Monday morning new gun

[Burnt Reynolds]

Ruger American Ranch, 5.56, 16 inch barrel. This was an "oh hey, I have an extra rifle strap" Poof - New rifle...

Action won't cycle with an empty mag inserted, but feeding and ejecting is just fine with a loaded mag, bordering on "not bad at all" smoothness. I was gone all weekend visiting family for nephews first communion so just finished setup last night after we got home and unpacked and kids were down. About 20 minutes of cycling has really helped. Looking forward to zeroing this week at some point. My old leupold vx2 3-9x50 has been on more guns than I can remember and has been as reliable as a hammer so if there's accuracy issues I'll know I'd imagine.

For $400.00 though I really can't complain. Originally I was thinking I'd drop it in an MDT LSS chassis but I'm fixing to just shoot it as is for a while and see how it goes. Intended use is truck gun, off-season scouting rifle, coyote control on my property etc etc. Basically, light weight cheap all around rifle.

I've read it shoots 55gr plinking ammo well so I'm hopeful. My 5.56 RPR likes everything except my stockpile of 55 grain wolf gold.

My one question has to do with the torque specs for the action screws. Ruger calls for 60-80 inch lbs which approaching farmer tight. Anyone have experience with these and care to share what they torque their screws to?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have one of the predators in 22-250 that shoots really well for what it is. I think the American is sort of a cool rifle even though they aren’t high end or anything.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Ruger American Ranch in 5.56

Can't answer the torque question....I haven't messed with mine since I took it out of the box. I also don't have the extended mag like you have. Mine takes 4 and is flush with the bottom of the stock when inserted. No suppressor here either.

Mine shoots dime sized groups @ 100 yards with any 5.56 ammo, but I currently have it sighted in for 63 gr soft points loaded by Silver State Armory. Got a Vortex 2-8x32 with BDC and rides around in the back seat of my UTV when I'm doing chores at the farm. Great little gun

 

[JLH208]

Factory ships it right at 70 lbs


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[hodgeman]

Farmer tight is right on the money. The "bedding" is two V-blocks....just crank it down and forget about it.

 

[Burnt Reynolds]

Forgot about this thread, if anyone is interested I'll share my experience 6 months later. Some background: I bought this rifle for several reasons, I wanted a cheap plinker that I could suppress as I was disappointed with my suppressor on my AR's, something anyone could shoot (my kids especially), to be able to make use of parts I had laying around, something I didn't care if it got beat up and that would be relatively light and easy to handle in the truck, on quads, hiking or around camp. Other reasons too, just can't remember.

Bottom line is that this rifle is worth every penny. True, it's not the best looking rifle but utility has a beauty all it's own. Upon purchase I disassembled, cleaned, reassembled and mounted optics and so forth. Since then it's seen over 1k rounds of 55 grain Wolf Gold 5.56 ammo, couple hundred rounds of 62, 69 and 77 grain ammo and not a single cleaning. It's a shooter for sure. Clay pigeon blasting around 200 yards is too much fun. Periodically I think to myself that I'd like to add a "nice" 223 bolt gun to the safe and routinely arrive at the conclusion that doing so would be only for looks & bling (which I don't have a problem with lol) but I just come back to the old Ruger and have at it and the thought goes away.

If you're thinking about one of these for similar reasons go for it, you won't be disappointed. I've actually been thinking about SBR'ing it so I can cut the barrel to 10 or 11 inches. I've yet to shoot it unsuppressed and think it'd be even more badass plinker with a short little barrel on there.

 

[BigWoods]

I've got the same gun in 7.62x39. I call it my fun stick. Something about the combination of a big muzzle flash, moderate thump and cycling a bolt puts a smile on the face every time. Haven't really wrung out the accuracy with a scope, but I'll shoot 1-1.5" groups with a red dot mounted on it.