You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Ruger American doesn't like anything under 160 grain bullets
- Thread starter Wendyj
- Start date
I put about 20-25 rounds through it after hunting yesterday at the range. The groups are tightening up to sub one inch on the 139s and sub half inch on the 168 Bergers I got a sample pack of. It was getting cloverleafs with the factory 120 hp after a few more rounds. Went ahead and ordered some Nosler bt in 120 grain. Midway had them on sale for $15.99. Worth trying. Barrel may just be breaking in good. Feeling better about it. Seats at 2.80 the Bergers have rifling marks on them so set it back to 2.755. If these VLD bullets continue like this I noticed I can go to cabellas and pick up a 100 for $49.00. Has a bc of better than .6. That should stop anything that gets in the way. My first Berger bullets. They are really long. Only issue I have now is the Zeiss Terra scope I put on it. Going back to a vortex diamondback. Zeiss has no resettable zero. Half to turn ocular adjustment at every range from 25-100. Gun is small and light and don't want a large scope. Eyes are bad enough to need the 9 power to zero decent groups at 100.
I do not pretend to know what is going on.It seems you have found some lighter bullets that work.
That's good.
One factor with lighter bullets,especially the sleeker ones with boat tails,the actual cylindrical bearing surface of the bullet gets pretty short...which translates to "tippy"
One of the places that CAN show up is in how straight your bullets seat in the case neck.
Straight,concentric ammo shoots better than ammo that is a little wobbly.
Some little detail of how you set your die in the press,or the quality of the neck chamfer can make a difference,as can a floating bushing seater die.
If this is a new rifle,consider this:After the barrel is rifled and the bore is finished,the chamber is cut by a reamer.
The reamer is rotating across the rifling lands.Every cutter,no matter how sharp,leaves a burr on the downstream edge of the cut.
Some shooting will wear those off eventually.
IMO,those burrs on the rifling in the leade ,leftover from chambering,are about 90 % of the controversy over "break in".
In full agreement with Mr McMillan,there is nothing the shooter will do to improve the quality of a good barrel.
However,with respect for Mr Krieger,it is not so good to leave the copper flakes,dust,and chips these burrs carve off the bullet laying in the bore for the next bullet to run over.
It may well be you have a little more burr trailing off one land that is grabbing,tipping,bullets with a very short cylindrical bearing surface.
You may well find,as things wear in a bit,that your rifle becomes less picky.
But,I have been wrong before!
That's good.
One factor with lighter bullets,especially the sleeker ones with boat tails,the actual cylindrical bearing surface of the bullet gets pretty short...which translates to "tippy"
One of the places that CAN show up is in how straight your bullets seat in the case neck.
Straight,concentric ammo shoots better than ammo that is a little wobbly.
Some little detail of how you set your die in the press,or the quality of the neck chamfer can make a difference,as can a floating bushing seater die.
If this is a new rifle,consider this:After the barrel is rifled and the bore is finished,the chamber is cut by a reamer.
The reamer is rotating across the rifling lands.Every cutter,no matter how sharp,leaves a burr on the downstream edge of the cut.
Some shooting will wear those off eventually.
IMO,those burrs on the rifling in the leade ,leftover from chambering,are about 90 % of the controversy over "break in".
In full agreement with Mr McMillan,there is nothing the shooter will do to improve the quality of a good barrel.
However,with respect for Mr Krieger,it is not so good to leave the copper flakes,dust,and chips these burrs carve off the bullet laying in the bore for the next bullet to run over.
It may well be you have a little more burr trailing off one land that is grabbing,tipping,bullets with a very short cylindrical bearing surface.
You may well find,as things wear in a bit,that your rifle becomes less picky.
But,I have been wrong before!
Just a thought on your bullet selections.
The only reason to get a high BC bullet (regarding the Bergers) is if y'all are gonna shoot >300yds. Otherwise, any accurate load will do.
I am partial to the Speer HotCor bullets personally. I have had phenomenal results with them and you will too if you load them within their design range.
Of course I keep my shooting distances to less than around 350 yds. Where I hunt, there are longer shots, but I would really need to be quick to aim and shoot and I don't wanna do that. It reduces the time needed to check the range to the game and what is beyond.
I also like the Nosler bullets, but I have had better accuracy with the Speer from my guns.
The only reason to get a high BC bullet (regarding the Bergers) is if y'all are gonna shoot >300yds. Otherwise, any accurate load will do.
I am partial to the Speer HotCor bullets personally. I have had phenomenal results with them and you will too if you load them within their design range.
Of course I keep my shooting distances to less than around 350 yds. Where I hunt, there are longer shots, but I would really need to be quick to aim and shoot and I don't wanna do that. It reduces the time needed to check the range to the game and what is beyond.
I also like the Nosler bullets, but I have had better accuracy with the Speer from my guns.
I didn't buy this one to shoot long range but most of the savages and Tikkas we have will do 800 easy. I bought this one for a light ridge gun. 200 yards or so. I would expect it to shoot longer ranges if needed. If nothing else just to go practice on steel. Don't have a great deal invested in it but may upgrade to a Boyd's stock in the future. If groups settle in and keep sub 1/2 inch at a 100 I will most likely leave it alone with exception of the optics. I really don't want to add any more weight to it than needed. All I can do to get myself up and down ridges anymore. Backpack. Binoculars shooting sticks and the gun is more than enough weight for me. If the buck isn't big and mature he will pass because I'm not pulling one out a half mile or so through the hills. Food plots and tower blinds with access with Atv different story. Will put a doe down for the meat. Getting old isn't any fun but it beats the alternative.
I got to shoot it more today and it's really coming together now. I thought the same thing about the Boyd's being too heavy. If it starts touching the forearm I'll just have the husband take it off and sand some of the stock away from it. Thought the weather change might make it touch but so far so good. Got some levels out and noticed my scope was canted a little. Got it back to level and the vertical stringing stopped. Most everything I'm putting in it now is punching clover leafs at worst. Been hiking ridges most of the day with it and the weight was ok. I'm not but the rifle wasn't hurting me any. Time to hop on the elliptical with a full backpack and climb some. I didn't know I this much out of shape.