Accuracy with .223 Ranch Rifle

[Concho]

Any time I ask about Ranch Rifles by Ruger, I get mixed emotions.  Most everyone agrees that they are inherently inaccurate.  I just got one.  They are right.  But, there seems to be a pattern to it.  It will shoot a nickel sized group at 50 yards but it shoots a 12 inch group at 100 and a six foot group at 200.  Being as I purchased this rifle to carry in my company truck on a daily basis to use on coyotes, cougar, and hogs, it will not serve me beyond 50 yards.  Most of the critters that I seek to kill do not expose themselves at that range. 

That said, I have asked a well respected gunsmith in the Dallas area who does all my gun work, what he thought.  The info that he is putting together is that perhaps this is intentional on the part of Ruger to escape the assault rifle image.  He and several of his gunsmith friends think that perhaps the end of the barrel is swaged somewhat in the applicaton of the front sight band and that it is enough constriction to cause the bullet not to stabilze.  I have a 580 series with 9 inch twist.  So, it should handle 55 gr bullets, but it wont.

These fellows have experimented with numerous ranch rifles which are not grouping, and have found that if they cut the barrel off behind the front sight and re-crown it, that the rifles come back into MOA.  This seems strange to me.  If I am to keep this rifle, I have to get it to where I can make a killing shot on a coyote at 200.  I hate to think that I paid this kind of money for a rifle, and then I have to spend several hundred dollars more to get it to shoot a consistent group.

I'm curious if any of you know whether Ruger will fix this, or if I am stuck with another lemon?  Anyone have any experience with the Ranch Rifle?

C

[gunman42782]

It is not because of anything Ruger does to the Ranch Rifle.  Cutting off the barrel reduces the barrel harmonics, or changes them.  It also stiffens the barrel (in theory anyway).It does not always increase accuracy, but usually does.  The new Ranch Rifles that Ruger has been putting out are more accurate than the older ones.  That is not to say that you are gonna win any bench rest match's with them, but they will group (for me) from an inch and a half to 3 inchs at 100 yards (5 shots).  My only complaint with the Minis is that when they heat up the shots will drop.  After 10 shots, the POI will shift about 6 inchs down.  My Mini is plenty accurate if I allow it to cool between shots.

[ponyexpress]

I couldn't but help think that re-crowning the barrel would make a big difference as well. I would think that a competent gunsmith would do a much better job than a mass production factory could.

[woodsman]

All the discussion I've read about the lack of accuracy of the Mini-14 revolved around it's skinny barrel and barrel harmonics. I think Ruger acknowledged that with the design of the new Target Mini-14. It's got a bull barrel and a barrel weight for tuning harmonics. I moved to the AR-15 platform because it's much more accurate, even with a 16" barrel.

[m25operator]

Righto Concho, my experience is the same, I have 3 SKS'S that will perform better and further. Clark custom used to make a barrel stabilizer but alas no more. I would call Ruger and get their feelings, I belive I saw on Shooting Gallery that Ruger is once again making their own barrels, they were farmed out in the past and one of my rifle making buddy's told me Ruger paid 8 dollars for their barrel blanks. If Ruger won't pony up and fix the fault, sell it and go to a different rifle. I like ar15's for their versatility, you can replace barrels, free float, replace triggers at will. Optics are no problem with a flat top. Don't forget you can get a good bolt gun you can count on for three to six hundred bucks, and expect MOA  if not better. I have a CZ 527 in .223 with a single set trigger that is the t-t's. Bought it used for 385.00 and you can watch a crow blow up in the scope at 100 yards.

Good luck

[Sponsor]

[Concho]

I'll keep yas posted of what happens, but I'm really disappointed with this rifle.  I'm planning on calling Ruger tomorrow and see if they will change out the barrel.  I get better accuracy with my muzzleloader and patched round balls.  I have half a dozen SKS's that will shoot rings around this rifle.  This is way too much money for something that wont work

I'll keep you all posted as to whether their warranty is any good.

[Concho]

Well, I talked to Ruger today.  They said that the rifle is expected to be functional and accurate, and to send it in and they will fix it.

That's the best offer I have had today.

She goes in Monday.  I'll let you folks know what I get back.

C

[Rock44]

don't worry,ruger will fix her up.let us know.

[Mike McLaughlin]

Ruger's started advertiising a new target version of the ranch rifle - wild stock, stainless, and apparently a barrel weight. Or maybe it is a funny looking flash hider.

[Michael Bane]

I'm interested enough in this topic enough that I ordered a new Ranch Rifle — not the target version — from Ruger, My plan is to let my friend Jim Clark go through it — no more mods than a trigger job, though — then shoot the Mini in a carbine class somewhere...probably Firearms Academy of Seattle.

I have one of the old 181 series guns I got back in the 1970s. I plinked with it for eyars, then used it in 3-Gun competition in the 1980s. It was';t a "tackdriver," but I have trophies from back in those days, so the Mini delivered the mail.

I know that Ruger spent a lot of money on all new machinery for the Mini line, and I'm interested in seeing how the gun handles and how it shoots. I'm also going to shoot it against my old Mini just out of idle curiosity...

Michael B