Experiences with the Ruger American

[sayak]

I am thinking of getting one in .308. I have many blued/walnut rifles and shotguns and a few synthetics, but after beating up my wood stocked Weatherby caribou hunting in the rain last month, I am thinking of getting a rifle I can beat up with a good conscience. I was not impressed with the Savage Edge/Axis. Is the Ruger American better?

Not interested in what people think about the looks.

 

[rule303]

The trigger on the Ruger is much better, the bolt cycles a bit smoother, but the stock is almost identical.

 

[Jasper1573]

Don't know much about the rifle, but here is another discussion on this rifle on THR...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=675827&highlight=ruger+american

 

[firesky101]

I have handled the savages, mossbergs, marlins, remingtons, and for the price I settled on the Ruger American. In .308 btw. It just felt like a rifle that should cost a lot more, and it included all the features I wanted. It is pretty darn accurate, I was putting down 2MOA groups with WPA (I have way too much of it laying around), and put down a couple of sub .75" groups with PPU match. Then my scope rings failed so I was not able to do any more that day, but love the rifle.

 

[RPRNY]

Word on the Ruger is excellent value for money. However, before you jump, consider that James Wayne is selling the Howa 1500 in 308 with full aluminum bedded Hogue overmold for $359. It's a horrible sand colored stock but the Howa 1500, ie the Weatherby Vanguard, is a tried tested and true MOA shooter. Worth a look. Listed on Guns International under Howa 1500 rifles.

 

[GlockNation]

Howa 1500

Yep. The Howa. Its basically a Weatherby Vanguard. It weighs a bit more than the American, not much, but enough to make a difference recoil. Better quality too.

 

[Ky Larry]

The Ruger American is a very good built-to-pricepoint rifle. Take a look at the X7 Marlin before you decide. I have a XS7 stainless in .243 Win that shoots bugholes right out of the box. From what I've seen, the Ruger and the Marlin are so close in quality and features, you can shop by price. I just got a Marlin X7 in .22-250 with 26" heavy barrel. pillar bedded stock, target muzzle crown, and adjustible trigger for $322.00 otd. Hopefully, I'll get it to the range Sunday. I'm sure you'll be happy with either. Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[MAKster]

I actually think the Axis is a better budget rifle than the Ruger especially since the Axis costs $100 less. I was going to buy the Ruger but felt the magazine was really a weak spot. The tab that holds the magazine in is so flimsy that the magazine was sagging below the stock.

 

[sayak]

I have both a Howa (Weatherby; love it), and two Axis. I am not impressed with the Savage Axis as the bolts tend to be sticky and the magazines don't feed well unless they are put in just so. Also, the trigger pull is more than I like even with a trigger job. That is why I am considering the Ruger.

 

[sayak]

Bought one

I purchased a RA in .308 today. Haven't shot it yet, but I like everything about the way it fits, and the action is smooth. Like the trigger too. Looking forward to sighting it in this weekend... and killing a caribou or black bear with it soon.

 

[jmr40]

I had one, for a week. I was not impressed and got rid of mine. In my eye the Ruger American, Axis, Mossberg and Remington 770 are all clones.

Yep. The Howa. Its basically a Weatherby Vanguard. It weighs a bit more than the American, not much, but enough to make a difference recoil. Better quality too

I agree that the Howa or Vanguard are both much better values, but are more than a bit heavier. Almost 2 lbs with a standard stock, closer to 3 lbs if you get the Hogue stock. With a Hogue stock on one of these you'll have a hard time keeping it under 10 lbs with scope and mounts.

I have better guns and like a lot of guys just wanted a beater that I didn't care if it got abused. I'll just beat up my good guns.

 

[firesky101]

I had one, for a week. I was not impressed and got rid of mine. In my eye the Ruger American, Axis, Mossberg and Remington 770 are all clones.

I would not put any of those alongside a 770. There is inexpensive and then there is cheap.

 

[fol4321]

i would get a used 77 instead of me.

 

[scotch827]

I have the RA in a .243. I love it. I am getting consistent MOA groups at 100 & 200 yards with my handloads. The bolt is smooth. The mag is flush. The trigger is about 3.5lbs . With cold hands in deer season the trigger is perfect for me. It is light weight for easy carrying. I can use it in the brush and on the mountains without caring if gets scratched. I am shooting Sierra 85 hpbt's with 36.5 grs of Varget. It's going to be my deer, coyote and sometimes groundhog gun. It's a great value. Use the money you didn't spend for a more expesive rifle on better optics. I think you would be happy.

 

[smithman 10]

Ruger American

Don't know much about shooting scoped rifles but for some reason I decided I needed a bolt gun.

So I bought a Ruger American in .30-06. Package deal with a 3x9 Tasco scope. I know - scope is cheap, but I got about a 1" group out of it and yesterday took it to the range and had some fun ringing steel at 200, 300 and 400 yards.

Now I know I wasn't shooting groups, but with surplus Lake City ammo from CMP like 40 years old, I was pretty pleased.

I'm thinking with a quality scope and decent ammo this rifle would be all you need as a hunting gun.

 

[BlackSky]

Save a few more pennies and get yourself a Browning X-Bolt. Several versions without wood. Excellent, high quality rifle.

Stainless composite

Stainless carbon fiber

Blue composite

Blue synthetic gray

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Save a few more pennies and get yourself a Browning X-Bolt.

And by a few you mean 50,000 or so.

That's like someone posting that they're in the market for a scope in the $150 range and saying, "Just save a few more pennies and get you a Schmidt and Bender." :banghead:

 

[sayak]

Responses

Everybody has an opinion about what makes a good rifle.
I own a bunch of different rifles and shotguns and I have been around them most of my life. I know a lot about rifles.
What I did NOT know was about the Ruger American (except for what the mags and Youtube had to say), and that is why I asked for 1st hand experiences about that particular rifle. Thanks for those who responded with their first-hand opinions, positive or negative, based on actual experience.
As for the rifle I bought, I like it. It has a place amongst my other rifles for just what I wanted: an inexpensive yet quality .308 which I won't worry about in mud, dirt and rain.