loves it!

 

[dieselchief]

my predator sits in a magpul stock. i tried a boyds stock for it and was extremely disappointed. (i have had at least 5 or 6 boyds in the past and was always satisfied)
...also shoot a 340 in 222 with a k4 on it, not sure i would sell that unless i was hungry and cold.

 

[LoonWulf]

I did some post on the RAs a whilenback.

Smoothing out and spiffing up a Ruger American

Gonna need to take some more pictures before this is complete. I was asked recently to outline the basics for polishing and modifying a Ruger American. Ill cover the relatively easy, and low cost modifications, and provide some info on some of the more expensive options (mostly large part...

www.thehighroad.org

Without digging thru that first thread. Changing the trigger return spring is an easy way to improve the trigger pull weight. I found that you generally have to take the trigger apart and polish stuff to make it feel it's best though.

Polishing the bolt and receiver can also drastically improve the way that gun feels without a ton of work. Cerakote or Duracoat are also good options for smoothing out the feel of the action and help with rust prevention.

Ruger American Stock Options....Ready to Invest?

So, Ive owned all of the major brands of stocks (tho not all the boyds models) available for the Ruger American rifles, and used them enough to be comfortable with them, I figured it was time to share my findings. Ill probably break this up into three separate posts, including the stock...

www.thehighroad.org

 

[LoonWulf]

I'm going to be using a Ruger American predator in 6.5 Grendel to build a 6 mm arc here shortly......... Or perhaps not shortly, whenever the barrels ready

 

[luv2safari]

my predator sits in a magpul stock. i tried a boyds stock for it and was extremely disappointed. (i have had at least 5 or 6 boyds in the past and was always satisfied)
...also shoot a 340 in 222 with a k4 on it, not sure i would sell that unless i was hungry and cold.

Well, I am hungry, and the wife is cooking dinner. And, I'm still cold from installing a new heater blower in my old 2003 Suburban. Do those count??

It's hard to sell this 340. I got it about two years ago and love the gun, but I need to pay for the 22-250. I hate to sell it, but I'll probably not use it anymore. The stock has nicer colored and figured wood than the photos show. Selling an old Classic with good wood to buy a modern uuugggly mat-n-plastic gun is a bitter pill for sure.

A 22-250 makes more sense for my needs now and going forward.

 

[mshootnit]

A lot of guys around here are shooting coyotes with 204 Ruger

 

[luv2safari]

A lot of guys around here are shooting coyotes with 204 Ruger

I had considered that. The reasons I got the 22-250 are:

1. It's legal and capable as an antelope round.
2. I have a bunch of 22 cal bullets.
3. I have a lot of powders that the 22-250 likes.
4. I have a set of dies already.
5. Anything smaller than a 9.3X62 is a pea-shooter, especially smaller than 22 caliber.

 

[dranrab]

The beauty of those Ruger American Predators is that they are often ridiculously accurate despite themselves. I'd give it a whirl as it is. I hope Ruger QC woes doesn't afflict it in some way.

 

[luv2safari]

I did some post on the RAs a whilenback.

Smoothing out and spiffing up a Ruger American

Gonna need to take some more pictures before this is complete. I was asked recently to outline the basics for polishing and modifying a Ruger American. Ill cover the relatively easy, and low cost modifications, and provide some info on some of the more expensive options (mostly large part...

www.thehighroad.org

Without digging thru that first thread. Changing the trigger return spring is an easy way to improve the trigger pull weight. I found that you generally have to take the trigger apart and polish stuff to make it feel it's best though.

Polishing the bolt and receiver can also drastically improve the way that gun feels without a ton of work. Cerakote or Duracoat are also good options for smoothing out the feel of the action and help with rust prevention.

Ruger American Stock Options....Ready to Invest?

So, Ive owned all of the major brands of stocks (tho not all the boyds models) available for the Ruger American rifles, and used them enough to be comfortable with them, I figured it was time to share my findings. Ill probably break this up into three separate posts, including the stock...

www.thehighroad.org

I'll be up all night reading now.

 

[JmacD]

I’d be tempted to drop a Timney in it for starters. They have one for the American now. Might look at a Boyd’s stock; possibly a magpul. Maybe something different than their less than stellar factory mags. .

 

[Sour Kraut]

NIB, $595 + frt to your FFL. Ruger American Predator, 22-250, muzzle break, Burris 4-12 Scope. Davidson’s guarantee.

 

[jmr40]

If you want to try a different stock for aesthetics reasons that is a personal decision. But IME you're not going to get any better accuracy with anything else. Those are budget guns; by the time you buy the rifle then start throwing money at "upgrades", they are no longer a budget gun. You'd be better off just buying a better rifle in the 1st place IMO.

I've owned and shot several of the Ruger Predators. None have disappointed me with accuracy. Some of them had some feeding issues, and Ruger tends to cut the chambers close to the minimum tolerances. That may be part of the reason they are so accurate. All of mine have chambered factory loads 100%, but some handloads that worked fine in other rifles need the shoulder bumped back just a tiny bit in order to chamber in them.

That's not meant as a complaint, just an observation.

 

[sparkyv]

Great write up, LoonWulf. I can't understand why I hadn't seen it before. I agree with these easy tweaks.

Changing the trigger return spring is an easy way to improve the trigger pull weight.
Polishing the bolt and receiver can also drastically improve the way that gun feels without a ton of work.

 

[codytrucker]

I bought an American predator 22-250 because of the 1-10 twist for a truck rifle to shoot heavier bullets and get the flattest trajectory I could , for the " one last look over the shoulder " shots .

When I first got it I tried the epoxy forearm and foam in the butstock tricks , but I really don't like the plastic feel , so I got a bell&Carlson stock and really like it. Got pretty good accuracy with barnes 69 grain matchburner, and pretty flat shooter out to 400 yards.

Then I got another one in 6mm C.M and put it in a Boyd's wood stock , it didn't shoot well at all , until one day I put the B&C stock on it and it shot a dime size group.

Then I decided to put the Boyd's on the 22-250 and see what would happen , if it wouldn't shoot. I would get another B&C and call it good . Well , the 22-250 wouldn't go into the Boyd's stock , had to relieve some wood in the trigger area .. then I tried it again and it shot fine , so I left them that way . Since then , I tried some H4350 , from H414 , and it shot a bug hole group with that , so that's my new load ,just have a few of the others to shoot up before I sight in for the new load .

I may look at some other bullets then the matchburners for coyotes ,

Loonwolf has some really good information on these rifles , I'd really follow his advice !!

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’d keep the Mod 340!
However, going prices on the 340’s on GunBroker are such that
It’ll easily pay for the Ruger American…

 

[LoonWulf]

I’d keep the Mod 340!
However, going prices on the 340’s on GunBroker are such that
It’ll easily pay for the Ruger American…

The pricing has driven me out of the market on those guns. When they were 200-300ish i really wanted one......i still really want one, but not enough to pay what they are going for.

 

[someguy2800]

What is the twist rate on the ruger 22-250?

 

[codytrucker]

What is the twist rate on the ruger 22-250?

1 in 10 is standard on them , they have made some for distributers with a 1 in 8 twist .

 

[Sour Kraut]

1 in 10 from the website.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I have a Ruger Predator in .22-250. I use it for everything from coyotes to hogs almost daily. good, cheap, realiable rifle.