I’ve had 3 tikkas and been around several more. They all feed shoot and function perfectly, I was around one RAR that we never could get to shoot. Could’ve been unlucky but the stock was terrible. The tip at the barrel had ALOT of flex and kept touching the barrel if you weren’t careful.
For the same price? Tikka, for sure. For a few hundred bucks less than the Tikka, the Ruger is a great option.
The Tikka is a 10 twist and the RAP is a 9 twist if that matters to you. There's been a lot of speculation of the coming to US shores of the 8 twist Tikka but I have read no confirmation of that occurring yet.
SAS cleared it up a couple week’s ago. He said the 243’s are indeed 1-8”.
Tikka. The Predator’s fore end just does not fit my hands at all. Don’t know why Ruger couldn’t have just kept it round or slightly oval in cross section. The finger groove fore ends just don’t work for me at all.
I bought a Ruger American Preditor in May of 2022. Over a six month span, it went back to the factory twice. When I sent it back the second time - I told them to keep it!
The first time I sent it back was because of excessive headspace. They replaced the barrel and the bolt.
I got the riflle back - mounted the scope - and headed to the range.
Over the course of 3 range sessions, the rifle shot well. That is...untill I pulled the trigger....and the firing pin assembly unlocked from the bolt...and fell back into my hand.
I called Ruger and explained in detail what happened. I told them that a firing pin asembly should NEVER just unlock from a bolt. I told them that I did not trust the rifle and I wanted a replacement or my money back. They sent me a shipping label - and I sent it back a second time.
Two weeks after they received it, I got a call telling me that the rifle had been repaired. "Repaired" I asked??
The rep told me that they replaced the firing pin assembly and the bolt handle due to "premature wear." Premature wear, I asked? After just 27 rounds??
I won't go into the full conversation - it was heated.
At any rate, I received the rifle back from the factory in early December...and I have not even bothered to open the box.
Prior to purchacing the Ruger, everything I had read was positive. That's why I bought it. In fact, at the gun store, on the same rack, was a Tikka in the same caliber. The Ruger was $400 cheaper...so I bought it.
This is a test sample of one...but for me...I will not own another Ruger American. That $400 dollars I saved...might have well been thrown in the trash.
I bought a Ruger American Preditor in May of 2022. Over a six month span, it went back to the factory twice. When I sent it back the second time - I told them to keep it!
The first time I sent it back was because of excessive headspace. They replaced the barrel and the bolt.
I got the riflle back - mounted the scope - and headed to the range.
Over the course of 3 range sessions, the rifle shot well. That is...untill I pulled the trigger....and the firing pin assembly unlocked from the bolt...and fell back into my hand.
I called Ruger and explained in detail what happened. I told them that a firing pin asembly should NEVER just unlock from a bolt. I told them that I did not trust the rifle and I wanted a replacement or my money back. They sent me a shipping label - and I sent it back a second time.
Two weeks after they received it, I got a call telling me that the rifle had been repaired. "Repaired" I asked??
The rep told me that they replaced the firing pin assembly and the bolt handle due to "premature wear." Premature wear, I asked? After just 27 rounds??
I won't go into the full conversation - it was heated.
At any rate, I received the rifle back from the factory in early December...and I have not even bothered to open the box.
Prior to purchacing the Ruger, everything I had read was positive. That's why I bought it. In fact, at the gun store, on the same rack, was a Tikka in the same caliber. The Ruger was $400 cheaper...so I bought it.
This is a test sample of one...but for me...I will not own another Ruger American. That $400 dollars I saved...might have well been thrown in the trash.
Get the Tikka!!
That's awful. I'd be just as put off as you under the same circumstances. My RAR has run fine and I've never had feeding/mag issues.
As to this thread, I really don't put these rifles in the same category. I think the Tikka is an exceptionally well made rifle, built to preform and last. I view the RAR as a "disposable" rifle. Sort of like comparing a Lincoln Town car to a Nissan Versa.
Bore size is no substitute for shot placement and Power is no substitute for bullet performance. 458WIN
For the same price? Tikka, for sure. For a few hundred bucks less than the Tikka, the Ruger is a great option.
The Tikka is a 10 twist and the RAP is a 9 twist if that matters to you. There's been a lot of speculation of the coming to US shores of the 8 twist Tikka but I have read no confirmation of that occurring yet.
SAS cleared it up a couple week’s ago. He said the 243’s are indeed 1-8”.
Nice. I knew they were coming just not that they had yet arrived.
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
Another vote for a Teeker. I like quite a few Ruger products, with Ruger 77’s and No1’s, and Ruger revolvers being at the top of that particular list. With that being said, only one of the 77’s currently in my safe comes close to my T3 Superlite and T3x in accuracy. Your money, your choice…but I’d buy the Tikka. 😎
Another vote for a Teeker. I like quite a few Ruger products, with Ruger 77’s and No1’s, and Ruger revolvers being at the top of that particular list. With that being said, only one of the 77’s currently in my safe comes close to my T3 Superlite and T3x in accuracy. Your money, your choice…but I’d buy the Tikka. 😎
I am of the same mind. Love my Rugers but of the two rifles it’s a Tikka for me.
I’ve owned both in 243 and I don’t shoot anything heavier than 100gr. I still have my T3x Superlite.
There is no comparison when it comes to which is “nicer”, the Tikka hands down. They both shoot well, the edge going to the Tikka because it basically shoots everything well.
I had the RAR with rotary magazine and it worked, but not very smoothly. It’s cramped vs the M+ magazine offered by Tikka. The 6CM and newer magazines should give the OAL nod to the RAR.