Ruger American in 7-08

I have the rifle in 30-06 but not 7-08. However, I've been reading favorable reviews of the 7-08 round. Just not sure if I want to buy one as well, so I'll be watching this topic too. Not sure just what it might have pro or con compared to the 30-06. For me, my interest is medium to large size whitetail deer hunting. And one thing that I find whenever I travel is that I often find ammo in 30-30, 30-06, 270, and 7mm mag in many mom & pop stores, service stations, and so on. The most common ammo seems to be so widespread, I'm just not sure what I would get out of a 7-08. Still, like I said, I'm interested in it due to favorable hunting reviews. The Ruger American is certainly not expensive. I could afford to buy another chambered for a different round if I wanted diversity. Thanks for raising the subject.
 
I have a Hawkeye chambered for the 7-08 and I do reload for it, I am really thinking about trying the American since it has a adjustable trigger and free floated barrel and here in NH I found one new for 359.oo and no sales tax...
 
$359 is an awful lot to pay for a trigger job. Especially since it comes with a cheapo stock.

You already have the better rifle in 7-08. Just get a trigger job or look for a replacement trigger that is adjustable. You will be happier, and you can spend the money you save on a scope or a rifle in a different caliber. Don't want to stop you from buying a gun, just don't want to see you do it for that reason. :D
 
I have an american in .243. To be honest, I think it has a pretty bad trigger. The stock can not be described by words. I think Ruger bought the stocks from rubbermaid or maybe tupperware.
 
Thanks for the feedback, I have installed a new trigger on my hawkeye and it shoots real nice and your right, I dont need to spend money on a not so great rifle. Especially from what Reynolds 357 wrote..That is why I posted the question here..Money well saved!!!!
 
I think it has a pretty bad trigger.
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I have the 308 and at first liked the trigger . I bought a Savage target rifle with the accu trigger and have been shooting that as of late . The other day I pulled the American out To do your basic up keep cus I have not shot it in 6 months maybe more . I did a few dry fire test and thought the trigger was not as good as I remembered . There is a lot more trigger creep then I remember . With a slow squeeze I can get the trigger to move with out it drooping the hammer . I'm sure this has to do with the fact that I've been shooting my Savage lately and the accu-trigger is a much better trigger . This is not to say I don't like the trigger on the American or that it's bad . I just remember it differently .

As for the stock : I think saying the stock seems to be made by Rubbermaid would be giving it to many props :D There is IMO something that is a must if you want the rifle to shoot accurately consistently . That is give the barrel more room in the stock by removing some material from the stock in the barrel channel area . I did this by wrapping sand paper around some 1/2" flexible rubber conduit and sanding away . That seemed to open it up just the right amount with out weakening the already flimsy forend . I have done quite a bit of testing on this issue and believe it to be accurate .

This is how much room I have now , sorry forgot to take a before picture .
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The stock was very close to the barrel . All that was needed was very little pressure on the stock for it to make contact with the barrel . Resting the stock on a bag or using a bipod would cause the stock to touch the barrel when fired . That would turn my sub moa rifle in to a 1.5 moa rifle . Before I made the barrel channel bigger I found that if I rested the rifle on a bag up under the magwell area my groups were much better . Now that I've gave the barrel more room in the stock the rifle shoots great no matter how it's rested .

That all being said , I like the rifle and would recommend it as long as you are willing to except the couple short commings it has . A consistant sud moa rifle for $360 is tough to beat . I will most likely be buying the American 7mm-08 in the compact model in the next year or so . That to me seems like it would be a great light and handy little rifle for just about any issue that would come your way .
 
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I picked up a Remington model 7 last year for about $125 more than the cost of a Ruger american. Its my first 7mm 08 and I wish I had purchased a 7mm 08 years ago. Its a nice round , easy on the shoulder and packs a good punch downrange.
 
I looked at the American and others but ended up with a Marlin X7 in 7mm-08. The stock is what turned me off with the ruger, and the mag wasn't too inspiring either. The stock flexes way too easy, and I think aftermarket stocks, if they start to happen, will be expensive because of the "v" lug system.

The marlin is a good gun for that price range. Replacement stock are available and not too expensive.

Just my two bits.
 
The main reason I posted this thread is to get feedback both positive and negative and I want to thank all who posted, I too thought the stock was flimsy and did some friends that went rifle shopping recently and ended up with a savage over the ruger. Thank all that posted, hope I too can be of help in the future.
 
I agree the stock is no showpiece, however, price was my concern and I could not be more pleased with performance and accuracy. I accept the stock it has and can live with it just fine. I might have looked at other brands if they were on the shelf, but they were not, and at the time I was in the market I bought the American. No problems with it at all. And for this deer hunting scenario where there is a mix of fog, rain & snow, in addition to getting banged around at camp and in the truck- I have no beef with the stock.
 
Steel Chicken,
I have nothing against the looks of the stock. My problem is that when you put torque on it, point of impact moves significantly.
 
Torque is sort of a rotational or twisting force. Something I never observed when sighting mine in. I will typically pull the butt in tight to the shoulder while pulling down tight on the fore end using good rests front and back. Same as I have been taught qualifying with the M-14, but using the sling and no rests of any sort. I shot mine as I would any center-fire rifle and had very good accuracy. Well under sub-moa and perfectly fine for my deer hunting scenario. If you are saying that applying some sort of force such as compression or tension changes the impact- I just didn't see any of that with mine. Like I said, I zeroed this rifle, shot off some rounds, and was well pleased. No different than my Browning A-bolt, Weatherby, Kimber, or Model 70. The hits for the American were sub-moa. By all means the other rifles sure do look a lot nicer, but the American did perform as well.
 
Put it on a bipod and it will become amazingly obvious.
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LMAO that is SO true . It looks like you can spin it like a rubberband plane prop . It blew me away the first time I saw the stock flex to the point that the rifle was at a 15 to 20 degree angle but both bipod legs where still touching the ground .
 
Wasn't thinking of a bipod at the time of my writing. I just held mine normally. But yeah, if it's flimsy I may have to re-think getting one in other calibers. I do have one application where I just might get another caliber, and for that intended purpose, I had in the back of my mind to try a bipod. I have a specific place in mind where there is a pretty widespread area and I would be lying down at an elevated position for deer. This shot could easily be 200 to 300 yards and a bit more. I could see me shouldering the rifle and jockeying for position if deer presented themselves for a long shot. If this stock is not good for that then it's good the topic came up. Thanks to those that raised it. If I do end up adding a bipod-rifle combo for deer season this year, I'll pay attention to the stock and bipod attachment as well as flex.
 
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