Howdy! Long time creeper. First time poster. As the title states I have a Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmoor. And boy did I get a steal. As much as I hate to say it, it outshoots my Savage 12 LRP and Bergara HMR. It’s just great. Best 425 bucks I’ve ever spent. Handloads are .2-.4 all day with, wait for it, Hornady 129 grain soft points. Anyways, most other loads tend to have a flyer. Like 120 grain A-max will have 2 same hole and 1 a half inch away. So, question. I’ve thought about bedding this cheapy stock. Is it worth messing with? Anybody done it? I don’t wanna do an aftermarket stock yet. Too much fun shooting my 400 dollar rifle beside the Tikkas, bergaras and custom guns! Thanks fellas!!
Ruger American Predator 6.5
- Thread starter HVACguy
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I don't think it's worth betting the action on a Ruger American. The v blocks basically act as your bedding system.
I have found some advantage in stiffening the fore end, and/or opening up a list of 1/8 inch channel between the barrel and the stock.
Both of my Ruger American 6.5 shot right around half/three quarter minute angle with best loads. They shot pretty much anything into about minute of angle.
Try shooting a few five shot groups and see if you continuously get one outside the rest.
I have found some advantage in stiffening the fore end, and/or opening up a list of 1/8 inch channel between the barrel and the stock.
Both of my Ruger American 6.5 shot right around half/three quarter minute angle with best loads. They shot pretty much anything into about minute of angle.
Try shooting a few five shot groups and see if you continuously get one outside the rest.
If the barrel is contacting the stock it could cause issues. Making the forend stiffer will allow a tighter fit between the barrel and stock without allowing them to touch. But the easiest solution is a generous free float. Not worth the effort or expense trying to stiffen the stock when a few minutes with some sandpaper in the barrel channel does the same thing. Find a wooden dowel or deep well socket of the right size, wrap sandpaper around it and open up the forend.
Going with an aftermarket stock most likely won't do anything to make it more accurate. It might improve the looks, but to me it just isn't worth the expense. I got mine when they were selling for $350. You paid $425. The only aftermarket stock that appeals to me is the Bell & Carlson Medalist and it is $300. That turns the Rugers into a $650-$750 gun. While I like the Rugers just fine if I'm going to have $700 invested in a gun I think there are better choices. I'm keeping mine pretty much as is.
One change I did make that you may consider. To me the whole point of 6.5 CM is to shoot the long 140-150 gr high BC bullets. I found that some of those bullets didn't always feed from the factory stock. A tip I picked up and will pass along is to order one the Ruger magazines designed for 450 Bushmaster. They are a single stack 3 round mag that protrudes slightly below the stock. But they fit the stock and my loads feed 100% with those mags. Especially with longer bullets. Shorter hunting loads feed just fine from the factory 4 round mags.
Ruger American Rifle® - 450 Bushmaster Magazine-ShopRuger
Going with an aftermarket stock most likely won't do anything to make it more accurate. It might improve the looks, but to me it just isn't worth the expense. I got mine when they were selling for $350. You paid $425. The only aftermarket stock that appeals to me is the Bell & Carlson Medalist and it is $300. That turns the Rugers into a $650-$750 gun. While I like the Rugers just fine if I'm going to have $700 invested in a gun I think there are better choices. I'm keeping mine pretty much as is.
One change I did make that you may consider. To me the whole point of 6.5 CM is to shoot the long 140-150 gr high BC bullets. I found that some of those bullets didn't always feed from the factory stock. A tip I picked up and will pass along is to order one the Ruger magazines designed for 450 Bushmaster. They are a single stack 3 round mag that protrudes slightly below the stock. But they fit the stock and my loads feed 100% with those mags. Especially with longer bullets. Shorter hunting loads feed just fine from the factory 4 round mags.
Ruger American Rifle® - 450 Bushmaster Magazine-ShopRuger
FL-NC
Member
I have the same rifle and I get similar results with Federal nontypical 140 grain SP's. My $400 Ruger actually shoots tighter groups than my Remington factory rebuild M24 sniper rifle, using M118 LR. With results like that, I don't see a point to changing a thing. I do make sure the 2 bolts that hold the action into the stock are consistently set at 65 inch pounds.
Thanks for the words of wisdom fellas. It’s almost cheap enough to just experiment with it. But then again I feel like a got a gem out of the bunch. So your probably right. I’ll most likely leave it alone. Fired the first group of 95 grain V-Max today and it printed 1/2 inch too. Anyways, if you guys that have them haven’t got the old beaver (I think that’s what it’s called) trigger spring for he Ruger Americans, do it. Do it now.
Captcurt
Member
I have had the same experience with the American Predator. It was the most accurate out-of-the-box creedmoor out of my four. It was the only one that shot everything well. Didn't matter if it was a 140gr or 120gr bullet and you could pick several powders that worked fine. As for the forearm, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I've been replacing all my RA trigger springs with the buffer retaining pin springs for ar-15s.
That lets me comfortably set my triggers a 2 lb which is what I now prefer.
troy fairweather
Member
The predator is threaded right, maybe try a barrel tuner like the one Eric cortina makes, believe there a $100 sometimes a flyer happens when your on the edge of a node. Check the forend clearance to.
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