Ruger American .243 Win

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elmbow

New member
Picked one of these up at my LGS about one year ago with the idea in mind of having it as a rabbit/coyote/knock around on the quad rifle. I started doing some load work with Sierra 85 gr Gamekings that I had laying around from a previous .243 but then let it languish as other projects took precedence. Well, here a few weeks ago I bought a Burris 3.5-10x42 MTAC mil-dot scope with the idea of putting it on the American .243, and working up some long distance loads.
Bought a box of Hornady 105 BTSP Match bullets. This rifle has a 1 in 9 twist which by all accounts is marginal for stabilizing this bullet, but what the hey, thought I would give it a go. Using W-W cases, no weight segregation, no neck turning, no primer pocket champfering. Partial size to the rifle chamber in RCBS dies, trim to length on Wilson trimmer, and deburr flash holes is extent of case prep. Powder dispensed with RCBS Chargemaster, checked on 50 year old Herters beam. Single stage press is an Old Pacific. I used W-W LR primers, started with 38 grains IMR 4350, (1998 metal can ) and ended with 41 grains. Velocity spreads hover between 2890-2930 range,
I have finished my load development for this bullet. I have the bullet jumping .030" to lands and I am getting consistent .75" groups at 100 yards shooting off hood of truck with sandbags and scope set at 6x power. I move back to 300 yards, move power ring to 10x and when I do my part I can get 3 shot strings into an inch, which of course doesn't happen often because of me, but it does happen. Typically I will get a flier that is off by an inch (or two). The rifle is challenging to shoot at distance due to its lightweight but there is no doubt, this little 1 in 9 twist barrel will stabilize the Hornady 105 BTSP Match bullet. Having satisfied my curiosity, I just placed an order from Powder Valley for 500 of them at .$20 a pop.......... WhooHoo!
 
Congrats. I have the same rifle in .308. Sierra 165 Gameking BTHP over CFE223 shoots super out of my gun. With barrel cooling between shots, it will touch holes at 100. I will say that I do find it difficult to shoot well without serious effort due to the light weight.

I think a Boyd's stock may be in the stars for my rifle................
 
I don't like the little hole cut in the side of the receiver, makes it nearly impossible to single load, push down a rou d to close the bolt and the front end of the stock is flubbery, but for $400 it's a heck of a rifle.
 
flubbery............that's a good word for it. I really think a boyd's stock will make it/me a better shooter. I think the stock is flimsy myself, but no worries about it getting scratched up........
 
I've actually been on the fence about getting either a .243 or .300BO American. For a "cheap" gun, you can't beat the overall accuracy they bring to the table.
 
Nothing wrong with the Hawkeye, but the American costs a lot less and is a lot more accurate. It depends on what is more important to you.

The solid top to the receiver makes for a more rigid action and is part of the reason for better accuracy. The open top receivers on gun designs from 100 years ago was a military feature designed to reload faster with stripper clips. Not a factor with modern detachable mag rifles with optics on them. Ruger isn't the 1st to use this design feature, but it does work.

The very first Americans had a less support in the forend and were more flexible. Rifles made in the last 2 years or so have a redesigned stock that is far stiffer.

That really isn't a factor to the guns accuracy anyway. Rugers metal "V" block bedding system means that no part of the plastic stock comes in contact with the barrel or action anyway. With conventional bedding systems a flexible stock would effect accuracy.

If you want to spend $150-$200 on another stock for aesthetic reasons you can, but it won't make the gun any more accurate and may well hurt accuracy. I'd buy better glass or more ammo with the money.

I currrently have a Predator in 308 and a Compact in 223. Both are tackdrivers.
 
JMR40, I have to disagree just a little on the forend thing. Yes, if you keep your support five inches back from the forend tip, you have no problems with the flubbery forend, but there is no question, if you are gripping the forend you can easily pull the stock into the barrel and move your point of impact. In all of my load testing I was careful to have the barrel resting on my sandbag right at the bedding block area, and was then super careful as I gripped the forend to pull it straight back into my shoulder and not apply any side or downward pressure.
I wanted to test the rifle for accuracy with a long range combination, just for the heck of it. The flexible forend IMO does not detract from what this rifle is, a lightweight, accurate, inexpensive knock around gun. Personally, I wouldn't toss a lot of money into it. I save that for pre-64 model 70's, custom '03 Springfields, FN Win model 70's, Ruger GSR's, Remington model 8's and 14's, M1A's, Kimbers, AR's, BLR's, Win 9422M's.............
 
I took the stock off my American in 17hmr and basically hogged out the barrel channel with a dremel.

It really didnt take too much before the stock could not touch the barrel, no matter how you held or rested the rifle. Its a pretty easy fix for the "flubbery" Forend.
 
A 105 grain SP will blow Bugs into next year. So will an 85 grain Game king.
"...a 1 in 9 twist which by all accounts is marginal for..." Not really. Nearly all commercial hunting rifles in .243 are rifled for deer sized game bullets. May not shoot a match bullet extremely well due to it being a hunting rifle though. Hunting rifle barrels aren't up to match grade accuracy. And no match bullets on any game but varmints.
 
One of my brothers bought two of the Americans in .243 Win: a standard 'full size', and a compact.

Both shoot very well, but the compact shoots better.
 
I have a Savage in .243 with a 1:9-1/4" twist.

Contrary to what Sierra says in its manual, this gun shoots 107 grain SMKs in under 1 MOA (from a sporter profile barrel, to boot). It also does nearly as well with 60 grain Sierra spitzers. And everything in between.
 
JMR40, the main reason the Hawkeye is not as accurate as the American is due to the fact the bedding on the Hawkeye sucks and the American is V bedded.
 
There are reasons why John Whidden uses 1 in 8 twist barrels with his Berger 105's and Sierra 107's, and according to the Miller formula 1 in 9 barrels are marginal for bullets these long. The Hornady 105 is nearly 3/16" longer than the 100 Gameking, but, and this is why I tested the longer, but not too long Hornady 105's, barrels don't always follow the rules.
 
Can't a hawkeye be bedded cheaper than getting a Boyd, fitting, and bedding it? What's the difference? Are Boyds better wood?
 
Can't a hawkeye be bedded cheaper than getting a Boyd, fitting, and bedding it? What's the difference? Are Boyds better wood?
Click to expand...
Yes, they can.

But many gunsmiths don't like working on Ruger 77s, there are many inept "gunsmiths" that don't know how to bed Ruger 77s, and the average Joe doesn't want to take chances bedding a Ruger 77.
...Because the recoil lug has an angled face and the screw threaded at about 35-40 degrees. It complicates bedding.

In addition, many wood-stocked Ruger 77s (from the original tang-safety to the Hawkeye) have had the wood crushed under the recoil lug, from the screw being over-tightened (often, at the factory :rolleyes:). That, in itself causes problems. The only proper fix is to pillar bed, which, again, is something that many gunsmiths and the average, inexperienced, 'gunsmith' or gun owner doesn't want to touch.
 
I bought one of these in a 7-08 and was Leary at first but for the money it's a tack driver. The stock is flimsy. It hasn't budged on me yet though and I was afraid the hot and cold temperatures it would. I shoot mine off 2 bags. A uncle buds bull bag and bipod. Can't see any difference yet. If it starts rubbing the barrel I'm going to just do some sanding. Guy at the range had a 308 in one and had a Boyd's stock on it. Looked good but added a lot of weight for a ridge stalking gun. What I bought mine for anyway.
 
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