Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Need advice on a couple Ruger American upgrades

Mainer:

Where did you source the bottom metal/trigger guard from? That seems like a very worthwhile upgrade to me!

Thanks

Jmr40, I certainly won't be selling my American for a tikka. I like a short action cartridge in an actual short action rifle. Preferring the heavier bullets in the 308, I like that 1:10 twist, and certainly won't down-grade to a 1:11 twist.

Boatanchor,
If I'm cloverleafing groups from a 3 lb stock trigger, why would I waste money on an upgrade? Of all my rugers, I've never felt the need to replace any trigger. Minor tuning was all that was needed.

Last time I checked, this is the Ruger American thread. Scores of tikka and kimber fan-boy threads. Go jump on those. This is about the top selling, most affordable budget rifle in the United States.

Anyhow, the best value in the ruger american world is not the predator model, but new and used standard rifles. And yes they are well worth the upgrades.

OK, enough about overpriced budget guns that have nothing to do with upgrading a Ruger American.

So, $100 for a used American+Scope.
$347 for 2 steel AI mags, aluminum bolt shroud and aluminum bottom metal.

That's $447 all up, all steel and aluminum.

Next upgrade is open sights.

Dmn it! The barrel is gonna have to be chopped to 20". It won't fit in a vertical scabbard under my handle bar like my 338 RCM carbine. Smith charges $40 for a cut/recrown.

I sold mine and bought a Tikka. I don't see any point in throwing money at the Ruger's. They are an accurate budget rifle left as is. But when you start putting money into one you'll quickly end up with more money in it than it would cost to just buy a better rifle in the 1st place.

I've had 3 of the Predators, a 308, 6.5CM and 223. The 308 took AI magazines and was trouble free. As is the 223 that takes AR magazines. I had issues with the standard magazines in the 6.5 CM. I kept the 223 and swapped the others for comparable Tikka's. No mag issues at all and they are more accurate. I use the 5 round Tikka mags and like them better.

The stock is fine as is. Yes, it is flimsy, but the way Ruger's are bedded it doesn't affect accuracy the way it would on other rifle designs.

I only paid $350 each for the Predators I owned. At that price they were a bargain. But they are in the $500-$600 range now. I can still buy a Tikka for $100-$200 more. Much better than throwing the same money at a Ruger.

Rich,
Congrats on the Ruger American. That's cool you're hunting with a rifle made in your home state.

I just swapped out the plastic bolt shroud on my 308 for an aluminum one from anarchy outdoors. All went well.

I personally like the original stock and the bedding system is far superior to any other budget rifle out there. The recoil pad is excellent as well. The rifle shoots everything I've tried under 3/4" @ 100 yards. That 1:10" rifling stabilizes 200 and 220 grain bullets very well. Some of my handloads, like the 200 grain hot cor, clover leaf the target. Easily the most accurate rifle I own.

I had issues with both the old rotary mag and the newer replacements. In addition to the plastic bolt shroud, I also don't care for the plastic trigger guard. So that's where I made improvements, and the ugrade was quick and easy.

Now fed from steel AI mags, no other rifle I own would feed more reliable. I purposely set the depth of the AI bottom metal, so that the magazine feed lips almost touch the bottom of the bolt.

The 3 lug design seems meant for steel AI mags, as one lug points straight down when cycling the rifle, and fits right in between the feed lips, getting a good purchase on the cartridge.

During feeding, the tip of cartridges stay slightly above the feed ramp, before the round is released from the feed lips. The rounds have a slight upward cant toward the chamber, controlled by very strong spring pressure of the steel AI mags.

Anyhow, I've no use for a fkn over-priced tikka or kimber hunter. The American is the top selling bolt action in the United States

Here in Alaska, friends are stacking moose n caribou with em no problem.

$100 for the rifle & scope used.

Less than $350 for the aluminum shroud, trigger guard, bottom metal and used AI mags.

Do the math on that.

Boatanchor,
If I'm cloverleafing groups from a 3 lb stock trigger, why would I waste money on an upgrade? Of all my rugers, I've never felt the need to replace any trigger. Minor tuning was all that was needed.

Last time I checked, this is the Ruger American thread. Scores of tikka and kimber fan-boy threads. Go jump on those. This is about the top selling, most affordable budget rifle in the United States.

Howdy:

I purchased a new Ruger American Compact this winter in 308 Winchester to try out. I'll be still hunting, doing a lotta mountain walking in my search for another NH Whitetail this Fall. I have a couple questions about upgrades.

1. Can you folks recommend a decent company to purchase a good replacement rear bolt shroud? Not liking the plastic one and I'd like to go lightweight aluminum if possible.

2. I'd like to replace the flimsy (although light weight) stock with a decent wood stock. Again, I'd like it simple and lightweight and didn't know if you folks had a recommendation for one for this COMPACT AMERICAN model.

Thank you in advance,

Rich

I was going to ask maybe a silly question

I have a couple Americans and had a couple more

What is the practical reason for replacing the bolt shroud?

For what they are Americans are just good rifles the Ruger in 450 BM are everywhere here. Plus any issues Ruger is awesome at Customer Serv not sure it’s as good with everyone

Hank

Hank, yep great customer service with Ruger.

I replaced my bolt shoud because it cracked at 30 below zero. Rifle took a spill with the bolt open. Anarchy are out of stock on everything but anodized red shrouds.

$100 for the rifle and scope?

That’s a helluva deal. Never seen one that cheap, much less wearing a Redfield.