ruger american or "other"

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greyling22

greyling22

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I'm about to buy a hunting rifle that will spend some significant range time shooting paper. Here are the 2 main criteria: 1) left handed 2) under 550. I'd also like to keep recoil down. 308 is kind of a max recoil threshold.

currently I'm looking at the ruger american predator in 6.5 creedmore for $410, but I hear the stock is junk, so maybe add 150 to that for a boyds.
other options would be :
a regular american in 7mm-08 for $360
thompson dimension in 7mm-08 for $490 after rebate
savage axis in 7mm-08 for 250 after rebate (not a huge fan of this option because it's ugly, needs trigger and stock work, and rough)
I suppose there are remingotn 700's and savage 10's out there that might be found used in my price range, but there is not telling if I would find one in a timely manner.

I guess the main question is "is a t/c dimension a better gun than an american?"

A browning or tikka would be my first choice, but they have skyrocketed in price since I last looked at them and are out.

ps: a 243 could be substituted in for 7mm-08 in a pinch. I'm just looking at whitetail and antelope at shots under 500yds. probably more like 200yd range.
 
I have a Ruger American predator in 308, and I love it. I also love my Rem 700 in 243. I would take any white tail or similr sized game with that 243 to 300 meters. Beyond that, I would use 308. The 6.5 CM is a great caliber, but I am set up for 308.
 
I would opt for the American or a savage 11.

Keep in mind you have to do some work with the bedding blocks for the American if you get a Boyd’s. Don’t know if that matters to you.

Skip the axis. Stock is worse than the American (to me anyway) mainly because the bedding system and the trigger can’t really be stoned since it’s sintered.
Axis ii has the accutrigger but then you are at nearly savage 11 pricing which is $400-$500 plus the 11 has an action you can build on.

From what I understand though the same plastastic mag on the axis is still used in the the 11. My savages are blind mag because of that.

Cdnn may have a few of the lefty Ruger 77 for sale. Personally it would be my choice over any of the above by a good margin.
 
Id chose a rar/variation or a savage10
But that personal preference. The savage, is a savage, and the rar is currently my favorite, or perhaps second favorite budget rifle.
All the guns youve listed should do quite well tho.

Personally i dont find rar stocks to be as bad as everyone says.
 
Oh, and the stock on that M111 is not flimsy! It is a well thought out design. I will not be wasting my money on an after-market stocks.

Also look at the Savage M10SBA “Tactical” model in 308 Win. I think they may be only right hand. I bought that a couple of months back at Dick’s for $599 with scope, bases, rings on the rifle. The price dropped to $399, at 57 Days after I bought mine. Dick’s reimbursed me the difference.

They are tack-drivers. The photos below are the rifle package, and 100 yard targets. The single hole target was fired using Hornady SuperFormance 150 SSTs. The 1” group was cheap Hornady Whitetail, 150 grain ammo.

Edit to add, I set my Nightforce on it to see it the bell would clear the barrel. It did. The scope shown in the first pic is what was included. The Bushnell is a very nice optic...adjusts great; holds its zero.

Geno
 
I have a savage. an awesome savage in 257AI in a fagen-made weatherby-looking stock. Problem is that it weighs a metric ton with the varmint profile barrel, the big scope, and stock with lots of wood on it. It's got a great slick bolt on it and quite frankly, they don't make them like they used to. Compared to modern savages it's like comparing silk and sandpaper, and I just can't bear how rough the new ones are. I've come to the conclusion that I just like 60-70 degree bolt throws and smooth actions. tikka, browning, some remington's, ruger american with some work....

cdnn was a good thought, and has a couple left hand american's but they are compact guns, and I am 6'4" and have some concerns about the short LOP. and the 77's they have are in 30-06 and 300rcm. I've been down the 30-06 road before and didn't like it, and 300rcm is a dead caliber that was probably too punchy for me anyway. and the 223 and 204 they have, well I already have bolt action and semi auto 223 guns. The stainless 243 compact american it what I would buy if it wasn't compact. I just don't know how much that short barrel and stock would bother me.....

If it came in right hand, I'd get a thompson venture or a winchester xpr. those are running around $400, but alas, genetics are against me.
 
greyling22 said:
I suppose there are remingotn 700's and savage 10's out there that might be found used in my price range, but there is not telling if I would find one in a timely manner.
Click to expand...

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...lt+Action+Centerfire/Remington+700+SPS+7mm-08

Between initial quality and aftermarket support, I have a hard time recommending anything other than the M700. It's the AR, the Glock of the bolt action world these days. Nigh every precision rifle is based on it.
 
Agreed...the 700s are fantastic rifles! And now they can be enhanced with a barrel nut design like the Savage, ergo maintaining it and switching barrels is easy. That makes it more cost effective (JMHO).
 
Given your purpose is to spend a lot of time with this rifle at the range, I recommend one of the Savages suggested because of their inherent accuracy.
 
MachIVshooter said:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...lt+Action+Centerfire/Remington+700+SPS+7mm-08

Between initial quality and aftermarket support, I have a hard time recommending anything other than the M700. It's the AR, the Glock of the bolt action world these days. Nigh every precision rifle is based on it.
Click to expand...

that's a right handed gun. the lefty guns are up above 500 and have 26" barrels or large calibers. And while I might jump up a little above 500 for a nice used wood stocked cdl or a-bolt (or xbolt), probably not going to do it for plastic stocks and the rough blacky-blued finish.

and the purpose in life is not as a target rifle, the purpose is a hunting rifle, but I am being realistic with myself and admitting that I will probably shoot 200 rounds at the range to ever 1 fired at a living animal. If I just wanted a range gun I'd be looking at a bergara, or better yet, a custom action like a surgeon, templar or stiller and a bartlein, kreiger or brux barrel in 6x47 lapua built up with some nice english walnut and oh my gosh I just blew past $3500 before optics :what:
 
Last edited:
greyling22 said:
that's a right handed gun. the lefty guns are up above 500 and have 26" barrels or large calibers. And while I might jump up a little above 500 for a nice used wood stocked cdl or a-bolt (or xbolt), probably not going to do it for plastic stocks and the rough blacky-blued finish.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I missed that. I'll keep my eyes open. I still think an M700 is the way to go, even if it means scrimping and saving a little more.
 
The American will fit your needs well. I have 2 Ruger Americans and a savage axis. They are all 3 very accurate with both rugers a wee bit more accurate than the savage.
While I don't care for any plastic black stocks much, I think the Ruger has a MUCH better stock than axis. The axis just feels cheap to me but I can't say it isn't an accurate gun as long as you don't put too much pressure on the forestock and create barrel contact. The ruger stock flexes much less. I personally stay away from all Remington guns unless they are old. I don't want any Remingtons made in the 21st century.
If you decide to go the axis route because of just a great deal, they look great in some of the boyds stocks. Here is an axis I am doing a trigger improvement (7lb. 3 oz pull..yikes) and stock replacement. After pillar and glass bedding it the new stock, buying a metal trigger guard and mag catch plus the trigger kit, I will have a almost $300 in the gun just for that. Not economical since that's almost as much as he paid for the gun but it looks nice anyway. If you can find it, the Ruger is the way to go for a cheap, very accurate hunting rifle. 20171103_005542.jpg 20171103_010506.jpg 20171103_005509.jpg
 
I don't have anything bad to say about the American, aside from the fact that "I" don't like their stocks.

Personally, I'm thrilled with my Savages and just sold a Remington 700 because it wasn't getting any use. My Savages are lightweight and just as accurate as any Remington or Tikka or Weatherby or Ruger I've ever shot, if not moreso.

I don't own an Axis. I have Model 10's and 11's.
 
What about the Thompson dimension? It's funny looking and I don't need switch barrels, bit after the axis and the American it's the cheapest left hand rifle I can find. I don't mind the looks that much and it looks like it might be comfortable, but there is 0 chance of finding one locally to look at.
 
Thompson is too heavy IMO. I am very weight conscious because I tend to walk and carry my rifles a lot. Both of my Savages come in at exactly 7 lbs. scoped. That's an ideal weight for carrying but still shooting well IMO.
 
There is a reason SOCOM operators in the sandbox were emailing dudes back in 01-02 to bring .45s.

The 9mm ball was not getting the job done.

Ever wonder why operators like Chris Kyle chose the .45? Because 9mm ball is not nearly as effective as .45 ACP.

Period.
 
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