Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Shooting the Ruger American Rifle in 223

When Ruger announced the American Rifle I said I'd buy one if they brought it out in .223. Well, Ruger did and I bought the first one that arrived at my local shop.

Consistent with how I think this rifle is intended to be used I took it home, wiped down the packing oil and ran two patches through the bore, then mounted a scope. The trigger broke at a clean 4lbs and rather than pull the action from the stock to adjust it down further, I decided to run it as is.

All up with a Leupold FXIII 6x42 Competition scope in Burris steel Zee rings the rifle weighs just a hair over 7.5lbs:



Got out to the range today where I tried my standard .223 handload: 24.6gr of Ramshot TAC under a 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. The handloads were assembled in bulk-primed brass (so no brass prep by me) using a Redding Competition seating die. COAL is 2.260" which brings the rounds just to the front of the magazine. First four shots showed some horizontal stringing at 100 yards:



I figured the most likely cause of this was the rather bendy forearm contacting the barrel. So I moved my front sandbag back from its usual placement 2-3" behind the tip of the stock to just ahead of the front action screw. That solved the problem, as the next four-shots demonstrated:



I figured that's good enough for a sub-$400 rifle, so I'm done with load development

My overall impression of the fit and finish is good--in fact, the machining on the bolt and raceways was so crisp it took quite a bit of cycling of the action on my part to get it smoothed up. The bolt lift is hard, but that's likely because the rifle itself is so light and, again, I expect that'll ease up a bit as I use the rifle more. The stock is well proportioned but, as with any injection molded stock, it is pliable so I wouldn't want to use it with a tight sling or with a bi-pod.

Feeding and ejection were positive, with fired cases landing back about 4' and to the right. The brass is hitting the side of the action, however, about 1/2" behind the bolt port. Not an issue in practical terms, but something to note nonetheless. The magazine is a bit tricky to load with the first round, though subsequent rounds are easy and I suspect that the loading will get easier as the rifle breaks in, or as I learn to operate it more effectively.

So, all that said I'm happy with the Ruger American in 223. It's light, inexpensive and accurate. Once I go through the 1000 or so 55gr handloads I've got made up (leftover from an earlier 223 project) I may try some heavier bullets in the rifle. Though by that time my rifle-loonyism may have me on to other projects entirely

Looks like a good shooter, as is my .30-06. Hard to beat for an inexpensive rifle.

That could make a great truck gun

One of the BEST values out their. Thanks for the report. Enjoy

Probably the best "cost cutter" rifle out right now, I'd love to have on in 223 or 22-250,

That does not suck.

If Ruger had made the stocks just a LITTLE bit stiffer, they could have completely taken over the inexpensive rifle market. Still, it represents a pretty great value as-is.

Amazing what you can get for around $350 thats all Ameican made that shoots like that!!!!

Picked up a .223 Compact RAR yesterday, can't wait to try it out.

Did you pick that up at a BiMart?

No got it from a buddies gun shop up in Vancouver. Bi-mart hasn't had any RAR's in .223 yet.

Saw a good stock of these yeterday with two sets of prices

I asked why.....the new ones went up over last years model I was told $25

Still cheap enough

Thanks for the review...it may have cost me $400

I had the same issue with my vtr stock being flimsy. I glass bedded the lug, cut up the webbing and filled the forend with devcon epoxy. You can pick up an 8oz container of 1500 psi Devon for $8 at lowes. Took my 4" group to 1/2" from a bipod. Just have everything prepared and double checked before you mix. It's 10 minute epoxy and they mean it. And when you use that much it gets really hot (just FYI). Got 300 rounds through it with no problems.

Ruger has a v block not sure it could be bedded

Gotta get one of these in .223

Haven't had the chance to play with one. Could still fill the forend to allow bipod use?

I'm really thinking about getting a compact .223 for my girlfriend to hunt with. I think it's lite enough recoil that she could get plenty of practice and not develop a flinch. Just worried about the noise from the 18" barrel. That being said I'll give hear some muff's to wear before shooting a deer.

Here's a more recent group. Shot on Friday, same load of TAC and the 50gr Nosler BT. 4 shots, from the magazine, off the bench with a sandbag front rest; no rear rest. Leupold FXIII 6x42 competition scope. This group was rounds 74-77 through the rifle. I haven't cleaned the barrel yet, and don't intend to until I see accuracy begin to drop off.

All in all I'm continuing to enjoy this rifle, with the exception of the very stiff bolt lift that makes the rifle hard to cycle quickly when shooting off-hand. If I decide to get rid of the rifle that will be the main factor driving the decision.

Thanks for the report. I think I may have to get one of these!

Ditto, except I'm holding out for the SS ones to surface .