Ruger American Gen II

I may end up purchasing one of these 20" 223 for my kids. Will make a good range and predator rifle for them to further hone their skills on. They'll think the spiral fluting is cool no doubt.
 
WisBorn said:
I was looking at the Ruger African M77 in 375 Ruger. I dislike the wing three position safety, but think a 375 Ruger would be cool to own!!!
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That's one of the best parts of the Ruger!

I could see myself getting into a 375 Ruger someday. It would be a rifle I don't need as I have my big game rifle covered, but it would be really nice to hit with some real authority sometime.
 
Man, I'm seriously tired of hearing about the flimsy stocks on the Americans. I've had mine out to 600 yards and the stock wasn't the limiting factor.

For hunting, what would have caught my attention with a Gen 2 is a safety that is quiet. Accuracy isn't the problem.
 
Hookeye said:
Local shop has a used one, yeah, I been eyeballing it LOL
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Unless it's a king's ransom, buy it!

I've had two and had a 416 Ruger, also. I got rid of the 416 fast. It shot ok, but the laminated stock was about as pretty as a mud fence.

The 375 Ruger round is probably close to what H&H would have developed, had they developed their 375 today. It's an excellent design and inherently accurate, AND, it doesn't stretch cases a yard with every shot. I sold both of mine, a first generation and a later better designed one, since I have had two 375 H&H rifles for many years, a pre-64 Mdl 70 and an FN custom that was built VERY light as an elk rifle. It has a lot of saddle sores from miles in a scabbard.

I wish Ruger had designed an American in their 375. I'd own one, but I don't know why, except that it's a great round in a rifle that is highly accurate. OK...it's a sickness. o_O
 
The three position safety is a big win in my opinion, I wish more companies would move to that from the Rem 700 style. The adjustable stock is also a nice functional touch even if it does offend some folks sensibilities, and the shorter threaded barrels save you $150 worth of gunsmith work out the gate if you shoot suppressed (which more and more people are). I'd also take cerakote over blue for a hunting rifle any day. All in all it looks like a nice upgrade and good value for a rifle that's probably going to have a street price in the high $5xx to $600 range, I might wind up picking one up in 6mm or 22 ARC for my oldest son to grow into and use for deer.
 
zdc1775 said:
Actually the shorter barrel preference is more from my time hunting out west in WA than my prior hunting experiences here in the south east since we mostly hunted over fields from box blinds.

After buying my first 20" barreled 308 I realized that it was just much easier to carry and move around with vs the 24" 30-06 I was using before buying that gun. Combine that with my experiences overseas using a Mk12 out to around 600 meters and seeing it's effectiveness and now the only long barreled rifles that I own are that old 30-06 and a RA predator in 6 CM that I haven't gotten around to sending off to a gunsmith to be cut back, or swapping the barrel out on.

And I agree with you that a bolt gun in 358 Win or 338 Federal and an 18" barrel would make a handy little rifle, but my walking around rifle for this season has been a 10.5" AR in 300 BLK and I don't see changing that out anytime soon.
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That's funny..

Cause I grew up back east, hunting in RI, CT and upstate NY and never had an issue with 22" barrels until I got to FT. Lewis and western WA state! That thick forest and deadfalls just suck when toting a long barrel heavy rifle. Since then I've always owned 19-20" barrels for hunting rifles.

And by coincidence my latest project rifle is a 19" barreled 358Win:

9eikMLwl.jpg


More for deer drives than the thick forest of western WA state.
 
Chuck R. said:
That's funny..

Cause I grew up back east, hunting in RI, CT and upstate NY and never had an issue with 22" barrels until I got to FT. Lewis and western WA state! That thick forest and deadfalls just suck when toting a long barrel heavy rifle. Since then I've always owned 19-20" barrels for hunting rifles.

And by coincidence my latest project rifle is a 19" barreled 358Win:

9eikMLwl.jpg


More for deer drives than the thick forest of western WA state.
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Yeah that is funny. I was just up the peninsula from you at NBK Bangor.

Also really like the looks of that rifle. Remington 7600?
 
mshootnit said:
never owned one yet, these changes will not change that. Hey Ruger, how about a nice run of walnut sporter M77's?
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Question for anyone: How do the Hawkeyes compare to the Ruger American Gen 1 or 2?

I can see that the MSRP is about double the Gen 2, but they're still not expensive.
They're heavier.
I've read some people complain about casting lines.
I like stainless steel. I have blued, stainless, and cerakote. I appreciate the traditional aesthetic of blued, but stainless is practical and carefree.
I've had a Mauser, Model 70, and a CZ. I understand the Hawkeye is a mauser-style action.
Does the open style receiver cost accuracy compared to the Ruger American?
How are the Hawkeyes bedded?
Any other contrasts?
 
westernrover said:
Question for anyone: How do the Hawkeyes compare to the Ruger American Gen 1 or 2?

I can see that the MSRP is about double the Gen 2, but they're still not expensive.
They're heavier.
I've read some people complain about casting lines.
I like stainless steel. I have blued, stainless, and cerakote. I appreciate the traditional aesthetic of blued, but stainless is practical and carefree.
I've had a Mauser, Model 70, and a CZ. I understand the Hawkeye is a mauser-style action.
Does the open style receiver cost accuracy compared to the Ruger American?
How are the Hawkeyes bedded?
Any other contrasts?
Click to expand...

Hawkeyes are a much more refined rifle than the American line. A Hawkeye is simply a M77 MKII just with some differences in finish and stock.

They are fantastic guns in my opinion. They are controlled round feed, have a 3-position safety, coned breech and are a very robust action patterned after the Mauser in many ways.

Where the American gains on the M77 is the round receiver formed from bar stock a departure for Rugers extensive use of “lost wax” casting. The nature of the round receiver makes it easier to be precise with machining and much easier to bed if needed or desired. It also utilizes their proprietary steel V-Blocks that which makes a very solid connection between the receiver and the stock and act as pillar beds as well the American line is also free-floated.

By contrast the M77 Hawkeyes have an angled recoil lug that pulls the action into the stock and many benefit from some skip bedding. The M77 Rugers need to have 80-90 inch/lbs of torque on that angled recoil lug or they won’t shoot well. The M77 is also designed to have some upward pressure towards the front end of the stock on the barrel.

It wouldn’t surprise me if 8 times out of 10 a stock American would outshoot a stock M77 by a small amount. But the M77 is a much nicer rifle in my opinion, no comparison. And for the $4-500 premium that’s not surprising. I for one much prefer the new trigger Ruger is putting into their M77 and Hawkeyes, it is a very nice trigger. I have several and they all are sub 3# and break nice.

All of this shouldn’t take away from what the American line is, there are so many out there for a reason, they will flat shoot. And their cost is very attractive for the performance. Yes, there are things that need improved such as some stiffening of the front stock area, polishing of the bolt and race, and for me the trigger as I don’t like the blade safety triggers on rifles.
 
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zdc1775 said:
Yeah that is funny. I was just up the peninsula from you at NBK Bangor.

Also really like the looks of that rifle. Remington 7600?
Click to expand...
That area was something of a shock, when I PCS'd there I arrived with an 8mm Mag 26" barrel, 300WM 24" barrel and a .270 24" barrel.

Now for blinds, stands, still hunting and drives I really like 19-20" tubes.

Yup.. it's a 7600

It started life as a .243Win, had it re-bored by JES to 358Win, barrel cut down to 19", CeraKoted, and added synthetic furniture. I just zero'd it yesterday with "THE" scope, which is a Leupold 1.5-5 Illuminated "Twilight Hunter" in Warne QD mounts. The trigger is very good (for a 7600) so I think the PO already had it reworked.

It's another WA state holdover as I saw a similar rifle at a Gunshow there; 760 in 35Whelen (rechambered 35Rem) that someone had chopped the barrel and hard chromed. Just about the perfect elk rifle for the kind of hunting I did there. I passed on it, because I had just ordered a REM M7 in 350RM. But the concept has stuck with me since. Kind of out of place in KS, but since I'm in the mountainous NE KS area, I'll get some use out of it during our annual deer drive when the other guys break out their 30-30s and 35s. Since all the cool kids were using fast repeaters I felt left out :(I'm lever-action "poor", own 1 in 45Colt which is a holdover from CAS and like the pump better anyway.
 
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I have 7 M77 MKII's in the family, and one American. All are in .308 except one MKII in 22 WMR. 2 MKII's are the stainless all-weather version for the ladies/kids to hunt with. OK triggers, small, and lite. Shoot well enough (1.5 MOA) on an average day. Also have a standard wood stock MKII model that shoots about the same. My American 308 has a better trigger and shots closer to 1 MOA with good factory ammo. With the American I'm not a fan of the magazine. Have had zero issues but just feels a bit fragile. Also, not a fan of the safety. I really like the MK II safeties. In full safe they really aren't going to get inadvertently clicked off and blocks the bolt/firing pin. Not going off if dropped. American safeties may be perfectly fine but just like the MKII's more.

3 of the MKII's are the bull barrel version. The VT 308 with laminate wood is the most accurate. Factory two stage trigger is great and shoots sub 1/2 MOA with good factory ammo and sub 1/4 MOA with my fired brass handloads. Also have a 20 inch bull barrel version that came from the factory with a Hogue stock and same 2 stage trigger. Great gun in the woods and just as accurate

Will be getting the Gen II American in 300 Blackout when it becomes available. The stock adjustment options are perfect for my use. Will have a suppressor on it all the time so stock weights can give it better balance. Will be set up for subsonic only so I can deal with an armadillo over population issue in the yard. I'm really impressed with the GEN II potential. IMO, Ruger is making a better product while keeping the price resonable...and not getting rid of the Hawkeye line.

I also have their Marlin 1895 SBL in 45-70. Re-sited it in recently with Barnes Vor-TX ammon in 300 gr TSX FN for deer season. Was shocked to see it 5 shot grouped sub 1/2 MOA at 100 yards. I didn't expect that. Ruger is on a roll, IMO
 
I have both a Hawkeye and an American and can say, even though they have about equal trade-offs, I prefer using the American and I prefer looking at the Hawkeye.

I like the weight, the 3 lug bolt, and the scope mounting rail, and removable magazine (wish it was flush fitting) of the American.

I like the stock, safety, trigger, and flush hinged floor plate on the Hawkeye.
 
Got em at GrabaGun already.

grabagun.com

Ruger American Gen 2 Grey .450 BM 20" Threaded Barrel W/ Brake 3-Rounds

The Ruger American Gen 2 Grey Splatter, chambered in .450 Bushmaster, is a robust and versatile rifle designed for hunting and target shooting. It features a 20-inch threaded barrel with a gun metal gray Cerakote finish and muzzle brake, providing durability and a unique appearance. The rifle's...
grabagun.com grabagun.com

It’s nice when something is announced that it is actually in stock somewhere.

$524 before shipping and transfer for the 450 BM which I am most interested in. Looks the same for 6.5 CM but oddly 7mm-08 and 204 Ruger chambers are $600

But woof. They are showing $734 for the Ranch version which is not in stock. That must just be a placeholder until they can get them from the supplier to establish their own retail pricing.

grabagun.com

Ruger American Ranch Gen 2 FDE .450 BM 16.4" Threaded Barrel W/ Brake 3-Rounds

The Ruger American Ranch Gen 2 in FDE Splatter is a robust and efficient rifle, designed for various shooting activities. Chambered in .450 Bushmaster, it features a 16.4-inch threaded barrel with a cobalt Cerakote finish and muzzle brake. The rifle offers a 3-round capacity and has an overall...
grabagun.com grabagun.com
 
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