I recently won a rifle raffle.

The prize?

A Ruger American. Standard Model, in .223

OK, I've see a few post's on these rifles in the past. A few have posted about locking bolt issues. While other's say that it is not very accurate, yet others sing praise's that it's a sub MOA out of the box, and have never had a single issue.

What are your personal experiences? Trigger opinions? Stock replacement?

Any favorite loads?

Anything to watch for regarding function or quality ?

I'm off to pick it up today. Let me know your thoughts.

Jeff

You got it, shoot the SOB and decide for yourself. I know, weird idea.

Yep, kind of a weird idea. Who would have thunk it?

Just got back from the dealer with it. It's the "compact" model with an 18" bbl. 1:8 twist.

Might be a handy little thing with the short bbl.

Think I need to decide on a scope. Maybe a Nikon P-223 BDC 4x12 ? Or maybe a Bushnell AR 4.5x18 223 BDC ? or maybe a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 ? I like the thought of the Vortex with Zero re-set turrets.

^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^

Mine, standard model shoots well.

Unless you're going to be spinning dial (and if you do a Pro Staff scope is not one to do it with) I'd recommend getting the ProStaff over the "P" series since the "tactical" dials have a tendency to move when they're put in and out of a soft case.

He prolly wants some credible opinions and if they're generally negatory he would sell the rifle NIB. On the other hand, yours is as credible opinion as any.

Steve.

Steelhead said it first...shoot the SOB.

Get a fixed 6x Leupold, shoot 55 gr BT's as fast as it will go, sight it in +2" at 100 yds and keep it always in the pickup.-Muddy

Owl,

It won't shoot worth a hoot.

Zing! LMAO...

Mine is the "Ranch Rifle" with the 16.5" barrel.

Accurate enough to whack prairie dogs out to 300 yards with 50, 55, and 64/65gr factory ammo.

I put a 4x12 Leupold on mine and have been very, very happy.

If I were to do it all over again I would probably put a SS fixed 10x with a MQ reticle on it.

Ed

Most have very acceptable, almost surprising, accuracy. I have never experienced bolt lock up you mentioned. Superb beater truck rifle.

Hey, that gun probably aint no good. Seeing as how you are a friend, I'll do the friendly thing and take it off you hands, for what you have in it!

I live closer to Owl than you do. Sending it to me would save on shipping...

Ed

Perfectly good waste of an 8 twist to shoot little bitty low bc bullets...

But then most don't push the 223 all that far either...

8 twist would get 75 something in my books or 69 at a bare minimum.

Or 62-grain TTSX's, depending on what you use it for.

The only thing I don't like about mine is the trigger. It's terrible. It has a lot of rough travel. Still, it shoots as well as my Stag Arms and shoots 62gr ammo as well as it does the 55gr stuff, which is about 1.5" at 100.


Congratulations on your prize!

Other than a problem with mine going off when I pull the trigger (intermittent light strikes) mine does well in the accuracy dept.

Humm... Maybe you two need to carpool to Paul's place this summer.

We can hold an auction :-) I'll hold the reserve down to a respectable figure

6x Leupold

Shoot it like you stole it with variety of bullets.