Preview: Ruger American

[tombogan03884]

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/2012/01/13/preview-ruger-american/

A couple days ago I Tweeted (@jscottrupp for those who care about such things) about Republican candidate for president Newt Gingrich’s photo in my local paper of him holding  a rifle—albeit awkwardly since he’s never actually owned a gun. I looked at the full-body bolt, enclosed receiver and modern-looking black synthetic stock, and I was stumped for a second. Then I realized he was in New Hampshire and also recalled a press release Ruger had sent out the day after New Years, one I really hadn’t paid much attention to at the time because it was, after all, the ultimate day for a college football fan. Hey, I thought, this is the new Ruger American.

Sure enough, Newt was holding Ruger’s entry into the so-called low-end centerfire rifle market. I say so-called because as several companies such as Savage, Marlin, Mossberg and Thompson/Center have proven, a “low-end” rifle made with today’s manufacturing techniques is easily capable of shooting sub-inch groups and will be reliable as rifles costing much more.
I expect I’ll be seeing the rifle next week at SHOT Show, but here’s a sneak peak based on the press release. As mentioned, it’s got a full-body bolt, which is of three-lug design and features a lift of 70 degrees for good scope clearance. It’s got a new trigger, the Ruger Marksman Adjustable—the latest in the long list of Savage AccuTrigger knock-offs, judging from the lever safety in the trigger-shoe face and the fact that it’s adjustable (from three to five pounds, in this case). In addition to the trigger safety, the American sports a tang safety that allows the action to be cycled while on Safe.

The 22-inch barrel is cold hammer forged, and the barreled action mates to the stock courtesy of a patent pending Power Bedding system—stainless steel blocks that are insert-molded into the black synthetic stock. The stock has a 13.75-inch length of pull and features an ambi palm swell, fore-end groove and soft rubber recoil pad.

The Ruger American feeds from a four-round rotary magazine. Overall length is 42.5 inches, and weight is a perfect-for-hunting 6.25 pounds. As of this writing the only chambering is .30-06, and suggested retail on it is $449.

[Hazcat]

My Savage also has the three position tang safety so you can cycle the bolt but not pull the trigger to unload the chamber.  Nice feature (of course like ALL safety devices I do not trust it to be 100% reliable).

[alfsauve]

I'm just getting around to reading up on this product.   And what caught my attention is how much it looks just like a Tikka T3 Lite.
Wow, except for the AccuTrigger it would be easy to mistake.     

Well yes the Tikaa cost just a little bit more, but it isn't a low end product either.  And the T3 is accurate with a great trigger pull.   I've let people fire my T3 at the range, and they're always surprised by that first shot, since it is so crisp and clean.

[Ping]

Did check out some lower end Remington rifles in .308 last year. One I checked out at Gander Mountain had a smooth action. They ended up getting one at a local gun store and checked it out. The action was not very good at all and felt like burrs were in the action.
I am sure the Ruger will be nice. But does anyone remember when you could buy a decent rifle that would last forever at a decent price?

[Hazcat]

Did check out some lower end Remington rifles in .308 last year. One I checked out at Gander Mountain had a smooth action. They ended up getting one at a local gun store and checked it out. The action was not very good at all and felt like burrs were in the action.
I am sure the Ruger will be nice. But does anyone remember when you could buy a decent rifle that would last forever at a decent price?

Look at Savage.  VERY accurate, inexpensive, been around a long time, American made.

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

Look at Savage.

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