Ruger American Predator Rifle

[Ketosan]

Yes I agree that the stock on the Dimension series might take some getting used to??? I have not found a stocking dealer yet so still hoping to get a hands on look at one--
But as has been alluded to by others--an ugly rifle's looks can be tamed significantly when it shoots sub MOA groups!!!
Looks for sure won't make a hill of beans difference to the "dogs" as they vaporize!!!!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

...But as has been alluded to by others--an ugly rifle's looks can be tamed significantly when it shoots sub MOA groups!!!
Looks for sure won't make a hill of beans difference to the "dogs" as they vaporize!!!!

Agreed

 

[jsthntn247]

Get a Savage Axis and I promise you will be allot happier. I can't even say the name Ruger without wanting to hurl. Their 22 is ok but that's it.

 

[Kenneth66]

A different animal maybe ? I have not looked at the American rifle closely , but my nephew just bought a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 creedmore . I don't know what differences there is from the American to the Predator , but he showed me some targets he shot with some factory match ammo at 160 yds , this range was selected because it was all the distance they could get at the place they were shooting .
Two three shot groups were about an inch or less and one three shot group you could cover with a dime and this was after zeroing at a hundred yds , when those groups were shot it had maybe a box , maybe less , through it . I have a Venture in 308 , the predator model and just shot a couple rounds through it so far , it has the T/C scope that I'm not to crazy about , but it will do for break in . A couple of groups with ADI 165 gr. and a couple with Federal 165 gr. , results were 2" with ADI and 1 1/2" with Federal . Tried adjusting the trigger , thought I was going to twist the Allen wrench into and never budged , so much for adjusting in the stock . Trigger as is , is pretty hard and has small amount of creep , but workable . Once I get it broke in I will put better glass and look into the trigger more , and of course hand load .
Have the Icon in 243 and it's trigger is good and accuracy about the same with federal 100 gr.
But handloads in it , shoot 3/4" and less .
Didn't mean to veer from OP. But since the Venture was already introduced into the thread , thought I would throw it in .

Kenneth

 

[BforByron]

The thing that's interesting about the ruger predator to me is that the 22-250 has a 1:10 twist which is the fastest factory twist that i've been able to find.

Would that be able to stabilize the 68, 69, 70 gr class of bullets?

 

[FatBoy]

I think it's a testament that we are still talking about this rifle two years after this thread started. I have a buddy who'shoot wife shoots a RA in 308win. With Hornaday 168s it shoots MOA and puts a snack on whitetail. I have been trying to get him to order her a RAP in 6.5 creedmoor so he could screw on a brake and cut the recoil down about 75%. I am tempted to buy one just to see what it will do, and maybe check the weight to see if it'll be too much for a smaller stature person to use from a treestand.

 

[nakneker]

I have handled the rifle and like mentioned before put it back on the shelf. With Europtic blowing out Tikkas, the prices are deeply discounted, I would go that route. If your truly on a limited budget the used market has the best values. I've seen a lot guys pay 350-500 bucks for some of the low end rifles produced today when they could pick up an old 721/722 and the like for 300.00. It's America, to each their own.

 

[SpikeDiesel]

I have a RAP in 6.5 creedmoor, I love it! It is what it is, a utility grade rifle that gets the job done! If you want a butter smooth tack driving showpiece buy a sako. Better finish = more time= more$$$$ The ruger shoots moa all day with factory ammo and it is my go to whitetail rifle. I highly recommend them for someone looking for a very capable inexpensive rifle. The aftermarket is getting behind them as well with barrels (patriot valley) triggers (timney) and stocks (magpul and MDT.) Float the barrel, throw away the stock scope base and put some decent glass on it and it will make you smile!

 

[Steve morgan]

Urged two hunting friends to buy them. Both bought 270's. I set both up for them and did the initial break-in and ammo selection.

First let me firmly say they are cheap pieces of crap. There is no aesthetic feedback from quality of construction.

Now that's over and both of them "broke in" with less than a box of factory shells. During that time I had not issues getting them sighted in and making darn nice groups approaching MOA. One required some tweaking of the stock where it did touch the barrel. I ground that mess away.

Both took trigger adjustments with no issues and I was able to easily set them where I thought the fumble-fingered owners would best need their triggers.

Both rifles today, with probably a couple years of cleaning neglect, have performed well. Both have taken numerous deer for their owners who prior to these rifles, mostly missed everything they shot at.

After break-in I shot one that gave me MOA results for a few shots. No clue how they hold up to that today as I only seen them cased after a hunt. Bet one is rusty with the barrel neglected. The other is probably nice. They both work so I think Ruger American is a good choice for people NOT into precision, quality rifles.

Sorryest fit & finish I ever saw was on one of these rifles

 

[anaconda]

Started to work up a load for my buddys Ruger american 223 and noticed you have to seat bullets shorter then recommended starting coal! Anyone else have this issue? Runs into pressure real quick. With a 55gr hpbt and benchmark it already has pressure issues at 2800fps wondering if anyone else has similar issue

 

[Bc'z]

fitted in a boyds stock, trigger set @2 1/4#. Easy to do,watch youtube video. Some inletting was necessary to get trigger adjustment screw to clear.
before boyds stock,shot this doing a primer test back in February cci 200s, 5 shots from cold bore, notice target says fouling
. after boyds un beded.shot this 10 days ago in 90degree weather after installing brake. Same load as Febuary cold bore also.
Got my load data right here.
To summarise, the rifle off the shelf is uglier than sin,fit n finish is crap!!!!
Does it shoot?

 

[timeout]

Started to work up a load for my buddys Ruger american 223 and noticed you have to seat bullets shorter then recommended starting coal! Anyone else have this issue? Runs into pressure real quick. With a 55gr hpbt and benchmark it already has pressure issues at 2800fps wondering if anyone else has similar issue

I have a RA Ranch model. It is 8 twist and I load 75 gr. Amaxes for it with 8208 underneath. No pressure issues and I can reach the lands with the bullet sitting about perfect in the cartridge neck. The issue was not enough clearance in the mag for bullets loaded to the lands. I have a relative that machined out the mag with a CNC he uses for wood projects. Gun shoots pretty well and is a joy to carry. Now I've been down the road of trying to get Ruger Minis to shoot and been severely disappointed. My experience with the Ruger American has been pleasant for a rifle in this price range.

 

[msinc]

I have one and here is my take on it....this will make some Ruger fanboys bawl like a fat dog stuck in a drain pipe!

First thing you will do is buy a Timney trigger...about $175.00. Then you realize that the stock is junk, so you spend another $200.00 on a Boyd's. It has to be glass bedded, no choice, so that could cost more if you need help. Then you finally get it to where you can start shooting it only to find that 9 out of 10 need the incredibly poor barrel replaced. Even if you get one that shoots half way decent it's a carbine length. Replacement can go as high as $500.00, maybe more. Now you have a good shooting rifle with a decent stock and first rate trigger only to find another problem...the magazine is made to accept factory COL ammo only, anything longer wont fit. So, it needs a modification if you want to play around with seating depth for any accuracy..............

Wow!!! ad it all up and you could have had a Sako!!! But instead, all that money later you still just have a piece of Ruger junk as far as the rest of the world is concerned.

 

[timeout]

I have one and here is my take on it....this will make some Ruger fanboys bawl like a fat dog stuck in a drain pipe!

First thing you will do is buy a Timney trigger...about $175.00. Then you realize that the stock is junk, so you spend another $200.00 on a Boyd's. It has to be glass bedded, no choice, so that could cost more if you need help. Then you finally get it to where you can start shooting it only to find that 9 out of 10 need the incredibly poor barrel replaced. Even if you get one that shoots half way decent it's a carbine length. Replacement can go as high as $500.00, maybe more. Now you have a good shooting rifle with a decent stock and first rate trigger only to find another problem...the magazine is made to accept factory COL ammo only, anything longer wont fit. So, it needs a modification if you want to play around with seating depth for any accuracy..............

Wow!!! ad it all up and you could have had a Sako!!! But instead, all that money later you still just have a piece of Ruger junk as far as the rest of the world is concerned.

I'm not necessarily a Ruger fan boy, but it all depends what you are looking for. Mine shoots very acceptable with no modifications. It's perfect for a truck gun or drag through the brush gun. Any mass production factory barrel is a crap shoot. My RA is a bargain IMO. Comes standard with a scope rail, threaded muzzle and in 8 twist. For the intended purposes, I see no need for replacement triggers, stock or barrel.

 

[msinc]

I'm not necessarily a Ruger fan boy, but it all depends what you are looking for. Mine shoots very acceptable with no modifications. It's perfect for a truck gun or drag through the brush gun. Any mass production factory barrel is a crap shoot. My RA is a bargain IMO. Comes standard with a scope rail, threaded muzzle and in 8 twist. For the intended purposes, I see no need for replacement triggers, stock or barrel.

I understand completely. If mine shot like some of the groups I've seen posted i might be in love with it. If the one I have shot even halfway decent I would have accepted it for the cost effective truck gun it was intended to be. Unfortunately mine fell severely short of that goal. I guess instead of forcing it to shoot good I could have pawned it off on some unsuspecting person, but I didn't.

 

[HillBilly98]

The comments about the looks and quality apply in my opinion as well. They look and feel cheap. A friend bought one in a 308. I help him sight it in. Drove tacks (about moa) with factory ammo. Another friend was there with us and later got one in a 6.5 creed. His absolutely drives tack. Almost always shoots in the 6 or 7 (5 shots) with hand loads

I was so impressed I got one in a 6.5 creed and bought 4 boxes of factory match ammo for the brass. It shot at moa or better 5 shot groups. With hand loads it will normally shoot in the 7 or 8s. My second friend is a better shooter and Reloader than me so he may be able to do the same wit mine.

Like someone said above I got it for a cheap beat around rifle and serves that purpose well. I think friend 2 had some feeding issues as we..

I bet the 22-250 will shoot as well

 

[Bc'z]

Timeout
I'd sure like to see the mods made to that magazine

 

[timeout]

Timeout
I'd sure like to see the mods made to that magazine

 

[Bc'z]

^^^^^^ Nice^^^^^^^

View attachment 1055582

Nice how much farther did it let you set the bullet out?

 

[timeout]

^^^^^^ Nice^^^^^^^


Nice how much farther did it let you set the bullet out?

I don't have an unmodified mag here, but it looks like about .265". The portion behind the cartridge case head on these modified mags measures .243". If you measure your mag and do the math you'll have the answer!