Ruger american 6.5 creedmoor

[Waterboy3313]

I'm just curious what the opinions are on this rifle. Talking straight out of the box as is accuracy. I bought one based off of a friend's suggestion. Keep in mind this friend shoots in the king of of the two mile competition. Obviously not with this rifle. He did win a ruger american 6.5 creedmoor in some kind of raffle. He calls it his most impressive unimpressive rifle he's ever owned even using Hornady factory ammunition.

So after a solid year of hearing how good this rifle is and how basically I'm an idiot for not owning one I decided I would purchase one. Fast forward to today. Today is my 3rd time out with this rifle and I'm seriously not impressed.

My opinion is the trigger is weird and sucks. Even though I've adjusted it to the lightest it will go the goofy thing In my opinion is junk. The stock is light weight and flimsy at best. Please keep in mind I have been shooting off of a solid table with either a bi pod or Caldwell rest in the front with bags in the rear.

I've been using my hand loads. 140gr Hornady Eld-m projectiles, H4350, alpha munitions brass with cci primers. First time out I shot the best group, second time out was a refined workup. I was rushing and shaking so I decided to shut it down after running my fowler group. Today I started off with some basic stuff and when I attempted to shoot my workup I was allover the board. The load I had previously shot my best group the first time was garbage today.

My biggest complaints are the trigger and stock. The trigger is just weird. It kind of reminds me of glock trigger depress the button before you get pressure on the trigger type thing. I ordered a timney for it. The second problem is the stock. Light weight flimsy etc. The stock I want is literally out of stock everywhere I look.
I'm curious if maybe stiffening it up and adding some weight to it would help.

I guess in the end it's a $500 rifle. Maybe I expect too much I don't know. I am curious if I'm out of line or doing something wrong. However I would expect my 100 yrd groups to be better. I did use JBs bore paste in the barrel before my first time out. All in all I've put about 75 rounds through it so far. Maybe it's still not broken in? I would be curious what the people with more experience than me have to say.

 

[BreechFace]

I’m not a fan of the accutrigger type triggers. I just purchased a youth American in 243 and before even shooting it ordered and am putting in a Timney trigger.

I’ll be making sure the barrel is free-floated and then will be doing some work on the stock. I plan on inletting some aluminum rods in to the fore-end and filling the waffle voids around the rods in with JB Weld to stiffen the fore-end. The rear of the stock I will be adding a small amount of weight and foam the rest of the void with expanding foam to get a nice balance to the rifle with the suppressor attached so it handles well.

Should make for a good youth rifle as my kids grow up.

I haven’t heard much bad about the Americans other than they are a budget rifle. When I received mine it definitely is cheaper feeling but with the reputation their CHF barrels and actions have for accuracy I can work with it. I’ll polish up the bolt and receiver and get it working smooth, but I enjoy all of that, others I imagine not so much.

I just mentioned all that to give you ideas, it doesn’t hurt to tinker a bit with the stock and see if you can make it workable. In regards to the trigger you know where I stand on that already.

have you checked to see if your barrel is free floated? I’ve heard a few reports of some not being and having to be clearanced as it was causing accuracy issues.

 

[Waterboy3313]

So the timney trigger is on order. I haven't checked the barrel is actually free floating. Just a quick look tells me it is but I have not ran anything between the stock and barrel to verify.

Talking with my buddy again the king of the two mile guy he says the flimsy stock is ok. It bugs the crap out of me but he said not to waste my time with it.

I guess my next move is to wait for the trigger to get here before I waste more time and components. If the trigger makes it better I will decide on what to do with the stock.

 

[CraigC]

I did use JBs bore paste in the barrel before my first time out.

Ugh. Why oh why do people go screwing with the bore of a new rifle they haven't even shot yet?

It's a budget rifle, it's going to have a cheap synthetic stock on it. Got no complaints, they are what they are. Lots of rifles these days have triggers like that, starting with the Savage Accutrigger, almost 20yrs ago now. It takes some getting used to but the result is usually a much better let-off than normally available on a sporting rifle, especially in their price range. They also tend to be way more accurate than they have a right to be. I have seven of these rifles and they all perform superbly.

 

[falmike]

Mine shot MOA or a bit better out of the box with factory and hand loaded hunting rounds. Rounds on target are what matters most

 

[redneck2]

I guess my next move is to wait for the trigger to get here before I waste more time and components. If the trigger makes it better I will decide on what to do with the stock

It amazes me when someone says they can’t afford a $1,200 rifle that is excellent out of the box (Tikka, Browning, CZ, etc.) but they can afford a $600 rifle. Then put another $600 into the cheap rifle to make it kinda like the $1,200 rifle. But end up with a mforphodite $600 rifle that’s now probably is worth less than $600 and they have all the time, work, and money in it

If you’re satisfied with the $600 rifle, it’s all good. Me? I’d sell this one and buy what I wanted. Cut my losses. If it won’t hold a group now a new trigger and stock probably won’t cure it

My next door neighbor has a Sako in .223. He admits that he isn’t a great rifle shot, so he had an acquaintance that is a national level bench rest shooter try it out. Multiple groups with hand loads were sub 1/2”. The guy said it was one of the most accurate factory rifles he’d ever seen, and if it was ever for sale he wanted it. Point is, many guys have a safe full of rifles that shoot 1”1/2-2”. If they would sell those they could get one Sako. But they’d rather have a bunch of mediocre ones than a few really good ones.

 

[Varminterror]

You can be guaranteed his Ko2M super magnum rifle doesn’t have a flimsy stock which isn’t free floating - I think you’re convoluting his opinion about the Ruger American as if it were at all related to his OTHER interests. If you ask Gordon Ramsay his favorite bubble gum, he has a favorite, but it won’t mean watermelon bubblicious is fine cuisine.

 

[FL-NC]

I have the RAR in 6.5 CM predator version. It comes with the medium heavy barrel and the monkeypoo green stock. I use Federal nontypical soft points, 140 grain. Modifications to the rifle include some spray paint for camo, properly mounted quality scope, and insuring that the screws to the action are torqued to 65 inch pounds. This rifle consistently shoots 1 MOA or better (1" or better groups at 100 yards).
My only complaint is that it is ugly and does not look good in the gun cabinet next to the '94, the Ithaca 37, and so on. As a fix, I store it in the gun safe where no one can see it, and it stays there until I case it and put it in my truck. Then I carry it in the woods to and from the deer stand before the process is reversed. I have killed 3 bucks with it, and they didn't seem to know that they were shot by a fugly rifle.

 

[InTheSwamp]

Not bad for a $500.00 rifle. RAP 65CM.

 

[entropy]

Waterboy 3313, I hear the same complaints about the Savage Axis II, but for the $29 it cost me, even with the stock trigger (no Mcarbo in it yet) and the the noodle factory stock, and cheap Bushnell 4-12 that came on it, it still shoots exactly where I want at 100 yards, and very close (just over 2") at 200. The American was built to compete with that, and surpasses it, from the couple I've seen on the line at the club.

 

[robin banks]

I'm just curious what the opinions are on this rifle. Talking straight out of the box as is accuracy. I bought one based off of a friend's suggestion. Keep in mind this friend shoots in the king of of the two mile competition. Obviously not with this rifle. He did win a ruger american 6.5 creedmoor in some kind of raffle. He calls it his most impressive unimpressive rifle he's ever owned even using Hornady factory ammunition.

So after a solid year of hearing how good this rifle is and how basically I'm an idiot for not owning one I decided I would purchase one. Fast forward to today. Today is my 3rd time out with this rifle and I'm seriously not impressed.

My opinion is the trigger is weird and sucks. Even though I've adjusted it to the lightest it will go the goofy thing In my opinion is junk. The stock is light weight and flimsy at best. Please keep in mind I have been shooting off of a solid table with either a bi pod or Caldwell rest in the front with bags in the rear.

I've been using my hand loads. 140gr Hornady Eld-m projectiles, H4350, alpha munitions brass with cci primers. First time out I shot the best group, second time out was a refined workup. I was rushing and shaking so I decided to shut it down after running my fowler group. Today I started off with some basic stuff and when I attempted to shoot my workup I was allover the board. The load I had previously shot my best group the first time was garbage today.

My biggest complaints are the trigger and stock. The trigger is just weird. It kind of reminds me of glock trigger depress the button before you get pressure on the trigger type thing. I ordered a timney for it. The second problem is the stock. Light weight flimsy etc. The stock I want is literally out of stock everywhere I look.
I'm curious if maybe stiffening it up and adding some weight to it would help.

I guess in the end it's a $500 rifle. Maybe I expect too much I don't know. I am curious if I'm out of line or doing something wrong. However I would expect my 100 yrd groups to be better. I did use JBs bore paste in the barrel before my first time out. All in all I've put about 75 rounds through it so far. Maybe it's still not broken in? I would be curious what the people with more experience than me have to say.

you are right it is 500 dollar rifle but I have heard 90% of people that have them that they shoot tiny groups. seems like you really want a 2k rifle if so then get it

 

[robin banks]

Ugh. Why oh why do people go screwing with the bore of a new rifle they haven't even shot yet?

It's a budget rifle, it's going to have a cheap synthetic stock on it. Got no complaints, they are what they are. Lots of rifles these days have triggers like that, starting with the Savage Accutrigger, almost 20yrs ago now. It takes some getting used to but the result is usually a much better let-off than normally available on a sporting rifle, especially in their price range. They also tend to be way more accurate than they have a right to be. I have seven of these rifles and they all perform superbly.

I was just going to say he should not have messed with the bore being hammer forged barrels to me are the best production barrels. no barrel should be JB'd from the start. your rifles accuracy is what I hear about most of them. it is ruger making a savage type rifle

 

[robin banks]

It amazes me when someone says they can’t afford a $1,200 rifle that is excellent out of the box (Tikka, Browning, CZ, etc.) but they can afford a $600 rifle. Then put another $600 into the cheap rifle to make it kinda like the $1,200 rifle. But end up with a mforphodite $600 rifle that’s now probably is worth less than $600 and they have all the time, work, and money in it

If you’re satisfied with the $600 rifle, it’s all good. Me? I’d sell this one and buy what I wanted. Cut my losses. If it won’t hold a group now a new trigger and stock probably won’t cure it

My next door neighbor has a Sako in .223. He admits that he isn’t a great rifle shot, so he had an acquaintance that is a national level bench rest shooter try it out. Multiple groups with hand loads were sub 1/2”. The guy said it was one of the most accurate factory rifles he’d ever seen, and if it was ever for sale he wanted it. Point is, many guys have a safe full of rifles that shoot 1”1/2-2”. If they would sell those they could get one Sako. But they’d rather have a bunch of mediocre ones than a few really good ones.

not every sako shoots half inch and I have seen many cheap savage rifles do it

 

[Captcurt]

Out of the 4 different Creedmoors that I have owned the American Predator out shot all of them without any workup of ammo. It didn't care what weight bullet was loaded and wasn't very picky about powder. My Bergara B-14 is awesome, but it took a lot of ladder loads get it where it is today. The American took a truckload of whitetails before I sold it to a friend. He took it to Texas for a hog hunt, shot through a hog and took out an expensive goat that was hidden behind some brush. He blames me. He was shooting my ammo recipe.

 

[Waterboy3313]

I didn't realize I would gather up so much hate because I decided to try to make something that essentially came off of an assembly line a little better. I'm no engineer but the real world taught me I can usually take something mediocre and make it better.

I don't care what anyone says triggers are key to better shooting/groups. I'm a bit of a trigger snob but something repeatable and consistent is going to give better results than a random feel. Enough of that take it how you will. I bought an inexpensive rifle chasing accuracy with some small changes based off of an experienced shooter friends experience.

The trigger is a pos in my opinion. Cool I spent $147 on a better trigger. The stock is also a factory pile. It's light weight plastic that is setup to work with the majority of mediocre people expecting mediocre results. I'm not the average sized guy and a Boyd's $200 stock isn't going to be waste of money. Especially if it fits me a lot better.

$500 rifle+$150 trigger so far equals $560. I don't understand how that can be compared to a $1200 rifle. Add $200-250 for a quality stock. Still not $1200 rifle that I would probably still want to change the trigger and stock on.

Maybe I'm stupid, maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm dumb? I don't really care what you want to call it . Making junk better is what I like to do. It's a hobby I'm not rich. I earn my money and like to see it go as far as possible and on top of that it's a hobby. I don't take my stuff to the gunsmith I make it best I can and learn why I do what I do.

Not only that I am hand loading my rounds to a very consistent and repeatable tolerance. I measure everything,every step of the way. Call it what you will because it's almost a sickness. Expecting better results when spending the time is all that I am doing.

Also cleaning up a fresh new barrel with jbs is like polishing a glock. Just helping to break it in faster. Cleaning up the rough edges to speed up break in. Not like doing machine work.

 

[jmr40]

I've had several Ruger Predators. They all shoot great.

The flimsy stock does not affect accuracy on that rifle.

The trigger is fine. The purpose of the blade in the middle is to prevent inertia from pulling the trigger if the rifle is dropped and if it is adjusted very light. Savage first used this type of trigger. Triggers without this feature can only be adjusted so light and still be safe. The blade means it can be adjusted much lighter and the trigger won't be pulled when dropped.

I had some issues with the standard 4 round rotary AND the newer 4 round staggered magazines. Not enough to be a deal killer as a range rifle, but just unreliable enough that I'd not trust one to hunt game that will bite back.

Don't throw money at the rifle. If you don't like it, sell it and buy something else. For less than you'd spend "upgrading" the Ruger you can get a better rifle.

I sold all of mine but the 223 Predator that takes AR magazines and replaced them with Tikka's. The AR mags work fine in my 223 and the Tikka's are better all around rifles for just a little more than a Ruger is selling for now. I paid $350 for the three Ruger Predator rifles I owned. Today they are closer to $600 and a Tikka is only $750.

 

[Waterboy3313]

I'm not going to claim I am good at anything here. Last year I picked up a savage axis 6.5 creedmoor. I screwed around with it and found out the barrel was junk. I literally paid $100 for it. All in all I ended up swapping it over to 223 rem. Not including optics I was into less than $600. Less than 1 moa at 100 yards. The $600 included the price of the rifle as well.

 

[BreechFace]

The trigger is a pos in my opinion. Cool I spent $147 on a better trigger. The stock is also a factory pile. It's light weight plastic that is setup to work with the majority of mediocre people expecting mediocre results. I'm not the average sized guy and a Boyd's $200 stock isn't going to be waste of money. Especially if it fits me a lot better.

$500 rifle+$150 trigger so far equals $560. I don't understand how that can be compared to a $1200 rifle. Add $200-250 for a quality stock. Still not $1200 rifle that I would probably still want to change the trigger and stock on..

I agree with you on the triggers, they are not for me either. I’m going to live with the stock for my kids rifle with the nearly free modifications, but the trigger had to go.

there are plenty out there that love those Accutrigger type triggers, good for them, saves them some money but the $147 for the Timney I was glad to spend.

 

[high country]

I traded for an American in 6.5 Creedmoor (standard version, not predator) a while back to stick an older scope that was collecting dust on as a "project zero money down"

I played with the trigger a little - made it better, not great, but better enough it doesn't bother me. A couple shims took the play out of the safety blade which made it feel much less cheap.

For the stock, there are two versions. The later ones have a honeycomb casting inside the forend that is decently stiff. The older ones just have horizontal ribs and is floppy. Mine has the new version, and it was really the cheap hollow feel that bothered me more than flex. I took the recoil pad off and packed the hollow inside of the butt as tight as I could with plastic shopping bags. I packed them in one at a time with a dowel. You can really pack them in there tight, it is much denser than spray foam. As shadetree as that sounds, it made a big difference in the feel. The price was right too.

It is still a budget entry-level rifle, but it shoots under an inch at 100 yards with no workup, operates nicely with the tinkering, and I don't care if it gets dinged up.

 

[CraigC]

I didn't realize I would gather up so much hate because I decided to try to make something that essentially came off of an assembly line a little better.

That's not why. Probably because your OP denigrated a well proven rifle. Your assessment is wholly flawed. You "polished" the bore, which polishes the good parts as much as the bad, before even shooting a rifle reputed for its accuracy. It's an entry level hunting rifle, not a target rifle. As far as the stock, you can have cheap, light or stiff, pick any two. The trigger is certainly good enough to be able to shoot the rifle to its potential. You provided incomplete information (group sizes???), claimed during one of your whopping three range sessions that you were shaky and rushed. So at this point it sounds like you're blaming the rifle when the issue 'may' very well lie elsewhere. That's just my observation.

 

[codytrucker]

I don't have a RAR in 6.5 CM . I do have 1 in 22-250 , and 1 in 6mm CM . Both predator models. I've had the 22-250 for a while , the 6mm not so long . I first did the reinforcing stuff to the 22-250 . It stiffened it up , but i just don't like plastic stocks . So i put it in a Bell and Carlson and was pretty happy with it . Then I got the 6mm , and decided to put it in a Boyd's walnut stock . I couldn't get it to shoot , had a lot of horizontal dispersion , 2 to 3 inches . Decided to try putting the B&C stock on it one day to see if any difference . Groups shrunk down to unbelievable size . Went to put the wood stock on 22-250 and it wouldn't go on , turns out there was just a slight bearing spot in the trigger cut out , fixed that and re-tried both combos again . The 22-250 shoots about the same from either. ( about 3/4 inch with a 69 grn matchburner) . But the 6mm shoots lights out with the B&C , much better then the Boyd's . No knock on Boyd's , another one might have the opposite reaction , thats just how rifles can be sometimes .

 

[Laphroaig]

Also cleaning up a fresh new barrel with jbs is like polishing a glock. Just helping to break it in faster. Cleaning up the rough edges to speed up break in. Not like doing machine work.

I can't see how using JB as directed would be the source of your problems. It was developed by a benchrest shooter and has been successfully used for over 50 years. The better target barrels are hand lapped with abrasives much more aggressive than JB.

 

[Varminterror]

The better target barrels are hand lapped with abrasives much more aggressive than JB.

Lapping with a poured lead lap is a different function than polishing with a patched jag. Pretty clear to see the difference between relatively uniform, well fitting surface contact with lands and grooves compared to wedging a patch tightly against lands (especially corners of lands) with much lesser pressure on the grooves.

 

[CraigC]

Yep! If you're breaking the edges of the lands, you're basically prematurely wearing your barrel out. Just shoot the damned thing.

 

[InTheSwamp]

Yep! If you're breaking the edges of the lands, you're basically prematurely wearing your barrel out. Just shoot the damned thing.

A thin layer of copper does the trick