Ruger American/Redfield or Howa lite package?

Hi Guys,

I'm brand new to the site and hunting/guns. Just got my FAL and looking to get a cost effective bush/deer rifle.

So far I'm keen on the Ruger American/Redfield combo or a Howa lite barrel package. I need to have it suppressed also, got to protect the one good ear I have. Looked at the sonic suppressor today, I like.

So far I've seen the Ruger for $949 and the Howa for $999. Suppressor $350.

Which would be the best option and why? Like I said earlier, I'm new to all of this so open to all ideas/comments.....

I don't know anything about the ruger American but I own a howa light barrel 243 with the sonic suppressor . Great little hunting rifles but I have moved on to do lots of target shooting with a 260 so the howa is for sale . Comes with nikko Stirling scope 3-9 power . Trigger has been lightened have ammo and bag and sling and others for it. Been religiously cleaned and still very tidy. Fired approx 150 rounds and shoots good groups . Have brass and dies as well only after about 850 for it and have extras cheap :)

Howa is the better made rifle, The ruger package has a better scope. Both will shoot pretty well, the howa is probably a bit more accurate (In my experience anyway).

Whatever feels better to you man. Second hand stuff is worth a look as well. Good stuff comes up on here for awsome prices all the time.

You can also get the Savage Trophy Hunter with Weaver scope for the same price, which would be my pick of the current packages.

Handle a few options and see what fits you etc, thats the most important thing.

Of the two I'd take the Howa
This could also be a consideration
Savage ArmsSavage Arms Weather Warrior Series Rifles

They both would be the right choice. Had a look at the Ruger/redfield package today. Pretty decent. Very nice trigger for ruger. Im holding off for the ruger american 300blk to come to these shores.
But ya also cant beat a Howa for a first rifle. There both in your ball park and both will do the job nicely.

If I hadnt handled the ruger today i would have gone with Howa but now I cant help ya as they are even in my books now. I liked the detachable rotary mag of the ruger, very relaible those ruger rotaries.

Goodluck.

Thanks for the feedback guys, keep it coming. Now I like Savage but for the life of me I cant work out their models......... I don't want an axis but I would be happy with a step up. Is the trophy hunter a step up from the axis? That weather warrior looks like a good buy jakewwire!

Yip, Trophy Hunter uses the Mod.10 action. Basically like a Weather Warrior but with a cheaper stock (not the alloy reinforced accustock) and with a few more plastic bits. If you prefer wood/blue and don't like plastic there are also good deals around on the American Classic model.

Nick welcome to the forum mate, I'm biased as I've got the Howa but mine has a 'loopy' VX2 sitting on top, I only bush hunt, and I'm not an experienced hunter, but agree with all the replies, go to a gun store, pick them both (all) up and go with the one you like!.......you won't be buying a lemon whatever your choice......get into it mate you'll love it :thumbsup:

Howa is definitely my pick for a rifle but then I would also suggest you look at the marlin X7 rifles they are awesome and extremely accurate for the price, also don't over look the remington 700 sps which is my current rifle and very capable of shooting accurately

Google the Ruger American, its getting great reviews for accuracy etc...

i have two ruger americans and rate them highly. i got the 223 SS all weather and did this group at 100m recently which was the first time i'd ever shot at a range and with factory hornady ammo
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...psfb45a357.jpg

here's a link to a thread, i did a bit of a review on it
http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...r-223-a-18758/

Best advice I ever got was to try them all in the shop. It's great advice. I was set on something completely different from my laptop chair, but in the shop one in particular was just exactly what I wanted after trying it.

Go and try them and you'll know what you want. It can be something as simple as liking the mag or safety on one more than the others.

I was looking between the Savage and the Marlin until I tried the Howa.
The Savage didn't suit me at all. The stock is very light and plasticy.
The Marlin was better but I would've still had to of added a thicker stock pad.
But the Howa fitted me way better than the other 2.
Only problem I have with the Howa, is the absolute rubbish Hogue stock. It has more flex in it than soggy spaghetti.
The action etc is flawless and I really like the 3 position safety as well. It is far more smoother to use than both the Savage and the Marlin. Just the stock lets it down big time. It is a shame because the stock feels so nice to hold, even when wet.
Just as well there are other stocks available out there ;)

Awesome feedback, thanks guys. Where in Auckland has the best Savage range? I have a feeling I might go Howa. Like the stock, its threaded, stainless steel and I can upgrade the scope in time.

I've got a howa after looking at other models mentioned but got a wooden stock that is factory floated and bedded. A little heavier than the houge but no flex at all and no plastic in the rifle either

Howa again, I've got two of them, a standard in 7mm rem mag and a lite in 223. Yes the stocks are flexible without bedding but they are still nicer than those Tupperware counterparts and have a nice butt pad, and if you are looking at the lite, the floating is big enough for you to use a bipod and still not touch the barrel.
The scopes, yes aren't the finest but I just upgraded them when I had the money,

Again, I'm bias so you should check them all in hand,

That linked "weather warrior" is a fucking bargain. They are 12-1300 new here. Same as the trophy hunter but with a way better stock. That will be a very accurate and capable rifle

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

That linked "weather warrior" is a fucking bargain. They are 12-1300 new here. Same as the trophy hunter but with a way better stock. That will be a very accurate and capable rifle

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the one i linked to?
That is the new Ruger American All Weather, a cheaper version rifle. The weather warrior is the one that's been around for years? the american has only been around a year or so.

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Originally Posted by cambo

Only problem I have with the Howa, is the absolute rubbish Hogue stock. It has more flex in it than soggy spaghetti.
The action etc is flawless and I really like the 3 position safety as well. It is far more smoother to use than both the Savage and the Marlin. Just the stock lets it down big time. It is a shame because the stock feels so nice to hold, even when wet.

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Do Howa use a 3-position safety now too? Is it on the tang like the Savage 3-posn or on the side? I've used an older Howa-actioned Weatherby which had an awkward clunky 2-pos safety that my thumb could barely reach. Sloppy clunky bolt too, didn't get on with it at all.

I looked at a Howa in the shop and could push the floppy hogue stock against the barrel with one finger - the surface may feel nicer/more upmarket than a basic synthetic version Savage etc but I'd rather the Savage for actually shooting (mine is a nice wooden one anyway, but aside from that). Then there is the accustock Weather Warrior, if you're flexing one of those you're doing something wrong.

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Originally Posted by smidey

the one i linked to?
That is the new Ruger American All Weather, a cheaper version rifle. The weather warrior is the one that's been around for years? the american has only been around a year or so.

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Think he was talking about the Savage Weather Warrior which Jakewire linked to. Which really is a bargain, I'm tempted to grab one myself.

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Originally Posted by GravelBen

Think he was talking about the Savage Weather Warrior which Jakewire linked to. Which really is a bargain, I'm tempted to grab one myself.

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Probably was haha

Sent from my workbench

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GravelBen

Do Howa use a 3-position safety now too? Is it on the tang like the Savage 3-posn or on the side? I've used an older Howa-actioned Weatherby which had an awkward clunky 2-pos safety that my thumb could barely reach. Sloppy clunky bolt too, didn't get on with it at all.

I looked at a Howa in the shop and could push the floppy hogue stock against the barrel with one finger - the surface may feel nicer/more upmarket than a basic synthetic version Savage etc but I'd rather the Savage for actually shooting (mine is a nice wooden one anyway, but aside from that). Then there is the accustock Weather Warrior, if you're flexing one of those you're doing something wrong.

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Howa's safety is on the side very easy to reach with thumb. Very nice 3 position safety. Really like that function on it.
bolt is very smooth and much nicer to use in comparison to the Savage Axis or Marlin X7 imo. But they are only entry level bang sticks.
Stock is the only downside on the Howa.

Ah yes the Savage Axis doesn't have a good rep at all, I haven't used one but would probably agree on that point if I had!

I was talking about the Mod.10 based rifles which are a completely different action, stock, everything. I have a Mod.14 American Classic which has nice smooth action with 3 position tang safety, excellent trigger, shoots better than I do and pretty much no plastic on it at all.

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Originally Posted by jakewire

Of the two I'd take the Howa
This could also be a consideration
Savage ArmsSavage Arms Weather Warrior Series Rifles

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Thanks again guys. This savage is a bargain. I looked on the Savage Arms site and it has a MSRP of $911US!!! Will contact them on Monday.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by nicks_tricks

Thanks again guys. This savage is a bargain. I looked on the Savage Arms site and it has a MSRP of $911US!!! Will contact them on Monday.

Cheers

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Good man, buy it before I do

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Originally Posted by nicks_tricks

Thanks again guys. This savage is a bargain. I looked on the Savage Arms site and it has a MSRP of $911US!!! Will contact them on Monday.

Cheers

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Good luck. I tried to buy a vortex scope he had a mean deal on only to find out he didn't have any

Sent from my workbench

Here you go, problem solved. A Howa with a wooden stock
http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5fd6e893.jpg