Hello Bear State and welcome. My dad was born in Hot Springs, me in Warren, Ark.
Many years ago, my Dad and his older brother were recalling childhood stories growing up in Hot Springs in the 1920s-30s. One was a bear story. They'd gone into the woods, both were around 12-13 years old. Found a bear cub and they made sure no mother bear was around. After a couple of hours, they decided something had happened to momma bear, so they cut down a vine, used it for a rope, and brought the bear cub home. Their father was amused with the bear cub, let them keep it in their back yard, chained to a tree. Cub was friendly.... kids in the neighborhood played with it. Only problem, the cub didn't like their mother for some reason. One day mom went to hang some laundry on a clothes line and walked too close to the cub, which took a swipe at her, tearing her dress. Mom's response was to get their father's 12 gauge and blasted the bear. Family and their neighbors had bear meat to eat for awhile.
As to the Ruger American rifle, sorry don't own one, but some of my fellow range members do. I've asked a couple of them what they thought of their American.....replies were fairly positive about it. Can't recall a complaint from them. As to the 6.5CM, nice cartridge, own one myself and it's become kinda popular at our range.