Ruger American Ranch gen the 1 or gen 2?

[MISportsman]

I have been wanting a Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39 for a long time but every time I have the money I end up buying something else. I think this tax season I will finally pull the trigger on one (pun intended) with both generations being available which would be the better buy for a woods hunting rifle?

 

[Grunt]

I went with the Gen. 1 in 5.56mm. I turned it into my yote blaster.

 

[LoonWulf]

Gen2s are worth the upgrade cost imo, if your happy with the way they look.

 

[Space Ghost]

I (like Grunt) went with the Gen 1 in 5.56. I'm not a fan of spiral fluting for one, plus I found mine second hand for a good price.
A light weight PA 1-8 LPVO, M16 sling, a suppressor mount and she's good to go. 10 rd Pmags ain't that expensive.

 

[Space Ghost]

I went with the Gen. 1 in 5.56mm. I turned it into my yote blaster.
View attachment 1202137

By going with the Magpul stock... don't you lose the STANAG mag ability? Or did you have an early one wit the rotary mag?

 

[LoonWulf]

they have a stanag compatible version now. I considered it when planning my ARC build, but wanted a more bench specific stock than the Hunter, so opted to drop the STANAG for AICS

 

[adcoch1]

I checked out a gen 2 at the gun store after owning several Gen 1 rifles. I was very pleasantly surprised with how nice it was. Like space ghost I don't generally like spiral fluting, but it wasn't garish, a lot more subtle aesthetically than the pictures online lead me to believe, and the stock is a lot nicer. It feels about 50% closer to a Tikka then the gen 1.
I am slightly frustrated that the long action version ONLY comes with rotary mags.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

Can you handle them side-by-side?
My gen1 had more tool marks, milled sharp edges, and burrs than any firearm I've ever seen.
It works fine, but if they address this in gen2 I would pay more.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

I went with the 300 Blackout gen 2, it was only $25 more and well worth it. Now if it was over a hundred more then I would have gone with a gen 1 and upgraded the stock.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I have a 300 blackout Gen 1 and it works fine. Optics are a Vortex LVPO
Have two more Ruger American rifles, both with 22" barrels, a Predator in .223 and a Rimfire that I love

 

[MISportsman]

The gen 2 does seem to be a bit nicer. Are they as accurate as the gen 1?

 

[Varminterror]

The gen 2 does seem to be a bit nicer. Are they as accurate as the gen 1?

Same action, same trigger, same barrel mandrels, just different hammers. Stock is improved, safety selector is improved, barrel is a little heavier contour, and still a little heavier overall after fluting, which overall should yield a more shootable rifle than the G1. No change to bore quality otherwise.

 

[CraigC]

I've got four Gen1's in 6.5Grendel, 6.5Creed, .300Blk and .450BM and am intrigued by the Gen2's. Don't know that I could put one over the other, they're just a little different. Been thinking about swapping my early rotary mag .300Blk Gen1 for a Gen2 but may go 7.62x39 instead. I just wish they'd offer an iron sight model.

 

[jdc1244]

Like others I have both.

I went with the Gen II in x39 – to me it’s clearly the nicer rifle.