Ruger’s New American Rifle Bargain
I was wrong.
When I saw the new Ruger American rifle I thought it was a cheap step down for this venerable American rifle maker. But now I’ve shot the thing – and I’m impressed. Really impressed.
In .30-06 Springfield the American — sighted with a Zeiss 3-9×40 Conquest scope – is shooting a Hornady 168-grain A-Max Garand load (2,600 fps) one-MOA. Consistently. I fired one 200-yard group that went sub-MOA. That’s three bullets into a 1.2″ circle. And all shooting was done prone off a bipod, not a sand-bagged benchrest. Target distances varied from 100 yards to 500 yards, and no bullet landed more than 4.5 inches from point of aim until my 40th shot, which just missed high left at 500 yards.
Friends, that’s an accurate rifle.
But for less than $400 how can it be?
You read correctly. This rifle will retail for less than $400, perhaps even less than $300 during some sales.
Let’s outline this rifle’s features. First, it is 100-percent American made. Every barrel, screw and spring is made here, thus the American name. I like that. Second, the barreled action is set into steel V bases molded into the thermoplastic stock. The barrel is free floating, and the bedding screws pull the base metal against the screws and V bases without touching or stressing the stock. So, even though the inexpensive plastic stock is somewhat flexible, as are all molded stocks, bedding pressure is constant and consistent. A flexible, hollow recoil pad really soaks up recoil.
Third, each cold-hammer-forged barrel is tightened to the action with a locking nut for precise headspacing. Fourth, the bolt is a three-lug design. This might not contribute anything to accuracy, but it results in a 70-degree bolt lift for quick cycling. The bolt body is full sized, so it slides smoothly without the need for guide rails and without binding. Fifth, the trigger is a Marksman adjustable trigger (from 3 to 5 pounds pull via a single screw) with a passive trigger-mounted safety that blocks the trigger. There is a tang safety, too. With the tang safety “on,” the bolt can be manipulated to run rounds through the action. But that shouldn’t be necessary, since each Ruger American rifle wears a detachable, four-round magazine. Snap it out, run the live round out of the chamber and you’re unloaded and completely safe.
The black plastic magazine box is smooth, consistent, easy to attach and detach and equally easy to load. In addition, it’s rotary, much like the familiar Ruger 10/22 magazine. Each round rotates up, aligning dead center with the chamber for easy and consistent loading. During my 60 rounds of shooting I had no glitches. The magazine loaded smoothly every time, snapped into place perfectly every time, fed perfectly every time.
The cartridge ejection port in the receiver is minimal. This means there is a bridge of steel arching over the top where most rifles have been cut away, exposing more bolt body. While that looks proper to an old shooter’s eye, it isn’t as inherently stiff as this style. More steel means more rigidity, and that can aid accuracy.
Each rifle ships with Weaver-style bases included, and if you send in your warranty card Ruger will return you a nylon cheek pad and ammo carrier that straps onto the butt stock. It’s valued at $20.
If this rifle sounds too good to be true for this price, test drive one at your earliest opportunity. I’ll bet you’ll change your mind. I know I have.
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Great review, Ron…and a truly great rifle. I was like you–“Oh No…another injection-molded, bolt-action rifle–Big Whoop.” Then I started shooting it, and I cannot wait to put more ammo through it–exceptional accuracy at an incredible price–Ruger really hit it with this one. Great meeting and shooting with you at FTW Ranch, and SAAM!
Gordon Hutchinson
I’m a fan of Ron so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he’s being generous minded. Even too kind. Frankly that rifle reflects the race to the bottom with all these cheaply made budget rifles. I mean you no disrespect Ron when I say it is another budget rifle piece of crap-lol.
No problem, anon. One’s man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Compared to, say, a Dakota M76 with Exhibition walnut stock, the Ruger American is “low man on the totem pole. But, compared to other budget rifles, it’s still a winner. Amazing accuracy for such an inexpensive piece.
No doubt budget rifles are being made accurate. And I always think it’s great that there is something capable out there for those who can not afford to spend more.
That is the only great thing about budget rifles and am happy to see that anyone can pretty much get themselves to own something. Personally, I just can’t get past the low grade of materials being used. I get the whole production cost thing. But somehow plastic on a firearm, whether it be a trigger guard, safety,magazine(whatever), is just flat out too chintzy for my liking. Production costs are the catalyst for the “race to the bottom “ indicative of “they don’t make them like they used to”. Sad but true. However, it’s
good they can shoot well.
I have one in .30-06 and the amazing thing about it is that it shoots different bullet weights to the same point of impact. It also shoots the first shot to the same point of impact with a clean or dirty barrel. From years of shooting different rifles and calibers, that is very rare indeed. I am very impressed, regardless of price. I believe this will become as great as the 10/22.
This rifle is a SLEEPER, just purchased 2 of them in .243 caliber for two of my grandson, I could not be more pleased!!! Extremely accurate, great triggers,and American made for less than $400 each, simply unbelievable!
This is another GREAT WINNER from a trusted gunmaker!!! Thank you Ruger!!!!
I’m 67 yrs.old and have always hunted from tree stands and prefer shorter, lighter rifles. I read about the American and that it was available in .308 compact. Purchased and Bore sighted. Required only a couple of shots to zero at 100 yds. Took a 9 pt. 225lb.+ whitetail that didn’t run 50 yds. 30 minutes later took a large coyote preparing to make a meal of my deer. Have photo of the 2 with coyote’s mouth at the rear end of the deer, exactly where they expired.
I have purchased several ruger Americans. For the money they are truly hard to beat… i have also purchased a Ruger Percision
rifle in 6mm creedmore…believe it or not shooting Sierra 85 gr #1530 bullets with the exact same load the groops from both rifles are hard to distinguish…
I like that you still write about old guns and loads!
Oldies but goodies, Mike.
Thanks Ron. I signed up thinking “probably just another Homer who promotes whatever puzuzie is sent to his company for a test run, using only high end scopes and do-dads he gets for free woo-who! I found just the opposite, a good writer who actually tested the subject equipment, and will stand by his conclusions-a real man in an all for the “millennials” soft as jello world. Thank you Ron for the sincere information you provide, written well enough to entertain as well as inform.
Earl W Ingalls
Preemptive Investigations Inc-MD
Private Detective/Security Analysis
Thank you Earl. I’ve been bothered by the fluff-and-stuff digital universe “infomercials,” so decided to provide useful content. I don’t promise that everything I postulate is “divinely revealed” truth, but it has been observed, researched and in most cases corroborated by much experience, mine and others. At some point, however, I’m going to have to start accepting some advertising support! Investing 4 to 10 hours in each blog report not only sucks up time I could devote to monetarily remunerated work, but keeps me out of the field and off the range!
Ron, I can’t believe you tested the Ruger in 30-06. I am surprised you haven’t been inundated with bad comments yet. I love Ruger although some of their newer guns are a bit funky looking. I got a new American in .22 Magnum with the 22 inch barrel. I haven’t shot it yet but it feels like a fine rifle. I like the iron sights that it has, though at my age I can barely use them. I plan to add a peep sight. Due to an up and coming move, I don’t think I will mend fences next spring with you. Maybe in 2021.
I bought one in .22 LR for my son last Christmas and it’s a great starter rifle. Uses the 10-22 mags and is a great trainer and hunting rig.
I bought an American in 6.5 Creedmoor. It is a shooting dude! No kick, just accuracy.