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

[HairyScandinavian]

Do the 223s feed reliably? I have a Rem700 that feeds 90% from AI pattern mags. I love it for varmints and flat range shooting but I’m debating a RA Gen 2 that uses AR mags for a field gun.

Ours is weird, feeds fine for first three rounds but can't get the last round to ever chamber. Shoots pretty well though. I just shoot three and leave the last round in the mag.

 

[flyfisher117]

Ours is weird, feeds fine for first three rounds but can't get the last round to ever chamber. Shoots pretty well though. I just shoot three and leave the last round in the mag.

Seems 223s can be touchy to feed so it has my nervous to get one. Also want a Tikka but the price difference is big

 

[Cdnance]

Seems 223s can be touchy to feed so it has my nervous to get one. Also want a Tikka but the price difference is big

The price difference really isn’t that much. I guess after you include all of the misc fees from transfer, mounts and what not it could be a lot, but just the bare rifle to rifle should be with in reason.

 

[Castle Rock]

Seems 223s can be touchy to feed so it has my nervous to get one. Also want a Tikka but the price difference is big

It’s fukall when you consider what you are getting

 

[flyfisher117]

The price difference really isn’t that much. I guess after you include all of the misc fees from transfer, mounts and what not it could be a lot, but just the bare rifle to rifle should be with in reason.

It’s fukall when you consider what you are getting

The savings would buy me 1k round of plinking ammo and allow me to utilize a plethora of AR mags I already have. I guess I need to work in what ever field you guys are in.

 

[Cdnance]

The savings would buy me 1k round of plinking ammo and allow me to utilize a plethora of AR mags I already have. I guess I need to work in what ever field you guys are in.

I’m thinking you are looking at a difference of $100-$150. More depending on the model.
I have handled both, and like both brands. It all comes down to what you prefer.

 

[coyotekilla]

The savings would buy me 1k round of plinking ammo and allow me to utilize a plethora of AR mags I already have. I guess I need to work in what ever field you guys are in.

The bottom mag well on the rugers is universal, you can swap ar with factory rotary, with the 308 family, all but the long action interchange for a fact, and the longs may, I do not know. I have 300aac, 6.5g, & 223 myself, buddy has 22arc & 243. All shoot very well, all benefitted from chassis swaps too.

 

[The Guide]

The savings would buy me 1k round of plinking ammo and allow me to utilize a plethora of AR mags I already have. I guess I need to work in what ever field you guys are in.

Where are you getting 1k rounds of centerfire ammo for $180? The Ruger American retails for $600 and the Tikka blued 223 new threaded models retail $780 and the closeout unthreaded models from Euro Optics start at $630. Buy what works for you and go shoot a bunch.

Jay

 

[flyfisher117]

I’m thinking you are looking at a difference of $100-$150. More depending on the model.
I have handled both, and like both brands. It all comes down to what you prefer.

Where are you getting 1k rounds of centerfire ammo for $180? The Ruger American retails for $600 and the Tikka blued 223 new threaded models retail $780 and the closeout unthreaded models from Euro Optics start at $630. Buy what works for you and go shoot a bunch.

Jay

I can walk into my LGs today and buy a Ruger for $500 or a Threaded Tikka for a bit over $800. Both before theft.

 

[Cdnance]

I can walk into my LGs today and buy a Ruger for $500 or a Threaded Tikka for a bit over $800. Both before theft.

I think we are just saying that you have some options that aren’t such a big difference.
I’m all for supporting your LGS, but sometimes you have to stray or see if they can come to the table.

 

[MeatInTheFreezer]

I have a Ruger Am. Gen II in 6.5 Creed in a 16 inch barrel. It's a bummer, but the action sucks. It's decently smooth when you run the bolt without a round, but it was really tough to cycle a spent round and rack a new one. To the point where I was like WTF is happening. The action is improving as I gets worn in (I guess) with use but overall, I would not recommend one of these rifles to someone with enough cash to buy something better. It is certainly not a "kid friendly" action.

While the rifle and stock have some neat features, I would not buy this rifle again based on the clunkiness of the action.

I will be hunting with my rifle this season because it's what I have and I like the short threaded barrel with a suppressor.

This is my own experience but I would say - buy a Tikka and never look back.

Circling back on my first post, since then I have run the bolt about a 1,000 times without a round which has seemed to remove any unwanted cerakote in the action area. I cleaning with a dry mop brush to remove any debris. I also put in an adjustable pull weight Timney trigger which is really nice. It now feeds waaaay better and shoots super well. I would still suggest buying a Tikka, but Im much happier now that the rifle if functioning as it should. I really like a short barrel with a suppressor. This is the way.

 

[coyotekilla]

Circling back on my first post, since then I have run the bolt about a 1,000 times without a round which has seemed to remove any unwanted cerakote in the action area. I cleaning with a dry mop brush to remove any debris. I also put in an adjustable pull weight Timney trigger which is really nice. It now feeds waaaay better and shoots super well. I would still suggest buying a Tikka, but Im much happier now that the rifle if functioning as it should. I really like a short barrel with a suppressor. This is the way.

I agree with this post. The ruger Americans shoot, but the tikka shoot every bit as well, and are smooth. Now that tikka is threading stuff its probably the better deal. The tikka stocks, triggers, and actions are better then ruger, and your gonna need to be an advanced shooter to tell which is more accurate.

 

[Pilsner]

Do the 223s feed reliably? I have a Rem700 that feeds 90% from AI pattern mags. I love it for varmints and flat range shooting but I’m debating a RA Gen 2 that uses AR mags for a field gun.

Mine is also 100% using whatever AR mags I have handy. It is also an actual shooter. Slightly over 1" for 10 rounds using either 77 grain TMKs or 73 (?) grain ELD-M's. Which is pretty damned good considering the amount of stock play going on when shooting off of a bench.
At some point I need to drop mine into a proper folding stock chassis, but I am also cheap and have a dozen more pressing projects ongoing at the moment. If someone has one for sale hit me up.
-Doc

 

[FunkEyeMissed]

Do you do much hunting with your .223 setup? I’m on the fence between getting a .223 over a 6.5cm for now to be able to buy more ammo and build fundamentals. I’ve been reading up on the .223 thread and it’s almost got me convinced, but I’m not sure that it’s a better option than setting up and AR for longer range and getting the 6.5 bolt gun and chassis in the future.

 

[bigeyedfish]

Do you do much hunting with your .223 setup? I’m on the fence between getting a .223 over a 6.5cm for now to be able to buy more ammo and build fundamentals. I’ve been reading up on the .223 thread and it’s almost got me convinced, but I’m not sure that it’s a better option than setting up and AR for longer range and getting the 6.5 bolt gun and chassis in the future.

I killed deer with 223 and 6.5CM last year at ranges of 40-250 yards. I see no advantage to the 6.5CM at those ranges. 223 kills very well with good bullets.

 

[Shortschaf]

Do you do much hunting with your .223 setup? I’m on the fence between getting a .223 over a 6.5cm for now to be able to buy more ammo and build fundamentals. I’ve been reading up on the .223 thread and it’s almost got me convinced, but I’m not sure that it’s a better option than setting up and AR for longer range and getting the 6.5 bolt gun and chassis in the future.

I have a full custom 6.5 creed

The ruger gen 2 .223 goes with me everywhere and the creed stays at home except for hunting season. I hunt with a 6.5 still. I would use the 223 for a small kid to hunt

 

[The Guide]

Do you do much hunting with your .223 setup? I’m on the fence between getting a .223 over a 6.5cm for now to be able to buy more ammo and build fundamentals. I’ve been reading up on the .223 thread and it’s almost got me convinced, but I’m not sure that it’s a better option than setting up and AR for longer range and getting the 6.5 bolt gun and chassis in the future.

We've killed deer and antelope from 200 to 500 yards with the 223 using both the 77tmk and 73eldm in the last 2 years. Will use it again this year. My wife and I will be using our new 22 ARC rifles and my kids will use their 223 rifles. We have single digit draw numbers on damage hunt lists so hopefully we will get on some depredation hunts either early or late season for additional opportunity.

Jay

 

[coyotekilla]

Do you do much hunting with your .223 setup? I’m on the fence between getting a .223 over a 6.5cm for now to be able to buy more ammo and build fundamentals. I’ve been reading up on the .223 thread and it’s almost got me convinced, but I’m not sure that it’s a better option than setting up and AR for longer range and getting the 6.5 bolt gun and chassis in the future.

The 223 is scary accurate and so darn cheap to shoot. 55 soft points load for 8.60 a box. Barrel life is forever long. Its my go to for varmits and what not. If im targeting deer I'll bring heavier but the 223 kills well

 

[FunkEyeMissed]

Looking for something I can build and afford to shoot enough to cement fundamentals up to being consistent at 3-400 yards in the field on Black Bear, while still maintaining enough impact velocity to incapacitate the animal quickly. 6 creed seems like a possible good middle ground between .223 and the 6.5 creed