Ruger American Ranch 5.56 to KRG Bravo Chassis

The Guide

WKR
Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
1,000
Location
Montana
I have an original run from the first Ruger American Ranch rifles they did in 5.56 Nato. From the start, the stock has sucked. It is just too flexible but at the time, there was no real alternative. The famous 223 thread got me curious about seeing if my RAR would like the heavy bullets in 223. I bought some factory 73 ELDM ammo and found that the little 16" barrel was fond of them. With a 100 yard zero, I immediately took it out to 440 yards on steel and dialed the dope (with guessed velocity since I was 500 miles from my crono) and easily make impacts at waterline but from edge to edge on the 10" plate. The short (compact stock) and flexible stock was the only thing I could put my finger on as to why I was seeing the horizontal group dispersion at that distance with little wind. No matter how light you hold that stock with a bipod and rear bag from prone, it just felt wiggly.

I set off to Google search the interwebs for some place that sold a replacement stock or someone who had replaced the stock on that exact rifle (RAR compact in 5.56 NATO with the rotary stock) and could not find a for sure answer on if the replacement SA stocks for the Ruger American would work on my particular rifle since I remembered that when I first looked at getting a replacement stock ~10 years ago, there was something different about this rifle that wouldn't allow it to work correctly (maybe feeding issues with magazines that worked in replacement stocks). I could find all kinds of information on replacing stocks on the Ruger American and the Ruger American Predator but nothing on the Ruger American Ranch with the rotary mag. I priced out the stocks I could find and found almost all were the same general price by the time you added an AICS mag and made each of them "equal" to each other. KRG had a good price on the Bravo Chassis and it came with a front stud for a bipod and a small picatinny rail as part of the package. I also have a Ruger American Predator in 204 and one in 6CM so at the worst, I would be out the cost of a magazine. However, if I liked the stock I would just buy a Tikka in 223 and use magazine on that in the future. So into my cart went a Bravo, a 223 mag, and a 308 mag incase I had to put the stock on my 6CM (and so I could use the stock for both rifles if it worked on the Ranch).

Shipping from KRG was quick as everything was in stock. Ordered on Monday and received on Friday. Followed the instructions and removed the magazine release to allow for easier access to the rear action screw and also removed the front handguard to get better access to the front action screw. Torqued everything back up to what the instructions had listed and put some ammo in the 5 round AICS 223 magazine and test fed the action. It worked! No issues and fed as good or better than it did in the original factory configuration and it feels so much more stable. I have not had a chance to see how it shoots in the new stock since it was 95 and windy the last 2 days but as soon as I do, I'll update the post with some groups.

So in closing, if you are looking for a replacement stock for your Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 with the rotary mag, the KRG Bravo Chassis for the Ruger American will work for you.

Jay
 

terryda

FNG
Joined
Dec 28, 2023
Messages
12
Location
Texas
Jay, in the course of trying different ammo, did you come across any factory "hunting" rounds that the gun liked? So far, I've only been able to get Hornady's American Whitetail 60gr Interlok to group. Since this round is exclusive to Academy stores, I would appreciate knowing of some other, non-exclusive options. Thanks.
 
Joined
Oct 24, 2022
Messages
1
I have the same rifle and have found the Sig 77gr OTMs work like a laser beam (under 0.5” @ 100yds). I hunt Jack Rabbits with it since they like to run 150 yards before stopping and the .22lr doesn’t have the juice at that distance. I will definitely check out the KRG stock as the factory one is not great.
 
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
5,231
Location
Colorado
My 556 RARR likes Hornady, BH, Remington, annd Federal ammo. I’ve shot consistently with 68-77gr ammo. I have a 50yd zero and have made hits on steel out to 750yds and 255yds on a coyote. The only thing I don’t like is the color of the stock, so I painted it. Now it’s a flat black.

I’ve looked at some different stock options but I really don’t think that I’ll get any better accuracy or a lighter rifle.
 

WormSportsman

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 20, 2017
Messages
227
Location
Montana
I have an original run from the first Ruger American Ranch rifles they did in 5.56 Nato. From the start, the stock has sucked. It is just too flexible but at the time, there was no real alternative. The famous 223 thread got me curious about seeing if my RAR would like the heavy bullets in 223. I bought some factory 73 ELDM ammo and found that the little 16" barrel was fond of them. With a 100 yard zero, I immediately took it out to 440 yards on steel and dialed the dope (with guessed velocity since I was 500 miles from my crono) and easily make impacts at waterline but from edge to edge on the 10" plate. The short (compact stock) and flexible stock was the only thing I could put my finger on as to why I was seeing the horizontal group dispersion at that distance with little wind. No matter how light you hold that stock with a bipod and rear bag from prone, it just felt wiggly.

I set off to Google search the interwebs for some place that sold a replacement stock or someone who had replaced the stock on that exact rifle (RAR compact in 5.56 NATO with the rotary stock) and could not find a for sure answer on if the replacement SA stocks for the Ruger American would work on my particular rifle since I remembered that when I first looked at getting a replacement stock ~10 years ago, there was something different about this rifle that wouldn't allow it to work correctly (maybe feeding issues with magazines that worked in replacement stocks). I could find all kinds of information on replacing stocks on the Ruger American and the Ruger American Predator but nothing on the Ruger American Ranch with the rotary mag. I priced out the stocks I could find and found almost all were the same general price by the time you added an AICS mag and made each of them "equal" to each other. KRG had a good price on the Bravo Chassis and it came with a front stud for a bipod and a small picatinny rail as part of the package. I also have a Ruger American Predator in 204 and one in 6CM so at the worst, I would be out the cost of a magazine. However, if I liked the stock I would just buy a Tikka in 223 and use magazine on that in the future. So into my cart went a Bravo, a 223 mag, and a 308 mag incase I had to put the stock on my 6CM (and so I could use the stock for both rifles if it worked on the Ranch).

Shipping from KRG was quick as everything was in stock. Ordered on Monday and received on Friday. Followed the instructions and removed the magazine release to allow for easier access to the rear action screw and also removed the front handguard to get better access to the front action screw. Torqued everything back up to what the instructions had listed and put some ammo in the 5 round AICS 223 magazine and test fed the action. It worked! No issues and fed as good or better than it did in the original factory configuration and it feels so much more stable. I have not had a chance to see how it shoots in the new stock since it was 95 and windy the last 2 days but as soon as I do, I'll update the post with some groups.

So in closing, if you are looking for a replacement stock for your Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 with the rotary mag, the KRG Bravo Chassis for the Ruger American will work for you.

Jay
Hey Jay, any update on this and you got a picture of that thing all set up. Thanks!
 

grfox92

WKR
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
2,770
Location
NW WY
Jay, in the course of trying different ammo, did you come across any factory "hunting" rounds that the gun liked? So far, I've only been able to get Hornady's American Whitetail 60gr Interlok to group. Since this round is exclusive to Academy stores, I would appreciate knowing of some other, non-exclusive options. Thanks.
He said it loved 73gr ELDM

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk
 

Bama67

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 28, 2017
Messages
166
Location
Sandpoint ID
I have an original run from the first Ruger American Ranch rifles they did in 5.56 Nato. From the start, the stock has sucked. It is just too flexible but at the time, there was no real alternative. The famous 223 thread got me curious about seeing if my RAR would like the heavy bullets in 223. I bought some factory 73 ELDM ammo and found that the little 16" barrel was fond of them. With a 100 yard zero, I immediately took it out to 440 yards on steel and dialed the dope (with guessed velocity since I was 500 miles from my crono) and easily make impacts at waterline but from edge to edge on the 10" plate. The short (compact stock) and flexible stock was the only thing I could put my finger on as to why I was seeing the horizontal group dispersion at that distance with little wind. No matter how light you hold that stock with a bipod and rear bag from prone, it just felt wiggly.

I set off to Google search the interwebs for some place that sold a replacement stock or someone who had replaced the stock on that exact rifle (RAR compact in 5.56 NATO with the rotary stock) and could not find a for sure answer on if the replacement SA stocks for the Ruger American would work on my particular rifle since I remembered that when I first looked at getting a replacement stock ~10 years ago, there was something different about this rifle that wouldn't allow it to work correctly (maybe feeding issues with magazines that worked in replacement stocks). I could find all kinds of information on replacing stocks on the Ruger American and the Ruger American Predator but nothing on the Ruger American Ranch with the rotary mag. I priced out the stocks I could find and found almost all were the same general price by the time you added an AICS mag and made each of them "equal" to each other. KRG had a good price on the Bravo Chassis and it came with a front stud for a bipod and a small picatinny rail as part of the package. I also have a Ruger American Predator in 204 and one in 6CM so at the worst, I would be out the cost of a magazine. However, if I liked the stock I would just buy a Tikka in 223 and use magazine on that in the future. So into my cart went a Bravo, a 223 mag, and a 308 mag incase I had to put the stock on my 6CM (and so I could use the stock for both rifles if it worked on the Ranch).

Shipping from KRG was quick as everything was in stock. Ordered on Monday and received on Friday. Followed the instructions and removed the magazine release to allow for easier access to the rear action screw and also removed the front handguard to get better access to the front action screw. Torqued everything back up to what the instructions had listed and put some ammo in the 5 round AICS 223 magazine and test fed the action. It worked! No issues and fed as good or better than it did in the original factory configuration and it feels so much more stable. I have not had a chance to see how it shoots in the new stock since it was 95 and windy the last 2 days but as soon as I do, I'll update the post with some groups.

So in closing, if you are looking for a replacement stock for your Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 with the rotary mag, the KRG Bravo Chassis for the Ruger American will work for you.

Jay


Hey Jay, what brand of AICS mags are you using for the Ruger?
Thanks
 
OP
The Guide

The Guide

WKR
Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
1,000
Location
Montana
Jay, in the course of trying different ammo, did you come across any factory "hunting" rounds that the gun liked? So far, I've only been able to get Hornady's American Whitetail 60gr Interlok to group. Since this round is exclusive to Academy stores, I would appreciate knowing of some other, non-exclusive options. Thanks.

I hunt with what is accurate. This rifle likes the Hornady Match 73 grain ELDM and has proven accurate to 440 yards.

Hey Jay, any update on this and you got a picture of that thing all set up. Thanks!

No pictures on my phone. I'll try and get some photos when I can get out shooting again. Weather and coaching wrestling have kept me out of the field for a bit.

Hey Jay, what brand of AICS mags are you using for the Ruger?
Thanks

The KRG branded 5 round magazine is what I'm using right now. Ordered it with the chassis.

Jay
 

Jlop_2

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 8, 2021
Messages
145
Location
New Mexico
reviving an old thread here but just curious if anyone has mounted a Ruger American Predator (1st gen) into a KRG bravo? Looking at getting one soon. Any fitment issues?

I know KRG website states it’ll fit the American just unsure if it’ll fit the predator as I believe the predator has a heavier tapered barrel. I emailed KRG but haven’t heard back yet.
 
OP
The Guide

The Guide

WKR
Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
1,000
Location
Montana
reviving an old thread here but just curious if anyone has mounted a Ruger American Predator (1st gen) into a KRG bravo? Looking at getting one soon. Any fitment issues?

I know KRG website states it’ll fit the American just unsure if it’ll fit the predator as I believe the predator has a heavier tapered barrel. I emailed KRG but haven’t heard back yet.
You will have plenty of room. I swap my 223 (the RAR that I started this thread about) and my 6CM RAP back and forth in my Bravo Chassis with no issues, just change magazines for the correct size.

Jay
 
OP
The Guide

The Guide

WKR
Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
1,000
Location
Montana
@The Guide - could we get an update on this stock? I am thinking of ordering one for my RAR. Wondering how you like it, any pitfalls with a little time on it?
Still chugging away with no issues. Rifle loves the 73eldm factory ammo. My daughter has basically taken over the rifle. I just buy her ammo by the case and she stays smiling. She has killed a couple deer with it and loves the way it fits and shoots. No feeding issues with a 5 or 10 round magazine. Bought another Bravo for my RAP 6CM since this one worked so well. No issues with that one either.

Jay
 
OP
The Guide

The Guide

WKR
Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
1,000
Location
Montana
Good to know, tho it’ll cost me….😉
If you aren't stuck on a chassis, Bell and Carlson make a nice stock for the Ruger American that has an aluminum mini chassis in it. Little lower price point and lighter than the Bravo and miles better than the factory stock. You have the option to keep the factory bottom plastic and magazine or upgrade to AICS compatible bottom. With the Bravo you have to add in the cost of mags too.

Jay
 
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