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!!
I've owned a couple dozen RAR-Ps and the only problem that I've had is with a 223 that didn't feed well. I replaced the magazine and it has worked fine since then. I have over 2K rounds fired from the 204 and a 223. I also have over 500 rounds fired from a 243, 260, and a pair of 6.5CMs. I've owned some of these rifles since 2015.
I do know people who have had problems with their RARs that required a return to the factory and they didn't always get satisfactory outcomes. There are going to be a small number of lemons in any high volume production process.
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!!
I've owned a couple dozen RAR-Ps and the only problem that I've had is with a 223 that didn't feed well. I replaced the magazine and it has worked fine since then. I have over 2K rounds fired from the 204 and a 223. I also have over 500 rounds fired from a 243, 260, and a pair of 6.5CMs. I've owned some of these rifles since 2015.
I do know people who have had problems with their RARs that required a return to the factory and they didn't always get satisfactory outcomes. There are going to be a small number of lemons in any high volume production process.
No doubt. As I said in my post, "This is a test sample of one..."
Uunfortunantly - this one test sample - was the first test sample.
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!!
I've owned a couple dozen RAR-Ps and the only problem that I've had is with a 223 that didn't feed well. I replaced the magazine and it has worked fine since then. I have over 2K rounds fired from the 204 and a 223. I also have over 500 rounds fired from a 243, 260, and a pair of 6.5CMs. I've owned some of these rifles since 2015.
I do know people who have had problems with their RARs that required a return to the factory and they didn't always get satisfactory outcomes. There are going to be a small number of lemons in any high volume production process.
No doubt. As I said in my post, "This is a test sample of one..."
Uunfortunantly - this one test sample - was the first test sample.
Funny, you didn't say the LAST... I would have. After all the bs my buddy had to deal with when he sent 2 of his RAR's in, I would write them off personally. He's 2 for 2 for failure rate. He's not as much of a hard azz as I am though, he still uses them. Give me a Tikka, little fuss and very accurate. I've never had to send one back to the factory. Thank god, as I hear Beretta's CS SUCKS. Nothing is guaranteed, but the failure rate on a Tikka is damn low, from what I've seen. It's your choice on what you guys use, but I know where I put my money. I have very little patience for stupid azzed people and ill working rifles. That's just me though. YMMV..
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
I ran into a guy and his daughter near sheep creek on the upper Yukon, repairing a hole in their boat.
They were confirming the zero of their hunting rifles. The girl was using a tikka carbine in 7mm-08.
The 12 yr old girl's hand were wet and cold. When she went to clear a round from the chamber, her grip slipped off the forearm when she went to open the bolt. Trigger hit the spout of a five gallon gas jug and rifle went off.
She was pretty shooken up and the father was real angry. I helped them repair the boat and shared a story with her about that happening when I was her age, trying to lower the hammer of a model 94 with cold/wet hands.
I dunno if tikka has changed the safety, but what a stupid design, only being able to cycle the bolt with safety off.
If a youth rifle, I'd rather them have a Ruger American.
Since I'm like the fkn Oprah Winfrey of freighter canoe hunting, I'm always getting calls/emails about hunts from all over Alaska and the Yukon.
I never accepted the idea of hunting rivers with the Ruger American. Well, they work and I was wrong. Many guys/gals/kiddos hunting Alaska and the Yukon with the Ruger Americans.
Vid 1: My friends Dan and Jeric. Caribou hunt, Ruger American 30-06, 180 grain nosler partition. Scott Albany 18 ft, 12 hp Surface Drive
Vide 2: My friend Greg and "Sonny", moose hunt, ruger american ranch 450 bushmaster, Scott Hudson Bay, 14hp surface drive.
