Has the Ruger American Gen 2 been out long enough to be considered “proven”?

[Q_Sertorius]

Alright guys what changes when we throw Bergaras into the mix? Seems like Bergara vs Tikka would be a better comparison and long term move than the Rugers.

Nothing changes for me. I agree with you that the Bergara is probably a better rifle than the Ruger. I say that having never owned or used a Bergara. My Tikka is displacing an older custom Mauser 98 in .270 as my all-weather rifle. For me, the comparable new rifle would be the CZ 550 or maybe the Mauser M18 or CZ 600.


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[RWT]

Damn thing shoots. Granted this is epoxied into a Bravo stock.

Bergara are closer to the tikka. However I have found only one caliber in a Bergara that groups well. 6.5 CM. That appears to be the only caliber that is consistently accurate.

 

[The Guide]

Why 22 ARC instead of .223?


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Factory designed for heavy bullets. Non boutique factory ammo in heavy for caliber bullets. The 22 ARC is 200 to 300 fps faster with factory ammo than the 223 with the same weight bullets in the same length barrel. With a 22 ARC you get a velocity threshold on average 200 yards further than the the 223 with the same bullet. That said, for volume shooting at sub 500 yards, the 223 is $0.50 (AAC 77 OTM) to $1.50 (Black Hills 5.56 77tmk) per shot while the 22 ARC is $1.20 to $1.70 (Hornady factory ammo) per shot. If your rifle likes the cheap ammo, you can get around 3 shots for the price of one when shooting the 223 vs the 22 ARC.

The 22 ARC gives a significant increase in performance over the 223 without the short barrel life of the 22CM. It isn't for everyone but is definitely a good one.

Jay

 

[Idaho Mtns]

Tell me why the gen 2 American sucks and I should buy a tikka instead. Other than the typical “smoother action and better trigger”.

“Twinkie” aka elk guide Tate just posted a great video on the Ruger American Gen2 vs Tikka that I watched on Ron Spomer’s channel a couple of days ago.

Both great, but no way I would purchase a rifle in 2025 that isn’t threaded. Ruger gets the nod. Had a Gen 1 years ago and someday will get a Gen 2 that likely sits in the truck full time.

2 Rifles I Actually Trust in the Field – Tikka T3x vs Ruger American Gen 2

 

[The Guide]

“Twinkie” aka elk guide Tate just posted a great video on the Ruger American Gen2 vs Tikka that I watched on Ron Spomer’s channel a couple of days ago.

Both great, but no way I would purchase a rifle in 2025 that isn’t threaded. Ruger gets the nod. Had a Gen 1 years ago and someday will get a Gen 2 that likely sits in the truck full time.

2 Rifles I Actually Trust in the Field – Tikka T3x vs Ruger American Gen 2

2025 Tikka models all come threaded. The threaded Tikka models are available online and in stores from $769 for blued models and $899 on Stainless steel models. That's why all the non-threaded models are on sale at Ruger American prices.

Jay

 

[Idaho Mtns]

Good info Jay! Did not know that.

 

[Steve300xcw]

But getting back on topic - I would venture to guess there aren't many tikkas shipped out with bores that look like this:

Input on damaged rifling

I've got a Ruger American gen2 in .223 that shoots every load under 1.5'' and it's favorite load of 73ELDM/H322 consistently shoots 1 hole groups, the best 4 shots measured .18". The last few years, I've been fascinated with borescoping rifles mainly to see how effective different cleaning...

www.hunttalk.com

That stuff cracks me up. " this gun is a 1 hole shooter, just amazing"

"I got out the bore scope and that aint goona work. Barrel is getting sent back"

 

[Castle Rock]

Factory designed for heavy bullets. Non boutique factory ammo in heavy for caliber bullets. The 22 ARC is 200 to 300 fps faster with factory ammo than the 223 with the same weight bullets in the same length barrel. With a 22 ARC you get a velocity threshold on average 200 yards further than the the 223 with the same bullet. That said, for volume shooting at sub 500 yards, the 223 is $0.50 (AAC 77 OTM) to $1.50 (Black Hills 5.56 77tmk) per shot while the 22 ARC is $1.20 to $1.70 (Hornady factory ammo) per shot. If your rifle likes the cheap ammo, you can get around 3 shots for the price of one when shooting the 223 vs the 22 ARC.

The 22 ARC gives a significant increase in performance over the 223 without the short barrel life of the 22CM. It isn't for everyone but is definitely a good one.

Jay

What he said

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Factory designed for heavy bullets. Non boutique factory ammo in heavy for caliber bullets. The 22 ARC is 200 to 300 fps faster with factory ammo than the 223 with the same weight bullets in the same length barrel. With a 22 ARC you get a velocity threshold on average 200 yards further than the the 223 with the same bullet. That said, for volume shooting at sub 500 yards, the 223 is $0.50 (AAC 77 OTM) to $1.50 (Black Hills 5.56 77tmk) per shot while the 22 ARC is $1.20 to $1.70 (Hornady factory ammo) per shot. If your rifle likes the cheap ammo, you can get around 3 shots for the price of one when shooting the 223 vs the 22 ARC.

The 22 ARC gives a significant increase in performance over the 223 without the short barrel life of the 22CM. It isn't for everyone but is definitely a good one.

Jay

Thank you for the explanation. Makes perfect sense.


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[BLJ]

That stuff cracks me up. " this gun is a 1 hole shooter, just amazing"

"I got out the bore scope and that aint goona work. Barrel is getting sent back"

Kinda what I was thinking too.

 

[Taudisio]

I have multiple of both rifles. All are great, or I would have sold them. Yes the Rugers’ have “clunky” actions. Not a deal breaker for me. I am a big fan of cerakote. Load development groups from both kinds, and dead bears with both.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I have multiple of both rifles. All are great, or I would have sold them. Yes the Rugers’ have “clunky” actions. Not a deal breaker for me. I am a big fan of cerakote. Load development groups from both kinds, and dead bears with both.

Pretty sure the only thing tikka about your tikka is the action lol

 

[coyotekilla]

Well, I have tikkas and rugers. Both shot well, tikka holds the paper record for smallest group, and longest kill, whitetail at 367. But the ruger is runner up and just got a skunk at 357 yds...
If im limited to 1, tikka

 

[BLJ]

I have multiple of both rifles. All are great, or I would have sold them. Yes the Rugers’ have “clunky” actions. Not a deal breaker for me. I am a big fan of cerakote. Load development groups from both kinds, and dead bears with both.

MOA scopes, too. We could definitely be friends.

 

[Kyguy]

I had two of the original T3's when they first came out, a .223 and a 30-06. Neither ever did better than 1.5" 3 shot groups with whatever factory ammo I could find. During the same time I had two 700's in .243 and 30-06 that would shoot under an inch with just about whatever I ran through it. Same with two model 70 push feeds in .243 and 30-06. The Tikkas went down the road. They were just uninspiring at the time.

I had three Ruger American Gen 1 last year. One Ranch in 7.62x39, one Predator in .223 and one original (action not cut out for ar mags) stainless .223. The Ranch was superbly accurate with the jankiest ass action and crap trigger. The Predator was a 1.5" gun at best with the same trigger and a bolt lift that couldn't be ran from the shoulder because it was so stiff. They went down the road. The stainless .223 shoots a bit better but is in a youth stock, has a decent trigger and bolt lift, plus it was cut at 17" and threaded, so it still in the safe right now.

The choice between them is easy, buy the one that offers the features you want. You want AR or AICS mags, get the Ruger and deal with its "issues". You want classic style and maybe better quality, get the Tikka.

 

[Kyguy]

That stuff cracks me up. " this gun is a 1 hole shooter, just amazing"

"I got out the bore scope and that aint goona work. Barrel is getting sent back"

If it shoots one hole, I don't care what the barrel looks like.

 

[SloppyJ]

Alright guys what changes when we throw Bergaras into the mix? Seems like Bergara vs Tikka would be a better comparison and long term move than the Rugers.

Nothing at all except I think its an even better case for the Tikka. You'll likely pay more for the Bergara and do some research on them, plenty have loads of problems.

Personally, my buddy's had to get sent back twice for a bad 300wm chamber. It wouldn't pull the brass out of the chamber and his bolt handle broke off.

The 2nd time he spoke to someone higher up and they tried to tell him that he shouldn't expect too much "From a factory rifle" even though he spent $1700 on one of their more fancy models with the carbon barrel.

I cant think of one category that the Bergara beats the Tikka in realistically. There's not much "budget" aspect to that compared to the ruger.

 

[Taudisio]

Pretty sure the only thing tikka about your tikka is the action lol

Haha that rifle….you are correct, truly every part down to the trigger spring (outside of the action/bolt) are another brand. I have others though! A barebones stock 223….and another one at the gunsmith being made into something other than what it was

 

[Taudisio]

MOA scopes, too. We could definitely be friends.

I can count to 4, counting to 10 is hard for me.

 

[Shortschaf]

I was trying hard to justify a tikka 223 a couple months ago
800ish dollars to get the cheapest one threaded. All that for a slower barreled action that isnt stainless...

Then I found a local used Ruger A gen2 for $400 and for that kind of price its a winner.
Takes ar mags and it feeds/ejects stiff but 100%
Shoots 1.2MOA with the first cheap 55vmax ammo I tried
Comes threaded in 16" or 20" lengths. Not stainless but is cerekoted.
Stock design is poor, but its light and doesnt appear to hold the rifle back for accuracy. I actually have the Magpul stock for it, but use the factory instead for the lighter weight

It is exactly the truck gun I wanted. Only real gripe is there is not a 2lb vertical grip stock option on the market currently