Ruger American -Remington 783 ?????

[ebb]

Every one and their cousin has built a rifle using a Savage action, the design has some very good points. The trigger and sear are not included in those good designs in my opinion. And all the Savage cheerleaders have run me off from them. How ever the good designed features have made there way in to lots of rifles these days. Has anyone here built a rifle on the Ruger American or the Remington 783? If so tell me and the rest of the forum how it went and are there any hang ups, like lack of aftermarket parts or match barrels or scope rails. These rifles "look' to have all the good features of the Savage with none of the bad.

 

[watercam]

I have one and as intriguing as it might be with the features at hand - full diameter bolt, three lugs, closed top action - the lack of accessories (detachable mags for a High Power or Tactical rig as one example, better trigger for another) would make it challenging. The sample I have came with lugs making full contact out of the box. I worked the trigger (by doing things the factory definitely does NOT want us to do) and even with it's #1 contour barrel it does shoot. Very well. Barrels would not be a problem, you can use the barrel nut or not. Any competent gunsmith can rebarrel one. Unless someone comes out with an after market stock, that may be an issue as the lock-up for the magazine is in the stock as are the recoil lugs.
Still, not impossible.

 

[KMart]

Boyds shows to make (in stock) a Tacticool stock for the Rem 783, but didn't see one for the Ruger american.

 

[ebb]

I have the tools and the ability to make a stock and have done it for Mausers on several occasions. The things you mention on the Ruger may complicate it, but I don't see that problem with the Remington. I wonder if the Ruger could be made to use a AI magazine in stead of the rotary magazine it came with. I have 77 model Rugers but since accuracy became important mostly trued Remingtons and customs. So maybe the Remington would be the way to go at least for me.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I like the Three lug bolt and cnc milled receiver on the Ruger, only if aftermarket stocks and triggers were available because the factory ones have a bit to be desired..

Ray

 

[Barlow]

What kind of rifle? Barlow

 

[ebb]

At this point one that shoots well. That would be my only requirement for now.

 

[hunter243sgk]

I don't know much about the 783 but I can tell you a few things about the American. Douglas barrels is offering a prefit right now.Pac-nor says they will be real soon. I called Timney triggers and they said they are working on a drop in at the moment and should soon be on the market.Glades armory has some nice looking bolt handles at reasonable prices.P t&g will have a more gunsmith friendly barrel nut by late fall.I just wish I could find a good stock I guess I will have to make one.According to this site the ruger American is the 4th biggest selling rifle right now .You would think there would be more companys making after market parts.Everbody I have talk to says they like theres and it shoots really good. hopefully we will see more stuff available soon.Hope this helps.

 

[wvlongshot]

I bought a 243 american with plans of making 6br truck gun out of it. Only shot a couple of factory rounds out of it. It shot well. Disassembled it worked the trigger over, set up the barrel, cut the shank off, rethreaded and chambered to 6br no turn. Set it back up and with the 95 berger vld was same poi once scope put back on. Feels great, cycles from the mag great, lightweight, $325 out the door. Whats not to like. Just put 30grs varget and the 95 vld and been shooting g hogs out to 250 with the fire form loads.

 

[medic727]

If competition is your goal, I can pretty guarantee you will not see any Rugers, of any model, on the firing line. Unless the 783 has an identical action screw spacing, trigger hanger and action size to the 700, precision shooting aftermarket components will not be seen.

What's the matter with Savages? I shoot with people who have established national records in mid- and long range F-Open. Between PT&G, Rifle Basix, and any number of pre-fit barrel makers you've got the makings of a precision rifle at pretty much half the cost of a custom rifle. You can purchase a 3-screw Precision Target Action for ~$540. The target trigger is pretty sweet. Don't like the Target Accutrigger? Buy a Rifle Basix SAV-2 trigger for~$160. A Criterion Match barrel for ~$340. That's a pretty good start on a precision rifle.

I've measured my Savage PTA and there is ~.002" bow in the action. With a PT&G bolt body ground to fit, when I pull the trigger the rear of the bolt does not move. Normal factory tolerances allow the bolt to "hop" when the trigger is pulled.

 

[ebb]

The savage has a weird sear on the side of the bolt and there are really no good triggers (some fair triggers yes) for one. The real reason is some friends have talked Savages to death with me and I am just not going there. Many have good luck with them and I am fine with that, but I believe that the Rem and American have solved several of the problems Savage hasn't.

 

[timeout]

I bought a 243 american with plans of making 6br truck gun out of it. Only shot a couple of factory rounds out of it. It shot well. Disassembled it worked the trigger over, set up the barrel, cut the shank off, rethreaded and chambered to 6br no turn. Set it back up and with the 95 berger vld was same poi once scope put back on. Feels great, cycles from the mag great, lightweight, $325 out the door. Whats not to like. Just put 30grs varget and the 95 vld and been shooting g hogs out to 250 with the fire form loads.

Interesting. Not to hijack the thread, but this sounds like a pretty sweet truck gun. A 6BR with a removable mag and it feeds ammo great. You may be onto something. Tell us how it prints on paper. Better yet, start a new thread with pics!

 

[jhord]

I bought a Ruger American .223 for my 10 year old son, his first "real" rifle. I took it to my 100 yard range and commenced sighting it in. A few clicks and I had it centered up. I shot a few groups with a known good handload. (53SMK and 24.5 Benchmark) It will put 3 shots into about .6-.7 MOA and 5 shots into about .9-1.0 MOA. I about fell off the bench. That's incredible for such an inexpensive rifle. The only things that really hold it back are the skinny barrel and cheesy plastic magazine. (it works, but for how long?) So I guess it depends what you want the rifle for, but as a plain jane truck or varmint rifle, it's already a winner.

At this point one that shoots well. That would be my only requirement for now.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I bought a Ruger American .223 for my 10 year old son, his first "real" rifle. I took it to my 100 yard range and commenced sighting it in. A few clicks and I had it centered up. I shot a few groups with a known good handload. (53SMK and 24.5 Benchmark) It will put 3 shots into about .6-.7 MOA and 5 shots into about .9-1.0 MOA. I about fell off the bench. That's incredible for such an inexpensive rifle. The only things that really hold it back are the skinny barrel and cheesy plastic magazine. (it works, but for how long?) So I guess it depends what you want the rifle for, but as a plain jane truck or varmint rifle, it's already a winner.

At this point one that shoots well. That would be my only requirement for now.

This sums it up pretty good, I too bought a Ruger American for my boy and it surprised me how well it shoots.. I think it would be nice if more aftermarket stocks and triggers become available as he progresses in shooting and I could upgrade over time.. Maybe a 6br or dasher barrel, trigger and stock over time.


Ray

 

[jonbearman]

For now it looks like the american is proven already and what is not to like about an affordable rifle that just plain shoots.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Timney says they will have a trigger for the American at the next Shot Show..Now some one build a nice stock

Ray

 

[wvlongshot]

Trigger pins are smaller than remmys, and are a roll pin type. When ya drop the trigger assembly out the tang safety comes with it. I had all the measurements wrote down somewhere but misplaced them. Sear position is in different spot but a trigger upgrade should be very simple.

 

[wvlongshot]

Another pic

 

[hunter243sgk]

If you take the trigger out and hone the contact points(where it engages the sear).And do away with a few parts that Ruger sure don't want you to do you will have a lot better trigger.After doing this I don't think I will wast my money on a after market trigger.It really made A big difference.Dont have a pull gauge but guessing I would say a pound or less and no creep.Breaks like glass.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Ruger American only if a Pre Fit was avail: