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Hi everyone, just looking for some feedback/people's experience with Ruger American/Ranch/Predator rifles. More specifically in 223. Are they accurate? User friendly? Reliability, that sort of info would be greatly appreciated.
I will be reloading for it, possibly from the get go.
Intended use is small game (rabbits, hares etc).
Cheers
Mike
Edit: hope I've put this in the right thread :D
i found the barrel a bit on the thin side on my one ruger american but its getting a face lift it seemed accurate enough it was a 3006 i replaced my ar with a savage mod 16 still developing a load for it but it looks like its going to be a good rifle
I like my Ranch in .223
I use it suppressed on hares w a thermal. Works a treat
Ruger has never been known for out of box accuracy. Also it is not known for being the leader in advancement of accuracy improving technologies.
IF you want the highest chance of an accurate rifle out of box -
1. Tikka T3x is easily the undisputed king of accurate rifle out of box on modest budget;
2. Savage but only certain models. Savage was the first to come out with accu-trigger type of two stage, customer adjustable trigger on modest budget. They are also one of few to do button-rifling.
3. CZ, which does not lead the charge for accuracy improvement, but is known for great workmanship. For some models they still do hand lapping.
4. Howa, which is know now for being a good Tikka alternative.
Personally for a 223 I would go with Tikka T3x although if the option was available I would go with Savage 12 LRPV
Ruger has never been known for out of box accuracy. Also it is not known for being the leader in advancement of accuracy improving technologies.
IF you want the highest chance of an accurate rifle out of box -
1. Tikka T3x is easily the undisputed king of accurate rifle out of box on modest budget;
2. Savage but only certain models. Savage was the first to come out with accu-trigger type of two stage, customer adjustable trigger on modest budget. They are also one of few to do button-rifling.
3. CZ, which does not lead the charge for accuracy improvement, but is known for great workmanship. For some models they still do hand lapping.
4. Howa, which is know now for being a good Tikka alternative.
Personally for a 223 I would go with Tikka T3x although if the option was available I would go with Savage 12 LRPV.
Pretty sure that you didn't answer anything the original question asked but hey.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultimitsu
Google Ruger American long range shooting and you will see there is a fair few guys shooting out over 1000 yards with them so in general they are accurate. I have one, ruger American compact 16 inch barrel 308. Shot deer out over 500 yards with it. I know of 2 others and they are accurate. They certainly aren't the fanciest but do the job. I have a tikka, howa and a few others and for a good reliable rifle with a half cock that you don't worry about dinging I tend to reach for the Ruger.
I have a howa mini action in 223 and that is certainly a smoother rifle.
Hi
Have a suppressed predator .223 did the spring on trigger and filled in forend for less flex
Shoots well enough for me
Attachment 121690
Have had a few Rugers, mostly m77 mk2.
All solid accurate rifles.
Currently have one rebarreled to 7mm saum and an American 22 mag well made accurate rifle.
They are accurate , my 30 06 is good enough for me , very light weight and nice to carry about. The magazine well is the only thing I don't like to much but it all works so no real problem. I would think one in 223 would be accurate as well.
The Ruger American is a well-designed and well-made budget rifle. Bedding, trigger job and a bolt slick-up will make it perform very well. Mine is a .300 Whisper that I have tweaked into a dedicated subsonic unit that delivers 220gr RN Hornadys into MOA at 1075 fps.
My Ranch shoots decent with the 3 loads I've tried in it
I got one in 308win and one in 22lr love them both, the 308
Groups well at under 1moa, really good rugged rifles I picked the 308 in stainless Steel up off the yellow site for around $500, one of the best buys I've had.
I have an American in 223 got it to replace something I lost. Same 16 in barrel, same twist rate 1:8, same 556 nato chambering and takes p mags or steel ar ones.
First impression heavier than expected but it is a thick barrel. The barrel is Parkerised and still has fine turning marks visible, it certainly won't give you away by being shiny.
The 3 lug bolt is large being the full diameter of the lugs it's full length with reliefs cut for them and some shaping behind the bottom lug that's part of the feed system which ores the top round in the mag down so the lug can slide over it.
The bolt shows extensive fine tooling marks and although it runs reasonably freely in the bolt way it sounds a bit like a zip tie being done up.
The trigger is excellent sharp break no creep, the safety blade makes it feel like a 2 stage which I like best.
Accurate out of the box, 3 shots at 100 cloverleafed nowhere near where my bore sighting was but 2 more and it matched.
The bolt cannot be worked slow and silent, the feed system pops a cartridge into the feedway centered in the bolt head and for the final chambering the base has to force open the extractor and compress the plunger ejector both of which have strong springs simultaneously the part of the bolt handle that runs in the turn down cam in the receiver is a rounded corner square that sometimes sticks at the start of rotation as the cam isn't a smooth curve but a bit angular. A forceful movement is required to get it done.
The stocks ergonomic and the rifle wll balanced to carry the magaine isnt at point of balance and the mag release is nowhere you can accidentally trip it it is however hollow and drums but expanding foam will fix that same as 10 or so minutes with 2000 grit wet and dry will get rid for the zip lock bolt sound.
Overall it's a utilitarian rifle made to a price point. Time and effort have been concentrated on the right things accuracy, trigger, etc so for something to throw on the bike every day that you won't loose sleep over if it gets soaked in the rain occasionally or dropped in the mud it's a good choice in my opinion.
Just remembered you said you will reload for it. The ar magazines will control your seating depth I found this out trying to load some 77 grs loads for my other 223 won't fit the bloody magazine and unless you modify the ar mags to remove the last round bolt hold open you can't single load either.
Old man shoots for a living and has a predator in 223 and one in 7.62x39, both get plenty of use and he reckons he picks up the 223 before he picks up the 223 T3 he has
Who wants a .223 in a long action, not me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultimitsu
some people like the feel of a longer stroke though :bouaaaaah::bouaaaaah::bouaaaaah:Quote:
Originally Posted by tetawa
Tikka end of story Anyone that disagree has not had one or can’t shoot EoS
The American .243 I had in 2016 for 3 months was shite. The stock was made of bendy plastic that made a Sistema sandwich box feel like Kevlar. The first two flimsy magazines failed, google that particular problem. It flatly refused to feed the third round, then broke. Twice. Infuriating! The third magazine went back with the rifle, it wouldn't free float due to the bendy stock and the fellas at the shop sensibly traded it for a rangefinder. It shot well enough, no better or worse than either the Tikka or Howa in the same calibre.
Never again.
if you have the 7.62 x 39 just replace the mag assembly with the AR module and you can use your legal AR mags to shoot (up to 10 rounds)
yes. they are tack drivers if you use 5.56 ammo
People around telling me for Ruger Precision Rifle, you need a aftermarket barrel, the factory one is not that good comparing to Tikka.
But to start with at 223, I guess you probably shoot at 200-500meters? You are probably fine. Long term, 308 or 6.5creedmoor maybe have more fun.
I have just purchased a ruger ranch in 223(5.56) It feels a bit agricultural but will prob smooth out with use. I will test it this weekend with hand loads, fitted 2-7 leupold on it using weaver med height quad lock rings. Trigger is at 4LB and wont adjust any lower. It is what it is a knock about gun i will use in comps and a bit of culling.
Shot one of my best ever groups with a factory sporter with new RAR 270. Ran with Blaser, Tikka, SIG/SHR, Bergara.
My Ranch in 556 shoots and feels very similar to my old AR. Bolt is a bit sticky in the rain, but I'm sure that'll smooth out with use and lubrication. A big plus is not having to move the head while cycling the bolt.
Ruger Ranch Rifles.
I have three, One in 5.56, One in 300 Blackout and One in 7.62x39.
Impressed with their accuracy evening using cheap ammo. They are not bad value at their price point (Around $1k each)
They are a replacement for my now gone AR's and look like they will fill the gap reasonably well for plinking / target shooting and some hunting.
They are short, light and have a good of the shelf trigger.
I have mounted a red dot on one and the other two wear a 1-4 and a 1-6 scope.
I will do a brief write up on them in a few weeks time once I have put some more rounds down range.
I also have a Ruger Precision in 6.5 Creedmoor. It shoots unbelievable groups with the factory barrel.
I have one in 5.56.
I put a few hundred rounds through mine last weekend and it performed very well.
The Bolt needs to wear in, but some auto-sol or bore past and working it will no doubt make it smoother.
Overall very happy for the price, and it can eat both 5.56 & 223, whats not to like.
I have a Leupold Mk4 2.5-8 mounted to mine.
Attachment 121799
My two brothers have the Ranch in .223. One as yet untested, the other shooting under MOA with factory Winchester silver tip ammo.
I have one in 7.62x39 and it is shooting just over MOA with factory Highland ammo and a 4x scope.
Great little guns for the price.
Will probably look at a Cerakote finish as the factory finish seems to corrode pretty quick, and a trigger upgrade as I personally don't like the safety blade type (on any rifle). Since the 7.62 takes mini-30 mags, I have made up a 10 rounder out of two 5 round mags with good results.
Hikok45 does a good review of the ranch rifle in 7.62x39mm on you tube. He shoots a heap of different types of ammo including Russian milsurp ammo. He rated it very well. I'm getting a Ruger Ranch rifle to replace my big bad SKS when I hand it in.
There's a clip on YouTube where they use some sort of paste and cycle the bolt a few hundred times to bed the bolt in so to speak. It just smooths all the surfaces off and apparently they are smooth as silk after.
I tried finding the link but couldn't find it again.
Hikok45 said something about that as well in his review. I have no idea now what the paste was but it was a type of lapping paste.
They call this the California assault rifle. It seems to eat any type of ammo fed to it without any issues.
Do these rifles take now verboten magazines?
I'm resisting buying anything more till the end of the amnesty, it's all up in the air. Already probably going to hand in my Kriss and now the PAR I wanted will be dead. The optic I wanted to use with it has short eye relief so that now going to become an expensive paperweight as I dont think anything else legal will work with the eye relief :(
So is the troy now banned along with all accessories it will accept or is this a "the sky is falling chicken little moment"
Troy has been refused import as it has a 'milspec' trigger and it is capable of 'close to semi auto fire' - see the 55six Facebook post. My understanding of the new law was that a part of a prohibited firearm was no longer considered prohibited when used on a non prohibited firearm, and a gun is either semi auto "self loading" or it isn't, but this appears to not be the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Henry
However I'm not keen to buy something I may have to hand in again even if it later reversed and allowed in, just over it.
Close to semi automatic fire? Is that a new definition of something. I've used a troy and would never buy one, it offers no advantage over a magazine bolt action except it will allow the re use of ar specific optics in my opinion it is form over function. A rear locking bolt action magazine rifle with JP Lee's bolt and trigger geometry would shit on it any day for speed and accuracy.
As for a trigger disconnector on a pump action I would consider it a vital safety features without it slam fires or more likely miss fires would be commonplace. The use of a mass produced part from another rifle makes economic sense from a manufacturing perspective.
The troy upper and lower are machined in such a fashion that about the only original bits would be the trgoer and magazines if you were to attempt to make it semi automatic.
This is "pushing the antelope" to see how far they can go. Vexatious is a term that springs to mind.
