Thread: Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39

Anyone shooting a Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 and can give some honest feed back on the rifle?
Loosing my AR7.62x39 p*sses me off and I still have plenty of Highland PSP ammo so was thinking that the Ruger might be an option.

it cant be bad...... if you looking for a short range (sub 150yard) hunting rifle.... why wouldnt it be a good option???? it has to be better/smoother than a norinco bolt and plenty of us are using them sucessfully.

Mate has the 300blk version. Feel cheap but real solid action and perform well

My 30 06 certainly isn't a 7.62x39 but the principals of the rifle are the same and for a average priced rifle they are good value, mine will do an inch group no problem. The only thing I don't like to much although it works ok is the magazine. There is no bottom trigger guard, magazine assembly it just has a recess cut out of the stock for the mag. Still a good light weight rifle that is accurate for the purpose it was designed for. I have read on a American forum they were shooting a 30 06 model out to 1000 yards on steel.

Gidday - I was in the same boat, a neat AR in 300 BLk that shot supers "goneburger". A cobber has the Ruger American in 300 BLK and its a pretty good rifle, I've shot it quite a bit developing a load for him. I went with a Howa Mini in 7.62x39 cause I wanted stainless (its the only stainless suppresser rifle I own, my " truck gun") and the Howa was the only SS game in town.

For some reason the bolt lift on the American feels a bit heavy to me if you work it from your shoulder. My cobber with the 300 BLK doesn't notice it. If you can try one out and make sure its gonna work for you.

My Howa is giving an honest 2500 fps with 125's handloads using CFE BLK - which is a heck of a good thing for a light wee package.

The Ruger American Ranch rifles are good solid performers and good value for money. Mine is in .300 Blackout but the basic rifle is the same for all calibres. Like all Rugers, they benefit from a rigger job, and polishing the bolt body eliminates the annoying 'whistle' when the bolt is cycled. 7.62x39 is a good 150 metre performer with decent projectiles on deer, and they are spot on for goats and pigs.

Looking at the same thing to replace AR15's
Have put my name down for 3 when they come back into stock at my local stockist.
1 x 223
1 x 7.62 x 39
1 x 300 blackout.

Replaced my AR15 .223 today with a Sauer 100 after going in to buy a Howa. I had a Howa mini action in hand but I am too much of a gun snob and the Sauer was too nice. Not too nice to get its barrel hacked back and have my AR can fitted though.

I liked the Howa a lot. I have a hankering for a 7.62x39 now. Seems similar to the Ruger.

Probably can't beat the ranch rifle. I have had two Rugers and the action is bomb proof. Might not be the smoothest but it might be the most reliable.

I've been looking at the Ranch Rifle for sometime. There seems to be problems with the magazine feed on the original model. Some of the "Gen 2" models take AR magazines, so presumably the issue is sorted? My interpretation of the new law is that these magazines remain legal despite being AR-compatible, provided they hold less than 10 rounds of course.

This could be another alternative as well , watched this review sometime ago iv got the 223 version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSu7EuQr6o4

Originally Posted by gundoc

The Ruger American Ranch rifles are good solid performers and good value for money. Mine is in .300 Blackout but the basic rifle is the same for all calibres. Like all Rugers, they benefit from a rigger job, and polishing the bolt body eliminates the annoying 'whistle' when the bolt is cycled. 7.62x39 is a good 150 metre performer with decent projectiles on deer, and they are spot on for goats and pigs.

@gundoc, do you do trigger polishing for these? Cost?

Originally Posted by Tussock

Replaced my AR15 .223 today with a Sauer 100 after going in to buy a Howa. I had a Howa mini action in hand but I am too much of a gun snob and the Sauer was too nice. Not too nice to get its barrel hacked back and have my AR can fitted though.

@Tussock, the Sauer's are a very nice gun for the money and I would buy one at the drop of a hat. I do which they did a wider range of calibres.

Originally Posted by MB

I've been looking at the Ranch Rifle for sometime. There seems to be problems with the magazine feed on the original model. Some of the "Gen 2" models take AR magazines, so presumably the issue is sorted? My interpretation of the new law is that these magazines remain legal despite being AR-compatible, provided they hold less than 10 rounds of course.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

I'm in the same boat. Will probably buy a ranch in 7.62 x 39 as I have a fair bit of ammo.. Some adds say they run mini thirty mags and some say AR mags. Presume it would be one or the other?

I believe the 7.62x39 runs the mini-30 mag which is the big attraction for me as I would prefer the double stack format, plus I have mags in the safe since they are also taking my e-cat mini-30.

Originally Posted by Boaraxa

This could be another alternative as well , watched this review sometime ago iv got the 223 version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSu7EuQr6o4

As per above, I'm not a great fan of the CZ single stack mag.

[QUOTE=hotbarrels;826775]@gundoc, do you do trigger polishing for these? Cost?


It is a simple and inexpensive job for any half-decent gunsmith. It is better to get it done locally than go through the expense (and current difficulty) of sending it down to me.