Ruger Ranch Gen 2 6.5 Creedmoor Review

AZsniper

WKR
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Apr 4, 2020
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Got this gun at Sportsmans for $560 plus tax.

I have been waiting for these rifles to come out for a few months. I was looking for something compact and light for stalking black bears in Arizona. My 22in Browning with the Dead Air Ti attached feels like a civil war musket it is so long. This rifle has a 16in barrel and I knew I would lose a bit of velocity, but it is so light and compact it will be much easier to carry in remote and thick brush. I settled on the 6.5 Creedmoor because of ammo availability and the ability to go from 90gr to 156gr for different game. I put a vortex 4-16x50 hslr scope on it and headed to the desert to zero it in.

I decided to try 143gr ELDX first. My average velocity was 2449fps from 3 shots with my Magneto Speed chrono. The box says 2700fps but we all know you never get that unless you use a 26in barrel. My browning 22in 6.5 creed shoots the Hornady at 2570fps. So I only lost 120fps and I took 6in off the barrel. I added my Dead Air Nomad Ti Supressor, and I picked up 34fps, so I am getting 2483 fps with this new Ruger suppressed. I was very happy with that, I thought I would lose more velocity in a 16in barrel. This isn’t a gun for 600+ yard shots, but inside 400 yards it is plenty of velocity and it is so much easier to carry than a 22in rifle. It is lighter and shorter.

I shoot the Berger 156gr factory ammo in my browning and I get 2539fps. I only averaged 2239fps in the 16in Ruger Ranch. I lost 300fps in velocity going from 22in to 16in barrel. I think it will vary how much velocity you will lose in different weight ammo.

I was hoping the ELDX would shoot well in my rifle. You can use it on different game and it’s pretty cheap at $34 a box. Because it held so much velocity I decided to try and zero it in. Took me 4 shots to get to bullseye at 100yds. The 5th shot connected with the 4th shot to make a big hole, see photo. I was shooting prone with a bipod and bag. I let the rifle cool and took 2 shots at about .5 moa, prone with a bag(see photo). I was going to try some 130gr ammo to see velocity but the ELDX is .5 MOA and has such a high G1 I think I am just going to run with this. I think groups will tighten as barrel breaks in.

Very happy with my purchase. For less than $600 I got a .5 MOA gun that is light and easy to carry. I don’t even have to work up a hand load with it liking the ELDX and how cheap the Hornady is.

The stock is much stiffer than the gen 1. The barrel didn’t get hot until 8 shots and it is very balanced. For the money I don’t think you can beat it. I will probably buy another one for how cheap they are.

Just thought some people might want to know about the velocity in the shorter barrel. Hope this helps.
 

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I plan to pick up one of these when more cartridge options come out. I would maybe shoot a few larger count groups before saying its a .5 MOA gun though.
 
I plan to pick up one of these when more cartridge options come out. I would maybe shoot a few larger count groups before saying its a .5 MOA gun though.
Agreed on the .5 MOA, I haven’t even cleaned it yet and only 10 shots thru it. I will post an update when I shoot it cold bore at 100yds. I think I can tighten the groups. What caliber are you waiting for?
 
Agreed on the .5 MOA, I haven’t even cleaned it yet and only 10 shots thru it. I will post an update when I shoot it cold bore at 100yds. I think I can tighten the groups. What caliber are you waiting for?
6 ARC for the wife so I can restock her 6CM for me.
 
I’ve shot exactly 14 rounds through this gun. 4-5 rounds to get it on paper at 50 yards. Another 5-6 on steel at 200, and then shot this 3 round group at 200 yards. It’s chambered in 6.5cm and the can is an Omega 36. Arken EPL optic. Super impressed for a sub $600 gun. Ironically same ammo as the post author.
 

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are both of you still happy with this rifle and caliber after hopefully a bit more shooting at paper and maybe animals? I am looking at the Gen 2 in 6.5CM - not decided on standard or ranch yet. A can is a dream in the future but I wont be able to afford one soon so probably just the stock brake for a couple years at least.
 
I just bought one in 7mm-08. It's an impressive deer catcher for the value you get out of it. I've also got a gen 1 American Predator in 6.5 creed that I've shot a few half minute groups with using factory Hornady loads and a cheap Vortex scope. Excellent rifles. Not a huge fan of the aesthetic on the new stocks but they are still an upgrade over the gen 1's.
 
are both of you still happy with this rifle and caliber after hopefully a bit more shooting at paper and maybe animals? I am looking at the Gen 2 in 6.5CM - not decided on standard or ranch yet. A can is a dream in the future but I wont be able to afford one soon so probably just the stock brake for a couple years at least.
I love mine. It’s so light and easy to carry. You just have to know with the reduced velocity of short barrel it’s a 300 yard gun. It’s not made to shoot stuff 600 yards away.
 
I was looking at thes gen 2's a little and stumbled upon this thread. I'm pretty surprised the creedmoor in a 16" barrel didn't get more velocity than your 2449. My 6.5 grendel shoots hornady black factory ammo 2435 from a 16" barrel, but granted that's a 123 grain bullet instead of the 143's, but I still would have expected more out of that creedmoor case. Your eld-x was factory loads too right? I would assume a pretty good jump in performance could be had with hand loads... maybe?
 
The 2449 was factory load. I have actually moved to the 140 grain Berger because that shoots 2505fps. And I can clover leaf with that as well. The 120gr Hornady superx copper shoots 2740fps. You will get more speed at 120gr for sure. For me the 140gr Berger was the best mix of both. I will say the accuracy falls off a bit at 400 yards with the shorter barrel. My Browning Hells canyon can punch 8in steel at 800 yards every time. Past 400 yards and I am 50/50 with the 16in barrel. If you hunt within 400 yards this gun is amazing. The 143eldx, 140 Berger and the 120 superx all were sub .5 MOA at 100 yards. I don’t see any point buying an expensive rifle moving forward.
 
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