Ruger American Predator

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steveNChunter

New member
Ruger has some good news on their website. The Ruger American Predator is a heavier barreled, threaded muzzle, green stocked version of the RAR. They also have two new chamberings, .204 ruger and 6.5 creedmoor.

Release date is next month, I see one in 6.5 creedmoor making it to my gun safe in the near future.

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http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/models.html
 
Still the same old crappy stock.
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Yea I was thinking the same thing. I really wish Boyd's would start making stocks for RAR's. I realize the whole "power bedding" and no traditional recoil lug presents a challenge, but the Savage Axis uses a similar design and Boyd's makes stocks for them without any trouble.
 
The stock works just fine as is. Buying aftermarket is money wasted that could be better spent on ammo or optics. If this version is any more accurate than the standard versions it will be quite a feat.
 
I agree that as a hunting rifle that will be shot out of a treestand or in an unsupported field position, the stock works fine as is. But shooting off a bipod or benchrest it sucks.

I was shooting beside a guy at the range the other day that had one in .243, and we did the "dollar bill" test to see if there was any barrel/stock contact since he was getting some inconsistent groups. Holding the rifle in his hand, it was free floated. Sitting on bags it wasn't. On a bipod it wasn't. And moving the rifle slightly left and right in the bipod caused contact with either side of the forearm. I told him to move his front bag back towards the action and shoot a few groups. The inconsistencies vanished. It was consistently printing around 3/4 MOA three shot groups at 100 yards.

The stock is the only real weak link in this rifle. If it weren't for that I'd already own one, and it's the reason I bought an Axis instead when I was looking for a cheap .223 bolt gun. The factory stock on the Axis has the same issues as the Ruger but at least you can buy aftermarket stocks for them.

I hope Boyd's and Ruger are both listening.
 
stock need more weight in middle and rear for stabilization of higher calibers.

the 30 06 i shoot has issues staying stable
 
oh the age old discussion of featherweight synthetic stocks and the guys that want nice quality wood on a cheap as beans rifle...

ITS AN ECONOMY MODEL! it has plastic everywhere and an ugly lightweight stock because it is cheaper than metal and wood. Ruger has rifles with nice finish and well balanced wood stocks... they call them M77s and they cost about the same as other rifles with those same features. the American is the absolute lowest price bracket and the appearance and materials reflect that...

with that said, duzell, does the stock have a tubular cavity behind the buttpad? if so you can dump shot shell to add a couple ounces to the rear and pack with tissue paper to keep it from rattling... that should help with stability, recoil management and if you can do it in the front as well you could balance it quite nicely.
 
tahunua001@
already been there done that and tried to tell the owner it, he just keeps braining himself with the scope *shakes head*

the recoil pad drops out and the inside of the stock is ribbed .

i tried to explain the whole buckshot idea or the thin cement layout used in some systems. but hes just not doing it.......

i think he just forgets .......
 
I have seen a few threads on TFL and elsewhere of RAR stocks made into something halfway acceptable by bedding the action, dremel-ing out the barrel channel, epoxying steel rods in the forearm, adding weight in the buttstock, and giving it a decent paint job. Still not a great stock, but it can be improved on. If I get one of these predator models, I'll be trying my hand at stock modification.
 
The Creedmoor is a slightly shorter case than even it's .260 rem counterpart, which is a necked down .308. So there's not a ton of velocity to be gained by going longer than 22" for that cartridge. I'd rather have a shorter, stiffer, easier to handle barrel on anything but a benchrest rifle, which the RAR is not.
 
The Creedmoor is a slightly shorter case than even it's .260 rem counterpart, which is a necked down .308. So there's not a ton of velocity to be gained by going longer than 22" for that cartridge. I'd rather have a shorter, stiffer, easier to handle barrel on anything but a benchrest rifle, which the RAR is not.
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Thanks for the info - I've read about the cartridge and just assumed since it was used for longer range shooting it would be best with at least a 24" barrel.

Looks like I might buy one afterall!
 
6.5 creedmoor is a nice round, but in a turnbolt, I'd go with .260 rem (from another maker since Ruger doesn't make), for ease of finding brass, ammo, and a little more performance.
 
Brass and ammo is easier to find for the Creedmoor than for the Remington. Hornaday is putting all resources to bear to make sure there is no shortage of Creedmoor. They cant sell their baby if they dont keep up supplies for it.;) The Creedmoor will be around as long as Hornaday is around.
 
I predict that the 6.5 creedmoor being offered in the RAR lineup will boost the cartridge's popularity considerably.

It's the first time this cartridge has been offered in a sub-$400 rifle that I know of.
 
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