ruger american 30-06

I have a DOA 600 scope on my Ruger American 30-06. Cross hairs are zero at 100 yards. Next tick mark down is 200 yards. I have not tried a bipod on the stock, but I can say all other aspects of this rifle as far as operation and accuracy are spot on. I think it's outstanding when you consider the lower cost. Even better than it needs to be for my needs. In some ways this rifle is a better for me than the Browning A-Bolt I had in 30-06 and that rifle cost at least double or more. I have found out, from talking with my buddies, that accuracy may not be the best in different calibers or maybe it can vary with ammo. .243 and 30-06 are reported to be good with factory ammo, but one guy I know has one in .308 and his groups are not as tight as mine. I even shot his to verify. So maybe he needs to test more brands to get groups like I get in my 30-06.
 
Pretty sure I saw a Boyd's stock being offered for the American.

Just from looking them over at the store--it would be high on my list if I were looking for a new bolt action.
 
SteelChickenShooter.

Your friend's experience is just is one more proof that each rifle can be and usually is, a rule unto itself.

Hope your friend gets with someone who hand loads as there is a big world of options out there, likely one of which will really sing in his .308.

To have a rifle prove to be so accurate with so little load development as my "06" would not be considered normal in my book. Surprised me!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
Ruger American is a great rifle in a marginal stock. The stock is flimsy and there is not as of the moment any aftermarket stocks for it.
 
Thank you all for your great advice. I called my local dealer today and he can get onewith the ditial stock. It looks a lot nicer than the feral black finish.
 
My American in 06, haven't put but probably 30-40 rounds down range was getting 1" groups at a 100 yds with 165 gr factory Remington core-lot.
Would like to spend some more time behind the rifle and hopefully get some hand loads for it as well.

So for am happy with it, it's a great rifle...Eric
 
the american we shoot tends to do good groups without me using a cheater or sand bag device. but it does kick very hard. harder than my mosin nagant in a feather weight stock (from boyds). so i come back after our shoots with nice dark purple spot after 200 rounds. the american is a good rifle, but in higher calibers it will hurt, in 223 or 275 its not much recoil and the distance is a bit under the 308 in effectiveness

i did get to shoot a axis recently and i was very impressed with its new scope mount, the mount is no longer hit by the bolt like in the first gen. but i actually wanted a axis, but wound up with my HOWA M1500 gameking. which is well above the budget rifle your looking for.

budget rifles :
savage axis, mossberg Lightning , ruger american , marlin are all good rifles. but you should get the caliber that would suit your purpose. what are you planning to hunt with your rifle, the mass and density of target? mainly 30 06 is bear killer or heavy prey killer in my arsinal. pig, deer, elk, moose i use 308. 223 is a new round but after shooting it i have more respect for the calibers damage and distance
 
I have a Ruger American in .30-06 with a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9 x 40 with Ballistic Drop Compensating reticle.

After carrying black rifles professionally for 21 years, I decided that I would rather have mine not all black, either. I did a redneck Krylon Multicam paint job on my stock with three coats of matte clear over it. I used Multicam wrap on the barrel and scope and painted the Butler Creek flip up caps.


2013-09-24T15-38-20.jpg


2013-09-24T15-38-35.jpg


I don't have a problem with the stock on mine even though I know that some folks complain about it.

I also don't find the recoil bad on my American, even though that is another common complaint that I hear. I am used to shooting .30-06 rifles. That might make a difference in my perception of the recoil from this rifle.

I have two M1 Garands, an M1903A3, and an M1917. I like the cartridge and I am setup to reload for it. That is why I bought an American in .30-06.

The Nikon ballistic program said that using 180 grain Remington Core-Lokt's that I should zero 0.78" high at 50 yards to be dead on at 200 yards.

I zeroed the rifle and on my last group I fired three rounds touching with the center about 3/4" high.

I put four clay pigeons on a rock outcropping at 200 yards and busted them all four with four shots firing from prone, sling supported. If you notice the rifle has a GI web sling.

Since the clay pigeons are 4 1/4" in diameter and I busted each of them with one shot aiming center mass, I figured that my zero was confirmed and that I had found an accurate load for it.

So, my Ruger American in .30-06 with a Nikon Buckmaster shoots within about 1 MOA with factory 180 grain Remington Core-Lokt ammunition.

I am happy with my rifle and I have no complaints about it at all.

I do need to shoot it at some longer ranges to confirm the dope sheet that I printed out from the Nikon program matches the reticle at longer ranges.

Also on my 'round to it list is to work on doing some load development. Until then I figure that I will keep shooting the Core-Lokt's.
 
A friend was given a .308 Win, Ruger American for Father's day and he had a Leupold 2-8X VX2 put on it, but wanted me to verify Cabela's mounting job and sight it in for him.

The rear base had not been tightened properly, but the front was so tight, I was afraid to loosen the screws for fear of snapping one off. Turned the rear base around to get better eye distance and tightened everything properly.

At 100 yards, with Federal 150 grain factory ammo, it grouped 3/4" at 100 yards. Pretty darned good for factory rifles, especially at the price.

I just saw him a couple of days ago and he's very pleased with the rifle. He loves the trigger and was lucky to shoot a 180 lb buck with it in our relatively difficult season. The only problem he had was having the scope turned up too high for the distance encountered, so couldn't find the deer right away.
 
mainly i dont recommend the 30 06 for those who dont shoot it regularly or are new to shooting heavy calibers. if you have many 30 06 and are not afraid of the kick and can take it, all the power to you. (also as a hunting rifle , your only putting a couple of bullets out a day, so not as bad as a straight 200 rounds out non stop)


for a target rifle i dont recommend it unless you weigh the stock up , but for hunting it should be fine, just make sure you practice with it a lot to get used to the recoil and how it fires
 
For handloaders, the simple solution is "reduced loads."

Mentoring the young shooter/hunter for which I bought the "loaner" rifle, the RUGER American 30/06, he shot a bunch of the reduced loads at close in targets.

Lots of trigger time, zero pain or fear of the rifle and as has been said, you will not feel the shot or two taken at a critter.

Light bullet, I prefer the 100 - 110gr in the "06" but with the current obamanation had to use 150gr corelocks and a small charge of Red Dot and there is lots of trigger time with zero negative issues.

Then an experienced shooter sights the rifle in pre-hunting and your good to go.

In my situation, the same sight in was used for hunting as used with the practice ammo, putting at 165gr Hornady Interlock, 3 1/2" high at 100yds, as was used for in close practice with the reduced loads.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
sounds about right, for hand loads, the lighter the bullet the better.

also putting a front bipod can help stabilize it. using the harrise 6-9, hinged adds extra weight with the bipod (steel), and allows for pivoting action and easy targeting
 
So I got my american in the ditial version, 30-06 at 9 this morning. Had to go do a few things and I was so excited to hurry IP and shoot it I got my dad to set it up for my while I was out. Came back and grabes the gun. Two boxes of shells and went shooting. I wasn't pleased at all at first. I couldn't hit a paper plate at 100 yards. Shot 10-12 times and couldnt figure it out, needless to say I was getting mad so mad in fact I gave up and had already went home and started to take the scope of to take it back to the dealer. And it was then that I noticed that the back base was so lose I could giggle it with my finger. Haha so I tightened it up and went back to the range shot 4 times at 100 and she was dead on. I shot all of the shells I had. The worst group of the day was 1.21 and that was my fault I suspect. And the best group of the dad was .615 with federal fusion 150gr. I couldn't be more happy with this gun for the money. And as for the kick. I didn't find it bad at all. Of course I grew up using my popaws h&r single barrel 10 gauge for turkey and squirrel. Thanks to all of you all for all of your help especially CDOC. y'all have been tons of help.
 
As I recall, the mounts were also loose on my rifle.

But, needed to switch one of the mounts around, so while at it, I tool everything off, cleaned off the oil and Loctite went on the screws.

Seems a common thing have seen it happen a number of times out of gun shops.

Glad you hung in there!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
Me too. Its a tack driver. I just went and got 3 more boxes of shells. Going to shoot again after work tomorrow. I don't know how well it will do but I'm going to try some longer ranges. Like 200 and maybe 300. Just to see how it does.
 
American ruger magazine quality

I recently purchased a .243 American Ruger Rifle at a local gun store. The store owner told me that the quality of it was better than one you would buy from wal-Mart. I was a bit curious and I had a friend that recently bought theirs from wal-mart, so I took mine down to his house to compare them. I found that the magazine in his gun was all plastic and the bolt was not polished. The inside of my magazine is metal and my bolt is polished nicely. Not sure of any other differences, but I'm glad I got mine from my local gun store. By the way, wal-mart was only $3 cheaper.
 
I don't have a lot of shots in mine. No hunting shots, just zeroing shots.
When I had a shot at a deer this season, I happen to be carrying my 44Mag while the 30-06 was back at camp.
One thing I do is to check factory installed scope bases. I often remove them, use acetone to clean oil both on the screws and in the tapped holes. Then I apply Loctite and re-assemble.
In the case of this Ruger American 30-06, I didn't do that. I checked the tightness of the screws, as well as testing the back-out torque. I judged they were well fastened so I left them alone and proceeded with my scope install.
It was simple, easy, and dialing in went well.
 
Haven't found a problem with stock stiffness.

It is floated and as long as it doesn't come in contact with the barrel it is good. If it does, I'll simply remove more stock material.


As to the scope mount screws, I needed to switch one of the mounts end for end to allow mounting of my scope, and was glad I checked the screws.

Ended up doing the Acetone and Loctite treatment to all four of them.

Be sure and soak the screws in a bit of acetone when doing this as oil likes to hide in the threads. A few "Q-tips" soaked in acetone and turned/threaded into the action holes will soon have them clean.

Mine needed that treatment, but WOW does this bargain rifle ever shoot!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top