Ruger american "next 700?"

[Raythemanroe]

Boltgunluvr, My point of this gun being like the Remington IS on price point and good gun to build from..

 

[chevytruck_83]

I have owned savage rem 700 and rugers. my worst shooting gun was an angled action screw target ruger. couldn't get it to shoot for the life of me. if you don't want to touch your gun. buy a savage. if you want to build on a gun. then 700. or ruger... 10/22. don't believe it. find your favorite 3 aftermarket stocks you would want your next build to have. then see what they fit. if you buy the ruger you'll probably wish you got the 700. my 2 cents.

 

[BigDMT]

For a budget rifle, the Thompson Center Venture is TWICE the rifle of the Ruger American. And this is coming from a long time Ruger fan. I still own 2 Ruger rifles, but they are the old "tang" style M77's. The last good bolt action rifle the company ever made IMO.

I've picked up a Ruger American and inspected it carefully. The machining is HORRIBLE and the stock is nothing more than laughable. They may be accurate, but it's plain as day to see where they cut the costs.

Pick up a Thompson Center Venture for a slightly more money and compare the machining inside and out. There is absolutely NO comparison. The T/C wins hands down in EVERY aspect of quality control and attention to detail. Looks like the Venture was cut with the best Laser money could buy and the Ruger was cut with a chainsaw!

Other than considering the removable magazine and 3 lug bolt, the Ruger American rifles are on par with the Stevens model 200 rifles for quality and value. Not much there. And judging by the machining, the Ruger American is the kind of rifle line that will surely end up letting many "lemons" out the door.

I have always wanted Ruger to come out with a new high quality bolt action rifle since the Tang M77. It ticked me off pretty good that they put all of that time and money into developing the American line, then making it so poorly and cheap. They could have made one hell of a high end rifle with that technology. Instead they threw it all into a pile of crap with massive machining marks inside and out and the cheapest plastic stock they could make.

T/C is an ALL American company and always has been, but they receive little credit for the quality arms they produce. I think they should be highly considered when thinking about ALL American high quality at an affordable price.

Just my opinion though. If you can afford something a little nicer, I'd spend the extra money.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Umm......I'll stay with the 700. The 700 is like a 1911 in the fact that there is unlimited amount of goodies available for it. However, do I believe it's the best...not necessarily. It's the best for me. I think folks should always get what's best for them instead of being on a quest for the "best"...no matter what they're searching for.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Well I baught the American in 243 today. I think it will be my sons first gun.. No build.

 

[timeout]

The new Ruger American really intrigues me as a possible hunting rifle. I have had good and bad experiences with Ruger. The worst case being when I switched out an early made Ranch, for the Target model. I'll be keeping an eye on the American to see how it pans out, reviews etc., over the next year. My wife hunts with a Hawkeye compact .223. It fits her well and she needs low recoil due to shoulder issues. I bought the same rifle for her in a .243 to create a little more punch for whitetail. Problem is the rifle is so light that even in .243, it has some recoil. I worked up a .447" 3 shot group @ 100 yards for it with only 12 shots fired yesterday. Pretty fair for a rifle with a .525" muzzle diameter and a 3lb. 5 oz. trigger being shot off a bipod. I will try a couple 5 shot groups to verify it. Worst group of four was 1 1/2". Point being, if the Hawkeye is capable of accuracy, the American should be better. Like boltluvr, I'll stick with my 700's for the paper punching! Just way more accessories available.

 

[chevytruck_83]

any reason not to go with the savage axis for a light hunting rifle? I haven't come across one that doesnt shoot extremely well.

 

[Raythemanroe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKkrRp335nw

Will be my boys first gun...I scoped and zeroed the gun today and boxed it up for Christmas...Factory ammo was getting an average of 1 inch.