Boyds Gun Stocks + Ruger American (Centerfire) Rifle Compact

[roo_ster]

Howdy:

Have any of y'all fit your Ruger American (Centerfire) Rifle COMPACT in a Boyd's stock successfully?

Looking for a better stock for my now-son's Ruger American (Centerfire) Rifle Compact (RARC) in .243Win.
http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifleCompact/models.html
http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifleCompact/specSheets/6908.html

It was a stop-gap for my wife but now will be my son's rifle indefinitely. As a stopgap, we could tolerate the flexing stock and forearm made from egg noodles, but not anymore. There are mods that can be made to the factory stock, but I think an entirely new stock is a better use of my time & money.

Boyd's offers stocks for Ruger American Rifles in standard length actions and short actions (RARC is short action), but none specifically for the RARC. Exchanged emails with them and the reply was along the lines of "Huh. Not sure."

Of particular particular interest is the Featherweight Thumbhole Ruger American Centerfire Short Action Factory Barrel Channel set up with a custom LOP.
https://www.boydsgunstocks.com
https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/FindAStock?Make=3Z&Model=A98&Action=4D&Shape=06&Finish=1

 

[TIMC]

I did a nice one on a Ruger American Ranch but not
Sure if the compact is the same.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I restocked a 77 with a Boyds. Everything fit like a glove. If they can't tell you it will fit find someone else to buy a stock from. They have a pretty hefty restocking fee. Call Ruger, they might even have a laminate that will fit or know which one you need.

 

[CptnAwesome]

My American in 7mm-08 with boyds featherweight thumbhole. I love it. Added a little weight but accuracy definitely increased!
I would think they could get you one in compact. If so you'll love it if you can deal with the extra weight

 

[FL-NC]

Even though its ugly, the stock that came with it is well bedded. My American shoots 1" groups at 100 yards with wal mart Winchester 150 grain power points.

 

[roo_ster]

cptnawesome:

Very pretty and thanks for the information.

==================

FL-NC:

The action is bedded with the v-blocks, but the wrist is twisty and the forend is too noodley to use a sling without the forend impinging upon hte bbl in what is supposed to be a free-float system.

====================

All:

OK, here is what I learned from elsewhere:
1. Folks have successfully installed their short action Ruger American Rifle Compact into the featherweight short action stock.
2. The RARC action screw separation measures the same as that listed by Boyds.

To sum up, I think it will work and will order a "custom" stock with custom LOP this afternoon.

 

[Sunray]

"...RARC is short action..." That's all that matters. The Ruger is 'compact' due to the barrel length, OAL and LOP. Six pounds is really light even for a .243.
"...for my now-son's..." He's the one who should be making all these decisions, not you.
"...forend is too noodly..." Lots of inexpensive ways to stiffen a forend.

 

[roo_ster]

"...RARC is short action..." That's all that matters. The Ruger is 'compact' due to the barrel length, OAL and LOP. Six pounds is really light even for a .243.

Good to know.

"...for my now-son's..." He's the one who should be making all these decisions, not you.

In time, he'll be able to do so.

At 12YO and with little experience, he'll have to do with the best I can manage.

"...forend is too noodly..." Lots of inexpensive ways to stiffen a forend.

Brownell's Acra-glas Gel: $30+S&H

3x Carbon fiber crossbow bolts: $20+S&H

$50 is less expensive than a new Boyds stock at $144+S&H, true. But then I would still be stuck with a weak/twisty wrist.

 

[someguy2800]

My American in 7mm-08 with boyds featherweight thumbhole. I love it. Added a little weight but accuracy definitely increased!
I would think they could get you one in compact. If so you'll love it if you can deal with the extra weightView attachment 233471

That is one sweat looking little ruger in that stock. Really takes it up a notch

 

[dieselchief]

what do you do for a trigger guard? thanks

 

[CptnAwesome]

Trigger guard comes with the stock. It's plastic but it works

 

[jmr40]

You can spend the money if you want, but you'll not make the rifle any more accurate than it was from the factory. At best it'll remain the same and could be worse. They are lightweight $350 rifle that shoots better than most rifles costing 3X as much. People pay $600 extra to get a rifle that light that won't shoot as well. I can't see spending another $100 to make it a pound heavier and no more accurate.

The Ruger is 'compact' due to the barrel length,

It also has a shorter LOP on the stock. I bought one on 223 to get the 18" barrel. I did order a full length stock from Ruger. If the Ranch rifle had been available at the time I'd have gone that route.

 

[dieselchief]

oops delete

 

[roo_ster]

You can spend the money if you want, but you'll not make the rifle any more accurate than it was from the factory. At best it'll remain the same and could be worse. They are lightweight $350 rifle that shoots better than most rifles costing 3X as much. People pay $600 extra to get a rifle that light that won't shoot as well. I can't see spending another $100 to make it a pound heavier and no more accurate.

It also has a shorter LOP on the stock. I bought one on 223 to get the 18" barrel. I did order a full length stock from Ruger. If the Ranch rifle had been available at the time I'd have gone that route.

Wow, that would be kinda foolish. Good thing that is not my objective!.

Objectives for the RACR Boyds stock mod:
1. Make RACR more consistent.
2. Enable use of sling as shooting aid.

Stuffing the RACR in a Boyds stock may not improve its maximum _potential_ accuracy. Then again, it might, given the increased stiffness of the stock all-around, and the bedding process required to properly fit the Boyds to the RACR bbl & action. The number one benefit I expect is to make the RACR more consistent and allow it to express its accuracy outside the ideal conditions of benchrest shooting on the square range with plenty of sand bags.

When set up properly with sandbags under the magwell & toe of the butt stock, no involvement of the forearm, and passable benchrest technique; this particular RACR shoots sub-MOA for 3 shots at 100yds(a) with five of the seven big game .243Win hunting loads I tested. That is very good performance in anyone's book, no need to qualify it with "for a $350 rifle." I settled on Fed with a 100gr Partition pill. Not the most accurate at 0.9MOA or therebouts (most accurate was Hornady SST Superformance 95gr, which came in at about 0.5MOA). I wanted sure penetration so the Partition got the nod for use on game.

Thing is, move those sand bags forward a smidge under the forearm and groups went into the toilet. I could call a flyer before my son squeezed the trigger, if he had not given the bags under the mag well the proper attention and brought them back against the trigger guard. Sling it up and use as a shooting aid and it was worse. Utter rubbish. Go ahead and try it for yourself. I am not the only to notice this splendid potential accuracy that was so easily spoiled by the limp noodle masquerading as a rifle stock. A rifle that only shoots well off the bench using persnickety benchrest technique is of little use to me.

Not sure what Ruger is paying for the factory RAR stock, but it is too much. I suppose switching to a good stock would move the RAR outside its market niche. This stock business is something for a RAR buyer to consider. It will require time and money to DIY stiffening the forearm or $150+ to slap it into a Boyds. The RAR is not quite as good a deal after that is factored in.

Maybe you can see the utility of making a rifle useful off the bench to hunt actual game in the field?





(a) Yes, yes, not a complete and rigorous test. Time & money drive me to 3 shots/100yds for the first pass to eliminate the poorer performers.

 

[CptnAwesome]

My accuracy definitely showed a little improvement. Went from just under 1" average at 100yds to between .5" and .75". Same reloads.

 

[Baldman]

Just an FYI if interested. I just saw that Magpul has developed their Hunter line of stocks for the Ruger American short action rifles. It looks like you'll be able to use a standard Magpul AR magazine which is a big plus for me. Available late 2017.

https://www.magpul.com/products/fir...er-american-stock-ruger-american-short-action

 

[pintler]

"It looks like you'll be able to use a standard Magpul AR magazine..."

I'm reading that page as saying it's an AICS pattern magazine, not AR pattern.

 

[jeepmor]

Being it's a $350 rifle and a ~$150 stock for a Boyd's, that's still clearly in the budget rifle range. Bit frustrating I'm sure to users, but it seems to be an industry trend of late as I've seen a lot of crappy synthetic stocks lately. And they all seem to really lousy overall from the factories.

Like my 17 WSM Bmag. The stock hits the barrel out of the box it's so limp. Probably laid on it's side forever awaiting it's purchase and got that lean set to polymer. The Bmag has more issues than that, but that's clearly one of them.