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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 843
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 843 |
Went shooting with a friend this week and shot his new Ruger American. I've gotta say I was really impressed. It was the predator model in 6.5 creed with the AICS magazine setup, and it had a camo stock that I hadn't seen anywhere else and I can't find online - I think a Scheel's exclusive.
I remember a thread where someone said the American had a "noodle for a stock" - I would've agreed from handling them in the past. Well, I guess they've stiffened it up considerably since I last held one, because the stock on this one was pretty rigid - about as stiff as the stock on my Tikka T3X. I also wonder if my friend really got lucky, because his new rifle had a very smooth bolt and none of that zipper noise that you hear about due to rough machining on Ruger Americans.
Overall, with the stiff stock and the smooth, quiet bolt, I thought the fit and finish of the Ruger was on par with my T3X rifles. Accuracy wise, it shot every bit as good as my Tikka. Trigger was fine.
I have been looking to get a new 6.5 creedmoor rifle, and the Ruger has definitely moved near to the top of my list of purchases.
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 4,680
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 4,680 |
"Overall, with the stiff stock and the smooth, quiet bolt, I thought the fit and finish of the Ruger was on par with my T3X rifles. Accuracy wise, it shot every bit as good as my Tikka. Trigger was fine."
I didn't think anything was allowed to be as smooth and accurate as a Tikka here?! 😂😇
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 361
Campfire Member
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Joined: Jul 2004
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My hunting partner recently picked up a Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 300 BLK. It is a nice handy package with a suppressor on it and is plenty accurate, however I found the action to be quite clunky (technical term...) and didn't care for the stock at all. Seems functional but somehow felt cheap and don't like the way it looks (subjective I know). I thought our Tikka T3Xs (we have several between us) felt better finished and seemed in a different class. If it was a choice between the Ruger or the Tikka I would choose the Tikka hands down.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 843
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 843 |
My hunting partner recently picked up a Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 300 BLK. It is a nice handy package with a suppressor on it and is plenty accurate, however I found the action to be quite clunky (technical term...) and didn't care for the stock at all. Seems functional but somehow felt cheap and don't like the way it looks (subjective I know). I thought our Tikka T3Xs (we have several between us) felt better finished and seemed in a different class. If it was a choice between the Ruger or the Tikka I would choose the Tikka hands down. Maybe this one was an outlier - that's sort of what I'm wondering. I've definitely handled some rough Ruger clunky actions in the store fairly recently. I have heard even the rough ones get better over time. I do wonder if the perception of Tikkas being a class above the Rugers is because of some pretty superficial things, however. Seems like Ruger could spend a little more on appearance and fit, and generally making the American look and feel a little nicer. It would cost more, but I'll bet the difference between the Ruger and the Tikka wouldn't seem quite so stark at that point.
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840 |
Maybe he polished the bolt and receiver mating surface
FUGK CCP
It’s time to WAKE UP GOD BLESS THE USA WWG1WGA THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,993
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
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I personally like the look and feel of the Ruger American rifle, but the magazine doesnt impress me at all
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 843
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 843 |
After all my internet research and my very limited hands-on experience, I would only buy the American if I was planning on using AICS mags.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,000
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,000 |
Seems functional but somehow felt cheap and don't like the way it looks It’s a $400 gun. I picked up a lefty 7-08 when first offered. Shoots great. I picked up a LH Predator in 6.5cm when they first dropped. Shoots greater. I hoped they’d do a run of ranch in LH in a thumper round for hogs
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,254
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,254 |
I have a .5.56 Predator with a 16" bbl... not a QUALITY gun by any means, but it will shoot lights out.. .I'd buy another... Never heard of one that was not accurate.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went" Will Rogers
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,194
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,194 |
When it comes to these cheap guns, would they last 1,000 rounds without a problem? If so, it will likely never wear out the original owners. I have a .270 WIn. in Rem 700 ADL, I likely don't have 300 rounds through it and it is 22 yrs old. I shoot other guns though.
But the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5: 22&23
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 361
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 361 |
Seems functional but somehow felt cheap and don't like the way it looks It’s a $400 gun. Point taken. Although in my neck of the woods it's more like $1100... Other than subjective things like feel and looks they seem like a solid choice and haven't heard of one not shoot. PS haven't seen any lefties over here but that has piqued my interest. I recently decided to only have LH bolt guns in my safe - currently have 223 and 7mmo8 T3x's.
Last edited by Geeman; 02/07/21.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,167
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,167 |
I’ve only 1 RAR, 358, fuucker is a hammer...very impressed, and it doesn’t even have a carbon fiber barrel!!! Haha
Ping pong balls for the win. Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,056
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,056 |
I've got a Predator in 223. One of the earlier models with the flush magazine. It's a great shooter, even with the kind of janky stock.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,756
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,756 |
Seems functional but somehow felt cheap and don't like the way it looks It’s a $400 gun. Point taken. Although in my neck of the woods it's more like $1100... Other than subjective things like feel and looks they seem like a solid choice and haven't heard of one not shoot. PS haven't seen any lefties over here but that has piqued my interest. I recently decided to only have LH bolt guns in my safe - currently have 223 and 7mmo8 T3x's. $1,100.00 for a Ruger American?!.....All I can say is WOW!!......That is pretty sad, I hope it dont ever come to that here.....Hb
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 780
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 780 |
Stocks are often the source of complaints on budget guns. A stock is a handle. As long as that handle doesn't impede accuracy, and in the case of many of the budget guns it doesn't, then whining about a stock is much ado about nothing. It's a damn shame Ruger can't make a functional flush fit magazine.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,278
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,278 |
Seems functional but somehow felt cheap and don't like the way it looks It’s a $400 gun. This ^^^ Comparing the Ruger an the Tikka is apples and oranges IMO. I have 3 RAR of different flavors and cartridges and each one shoot MOA easily. My 243 Predator will put 10 into an inch @ 100 yards about as fast as I can cycle the bolt and pull the trigger and it doesn't care how hot the barrel gets.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,278
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,278 |
It's a damn shame Ruger can't make a functional flush fit magazine. I've not had problems with the new version of the flush fit mag in mine. The rotary magazine was a POS.
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,375
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,375 |
After all my internet research and my very limited hands-on experience, I would only buy the American if I was planning on using AICS mags. Order the 450 Bushmaster magazine if you have the rotary magazine type. It works great in mine.
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 202
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 202 |
I traded for an RAR in 300BO a few weeks ago - didn’t love it at first but price was right.
Mounted a Bering thermal sight on it, hung a hand warmer on the backstop and back off 50 yards prone on the bipod. Two shots touching.
No big deal, adjusted the sight and put one into the handwarmer. Backed off to 100 off the bipod at the bench. Even with rather coarse reticle the next 5 went right at an inch.
Now I like it a whole lot. Hogs are gonna hate it tho.....
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,691
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,691 |
I put a Timney in my .223 and it really made a difference. An 8 twist, it simple shoots lights out. It’s not going to win a beauty contest, but it fits me well and varmints hate it....
BT53 "Where do they find young men like this?" Reporter Savidge, Iraq Elk, it's what's for dinner....
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