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Ruger American-Just as good?

DuneShoot

Canned SemiAuto
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 24, 2014
404
146
AZ
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Picked up a sub $500 Ruger American Ranch in 5.56. Using what I had on hand I added a Larue pic rail (due to its flat top side) so I could use an Atlas bipod.
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This stock is stupidly light and flexible. Completely nose heavy, even before the added suppressor.
Under its own weight, with the added bipod, you can't pass a $100 bill between the barrel and stock. If the bipod is loaded it pases the $100 bill check.
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1st day I took it out I was only able to zero at 250 yards on a steel target with crappy 55gr ammo. It did well out to 500 with the same ammo.

The next day I took it out to properly sight it in at 100 yards.
After a sight in it impressed the eff out of me with 77gr ammo.
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Scope is an Arken ELP 4-16.
Plus it makes that super cool 'zip zip' sound when the bolt is cycled.
How many of your custom actions make that sweet sweet sound?

JUST AS GOOD!

;)
 
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My father in law has a ruger american in 6.5 creed and a 204 ruger. Both are sub MOA with factory ammo at 100 yards, and its very frustrating when I have to work on loads for my full customs to make that happen sometimes.
@DuneShoot have you ran the 77's through a chrono yet?
 
But, for realz… A buddy of mine owns a game ranch in South Texas. All of his loaner/rental rifles are Ruger Americans. According to him, they are all sub moa guns. And this is a guy who could afford to have an arsenal of Blasers as loaners.

“Just as good?” Probably not.

“Good enough?” Yeah. It’ll do.
 
I had an American Ranch. It shot awful, like 2 MOA with match ammo. The stock was even more awful.

I sold it and bought a Remington 783. Everything about it is nicer than the Ruger. It isn't what my precision trainer is, but I have fun seeing what I can do with it.
 
I bought one in 350 legend to hunt up here. It was a seasonal deal, I think I paid $350 for it?

shittiest rifle Ive ever owned. The action had to be hand-fed single rounds to even function. Its sitting in the basement, forgotten.

Thanks for reminding me about how much I hate it. Time to call Ruger to see if they'll fix it..
 
I bought one in 350 legend to hunt up here. It was a seasonal deal, I think I paid $350 for it?

shittiest rifle Ive ever owned. The action had to be hand-fed single rounds to even function. Its sitting in the basement, forgotten.

Thanks for reminding me about how much I hate it. Time to call Ruger to see if they'll fix it..

I have twelve dollars left from my build. Will that relieve of that POS?
 
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I have one in .300 BLK and the bolt has so much slop in it, that it will literally wiggle past the bolt stop and fall out of track, and can be removed without ever having to push the bolt release button... The accuracy also sucks, too.

Yeah, it's going back to Ruger...Eventually...

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I bought one in 350 legend to hunt up here. It was a seasonal deal, I think I paid $350 for it?

shittiest rifle Ive ever owned. The action had to be hand-fed single rounds to even function. Its sitting in the basement, forgotten.

Thanks for reminding me about how much I hate it. Time to call Ruger to see if they'll fix it..

I have one in .300 BLK and the bolt has so much slop in it, that it will literally wiggle past the bolt stop and fall out of track, and can be removed without ever having to push the bolt release button... The accuracy also sucks, too.

Yeah, it's going back to Ruger...Eventually...

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You guys are just rifle snobs
 
not a rifle snob , a scope mag whore yes I can't deny the truth .
 
Besides the innovative 'zip zip' sound the bolt makes while being cycled, Ruger thought hard and added another innovation, a bolt action bolt hold open feature.
That's right, when the mag is empty you can't run the bolt. Amazing, I know ;)

Got some data today. Will see how it does at distance next.

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That's really good. I wonder how mine would have shot with a suppressor hanging on it.
 
Besides the innovative 'zip zip' sound the bolt makes while being cycled, Ruger thought hard and added another innovation, a bolt action bolt hold open feature.
That's right, when the mag is empty you can't run the bolt. Amazing, I know ;)

Got some data today. Will see how it does at distance next.

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Needs mouse pad and duct tape cheek riser to be the real deal.
 
I have one in 300 BLK. Fantastic for the money. Mine wears a Super Hogster thermal.

50 yard group. 190gr Sub-X with Accurate #9. COL 2.080.

8.2gr of AA #9 has me at about 1035fps. Using a Rugged Surge and Radiant as suppressors.
 

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The PoorUger continues to impress.
1st rounds at distance were at 645 yards. Didn't see target impact splash and no dirt kicked up around the target. Wasn't sure what I was hearing for an impact. Had a spotter verify they were hits. Had decent success at 800'ish and 2 out of 10 at 1040.
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anybody compared the ruger to howa 1500/hogue? my take: both pillar bedded,howa trigger much better and easy spring changes,cheap howa/hogue is not detach mag (i totally hate detach mags on a bolt gun and now are stuck with that on most),never owned a howa that didn't do the MOA deal for 5r consistently. in 223 the ruger would be a buy for me IF the 5.56 was 20-22" not the AR imitation 16.5". truely have not had much luck with ruger long guns. would love a red label 20g and have had good vibs with the ruger HGs i have owned. have friends who swear by their centerfire rifles. american and 1500 are close in price so poverty precision seems to go either way.
 
yea but in 5.56 only 16.5". personally,i don't do 5.56 in 223 chambers although many do. love to get a 5.56 22" and a bunch of IMI 77gr-best almost affordable load in every AR i have fired it in.
 
OP my biggest suggestion would be to throw it in a Magpul stock instead of the Tupperware lid material from Ruger. Might not affect the accuracy much but feels way better.
 
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The Predator is advertised as a 22" barrel, read the page at the link.
 
It is a great $500 rifle. People on this rifle don't really like $500 rifles. I sold mine. Probably won't ever go back. There just isn't enough aftermarket support and I think they should have made a micro action version for the smaller calibers.
 
yea but in 5.56 only 16.5". personally,i don't do 5.56 in 223 chambers although many do. love to get a 5.56 22" and a bunch of IMI 77gr-best almost affordable load in every AR i have fired it in.
It would only take a few minutes for you or a gunsmith to run a 5.56 reamer in the 223 chamber.
 
a good thought. will look at that. thanks for the idea. might speak to my smith re doing a 223 i already have on hand-got 2.
 
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Now I'm curious, what the base to ogive at contact with the 77 smk is on a freshly chambered 5.56, and .223. How many rounds down a .223 until the throat is as long as a fresh spec 5.56? Or, Final Finish application.