Damn Ruger Americans

W

William Suter

Well-known member
I was at the club today and a member I know came in the All Weather building to shoot. He got set up and then hung a steel target at 200yds. He said he had never shot his RAR at 200 and ask if I would spot for him. His rifle is a Gen 1 in 308 and he is shooting 120 grain reloads. He ask me if he should aim a little high and I told him to just hold on the top of the steel and he should be good. First shot was almost dead center. He gave me a big grin and I told him to hit it again. After three shots he had pretty close to a two inch group. A few minutes later I look and he taking off the scope. I ask him what he was doing and he said the scope was loose. LOL, the one piece base was almost falling off. All four screws were loose and I mean real loose. I thought damn your scope almost falling off and shooting two inch groups at 200yds. I hope tightening it up doesn't open the groups up. I left before he started shooting again.

And guys, this is a true story!!!
 
I have a Ruger American 22-250 it shoots great with the hand loads I loaded for it, I myself had a problem with the clip feed, that is just plain junk and made cheap.
 
Years ago an old buddy of mine bought a 303 British from a pawn shop. It had a homemade scope mount on it with an el cheapo scope. He killed a lot of deer with it. Well, one evening he was hunting over a food plot and a really nice 8pt walked out about 200 yards away. BOOM.....deer didn't move. BOOM. Deer didn't move. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM Click...... climbed out of the stand and walked to his truck to get another magazine. climbed up in the stand and noticed that a bolt on the homemade mount had broken. he still tried. Holding the scope down. BOOM BOOM BOOM. I think he shot at that deer 8 times before he finally stepped into the woods. Another member killed him the next morning.
 
I’ve never had issues with Rugers. Got both Gen1&2 and SFAR in .308. Gen 1 in .243 for CJ that’s also used to shoot does for heard management along with a 7mm/08 I bought another son and recently another Gen 1 .308 for another son. My wife has an M77 MarkII in .280
Haven’t had issues with any of them.
Now I’m not gonna loosen a scope to see if I can duplicate that group, but they are pretty good “cheaper” rifles.
 
I just picked up an American Predator in 6.5 Grendel and it is fast becoming, "one of my favorites". I tried Leverevolution and a 107 SMK to start with and it shot 1/2" 5 shots at 2800 fps. It did almost as well with my AR load of 28 grains of 8208 and 123 SMK's, 2665 fps. I put it in a Magpul hunter stock, 20MOA base and did a trigger job with a spring and shim combo. I polished the bolt and put a Plan B single port brake in it. I was ringing steel 1/2 sized IPSC torso's at 500 yards with it yesterday.
 

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I had a Gen II in 6.5 Grendel. Put it in an Oryx chassis. Loved the rifle, hated the stock so i sold it. I have a Gen II in 300BO. I have it in a MDT Field stock. It shoots great and looks good to. Love the stock. I guess I should have sold the Oryx and bought another Field stock but to late for that now. I have been eye balling a 22 Arc though.
 
Got one in 308, 300blk and they shoot plenty good enough for what they cost. I just put a Leupold 6-18 on the 308 and now have the CDS cap on it for my 165gr Hornady load. Dialed it out our range every 100yds to 450 yds and it was absolutely dead nutz. Hit 6" plate at 450yds first time. She will shoot. I have always been a Ruger advocate and the American line just solidifies it.
 
Been looking hard at one of the Ruger American rifles in 6mm Greedmoor.
Keep hearing really good reviews on them. Might have to be my next buy.
 
I bought a Gen 2 .204 awhile back put a Timney trigger in it, and it shoots just fine, lightweight. Guess my only complaint would be a rough sliding bolt, but it's an inexpensive rifle.
 
Hunter55 said:
I bought a Gen 2 .204 awhile back put a Timney trigger in it, and it shoots just fine, lightweight. Guess my only complaint would be a rough sliding bolt, but it's an inexpensive rifle.
Click to expand...
I polished mine on a felt wheel with green jeweler rouge. It says the 15 second video is to big to download, but it looks nice!
 
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On both my RAR I polished the bolts as above and the trigger/bolt junctions then resprung the trigger to my desired 2.5 and all is smooth to my feel.
 
I have a Gen 2 in both 204 Ruger and a 450 Bushmaster. Shot my first buck with the 7th shot out of the BM. The 204 Ruger has shot everything well, Berger 30 grainer, Hornady 32 and 40 grainers. The bolts are a bit rough but I might need to take a page out of your playbook MPFD.
 
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