Ruger American Bolt Actions
- Thread starter AL45
- Start date
livingintx
New member
I have one in 243 Winchester and very happy with it. The common theme I hear is that they shouldn't shoot as good as they do out of the box.
They are a cheap budget rifle, not junk. But probably the best value right now in that category. I have 2, one is a compact in 223, the other a standard rifle in 308. They shoot quite well with some simple and free modifications. All I did was spend 10 minutes on each of them with some sandpaper and files to give the stock a generous free float. Some lighten the adjustable trigger, but mine was fine out of the box.
Lots of folks try stock replacement, trigger replacement, or other tricks to stiffen the stock in hopes they will shoot better. By the time you do that you have $600-$700 invested in them and they are still a cheap budget rifle that won't shoot any better. If you're going to invest $600-$700 in a rifle there are better choices.
I have several much better quality rifles that I'd have more faith in on a cross country hunt that I spent money on. But these shoot just as well and I'd have no problems using them for typical hunting around home where I'd not cry if they let me down on a meat hunt.
For me, they are beaters and truck guns. I don't worry about throwing one on the ATV or keeping it in the truck. For someone that is a casual hunter/shooter wanting the most gun for the dollar and not concerned with aesthetics or long term value, they get my vote.
Lots of folks try stock replacement, trigger replacement, or other tricks to stiffen the stock in hopes they will shoot better. By the time you do that you have $600-$700 invested in them and they are still a cheap budget rifle that won't shoot any better. If you're going to invest $600-$700 in a rifle there are better choices.
I have several much better quality rifles that I'd have more faith in on a cross country hunt that I spent money on. But these shoot just as well and I'd have no problems using them for typical hunting around home where I'd not cry if they let me down on a meat hunt.
For me, they are beaters and truck guns. I don't worry about throwing one on the ATV or keeping it in the truck. For someone that is a casual hunter/shooter wanting the most gun for the dollar and not concerned with aesthetics or long term value, they get my vote.
Irrelevant what my definition of quality is......"one mans junk is another mans treasure". Its a matter of what you are willing to give up in features and benefits to meet your price limit. Your definition of junk and mine are probably different.
For me features, benefits, quality of machining and engineering, appearance, and investment value come first.......price doesn't matter if it meets those expectations. Not everyone buys like that, just how I do it.
For me features, benefits, quality of machining and engineering, appearance, and investment value come first.......price doesn't matter if it meets those expectations. Not everyone buys like that, just how I do it.
stagpanther
New member
I have a thing for plastic budget rifles--I can almost always make them shoot sub MOA--sometimes .5 or less with just a little trigger work, epoxy and sandpaper. I have an American in 270 and out of the box it was ho-hum--but I expect that from a flexi-stock prior to working it over a bit. But it is over-all an innovative gun for the budget category--one which I believe ups the ante and will result in even better offerings in the future from competitors. We win! I'm a hardcore savage guy when it comes to rifles--but IMO the American is one of the best values in it's price class (the only reason I even tried it is because I'm a fan of Ruger wheel guns).
HSM 130 VLD; I don't mind junk that can do this
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In my opinion they're comparable to a Savage. Good, reliable gun for your money. I'd say the American does feel a little cheap in your hands- doesn't feel as quality as a heavier composite stock or a hogue or something. But in terms of functionality, reliability, and accuracy it's a great gun. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if it suited my needs to recommend one to a friend.
sevt_chevelle
New member
I have one in 30-06, with Remington 150gr core-lot ammo I get 1-1.5 moa at 100 yards bone stock straight from the box. There is no doubt once I start dialing in my hand loads this will be a sub-moa rifle.
I bought this rifle for deer hunting with the thought of if it got nicked or scratched it wouldn't bother me. If you take care of the gun it should outlast you and by no means is it considered junk.
I bought this rifle for deer hunting with the thought of if it got nicked or scratched it wouldn't bother me. If you take care of the gun it should outlast you and by no means is it considered junk.
reynolds357
New member
The stocks are trash. The barreled action is excellent.
Pathfinder45
New member
I've heard there have been issues with flimsy magazines that had to be redesigned. Apparently, Ruger doesn't think enough of the rifle to offer a walnut or laminated wood option on the stock.
I have 4, .17HMR, .223, .243 and 30-06.
They might be budget guns but they are not junk! I paid $329 each on sale at my LGS($259 for the .17hmr)
So what if you don't like the stocks! Order a Boyds for another $100 or so and your still well under $500 for a nice looking and nice shooting bolt gun.
I have the Savage 11 in .243, and I have the RAR in .243, the Ruger will out shoot it, same scopes on both rifles and from a Lead Sled.
No quality issues and the mags are fine.
I'm very happy with the RAR, I wouldn't mind owning a couple more. Maybe one in .308 and one in .270
They might be budget guns but they are not junk! I paid $329 each on sale at my LGS($259 for the .17hmr)
So what if you don't like the stocks! Order a Boyds for another $100 or so and your still well under $500 for a nice looking and nice shooting bolt gun.
I have the Savage 11 in .243, and I have the RAR in .243, the Ruger will out shoot it, same scopes on both rifles and from a Lead Sled.
No quality issues and the mags are fine.
I'm very happy with the RAR, I wouldn't mind owning a couple more. Maybe one in .308 and one in .270
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Some of the first rifles made in 223 would not feed the last round out of the magazine. Ruger replaced them at no cost. The feed lips were a little close, it has since been determined that a little file work to openup the feed lips makes them work 100%. Not really a redesign.
"Flimsey" we'll just have to wait and see. I do see the magazine as the part that gives me the least confidence. But they have been making them for a couple of years now and the only issue I'm aware of was the minor feeding issue with 223 mags that is easily corrected.
Ruger offers their Hawkeye with walnut and laminated stock options. They COULD offer the American with the option. But it would be pretty silly to not just buy the Hawkeye if you want walnut, the cost would be about the same. That is the same reason I think buying an aftermarket stock is a waste of money. The American uses a unuque bedding system that works very well. The fact that the stock is cheap and flimsey has zero effect on accuracy. Most shoot just as well as guns costing 3X more.
Like it or not, this is the future of firearms. I like quality as much as anyone, and have a safe full of much better rifles made the traditional way. But that is not what most consumers are buying. Companies who continue to only make high end quality rifles are going broke. Ruger is making a fortune selling these.
FrankenMauser
New member
Normally, in threads like this, reynolds357, and I, each share our opinions and have some sort of ideological disagreement. But, in this case....
I would like to add, though: The magazine bugs the crap out of me. Super cheap, flimsy, it rattles when empty, the cheesy plastic feed lips WILL wear out, and the latch does not inspire confidence of any kind.
And I wanted to hit one point from jmr40:
...
He said it like it is. I completely agree.
I would like to add, though: The magazine bugs the crap out of me. Super cheap, flimsy, it rattles when empty, the cheesy plastic feed lips WILL wear out, and the latch does not inspire confidence of any kind.
And I wanted to hit one point from jmr40:
...
The cheap and flimsy stock does effect accuracy on the rifles where the cheap plastic is warped so badly that it is pressing against the barrel; or when the shooter torques the stock over into the barrel.
stagpanther
New member
Here's what I do to all my savage and ruger plasti-stocks:
1) marinetex fill the channels in the forgrip area.
2) dremel back the barrel channel slightly
3) remove butt pad and fill with envirotex. (I sometimes add my own homemade recoil absorber if it's a real pounding caliber)
Costs about $15.00 to $20 in materials and I seriously doubt you'll get significantly better results with a conventional wood stock. Paint and bash away in the woods---always easy to repaint--much easier than sanding and re-varnishing wood anyway.
1) marinetex fill the channels in the forgrip area.
2) dremel back the barrel channel slightly
3) remove butt pad and fill with envirotex. (I sometimes add my own homemade recoil absorber if it's a real pounding caliber)
Costs about $15.00 to $20 in materials and I seriously doubt you'll get significantly better results with a conventional wood stock. Paint and bash away in the woods---always easy to repaint--much easier than sanding and re-varnishing wood anyway.