Ruger American Rifle

[ZWCoffindaffer]

What's your take on the Ruger American? It's not very visually appealing, but it seems like a sound rifle for the money. Their magnums come with a threaded barrel for a brake. They even offer the 6.5 Creedmoor in the predator for under $550. Has anyone owned or shot one of these thing? I've become interested in one in 300 WM and 6.5 CM.

 

[Newtosavage]

Great shooting rifle, period. I just can't get along with the cheap stocks and rough action but there is no doubt they are shooters. I bought my brother one for Christmas last year in .243, and straight out of the box it was shooting sub-1" groups at 100 yards, on shots 2-7. He put several through the same hole and the barrel wasn't even broken in.

Now that Boyd's is making stocks for the American that use the bedding V-blocks from the original stock, I'd say this is a solid buy.

 

[sappyg]

The more I shoot mine the more I like the Ruger American. May easily be the most accurate rifle I own. It's also the lightest and handiest rifle I own.
I really wouldn't want one in 300WM though. They are just too light for that caliber IMO. Now the 6.5 CM sounds very interesting.

 

[auzsabo]

I agree with newtosavage, most mossbergs,savages, and rugers are decent shooters but made with certain parts that are not so solid. If you can get a stock and decent scope I think the rifle will do you well.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

I really wouldn't want one in 300WM though. They are just too light for that caliber IMO. Now the 6.5 CM sounds very interesting.

http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifle/index.html?r=y

Check out their website. The magnums are in their on category and weigh over a pound more. the 6.5 is in the predator category. Seems like they have added many sub groups of the american since it first hit the market.

 

[scaatylobo]

Ruger American compact

I have 2 Ruger hunting rifles,the Ruger scout and the American compact.

Until I put a conventional scope on the scout,the American is my go to.

Both are in .308 and I am impressed with the American ,as long as it has good glass on it.

I do expect the scout to surpass the American when it gets the glass I have for it [ Nightforce ].

But for hunting accuracy,I see no problem with the American and will not get rid of it no matter.

 

[jmr40]

I have 2, and have had a chance to shoot 2 others. All have been great shooters. I have a compact in 223 and the Predator in 308.

The Predator at 200 yards.

 

[sappyg]

Thanks for the link CW.
Ruger sure isn't sitting on their hands when it comes to the American. The magnum does add ~ 1.5 lbs which is not a bad thing. Also, the recoil pad is pretty darn good too.
Could find any info on the magazine. It looks like an in line magazine ILO a rotary mag.

 

[greyghost01]

I almost bought one, But instead I purchased a Savage 20" med weight fluted barrel, Accu stock and a accu trigger and only paid $585.00 for it its the model 10FCP-SR its 3x the Ruger American for sure. A 5 shot group measured .354 the trigger is so smooth and the stock is very durable and complete free float I love it

 

[lobo9er]

pros out way the cons. I have a 308. great gun for the price. There are 3 things that bug me when I was sitting in my stand though staring at it this deer season waiting for something to move. Plastic magazine, plastic "bolt shroud", and machining marks on barrel collect dirt and and hold moisture. But those are minor and I enjoyed hunting with it very much.
Does not detract from its ability to shoot. I took a nice big doe with mine this past season. Put it right where I wanted it at 70ish yards give or take. I would buy it again. Its a great rifle and your not gonna get all sad if you scratch the stock, in fact it would only add character.

 

[Art Eatman]

My FFL buddy has sighted in several of these for customers. He's been quite favorably impressed with the consistency of reasonably tight groups.

 

[gamestalker]

I have been loading for and shooting the 22-250, .243, and the .270 win, and all have been fantastic shooters. I've loaded for multiple different one's in in each chambering also, and they all have been great performers.

The only thing I don't care for is the triggers. I have never been pleased with any trigger in a production rifle, so that's not unusual. But what I specifically don't like about the Ruger trigger, is you can't fine tune adjust it like you can a Rem or Savage, you have to replace it. The best I could get out of one was about 4 lbs.. I don't care who you are, 4 lbs. is horribly unacceptable. I saw a You Tube video on how to clip partial coils off the spring to get them down to a more realistic functional shooting weight, but it's just much easier, not to mention safer to just drop a better trigger in them and be done with it. A Timney is only $120 or so, which I think is a small price to pay for a production rifle that can be made to shoot sub MOA groups with the right load.

The stock too leaves a little bit to be desired, but again, I haven't come across very many budget rifles that had a good stock on them. But floating the barrel or shimming the V bedded action are simply little things, and that don't cost anything to do. Although, if one were to add an after market stock and a Timney trigger, I can't see how that would be unreasonable for a rifle that's already a shooter.

GS

 

[Bartojc]

I have one in .243. I got it because I liked the .243 and didn't own one, and figured the RAR was so cheap that if I didn't like the round I was not out that much. Well, the rifle shoots so darn good it's likely my most accurate rifle. Right out of the box it shot cheap Remington ammo in sub 1" groups at 100 yards. It's not pretty to look at, but you can't go wrong with one.

A friend was so impressed with one last deer season he showed up with one in .308 this year. He said it's the most accurate rifle he's ever owned as well. They are great hunting rifles.

Jeff

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I bought one in 308 for a cheap truck gun that I wouldn't care if it gets knocked around a bit.

Only paid 299 on sale but as it turns out it is one of the best most accurate out of the box rifles I've ever owned.

It has a great trigger really, even though it breaks at about 4 pounds it doesn't really feel too bad. I haven't tried adjusting it but supposedly it adjusts from 3-5 pounds. I do plan to see if it will adjust down to about 3 which is where I like a hunting trigger.

The stock could use some work, even though it is full floated barrel the forearm area is so flimsy you can tweak it over against the barrel which I think I can correct or at least help. But for what I paid I can't complain, it's certainly great for what I bought it for.

 

[oldfortyfiveauto]

I have the ranch in 300blk and have been very happy with it. My gunsmith had no trouble getting a really nice trigger on it.

 

[AStone]

Reading.

One of their Ranch rifles in .223 has been on my short list for a while.

I only own two rifles -- for a reason -- and only want one more. This is a candidate.