Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles New Ruger American Predator .223

I bought my son a Ruger American in 7mm-08 two years ago and it shoots quite well with Hornady American Whitetail 140g factory ammo and really well with handloads....0.72" groups.

The Ruger American Predator in .223 I bought last Saturday and shot Sunday has an issue w/ the 55gr PPU factory ammo. I didn't want to spend $30 per box on factory ammo b/c I reload. I shot 40 rounds through it on Sunday with horrible groups...4" maybe...with nothing consistent. I'm hoping it's the ammo, I've only shot that one brand. I have dies on the way and I am going to load 55gr Hornady SP and 75gr A-Max to see what happens. Also bought some 64gr Winchester Super-X to try.

I am going to pull bullets and weigh both powder and bullets to see if there is enough inconsistency there to explain 4" groups.

More later.

You might check the runout on that ammo too.

Did you use a proven scope?

Runout is a good idea.

The scope is not the best and not the worst. It's a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 (please no flames ) and I had used it previously on a .30-30 Winchester 94...never ad an issue with it.

BTW...it's 1:8" twist.

Try Varget and the 60 gr V-MAX Hornady if it doesn't group with this combo, then your scope or rifle has a problem.

I'm not familiar with PPU ammo, but I think your rifle is sound.

My RAR Predator 223 has shot every handload I've tried into 1" or better at 100 yards without any load refinements. That would include 40gr VMax, 50gr VMax, 53gr VMax, AND 75gr BTHP. Mine is scoped with a simple Bushnell 3200 10X.

It bugholes the 40gr VMax with a light load of Unique.

My RAR Predator in 204 is shooting Hornady 32 and 40 grain VMax factory ammo into sub-MOA groups new OTB. Couldn't be happier. Mine has a Sightron S1 4-12x40AO in Warne fixed Maximas.

Haven't got the RAR-P in 6.5 Creedmoor to the range yet. Had planned to go today, but the kids made other plans.

PPU is Prvi ammo. Bullets averaged 54.6gr and powder was tiny flattened spheres averaged 26.4gr...I don't think it's the ammo. I had shot 60 rounds.

Going to reload and try the Winchester ammo. I'll try a different scope...Fullfield II. All my rifles have Burris Signature rings so swapping is easy on the scopes. I could also try a Nikon Prostaff 5... 2.5-10x40.

More later.

I have one and have had ZERO accuracy issues with all the handloads I have fed it...for loads with 6 grains of Unique, to those with 28 grains of W 748....

and have used several low buck scopes that you guys would barf over them...4 power Tasco ( $30), Bushnell 1.5 x 4 Shotgun Scope ( $59)...Simmons 4.5 x 14 4 X 4 Scope.. ( Walmart, $150)

I think that the Sightron S1 4-12x40AOs are a lot of glass for $160+/-, but have never seen anyone in the field or at the range using one of them.

Not making this ol' pup barf. I firmly believe properly
bedded one-piece scope bases and properly aligned, or Signature
rings have saved my cheapy scopes....Bushy Banner, Simmons
Whitetail, Ospry International, Japanese Tasco....all with AO.

Bought a few of them, still using a few of them Tascos and Simmons. Though it did pizz me off some when my 44 Mag scope went tits up after 28 years on my 25.06 M 70. Must of got a bad one.

44 Mag scopes are WAY underrated. I have three.

So are Tascos, but try selling that concept on THIS website..

I think most campfire members would like someone more if they were anti Second Amendment and Anti Hunting, than they would approve of a Guy who was Pro Tasco...

Back at the range today...

It's the ammo, this rifle does not like three types of factory ammo...PPU 55gr SP, Hornady American Whitetail 60gr IL, and Winchester Super-X 64gr PP.

Shot tiny holes with handloads, Hornady 50gr SP with three weights of Varget and one of IMR3031 (believe it or not). The worst groups were shot with 75gr A-Max with two weights of Varget and one of Reloader 15, which I would expect given their similar burn rates. Will have to try other burn rate powders for heavier bullets in the .223.

Glad it isn't the rifle or scope. I did shoot with a Burris Fullfield II, which is better of course, but after the bad groups with the PPU again, I know it isn't the scope.

Glad to hear that it isn't a fault of the rifle. I've got a Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor and a Ranch in 300 Blackout. Both those shoot very acceptable groups with my handloads.

Starting to think about picking up another Ruger American in 223, but there are several irons in the fire.

IMR 3031 is an excellent powder in the 223 for accuracy, and velocity is more than acceptable...

in fact it does that in a lot of cartridges.

Seafire is right, im getting very good results with either 22.5 grains of 3031, or 24 grains of Varget under a 69 grain Sierra HPBT. well under 1 inch if i do my part