Help me choose a new stock for Ruger American

[swampcrawler]

love my cheap rifle, hate the cheap stock. Nothing technically wrong with it, it's just so... well you guys know.

As far as I know, the only options for the American without dumping serious coin on some kind of custom are the MDT chassis that uses AR grip and stock, the Boydes offerings, and the new Magpul Hunter.

I'm leaning towards the Magpul. I like that it offers simple LOP and comb height adjustment, features the aluminum sub chassis, multiple easy sling mount options, and most of all I like that it allows the rifle to use magpul or AICS mags.

The MDT chassis is very nice and very customizable, but what kills it for me is the tang safety of the rifle. Having to let go of firing grip to actuate the safety is kind of a pain to me.

The Boydes options are also very nice, but require the user to bed in the v blocks, and uses the factory Ruger mag situation.

Just thought I'd see what you guys think!

 

[jmr40]

You bought a $350-$400 rifle. If you spend $200-$300 on another stock you'll have $550-$700 in $300 gun. For $500 you could have bought a rifle that would have been as good or better as is. Changing the stocks on those rifles is a poor decision in my opinion. Due to the unique design no part of the plastic stock ever touches the action or barrel. It is simply a handle for you to hold onto the gun and has zero effect on accuracy no matter how flimsy it may be. Changing the stock cannot improve accuracy one bit and can only to make it worse. On older rifle designs a stiff stock with proper bedding was essential to accuracy. Rugers metal V block bedding design makes that obsolete.

Unless you bought one of the Predators the chassis and Magpul stocks will never look right with the skinny barrel on the standard rifle. As far as aesthetics are concerned you'd be paying $300 for a lateral move. That is $300 better spent on optics or ammo in my opinion. The only advantage is being able to use mags holding over 4 rounds.

I have 3 of the Americans. A Compact 223, and Predators in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. I have less than $1000 combined in them and they are the 3 most accurate rifles in my safe. Beating some individual rifles that I have over $1000 in. If it ain't broke I don't believe in trying to fix it. I wouldn't change the stocks on mine if someone gave them to me.

 

[swampcrawler]

You bought a $350-$400 rifle. If you spend $200-$300 on another stock you'll have $550-$700 in $300 gun. For $500 you could have bought a rifle that would have been as good or better as is. Changing the stocks on those rifles is a poor decision in my opinion. Due to the unique design no part of the plastic stock ever touches the action or barrel. It is simply a handle for you to hold onto the gun and has zero effect on accuracy no matter how flimsy it may be. Changing the stock cannot improve accuracy one bit and can only to make it worse. On older rifle designs a stiff stock with proper bedding was essential to accuracy. Rugers metal V block bedding design makes that obsolete.

Unless you bought one of the Predators the chassis and Magpul stocks will never look right with the skinny barrel on the standard rifle. As far as aesthetics are concerned you'd be paying $300 for a lateral move. That is $300 better spent on optics or ammo in my opinion. The only advantage is being able to use mags holding over 4 rounds.

I have 3 of the Americans. A Compact 223, and Predators in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. I have less than $1000 combined in them and they are the 3 most accurate rifles in my safe. Beating some individual rifles that I have over $1000 in. If it ain't broke I don't believe in trying to fix it. I wouldn't change the stocks on mine if someone gave them to me.

....ok?

So you don't have an answer to the question asked in the original post?

 

[pintler]

I think you've covered the issues.

I have an MDT LSS for a Savage 10. It's a great option, except for the safety as you note. Mine is set up as more of a long range precision gun, so I generally ignore the safety, but for a hunting gun you'd carry loaded it would be a problem. I like the pistol grip for prone with a bipod; I dunno if it would be fun to carry as a deer rifle.

I got a Boyds for a Ruger American. As you note, you have to bed it. It also uses the stock mags, and the mag catch is positioned by the stock. Mine was far enough off that you can't insert the magazine. It's not immediately obvious which dimensions to change to properly position the magazine. The stock is setting on my 'to pile'. I'll either figure it out, or swap to AICS bottom metal (because I don't really like the stock mags) - which is another couple hundred bucks. Or...

...buy the Magpul stock. It's fugly, but it looks like it would work well. It wasn't out yet when I got the Boyds. If you go that route, please post a review. I might yet go that route.

FWIW, I disagree with the notion that the OEM stock provides optimal accuracy. I agree (after, for mine, enlarging the barrel channel to free float the barrel), that it's OK if you are carefully shooting off bags or whatever. When you start using a sling, etc, the front end of mine isn't stiff enough to keep the barrel free floated, and that has a pronounced effect on accuracy. With the barrel floating free it's an MOA rifle, so I don't want to give any of that up when e.g. shooting prone with a sling.

 

[Axis II]

if you go with boyds stay away from the prairie hunter stock. i went with this for an axis 223 and its geared more for standing shooting and my bench and prone shooting made it very uncomfortable so it was returned.

 

[RussellC]

I think you've covered the issues.

I have an MDT LSS for a Savage 10. It's a great option, except for the safety as you note. Mine is set up as more of a long range precision gun, so I generally ignore the safety, but for a hunting gun you'd carry loaded it would be a problem. I like the pistol grip for prone with a bipod; I dunno if it would be fun to carry as a deer rifle.

I got a Boyds for a Ruger American. As you note, you have to bed it. It also uses the stock mags, and the mag catch is positioned by the stock. Mine was far enough off that you can't insert the magazine. It's not immediately obvious which dimensions to change to properly position the magazine. The stock is setting on my 'to pile'. I'll either figure it out, or swap to AICS bottom metal (because I don't really like the stock mags) - which is another couple hundred bucks. Or...

...buy the Magpul stock. It's fugly, but it looks like it would work well. It wasn't out yet when I got the Boyds. If you go that route, please post a review. I might yet go that route.

FWIW, I disagree with the notion that the OEM stock provides optimal accuracy. I agree (after, for mine, enlarging the barrel channel to free float the barrel), that it's OK if you are carefully shooting off bags or whatever. When you start using a sling, etc, the front end of mine isn't stiff enough to keep the barrel free floated, and that has a pronounced effect on accuracy. With the barrel floating free it's an MOA rifle, so I don't want to give any of that up when e.g. shooting prone with a sling.

I tend to agree, the MDT chassis is the way I am going. Any of these guns can have a high dollar barrel in whatever profile you want, heavy, bull, fluted etc. In the mean time you can shoot it as is.

I dont agree with the lateral improvement theory either, plenty of high dollar rigs are based on worked over Remington 700 actions and so forth. My shooting is more that speed than spending large green on a Accuracy International gun or the likes.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

love my cheap rifle, hate the cheap stock. Nothing technically wrong with it, it's just so... well you guys know.

As far as I know, the only options for the American without dumping serious coin on some kind of custom are the MDT chassis that uses AR grip and stock, the Boydes offerings, and the new Magpul Hunter.

I'm leaning towards the Magpul. I like that it offers simple LOP and comb height adjustment, features the aluminum sub chassis, multiple easy sling mount options, and most of all I like that it allows the rifle to use magpul or AICS mags.

The MDT chassis is very nice and very customizable, but what kills it for me is the tang safety of the rifle. Having to let go of firing grip to actuate the safety is kind of a pain to me.

The Boydes options are also very nice, but require the user to bed in the v blocks, and uses the factory Ruger mag situation.

Just thought I'd see what you guys think!

I just got a Savage 12FV (heavy barreled varmint model) that I want a MDT chassis for, could you describe the safety issue with it?

Thanks, much appreciated,

Russellc

 

[VoodooMountain]

You bought a $350-$400 rifle. If you spend $200-$300 on another stock you'll have $550-$700 in $300 gun. For $500 you could have bought a rifle that would have been as good or better as is. Changing the stocks on those rifles is a poor decision in my opinion. Due to the unique design no part of the plastic stock ever touches the action or barrel. It is simply a handle for you to hold onto the gun and has zero effect on accuracy no matter how flimsy it may be. Changing the stock cannot improve accuracy one bit and can only to make it worse. On older rifle designs a stiff stock with proper bedding was essential to accuracy. Rugers metal V block bedding design makes that obsolete.

Unless you bought one of the Predators the chassis and Magpul stocks will never look right with the skinny barrel on the standard rifle. As far as aesthetics are concerned you'd be paying $300 for a lateral move. That is $300 better spent on optics or ammo in my opinion. The only advantage is being able to use mags holding over 4 rounds.

I have 3 of the Americans. A Compact 223, and Predators in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. I have less than $1000 combined in them and they are the 3 most accurate rifles in my safe. Beating some individual rifles that I have over $1000 in. If it ain't broke I don't believe in trying to fix it. I wouldn't change the stocks on mine if someone gave them to me.

So he bought a rifle is very likely to be quite accurate for around $300 and wants a different stock for it. So what?

Where in the world do you get off telling someone how to spend their own earned resources?
In what way did you help him or answer any questions?

Just more wonderful wisdom I guess.

Would it be okay to spend $1k on a rifle and then $300 on a stock?
Is there a factory version of this rifle with any of the 3 stocks mentioned?....or with any other stock for that matter?...

And changing a stock can only make accuracy worse yet a rifle stock also has no effect on accuracy?

This makes me think you are both very opinionated and misinformed.
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Op:

I would opt for the magpul hunter for the American. I think it offers a good compromise for most uses.

 

[Sav .250]

More of a personal item................

 

[pintler]

"I just got a Savage 12FV (heavy barreled varmint model) that I want a MDT chassis for, could you describe the safety issue with it?"

The MDT LSS uses an AR pistol grip; the Savage has a tang mounted safety. With a conventional stock the tang mounted safety is right under your thumb. With the pistol grip, you more or less have to let go of the pistol grip and move your hand to access the safety.

I use mine strictly for punching paper prone, so I ignore the safety - load 5 rounds, shoot until empty. I don't hunt, so guessing, but I'd think if it's a 500 yd antelope gun you wouldn't care that the safety manipulation was slow, but if you were carrying it in hand as a 50 yd in the brush deer gun, the safety operation would be awkward for snap shots.

Just guessing, though.

(By way of contrast, I have another savage with one of the HS Precision stocks that has a conventional grip, but where the grip is fairly vertical:

https://www.hsprecision.com/shop2/r...-12-10-fp-short-action-tactical-stock-pst114/

That works OK for prone (although a little less ergonomic for me that the pistol grip), while the safety is still accessible since there is nothing over the top of your thumb. I dunno which style I prefer overall.)

 

[Walkalong]

So you don't have an answer to the question asked in the original post?

I thought he gave a very good answer as far as accuracy goes, or, in his humble opinion, don't waste your money.

Now, if it is simply feel and aesthetics, then pick something you like. I have no experience with it and can't help there.

 

[Walkalong]

Where in the world do you get off telling someone how to spend their own earned resources?

Well, they asked.

In what way did you help him or answer any questions?

Again, he gave his opinion based on his three rifles that upgrading the stock won't help accuracy.

This makes me think you are both very opinionated and misinformed.

Well, I agree jmr40 is opinionated, but he is often very helpful and usually gives good advise.

I'm opinionated as well, and sometimes give good advise.