I didn't know about this Version of the Ruger American

[Jason_W]

And it has my interest piqued a little.

http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/16976.html

The American Ranch in 7.62x39mm that takes mini-30 magazines. While I'm skeptical of the long term durability of the American, most of the people who buy them seem to like them.

And, they're making a factory 10-rd mini 30 magazine now http://shopruger.com/Mini-Thirty-10-Round-Magazine/productinfo/90485/

10 rounds is legal limit here and previously, Ruger only offered 5s and 20s, with the promag 10 rounders getting mixed reviews at best.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Pretty cool. Loks like a cheap alternative to the CZ 527.

 

[Jason_W]

Pretty cool. Loks like a cheap alternative to the CZ 527.

And I do like the idea of a 10 round magazine for fun at the range.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

And I do like the idea of a 10 round magazine for fun at the range.

Man, I'd throw in a 20 rounder and just go to town.

 

[Jason_W]

Man, I'd throw in a 20 rounder and just go to town.

I can't. I'm not allowed.

For the money I have to work with, I could buy the gun, a decent optic, and have plenty left over for ammo and reloading supplies. It's definitely tempting.

 

[LoonWulf]

Getting one!

THIS is exactly what i wanted when i bought my Ranch in .300blackout.

 

[Jason_W]

Getting one!

THIS is exactly what i wanted when i bought my Ranch in .300blackout.

I don't know if they've been released yet. None of the online retailers have them. It's looking like it would perfectly fill the niche of fun gun that could also hunt deer if the opportunity arises.

 

[LoonWulf]

Yeah, hopefully they will get them out soon.

I like the American action, probably better than any of the budget guns. I even prefer them to the similar Tikka action, just because of cost and the way the barrel is affixed.
So being able to get a ranch with in a bit more punchy round than the aac has it on my list.

I wonder if they are going to go with a .310 or .308 barrel.

 

[The_Shootist]

I just saw that ...my main question would be "What is ammo availability like?" I don't reload so I'd be stuck with weights I could get behind a counter or order online.

 

[jmr40]

I've been waiting on something like that in 223. If they offer it in 7.62X39 then 223 will probably happen.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I can't. I'm not allowed.

For the money I have to work with, I could buy the gun, a decent optic, and have plenty left over for ammo and reloading supplies. It's definitely tempting.

"Valley of stucco and sadness, CA". That makes sense.

I recently got a CZ 527 and so far have nothing but good things to say about it, but if there was a RAR for $400 vs a CZ for $650, I might not have made the same decision.

 

[Jason_W]

I just saw that ...my main question would be "What is ammo availability like?" I don't reload so I'd be stuck with weights I could get behind a counter or order online.

I'm sure it varies depending on area, but the 7.62x39mm is a very common rifle round, probably second in popularity only to the 5.56/.223. There is ultra cheap steel cased ammo available from outfits like Wolf and Tula, as well as probably some surplus com-bloc stuff still around if you look hard enough.

That said, the Ruger may not do so well with steel cased ammo. I've read a number of complaints that the mini 30 doesn't like steel case right out of the box so I'm not sure if there would be similar issues with the American. For me, I'm going to be a handload only guy as soon as stupid new ammo laws kick in this January, so I see brass as an investment, even though the initial price is higher.

 

[Jason_W]

I've been waiting on something like that in 223. If they offer it in 7.62X39 then 223 will probably happen.

I wouldn't be too surprised if there's also a 6.5 Grendel version soon. It seems like they're offering these to compete with the Howa Mini Actions that recently hit the market.

 

[FL-NC]

I can't. I'm not allowed.

For the money I have to work with, I could buy the gun, a decent optic, and have plenty left over for ammo and reloading supplies. It's definitely tempting.

Why aren't you allowed? 20 round mags are legal for bolt action rifles there, aren't they?

 

[FL-NC]

I've been waiting on something like that in 223. If they offer it in 7.62X39 then 223 will probably happen.

Ever looked at the MVP's? I have the Thunder Ranch in 223 and it does 1 MOA suppressed with 75 grain Hornady or 77 grain MK 262.

 

[Jason_W]

Why aren't you allowed? 20 round mags are legal for bolt action rifles there, aren't they?

Nope. Nothing over 10 rounds is allowed to be sold within or imported into California.And soon, we'll have to submit to a background check for every ammo purchase. It's bad here (please don't suggest moving, it's not an option presently).

 

[FL-NC]

Nope. Nothing over 10 rounds is allowed to be sold within or imported into California.And soon, we'll have to submit to a background check for every ammo purchase. It's bad here (please don't suggest moving, it's not an option presently).

Wow, sorry. And to think I was complaining about having to get a 5 round PMAG plug so I can hunt deer in Fl with my AR. Which I think is the only mag restriction of any kind here.

 

[Jason_W]

Wow, sorry. And to think I was complaining about having to get a 5 round PMAG plug so I can hunt deer in Fl with my AR. Which I think is the only mag restriction of any kind here.

Vermont and Maine were like that with semi-autos. I prefer 5 round mags for hunting myself. They make the gun sleeker. Less to catch on the brush.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Nice!!!

 

[boom boom]

I'm sure it varies depending on area, but the 7.62x39mm is a very common rifle round, probably second in popularity only to the 5.56/.223. There is ultra cheap steel cased ammo available from outfits like Wolf and Tula, as well as probably some surplus com-bloc stuff still around if you look hard enough.

That said, the Ruger may not do so well with steel cased ammo. I've read a number of complaints that the mini 30 doesn't like steel case right out of the box so I'm not sure if there would be similar issues with the American. For me, I'm going to be a handload only guy as soon as stupid new ammo laws kick in this January, so I see brass as an investment, even though the initial price is higher.

Original barrel was .308 for the Mini-30 (some totally unsubstantiated rumors held that these were originally intended for a .308 mini 14 but the rifle would not stand up under the recoil). Those rifles carried a warning only to use domestic 7.62x39 ammo (which during the Cold War mostly used .308 bullets from my hazy recollection). Here is the dope from Brownells on their barrel works tips site for gunsmiths about the situation which is generally very credible versus internet gossip.

http://www.brownells.com/GunTech/Ruger-Mini-30-bore-specs/detail.htm?lid=15904

 

[boom boom]

Meant to add, should be fine with steel cases on a bolt action except perhaps for accuracy. Steel cases expand differently than brass and may require cleaning the chamber if the ammo is very dirty.

Apart from Hornady steel match, most of this imported stuff is low grade blaster ammo for semi autos in SKS or AKs.

 

[Jason_W]

Original barrel was .308 for the Mini-30 (some totally unsubstantiated rumors held that these were originally intended for a .308 mini 14 but the rifle would not stand up under the recoil). Those rifles carried a warning only to use domestic 7.62x39 ammo (which during the Cold War mostly used .308 bullets from my hazy recollection). Here is the dope from Brownells on their barrel works tips site for gunsmiths about the situation which is generally very credible versus internet gossip.

http://www.brownells.com/GunTech/Ruger-Mini-30-bore-specs/detail.htm?lid=15904

What I was referencing were reviews on Bud's indicating they were getting light primer strikes on military primed ammo. Some of them noted that changing out the firing pin remedied this, but that sometimes the pin would punch through civilian primers.

 

[bannockburn]

Jason_W

Thanks for the heads-up on the American Rifle Ranch. Nice that you can use 5, 10, or 20 round mags with it. Have a lot of 7.62x39 ammo and was thinking about getting a CZ527 to go along with my AK. Good to know there's another compact bolt action rifle to choose from.

 

[boom boom]

What I was referencing were reviews on Bud's indicating they were getting light primer strikes on military primed ammo. Some of them noted that changing out the firing pin remedied this, but that sometimes the pin would punch through civilian primers.

Interesting, if the shape of the firing pin is okay with no burrs or needle like features, then that is generally a spring issue/length of firing pin. Some models allow for adjustment of the length. Some don't.

Springs are the easier adjustment. Not sure if Wolff makes springs yet for this model but if using mil type ammo with hard primers, you might have to have an extra power spring to get reliable strikes and then switch to the regular spring when firing commercial spec ammo. Depending on how easy Ruger makes it to disassemble the bolt, it could be minor or a major pain to do so.

No rifle that is new should be piercing primers but the SKS and the AK were designed with very robust firing pins to function in a military environment and the blaster ammo reflects this (I shoot reloads in an SKS using regular primers but I also use Murray's firing pin that is spring loaded). Bulk 7.62x39 steel cased ammo generally reflects this (not sure what primers Hornady Steel Match uses).

 

[CraigC]

This rifle was just announced in the last several days. Mighty interesting!