Rug American Gen 2 worth upgrades?

[madscientist]

For no other reason than we already have the rifle and its not really a tack driver and we can, I'd like to change out the stock for a LSS from mdt as well as change the barrel out for something better. I will have to wait until the LA version of the chassis comes out but that should be relatively soon.

So the question I have, is the gen 2 action even worth doing these upgrades or should I just buy another rifle? I don't know the intricacies of what makes this action any better or worse than others (like the 700 everyone is about) I have a burris scope on it (with the electronic dialing range) and its a little chunky on the setup the way it is.

 

[tony]

I lie my G2. But for all your wanting to do, maybe sell this one and put the money towards something else.

What caliber? Maybe try different ammo?

 

[madscientist]

Its a 300win mag. It doesnt shoot THAT bad. Tried all kinds of ammo. Can't consistently hit a MOA plate at 600 and I'm a pretty good shot. I think it's the barrel. Cold bore is pretty good but gets worse as it warms up. (Yeah I know you don't really hunt way.. But I'd feel better)

don't intend on selling it but it was bought for moose and elk hunting which I planned on that 5-600 yard range. I could just relegate it to bear hunting duty. But if the action is good and holds up I don't mind fixing the problems.

 

[Geewhiz]

Just to be clear, hardly anyone can consistently hit a moa plate at 600..

 

[madscientist]

Just to be clear, hardly anyone can consistently hit a moa plate at 600..

I guess that's fair haha. But compared to other rifles I've had/ shot this one leaves something to be desired.

 

[Deere_Man]

What do your five shot groups at 100 yards look like?

 

[alexnelon]

If consistently hitting 6 inch plates at 600 is the metric then I need a new rifle too.

But jokes aside, I wouldn’t spend LSS money for a Ruger. Maybe a few boxes of different ammo and then an Oryx or KRG Bravo and see if that helps.

 

[madscientist]

What do your five shot groups at 100 yards look like?

First 5 very good around. 7 to right at 1 inch maybe a little over. Not often do I get touching holes But I have set it up and it shoot significantly different than where I left it last trip. (Like I left it dead center and now I'm shooting and grouping 2 inches right same box of ammo and wind isn't a factor.)

Edit.. To add. The do start to open up around the end of the second 5 shot group. 3red groups very loose then I have to let it cool. And I have occasionally had flyers when hot but that could be me.

 

[madscientist]

If consistently hitting 6 inch plates at 600 is the metric then I need a new rifle too.

But jokes aside, I wouldn’t spend LSS money for a Ruger. Maybe a few boxes of different ammo and then an Oryx or KRG Bravo and see if that helps.

I could bang 600 all day with my 6.5 creed. It did have a nice barrel though. Shouldn't have sold it.

 

[alexnelon]

First 5 very good around. 7 to right at 1 inch maybe a little over. Not often do I get touching holes But I have set it up and it shoot significantly different than where I left it last trip. (Like I left it dead center and now I'm shooting and grouping 2 inches right same box of ammo and wind isn't a factor.)

*alarms going off*

What’s your scope and mount situation?

 

[madscientist]

*alarms going off*

What’s your scope and mount situation?

I've got a 2025 Burris veracity ph (3-15 x44) on a set of vortex pro rings. All torqued with the right tools.

 

[alexnelon]

I've got a 2025 Burris veracity ph (3-15 x44) on a set of vortex pro rings. All torqued with the right tools.

Gotcha. I would expect to have to check and re-zero here and there with that setup.

 

[Deere_Man]

I've got a 2025 Burris veracity ph (3-15 x44) on a set of vortex pro rings. All torqued with the right tools.

The Burris sounds like it has some issues. I have a difficult time shooting a 30-06 accurately after 10-12 shots, due to the recoil. A 300 Win Mag is probably worse by a significant margin. Sell it and get another Ruger American in 6mm Creedmoor.

But to answer your question, yes, a Ruger American can make a good platform to build off of. I’m just not sure that you would want to use that particular one that you are using until you iron out a couple variables.

 

[madscientist]

The Burris sounds like it has some issues. I have a difficult time shooting a 30-06 accurately after 10-12 shots, due to the recoil. A 300 Win Mag is probably worse by a significant margin. Sell it and get another Ruger American in 6mm Creedmoor.

I appreciate the input but I'm not going big game hunting with that cartridge. Im not sure it's the optic. As I stated the group changes as I shoot pretty significantly. If I dial in 0 in 3 and move to the 600 I'll nail it everytime. If I shoot 8 or 10 shots working up the range from 100 to 600 I'll just about always miss. On difference is the barrel is hot. As far as being off a couple inches out of the box... Idk... Maybe temp related just from the barrel at 75 on 0 day and below freezing hunting...? Idk. I'm still trying to prove this. But I don't get enough range time. Im pretty gentle with my gear. And it lives in a foam case. ... Idk... I think it's worth putting a barrel on at least. It'll kill just Like it is... Its just not up to my standards

 

[madscientist]

Gotcha. I would expect to have to check and re-zero here and there with that setup.

Why is that? Are the mounts not up to the job?

 

[alexnelon]

Why is that? Are the mounts not up to the job?

The rings are proven to slip even when torqued to spec.

Scopes are a whole rabbit hole but long story short there are only like 10 scopes that are proven to maintain zero without wandering.

 

[madscientist]

Which 10 because lll buy one. Lol. I really got this scope so my wife didn't have to learn elevation or windage. She could just dial the yardage and hold however many over the scope says. Easy. But I'll prefer something that doesn't move.

I thought the vortex rings were good enough especially considering this rifle has a brake.

 

[rclouse79]

I had all but made up my mind to buy this rifle in 223 for my daughter before the Rokslide crowd convinced me to come to my senses and buy another Tikka. It seemed to me the main pro for the Ruger was they tended to be good shooters out of the box. It seemed the main con people listed was the action and reliability. If I rolled the dice on one and was unhappy with the accuracy I would sell it and buy a different gun rather than put an expensive barrel on a platform I didn’t love.

 

[alexnelon]

Which 10 because lll buy one. Lol. I really got this scope so my wife didn't have to learn elevation or windage. She could just dial the yardage and hold however many over the scope says. Easy. But I'll prefer something that doesn't move.

I thought the vortex rings were good enough especially considering this rifle has a brake.

Start here

and fair warning. It’s easy to get lost in there.

 

[madscientist]

I had all but made up my mind to buy this rifle in 223 for my daughter before the Rokslide crowd convinced me to come to my senses and buy another Tikka. It seemed to me the main pro for the Ruger was they tended to be good shooters out of the box. It seemed the main con people listed was the action and reliability. If I rolled the dice on one and was unhappy with the accuracy I would sell it and buy a different gun rather than put an expensive barrel on a platform I didn’t love.

I do like the short lever thrown on the action. Trigger on mine is very nice after a spring change and a little Polish work. Its a 3 lug which I do prefer for hand loads (when I get there) I really think what I'm not happy with is the barrel but hard to prove that's the problem without coughing up the money.

When I Looked into Buying this rifle i found that most of the complaints were with the short action with very few problems in the long action.

Perfect world.. I think I'd like to just buy an ARC and build out that way. Still don't want to hand this rifle off to someone if it's got a problem though. It's a fine 300 yard gun.