Comments on: Review of Ruger American Rifle — New Varmint Version

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:45:25 +0000

I just picked up a Ruger American in 30-06. Before buying I looked at several at local gun shops. I handled them a lot, operated the bolt and tested trigger feel to see what I was buying.They did not have one in 30-06 so I had to order and wait for a week.

When I got mine home and put the bolt in it sounded like you were sawing on a piece of glass with a hacksaw. I am talking about noise so loud that it would spook a deer at 200 yards.

The bolt while not polished was reasonably smooth but did have micro ridges from the turning process. I discovered that the noise was caused by a huge burr on the rear bedding block screw hole. Apparently after they drilled and tapped the hole they just left the big old nasty burr. As the bolt passed over it the resulting noise was incredible.

Poor quality control and not what I expected from Ruger. I have several other Rugers and loved each one from the first day but this Rifle is a huge disappointment and I have not fired a single round through it.
I will fix this myself because I don’t want to send it back and wait. A good cigar, some bluegrass music and a couple of hours with 600 grit emery cloth glued to a dowel rod should do it.

By: dave

dave — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 02:09:09 +0000

All my Savages (4-308s, 3-223s) shoot 1/2 moa. In fact my Stevens in 223 with 75 A-Max hand loads has done .25″ at 300 yards along with my long range 223 also turning in .25″ at 300 yards.
My American 308 is the worst shooting 308 I own. It will only “shoot” the Nosler 125Bt. “Shoot” defined as under 1/2 smoa. 350 rounds of hand load work with 155, 168, 178, and 208A-Maxs gave me nothing.
The bolt was noisy when I got it and required lots-a polishing along with the feed ramp that tore-up the brass at the neck. Then the bolt got extremely tight to close do to a burr that developed on one of the lugs and yes back to the jeweler’s file and lots-a polishing.
The engineering thoughts behind the gun are nothing short of great- dead-on! BUT the execution leaves something to be desired.

By: Trey

Trey — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 00:37:14 +0000

C’mon man, it’s a $370 (If u shop around) rifle! 1/2″ at 100yrds will cost you around a $1k +. The fact is this is a beautiful, lightweight, feature packed, sweetheart of a rifle! No other sub $400 rifles out there have all these features and a name like Ruger’s. We all like 1/2″ MOA rifles but lets face it, most of us average Joe’s won’t lay down that kind of cash for one. I highly recommend this rifle and thanks to Ruger for giving us such a nice piece of equipment at a super hot deal!

By: Greg J

Greg J — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 12:32:20 +0000

I’m sorry. I really want to like it, but as Colonel Whelen said “Only accurate rifles are interesting”.

For a varmint rifle with today’s technology and hand loads hand loads “interesting” starts at 1/2″ at 100 yards.

By: Guy

Guy — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 21:03:59 +0000

Nice to see the 1-8 twist barrel. Usually with the .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester the factory barrels have a twist way to slow for the bullets we shoot.