My Love Affair With The Ruger American Rifle

I just have to say that it takes a lot to impress me. I'm picky and sometimes even nit-picky when it comes to guns. I've owned a HUGE variety of guns over the years. A lot have been downright unimpressive, some have been moderately impressive, and few have been truly impressive. When it comes to an actual hunting rifle, I have been endlessly in search of the "perfect for me" rifle and today I think I have come about as close I'm ever going to get. So close that I'm probably going to stop trying to do better. I've bought and sold a lot of the Ruger American rifles and I personally own two of the Predator Rimfire models and have been very happy with both. But I decided I'd buy one of the American Standard models in 243. I figured it would be an inexpensive deer rifle that I could keep on hand to loan out or use a backup. The gun came with the pic rail that used to just come on the Predator models. For a slim, lightweight hunting rifle I decided I didn't like the look so I removed the rail altogether. I opted for a set of Talley lightweight mounts (which I think look so much better on this gun) and mounted a Burris Fulfield II 4.5-14x42 scope (which I also think looks great and goes well with the "bang for your buck" theme of this rifle). I took the gun to the range for the first time this morning and brought the only 243 ammo I had, which were two different handloads I had worked up for a Ruger 1 that I have. I didn't expect the loads to be perfect out of the American, but I figured I could at least get the scope sight in and then worry about working up a handload for the gun down the road.

Got to the range today and was on paper within 3 inches of the bull at 50 yards on the first shot. Moved out to 100 and had the gun completely sighted in in less than 6 rounds! That was certainly a first for me. Then I started shooting 3-shot groups. I was getting MOA groups ever time with the first load, which was a 95gr SST bullet and I was very impressed because that same load shoots equally as good in my Ruger 1. Then I switched to my second load, which was an 85gr Sierra BTHP and that load shot sub-MOA almost every 3-shot group! I left the range happy as a lark. I've got two handloads that shoot really great between two different guns AND the little American Standard shot well above expectation!

So I have to say I'm pretty much in a full fledged love affair with the Ruger American rifles. I think the product that you get, especially for the price you pay, and the performance that you receive is hard to find. I have yet to find a rifle that performs as well out of the box as the American. I think the fact that a single, very easy DIY spring removal from the trigger assembly is the fastest, cheapest, and easiest trigger job that can be done on any out of the box rifle. I dropped a 3lb trigger to 1.75lbs in a matter of seconds, and with the additional safety inside the trigger itself, it is drop safe as well. The stock on this rifle is perfectly fitted and free floated, and maybe that's unusual, but I'm very happy. I think I'll be hanging on to this rifle for a long time!

So far I have no complaints about the staggered magazine. They load just fine. That last round gets a little tight, but it goes. I really like how it sits flush and blends with the stock. Most other rifles of this price point don't have flush mags. And yes it is a pretty light rifle, but it goes perfectly with the 243 caliber. I probably would not want to shoot anything much larger. The sporter barrel profile doesn't seem any thinner than other brands. I shoot 3-shot groups instead of my usual 5-shot and I also left the barrel cool between groups. It's not a model designed for extended shooting sessions like the heavier profile Predator versions. But for a budget rifle, I think they check a lot more boxes than other brands, at least for me. And the accuracy is up there. I've had a lot of guns that cost a lot more that didn't shoot half as good.

Here’s a photo with the rail removed and the Talley mounts and scope installed. It really got the scope lower on the rifle.

I really wish Magpul would make a Hunter stock for the 223-size Ruger actions. All those short little Ranch calibers in a Magpul stock would be the berries!

LoonWulf said:

Cdnn has them right now....i spent my toy money tho.


The short action Americans are all the same, you can drop them all into a magpul stock. I dont know for sure if the modifications to the bolts on guns that use AR or Mini magazines will work with the AI style mags tho....i actually have a .223 AI mag for some reason, cant remember why.

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You can’t use the Magpul stock on the 223 size Americans though. At least not while using the Magpul trigger guard and mag well. Those are designed for the 308 size mags. There is no conversion available that I know of.