Ruger american ranch?? Thoughts??
- Thread starter MW65
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CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Hello Andy,
I have a number of these rifles. Ranches standards and Predator's. Friends and Relations triple my numbers. EVERY SINGLE ONE is a shooter!!! My one complaint as a hunter is the bolt doesn't lock when safety is on.
My Ranch 300 BO is a favorite! I have shot groups that rifles that cost me five times as much dont regularly shoot!
I think you will be happy
Good luck!
CW
waco
Springfield, Oregon
I have the 5.56
Sweet little rifle.
www.artfulbullet.com
Sweet little rifle.
New rifle!
I could not help myself. The only .556/.223 rifles I own are a Savage 12FV heavy barrel and a S&W M&P 15 Sport AR. Today I grabbed a little Ruger American Ranch rifle in .556/.223 Nice little compact rifle that uses AR mags. A buddy just let me barrow an Arsenal 5 cavity mold. It’s a PC only...
www.artfulbullet.com
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
My buddy has the 223/556 Predator. Nice good shooting rifle. His go to for our coyote hunting.
Never had a 7.62x39 but see no reason it shouldn't be just as good.
Guess its all about the ammo you have can get.
CW
Never had a 7.62x39 but see no reason it shouldn't be just as good.
Guess its all about the ammo you have can get.
CW
Mitty38
Well-Known Member
Thing about .556, at least around here once fired brass for .556-233's are extremely easy to come by. Just go to any out door range and pick them off the ground. Plus they are not picky about primer brand choice.
762x39 is just to hard to find good, cheep brass for in my neck of the woods.
I would however, myself,like to try developing loads for one.
If you stick to bolt you can do some wonderful things with 4064.
Consider also a Savage Axis. They also have a good bolt action, and can often be got at a good price.
The Ranches have a much better stock out the gate though. So if I were going for sub MOA for cast, right out of the box. I would go with the Ruger.
If I was either happy with low node 2 moa loads, or willing to do stock work Axis is it.
But that's just my opinion. Do what makes YOU happy.
762x39 is just to hard to find good, cheep brass for in my neck of the woods.
I would however, myself,like to try developing loads for one.
If you stick to bolt you can do some wonderful things with 4064.
Consider also a Savage Axis. They also have a good bolt action, and can often be got at a good price.
The Ranches have a much better stock out the gate though. So if I were going for sub MOA for cast, right out of the box. I would go with the Ruger.
If I was either happy with low node 2 moa loads, or willing to do stock work Axis is it.
But that's just my opinion. Do what makes YOU happy.
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Wasalmonslayer
Well-Known Member
I have one in 556 and 7.62 and both a as accurate as I can shoot and just plan easy to handle.
I am shooting the lee 155 in the 7.62 with 15gr of 2400 and it is boringly accurate!!
I am shooting the lee 155 in the 7.62 with 15gr of 2400 and it is boringly accurate!!
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
The Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor I have has impressed me a lot. Lately, I've got the itch for one in .300 Blackout as cheap cast shooter.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Have two bolts, single shot and SKS. think 300 blo at 15,000 less pressure. Brass easy to buy new and not expensive.
Intel6
Active Member
I have the 7.62x39 Ruger American and it has turned out to be a great cast bullet shooter. I have had a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 for many years and it got me started shooting cast in the 7.62x39. I think the 7.62x39 is a great CB cartridge and decided to try the Ruger when they came out. I liked the idea of being able to use the Ruger mini-30 mags for it. I have had mine for a few years and it has also turned out to be a great CB shooter, I think you will not be disappointed in getting one.
I have shot lots of different bullet weights/styles but have settled on two main bullets that have become my standards. The first is the NOE 129 gr. SP bullet (think it is called something else now) and a NOE Ranch Dog 150 gr, they both shoot great in both bolt guns and I also use them in a Yugo SKS. I used to use the LEE 155 bullet but found the 150 gr. RD shoots better in my guns and hits nice and hard.
In the pic below L to R:
NOE 129 gr. SP - uncoated cull I put a GC on for a sample
Lee 155 gr bullet from a 6 cavity group buy mould from long ago. GC & PC
NOE 150 gr. Ranch Dog GC & PC
NOE 129 gr. Loaded
NOE 150 RD loaded
I have shot lots of different bullet weights/styles but have settled on two main bullets that have become my standards. The first is the NOE 129 gr. SP bullet (think it is called something else now) and a NOE Ranch Dog 150 gr, they both shoot great in both bolt guns and I also use them in a Yugo SKS. I used to use the LEE 155 bullet but found the 150 gr. RD shoots better in my guns and hits nice and hard.
In the pic below L to R:
NOE 129 gr. SP - uncoated cull I put a GC on for a sample
Lee 155 gr bullet from a 6 cavity group buy mould from long ago. GC & PC
NOE 150 gr. Ranch Dog GC & PC
NOE 129 gr. Loaded
NOE 150 RD loaded
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Regarding the Ruger American/Ranch rifles. I was fortunate enough to talk to the Ruger Engineer that designed the rifle. I had removed the stock to adjust the trigger. Put it back together and wouldn't shoot worth a darn.
Said Engineer just laughed when I told him I was torquing the stock back to ~40ish inch lbs. He told me that in his testing and playing with them, they need to be TIGHT! Said factory is 70-75 in/lbs, and he found that almost 80 in/lbs was usually the sweetest spot! Keep that in mind if you split a factory rifle down!
Said Engineer just laughed when I told him I was torquing the stock back to ~40ish inch lbs. He told me that in his testing and playing with them, they need to be TIGHT! Said factory is 70-75 in/lbs, and he found that almost 80 in/lbs was usually the sweetest spot! Keep that in mind if you split a factory rifle down!
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
For what it's worth: After buying my .223 American standard model I'd read of its high torque setting, and it was also mentioned in a Ruger video. When reassembling, after replacing the trigger spring with one cut down from a ball-point pen, and replacing the original five-round magazine with Ruger's AR magazine conversion (probably the same as factory installed on the Predator), I torqued the bolts to 80 inch pounds. Before and after targets indicate an increase in accuracy.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
I've been intrigued by this rifle but haven't "bit" yet. I ended up finding a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 for a good price when I was making that particular decision and went that route, BUT...
I agree with the many who assert how the cartridge is a great CB-shooter. I also agree with @Mitty38 that brass is more of a pain to locate/acquire though. I have a fair bit, bought new from Starline, but I gave the Russian up in deference to the 30/30. NOT that the 30/30 is "better," but better for MY needs/uses.
STILL, the 7.62x39 is one of those "naturals" when it comes to cast. Very pleased. My results mirror that of @Intel6 's regarding "best bullets," but my lightweight was the "Soup Can" again, because mine casts .313" and I removed the GC shank (now 118 grains), and the very same RDO 150 (made FOR the cartridge) shines on the heavier end.
BUT (another one), if I were doing this again, say adding another 30 cal., I'd opt for the 300 BLK again. The brass situation is so much more convenient, for one thing, and I never bought a single round of new 300 BLK brass, mainly because it wasn't even available yet when I got mine. The LEE "Soup Can" was its favorite light bullet and the RDO 311-165RF it's favorite heavier bullet - just like my 30/30.
the 300 BLK is a dandy for cast and I tried to interest some other cast bullet folks that it was worth a look, but the consensus at the time was that it was another has-been-before-ever-being rounds, a fad which carried baggage - a stigma relating to the affliction for falling for something renamed and sold as "new." Nobody listened. Now, look at it. It hasn't fallen flat and I believe it has as much to do with how useful it is as how "cool" it is, even if it's not exactly the latest/greatest cool, new thing now.
The smaller case capacity makes it a natural for the small doses of faster-burning pistol powders AND for the slowest-burning pistol powders, which suit its own top-end capability. In my mind, I don't see rifle powders having much chance to offer a lot more versatility. Very convenient, efficient, economical, compact, easy-to-acquire (as in make) brass, available in some really neat, really compact guns - or an AR if that tickles one's fancy. Mine was a AAC/H&R Handi-rifle. What a cool little gun.
I agree with the many who assert how the cartridge is a great CB-shooter. I also agree with @Mitty38 that brass is more of a pain to locate/acquire though. I have a fair bit, bought new from Starline, but I gave the Russian up in deference to the 30/30. NOT that the 30/30 is "better," but better for MY needs/uses.
STILL, the 7.62x39 is one of those "naturals" when it comes to cast. Very pleased. My results mirror that of @Intel6 's regarding "best bullets," but my lightweight was the "Soup Can" again, because mine casts .313" and I removed the GC shank (now 118 grains), and the very same RDO 150 (made FOR the cartridge) shines on the heavier end.
BUT (another one), if I were doing this again, say adding another 30 cal., I'd opt for the 300 BLK again. The brass situation is so much more convenient, for one thing, and I never bought a single round of new 300 BLK brass, mainly because it wasn't even available yet when I got mine. The LEE "Soup Can" was its favorite light bullet and the RDO 311-165RF it's favorite heavier bullet - just like my 30/30.
the 300 BLK is a dandy for cast and I tried to interest some other cast bullet folks that it was worth a look, but the consensus at the time was that it was another has-been-before-ever-being rounds, a fad which carried baggage - a stigma relating to the affliction for falling for something renamed and sold as "new." Nobody listened. Now, look at it. It hasn't fallen flat and I believe it has as much to do with how useful it is as how "cool" it is, even if it's not exactly the latest/greatest cool, new thing now.
The smaller case capacity makes it a natural for the small doses of faster-burning pistol powders AND for the slowest-burning pistol powders, which suit its own top-end capability. In my mind, I don't see rifle powders having much chance to offer a lot more versatility. Very convenient, efficient, economical, compact, easy-to-acquire (as in make) brass, available in some really neat, really compact guns - or an AR if that tickles one's fancy. Mine was a AAC/H&R Handi-rifle. What a cool little gun.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
I have a mini Mauser, think it is a Charles Daly, in 7.62 by 39, and it will, in fact chamber qnd shoot much heavier cast bullets tha general loadungs for the cartridge call for.
That is god to know about the torque on the stock springs for the Rugers. I bought mine to satisfy my curiosity about both the current low end bolt rifles being sold and also the 6
5 Creedmoor and have been favorably impressed with both. I have purpsefully not messed with the rifle, through a Leupold 3x9 on it, quickly developed a good deer load and didn't do anything else. I have dabbled a bit with cast in it, but will probably abandon that effort when all my cast 6.5 bullets are shot up.
That is god to know about the torque on the stock springs for the Rugers. I bought mine to satisfy my curiosity about both the current low end bolt rifles being sold and also the 6
5 Creedmoor and have been favorably impressed with both. I have purpsefully not messed with the rifle, through a Leupold 3x9 on it, quickly developed a good deer load and didn't do anything else. I have dabbled a bit with cast in it, but will probably abandon that effort when all my cast 6.5 bullets are shot up.
Zastava M85 - Also VERY cool guns, and Bell & Carlson made a nice composite stock for them too.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
The triger pull on it is bad. Seems where I saw that the trigger is essentially the same as the Interarms Mark X trigger, so should be adjustable. Honestly, i bought it and never warmed to the rifle like I should have, not sure why. I kind of looked at it as a bolt action .32-20. Planned to use pistol bullets and light charges of Unique. No reason it couldnT be a lot more.
I MIGHT have some information on those triggers. I don't remember if it was a schematic or tuning information, but I could look for it. The one thing which seems to stand out most on these guns, as negatives go, is that if you break the extractor, it's not that easy to find one. If you find one, grab a spare. I do not know that they are necessarily fragile, but have read several accounts of someone needing one and having some level of difficulty locating one.
Still neat little rifles which I wish were still marketed here in the US.
Still neat little rifles which I wish were still marketed here in the US.