Ruger American Gen II

[hoz53]

Don’t apologize, I wish they would too. I have two of their 45-70s, an 1895 stainless and the new Dark, definitely improved over REM/Marlins. They finally got the 30-30 out and the 44 mag so they are making progress. A new 35 rem 336 would be one I’d buy too! I have an old waffle top with a peep, it’s been a great rifle but my eyes are as crisp as they use to be and I’ll never drill and tap that rifle.

i dont have any of the Margers yet. I guess i better get with the program!!! I like the levers alot but dont want to use scopes on them either and since I have trouble seeing the irons now its slowed my aquisitions

 

[nakneker]

i dont have any of the Margers yet. I guess i better get with the program!!! I like the levers alot but dont want to use scopes on them either and since I have trouble seeing the irons now its slowed my aquisitions

Margers, aahahaha. I like it!

 

[rnelson]

Glad to see this thread still going I think the gen 2 with their improvements will be a great rifle at the $600 price point.... I don't think Ruger will ever make a silky smooth bolt I got to work an awesome 300prc in the Ruger precision line and the bolt was exactly as described above but the rifle was a hammer.... My Ruger rimfire shoots great but has the exact problems of flimsy stock and the bolt sounds like a zipper when running the trigger isnt exactly great but works , hey it's a $300 gun that's shot many many quarter to half inch groups at fifty... I think with a few mods the gen two will be a great one also.... The only problem Ruger has is at a certain point Tikka comes into play...

I get they are trying to compete in a cheap rifle market but people will pay for quality and precision when it comes to a rifle I understand most people don't know any differences between a $300 rifle and a $1300 rifle but this cheaper quality and lack of QC by as ruined many a company.... This applies to anything , I remember when Chevy started trying to hang with the cheap truck market and turned out some real crap.... At that point I went to Toyota and after 7 of them I finally had to put one in the shop a 2024 with a leak in the oil pan gasket.... It took them a day to find the tiny leak and a day to repair it.... I have a 2023 f150 , my first ford truck , I needed a V8 to pull a travel trailer... The only problem I have had us the trailer lights got wet in a DOWNPOUR and it kicked a trailer brake module light on... It took the four days to fix it and they would never return a call I finally had to go down there and get nasty.... I love the truck , hate the customer service and if Toyota didn't put a twin turbo six banger in the truck last year and would have kept the 5.7 hemi I would own that instead... If companies would learn to stop fixing things that aren't broke and stop trying to reinvent the mouse trap they would be in better shape and so would we....

Yesterday I shot a quarter sized 3 shot group at 100 yds using a 3x-12x scope at 12x with my 6.5 Creedmor gen II. Got so excited, the next two rounds were way off.
This morning I swapped out scopes to use my 6x-25x at 100 yds. Four in a nickels diameter.
I shoot at a bench using an Atlas Bipod. My typical groups in the four times I've taken this gun out run 1.44 to 1.6 moa. For a $566.00 gun I have no complaints.
I also have a Ruger Precision it shoots about the same size groups for me at 300 yds.

 

[Rsadams]

Yesterday I shot a quarter sized 3 shot group at 100 yds using a 3x-12x scope at 12x with my 6.5 Creedmor gen II. Got so excited, the next two rounds were way off.
This morning I swapped out scopes to use my 6x-25x at 100 yds. Four in a nickels diameter.
I shoot at a bench using an Atlas Bipod. My typical groups in the four times I've taken this gun out run 1.44 to 1.6 moa. For a $566.00 gun I have no complaints.
I also have a Ruger Precision it shoots about the same size groups for me at 300 yno

Nothing like a day out shooting.... I just bought a Tikka in 6.5CM , my first creedmoor and it's outstanding.... Looking at the Ruger that takes Magpul mags in .223.... Here's three outa the Tikka at 100... My hand loads using a Hornady SST... No tuning just speed tests...

Edit I see your from La Grange Ohio and I shoot at la Grange Texas....

 

[nakneker]

I ended up buying a Ruger Gen 2 today in 6.5 Grendel. Got a scope mounted and ready to go. If the wind eases up this weekend I’ll see what it does and share it here.

 

[Stugots]

I bought a Gen 2 in 300 Blackout that I load for and shoot suppressed. I might use it this fall for deer.

 

[Pyscodog]

Bought a Gen II 223 a month or so ago and a 300BO this week. When the funds recover they may both get new triggers. Put the 223 in a MDT Field stock. May do the same with the BO.

 

[Stugots]

Bought a Gen II 223 a month or so ago and a 300BO this week. When the funds recover they may both get new triggers.

Before you buy a new replacement trigger, try one of these: https://www.mcarbo.com/ruger-american-rifle-trigger-spring-kit.aspx

I installed one in mine and my trigger pull is a constant 1.45 lbs.

 

[Pyscodog]

I've used the Mcarbo springs before. They do lighten the triggers. Not much for creep but they are a lighter pull weight.

 

[jds holler]

I just went over to a buds house the other day and mounted a Vortex scope in his new Ruger American Gen II Predator?? I think. Had the spiral cut barrel with brake. Plastic - composite stock with adjustable cheek. Kind of funky detachable mag. -- Over-all a pretty light and handy hunting rifle, I like the way it feels.

I put the scope on it, and we put it on the bags to bore-sight out in the driveway. --- AND Shazam!! It was centered and will probably be within a few inches at the range. Tells me at least that the rifle, barrel, receiver, mount, and even my procedure is pretty straight. The Vortex scope was centered and zeroed out of the box.

I didn't like that you need a ball end allen wrench to remove the stock screw hidden back between the mag release and trigger guard.
Trigger adjustment requires stock removal, and it was 6.5 lbs. jd

 

[Stugots]

I've used the Mcarbo springs before. They do lighten the triggers. Not much for creep but they are a lighter pull weight.

Creep was noticeable on the trigger before I changed out the spring. I will say that the replacement spring made a big difference with reducing it as well. (Just my experience).

 

[GaryinIllinois]

I have a new Ranch Rifle in 5.56 that shoots well for me. In working up a load I shot 40 5-shot groups at 100 yards using various powders and bullets I have on hand. Out of the 40 groups, 19 were 1” or less with two loads under .60”. Strangely, the rifle seems to prefer lightweight bullets.
For me, the Pmags are a mixed blessing; nice to be able to load 10 rounds quickly but the OAL limit required makes using heavier bullets a problem, and with an 8” twist barrel!
Action is pretty smooth but trigger isn’t great; I have an MCarbo spring on the way.
In my opinion the Ranch Rifle makes a nice truck gun that will take a moderate amount of use while not showing the minor bumps and bruises that a wood stock shows.
P.S. -
Would like to find a way to convert one of the Pmags to 3 - 5 rounds from the present 10 round mag to make it a little less clumsy.

 

[Pyscodog]

My 223 seems to have a pretty short throat and the mag makes loading heavy bullets tough. Most bullets have to be seated around 2.250 or they won't fit in the mag. I put the 223 in the MDT stock and it uses AICS mags so I can hopefully seat my bullets out a little farther and use heavier bullets.

 

[GaryinIllinois]

I would like to remove the brake from my Ruger American Gen ll as I see no use for a brake on a 5.56 rifle. Before I mangle the brake and scuff the Cerocoat, I have to ask if the threads are right hand turn?

I would also like to know if the thread protector Ruger sells for this covers all the threads.

Thanks for any information.

 

[BW64]

I have a Ruger American in 223 that I'm completely frustrated with. Just won't group anything that I put through it. All handloads with different powders & bullets & still crap. Feeding is not the best either. I'll be trading it in or selling it real soon! Should have stayed with Savage.

 

[GaryinIllinois]

I would check for loose action screws, loose mount screws, loose ring screws and maybe swap scope for a proven one If you haven’t already done so.

If it helps any, I found the following combinations worked well in my 5.56:
Hornady #22281 60 grain Vmax using H322 powder
Sierra #1440 40 grain BlitzKing using Accurate Arms LT-32 powder
Hornady #22616 50 grain Vmax using Accurate Arms 2015 powder

The above combinations shoot sub-MOA in my rifle, with the 60 grain Vmax being the most flexible with several powders. Of course, every rifle is different and YMMV. I was surprised to find that, for me, the rifle seems to prefer the lighter bullets - even with the 1 in 8” twist. Just offering these up if you want to try a few other loads before you dispose of the rifle.

Good luck!

 

[BW64]

Thanks for the reply. Action tight scope swapped twice with rings etc. Been trying 70 RDF, 75Vmax, due to 1:8 twist. Also tried 50, 55 & 60 gr bullets with a few powders. I'm just plain out of ideas & with the powder warning I need to start cutting back. Thanks for the info. Best group was with 62 gr & 8208 almost 1 hole but at 300 looked like bird shot!! LOL Oh well. Guess I have nothing better to do.

 

[Pyscodog]

My 223 was throwing rounds all over the place when I first got it. I felt pretty disappointed. I went to a 53 grain bullet and everything changed. It shoots very good now. I took my new 300BO out yesterday. It seem to hate 110 grain bullets but when I went to 150's it was a completely different rifle and started stacking shots on top of each other with three different powder charges. Guess I just shoot 150 grain bullets if that's what it likes.

Both my rifles have breaks on them. I couldn't budge those breaks with a 12" Cresent wrench. I took them back to the store and their smith got them loose. I told them they needed to call Ruger and tell them to fire Bigfoot. He's putting the breaks on to damn tight.

 

[Pyscodog]

When I first got my rifle I tried the heavier bullets and CFE 223. Results were not so good. Got on here and searched as well as looking through all my reloading books and most books said H4895 was a great powder for the 223. I had just a small amount so I tried it with a 53 grain SMK and results were VERY good. But....I don't have enough powder to merit working up a load and H4895 is on the non existent list. I switched to IMR 4895 and got very good results to. And I got lots of IMR 4895. On another note, Varget worked pretty good to. IMR 4895 and Varget both keep my groups well under an inch at 100yds.

I don't know what powders or bullets you have tried or if your running them on the hot side or the mild side. I like running my varmint rifles full throttle if I can but some rifles don't like it. If at all possible, I like to jump by bullets about .020 to start. If a repeater I start where the fit in the mag. May not be right but that's where I start.

 

[BW64]

Well I know it shoots with Varget but that's my 6br powder & hard to get & pricey so I don't touch that. Haven't tried the 53s & don't have IMR4895 so I'll have to get some. I'm a bench rest shooter so I'm kind of anal. LOL Thank you.