I hunt primarily with custom rifles, but before building a 6 Creedmoor I decided to purchase a RAR Predator to see how I liked the cartridge. I did not like the factory trigger so I put in a Timney. The rifle really likes 105 JLK's and H4350. Best group to date is .181". Most groups are around .250 if I do my part. I had heard the Predators shoot well but I was not expecting them to shoot that well....
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Anyone using Ruger American rifles??
- Thread starter Danehunter
- Start date
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ATH
Well-Known Member
Accuracy for the dollar, it is really hard to beat the Ruger American. Don't own one, but buddies own several, and I have been very impressed in the stock configuration.
Two weaknesses:
1) The magazine. Plastic spring retainer. If you shoot the rifle...like really shoot it...you WILL break these, and Ruger is VERY proud of them. My buddy did a serious weekend in a prairie dog town and left with two broken magazines which each had less than 50 shots through them when we started. The mag system is also a liability when dropping into another stock due to the way it is attached and the stupid little plastic mag retainer. We dropped his into a Boyd's and could never make it feed right. Now that's money wasted and he's eventually going to put it in a Magpul which does away with the factory mag system completely.
2) The bedding system. Works to install in the factory stock but again, really complicates things when trying to drop into an after market stock.
In short, if I intended to shoot light volume in the factory configuration, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. But for a high volume gun or one I intended to modify, I'd go Savage.
Two weaknesses:
1) The magazine. Plastic spring retainer. If you shoot the rifle...like really shoot it...you WILL break these, and Ruger is VERY proud of them. My buddy did a serious weekend in a prairie dog town and left with two broken magazines which each had less than 50 shots through them when we started. The mag system is also a liability when dropping into another stock due to the way it is attached and the stupid little plastic mag retainer. We dropped his into a Boyd's and could never make it feed right. Now that's money wasted and he's eventually going to put it in a Magpul which does away with the factory mag system completely.
2) The bedding system. Works to install in the factory stock but again, really complicates things when trying to drop into an after market stock.
In short, if I intended to shoot light volume in the factory configuration, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. But for a high volume gun or one I intended to modify, I'd go Savage.
Danehunter
Well-Known Member
Yeah, Ruger charges $45. PER magazine! and they are cheap plastic junk. This gives the rifle and the company a bad name. As ATH sez, Ruger is very proud of their American magazines.
I have called Ruger Customer Service and told them about this problem - like it did a lot of good.
Eric B.
I have called Ruger Customer Service and told them about this problem - like it did a lot of good.
Eric B.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
The ones in .223 and 6.5 Grendel both use AR mags, not cheap plastic Ruger mags.
https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26944.html
https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26922.html
Vortex!
Well-Known Member
Ruger does have kind of cheap magazines but I have never had a problem with mine and I did some quick shooting on a coyote. It fed flawlessly.
When did they switch to AR style mags? My .223 has the plastic rotary style mag. Personally, I wouldn't like that 10 round mag hanging out the bottom. A 5 rounder maybe.
ATH
Well-Known Member
+1, this is a negative for me. On that style rifle I just want a quality flush fit mag. Which I get with a Savage 10.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
They offer rifles in both configurations. I personally like the AR mag setup, because I'm not a fan of rotary mags.
Plus, for a truck gun around the property or the ranch, slap a 30-round P-Mag in the .223 rifle and you got yourself covered. Or toss in a 24-round C-Products 6.5 Grendel mag in the Grendel rifle. Just tossing out viable reasons I like the AR mag setup.
Vortex!
Well-Known Member
30 rounds in a bolt action?! Bad aim or lots of critters!
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
You ever been surrounded by wild dogs or wolves? You will want multiple 30 rounders to feel safe once the smoke clears...
djm670
Well-Known Member
Not to tug your chain but this comment is in the current Browning Hells Canyon thread by Catahoula:
"I bought a Hell Canyon in 300 Win Mag. The rifle is very nice but they have a fifty cent magazine. Mine would not feed. I hunt where there are a lot of grizzly bears. Really need the rifle to function. Sold mine & went to the Remington Wilderness Rifle in 300 RUM! All good now.
If Browning ever gets a better mag for the Hell Canyon I will buy another."
Thanks, Kirk
Eric, thanks for the picture of the rifle with the laminated stock! It is definitely a good looking rifle.
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I like my American, light weight and accurate. The magazines can be found on eBay for around $30, that's where I got my extra.
The one thing I do not like about my rifle is that I cannot just throw a round into the ejection port and expect it to chamber, it'll hang up every time. You either have to finagle it in or load directly from the magazine.
The one thing I do not like about my rifle is that I cannot just throw a round into the ejection port and expect it to chamber, it'll hang up every time. You either have to finagle it in or load directly from the magazine.
huntsman22
Well-Known Member
and that is a problem how? If that is what you need, make a singleshot follower or learn to finagle. This stuff is only as hard as you make it.....
