Which Ruger American?

[Olympus]

I've been on the hunt for a decent synthetic stock rifle to use as a knock-around gun, truck gun, bad weather deer rifle, etc. I'm leaning more toward the Ruger American right now. It's not perfect, but I do have two of the American Rimfire Predator rifles and they have both been excellent, so I'm thinking the centerfire version should be decent. I think I've narrowed my choices down to the American Ranch in 6.5 Grendel and the regular American in 243, but I'm having trouble deciding between the two.

I'm leaning toward the 6.5 Grendel Ranch currently. I like the shorter 16" barrel size and think it would make a good truck gun and not be too big to get in and out of a vehicle. I also like the option of having the cheap Wolf ammo that I could use for plinking or range fun. I like that it also uses AR mags.

But the regular American in 243 would have better ballistics. It's a more traditional hunting rifle with the 22" barrel. But even when I'm hunting, my longest shot would be maybe 250 yards. And I hunt my own property so it would have to be an absolute monster that just wouldn't come any closer for me to take a shot that long. Otherwise, I get countless opportunities at deer under 100 yards season.

I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts on these two options. Thanks!

 

[CraigC]

Been considering the Ranch 6.5Grendel myself. I have a serious prejudice against the .243 and will take virtually anything bigger any day of the week.

 

[Skylerbone]

I’ve had a prejudice against Remington the past decade or so, so they weren’t really on my radar until I ran into their 783. I actually liked the feel of it a bit more than the RAP I own so a .243 found its way to my safe.

I think 6.5 Grendel is probably a better choice given your parameters if you’re not already invested in .243 or want to shoot factory loaded ammo.


The stock is a bit less grippy compared to the Ruger, trigger pull, pad, and finish are similar. The biggest plus for the Remington is the bolt.

 

[Olympus]

Thanks for the recommendation of the 783, but I’ve not been a fan of Remington for quite some time either. I feel pretty comfortable with the Ruger American since I have two of their rimfire models.

I do already reload for the 243, but I would still have to work up a load for that specific gun. I have a lot of 95gr SST bullets and 87gr Sierra BTHP bullets.

 

[Olon]

I've been on the hunt for a decent synthetic stock rifle to use as a knock-around gun, truck gun, bad weather deer rifle, etc. I'm leaning more toward the Ruger American right now. It's not perfect, but I do have two of the American Rimfire Predator rifles and they have both been excellent, so I'm thinking the centerfire version should be decent. I think I've narrowed my choices down to the American Ranch in 6.5 Grendel and the regular American in 243, but I'm having trouble deciding between the two.

I'm leaning toward the 6.5 Grendel Ranch currently. I like the shorter 16" barrel size and think it would make a good truck gun and not be too big to get in and out of a vehicle. I also like the option of having the cheap Wolf ammo that I could use for plinking or range fun. I like that it also uses AR mags.

But the regular American in 243 would have better ballistics. It's a more traditional hunting rifle with the 22" barrel. But even when I'm hunting, my longest shot would be maybe 250 yards. And I hunt my own property so it would have to be an absolute monster that just wouldn't come any closer for me to take a shot that long. Otherwise, I get countless opportunities at deer under 100 yards season.

I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts on these two options. Thanks!

I like the 243 but the ability to take AR mags is pretty cool IMO. Also the availability of relatively cheap plinking ammo. For what you want (plinking, truck gun, possibly hunting), it sounds like the 6.5 is about right.

 

[Armored farmer]

I bought ruger's Ranch rifle in 7.62x39 as my knockabout.
I personally like a .243, but must admit that I have never used it for anything but varmint gun.

 

[Olympus]

I've looked at the 762x39, but having to use the Mini 30 mags was a downside to me. Those things are a lot more expensive compared to AR mags.

 

[Armored farmer]

I've looked at the 762x39, but having to use the Mini 30 mags was a downside to me. Those things are a lot more expensive compared to AR mags.

They are. I have a 5rd. 10rd, and a 20rd. That's all I intend to get.
I'm not really pushing the 7.62x39. It's a cheap shooter.
I would think a .243 would be better.

 

[army_eod]

I bought ruger's Ranch rifle in 7.62x39 as my knockabout.
View attachment 909023 I personally like a .243, but must admit that I have never used it for anything but varmint gun.

This was my recommendation. I have the same. Fantastic gun. I have a Surefire brake on mine.

 

[army_eod]

I've looked at the 762x39, but having to use the Mini 30 mags was a downside to me. Those things are a lot more expensive compared to AR mags.

How many mags do you want?

 

[Olympus]

I'm not interested in the 762x39 in this gun at all. If I wanted to go 762x39, I would buy a CZ 527 carbine.

 

[WisBorn]

I would go with the 243 based on its dual purpose usefulness and popularity.
Ammo is not to hard to find either.

 

[MISportsman]

I have a ruger American predator .243 as my coyote rifle, its a great gun and very accurate. However for what you want to use it for I think the ranch would suit you better. The 6.5 is as good hog/deer/predator cartridge too.

 

[Newtosavage]

Truck guns and ballistics don't really belong in the same sentence. Just my .02

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive owned 3 .243, and still own 1.

Ive owned 4 grendels and currently have 2.

From my experience and with the description of whats desired, id go with the Grendel.
From my personal experience it will be handier, out penetrate your average .243 round when using 123 class bullets, and come awful close to the same performance with 100grs....again thats what IVE seen, its not a hard and fast.
Just some misc notes.
wolf ammo seems to be ok for blasting but not precision work. It does 3-4moa from my Semi, and 1.5-2" from my 527.
The rugers a full size bolt gun, bolt thrust is no longer an issue.
The ruger americans respond very well to relatively little polishing on action parts and trigger components. The only thing i havent figured out is an easy method for a pretravel adjustment.

 

[Olympus]

Thanks guys. I went down to my reloading bench and discovered that I have 100 rounds of 243 already loaded up and ready to go. I have 50 rounds with 95gr SST bullets and 50 rounds with 87gr Sierra BTHP GameKings.

If I go with the Grendel, I'm not sure what power range of scope I'd put on it. Typically 4-12x is my "go-to" because I don't think I've ever used a scope on a power lower than 4 or 5. But I would not want to go too big on a 16" rifle either.

 

[horsemen61]

I’d do the 6.5

 

[CraigC]

Truck guns and ballistics don't really belong in the same sentence. Just my .02

Why? Some folks only need their truck gun to cover 100yds. Others want more like 300yds. Some might choose the same cartridge regardless. Others might choose something different. The difference may lie in ballistics.

Thanks guys. I went down to my reloading bench and discovered that I have 100 rounds of 243 already loaded up and ready to go. I have 50 rounds with 95gr SST bullets and 50 rounds with 87gr Sierra BTHP GameKings.

If I go with the Grendel, I'm not sure what power range of scope I'd put on it. Typically 4-12x is my "go-to" because I don't think I've ever used a scope on a power lower than 4 or 5. But I would not want to go too big on a 16" rifle either.

In the field, I don't find any use for something that big. Especially on a handy carbine like the Ranch. At present I have two, a .300BLK and a .450BM. The .300 wears a little Burris 2-7x, the .450 a Leupold 1-4x. If I get that 6.5 Ranch, it'll get another 2-7x or similar. There's a 4-16x on the varmint rifle I've used for crows out to 250yds and it's never been used above 8x. There's a Vortex 5-20x mounted on one of my 10/22's. I've been making headshots on squirrels out to 70yds. It only goes above 5x when I'm at the bench.

 

[LoonWulf]

I had a 1-4x20 on my Ranch, but it was a .300aac.

Id actually probably try out the SWFA 2.5-10x32UL.....Mostly just because I want to lol.

 

[CraigC]

I've been wanting to try out some of the more affordable Primary Arms FFP scopes, just because.

 

[Newtosavage]

Why? Some folks only need their truck gun to cover 100yds. Others want more like 300yds. Some might choose the same cartridge regardless. Others might choose something different. The difference may lie in ballistics.

Because shooting from the inside of a pickup cab rarely lends itself well to 300 yard shots. But again, just my .02. Probably 75% of the roughly 1K pigs I've killed over the past 30 years have been shot from the driver's seat of a pickup.

 

[FL-NC]

I am very fond of the 243. Mine is a 700 from about 20 years ago. I also have 2 RAR's- a ranch in 300 blackout and a predator in 6.5 CM. I couldn't be happier with the RAR. I would pick 243 over 6.5 G, if only due to the huge amount of choices in ammunition, and the availability of it pretty much everywhere. Even 6.5 CM is available at Walmart. Have you considered 6.5 CM? My RAR in that caliber is way more accurate than a $400 rifle should be. It loves Federal non-typical 140 grain, and groups them at better than 1" at 100 yards. They are about $17 a box at academy sports. I killed my last deer of the season with it this year.

 

[CraigC]

Because shooting from the inside of a pickup cab rarely lends itself well to 300 yard shots. But again, just my .02. Probably 75% of the roughly 1K pigs I've killed over the past 30 years have been shot from the driver's seat of a pickup.

Pretty sure it beats off hand and "truck gun" does not necessarily imply that it's fired from the vehicle. Either way, "ballistics" (internal, external or terminal?) would certainly factor into any firearm buying decision.

 

[Hokkmike]

Don't know about the Grendel but killed many groundhogs and some deer with the .243. Personally I am considering this rifle in 5.56/.223 so I can use the same ammo for the bolt and the AR I have.

 

[LoonWulf]

I step out too shoot...mostly because i legally have to.
Ive taken some of my longest shots within touching distance of my truck, usually over the hood lol. My truck guns tend to be long and heavy for that exact reason.

One of my favorite truck guns tho was my mini-14 simply because with the folded stock and detachable mag, it could ride in the passenger seat with the mag pinched in the ashtray. I took a pair of sheep at 200-250yds with it before I traded it (foolishly), that id probably have missed with my larger rifles.

Thus I consider ballistics to ALWAYS be a factor in the decision of what rifle/caliber/cartridge, some times there has to be concessions.

Back when i was younger, and dumber, i touched off my 7 mag from the drivers seat of our old f150......out the passenger window. THAT concussion was the worst Ive ever felt. I wouldnt WANT to suffer thru the Grendels blast either, but it would be much less offensive than the .243.
Id rather have the .243s range and velocity when barreled at 22+", as compared to a 16" grendel (you couldnt pay me to shoot a 16" .243, without ears) but that makes for a lot more work moving around in a truck cab.