new Ruger American 223

[lowndsie]

Well my pta finally turned up yesterday so I rushed down in between jobs to pick up the Ruger. I'm heading away for a long weekend today with my daughter so there was a rush last night to get a scope mounted and ready to shoot.

I've got to say they're a rough piece of kit compared to the Tikka and Remmy, but at $580 they seem to be worth the coin so far. It'll serve well as an entry into centrefire for my daughter but I think I'll get her something nicer in the near future.

I've got some B&T pills to load up in the near future so it'll be interesting to see what accuracy I can get out of it. The barrel certainly isn't free floating like they advertise so I'll have to get onto that too.

Anyone else have a American and whats you're thoughts? Was there stubborn rust colored markings on the bolt and how did you get them off? And did the action smooth up over time?

[Camel]

Well my pta finally turned up yesterday so I rushed down in between jobs to pick up the Ruger. I'm heading away for a long weekend today with my daughter so there was a rush last night to get a scope mounted and ready to shoot.

I've got to say they're a rough piece of kit compared to the Tikka and Remmy, but at $580 they seem to be worth the coin so far. It'll serve well as an entry into centrefire for my daughter but I think I'll get her something nicer in the near future.

I've got some B&T pills to load up in the near future so it'll be interesting to see what accuracy I can get out of it. The barrel certainly isn't free floating like they advertise so I'll have to get onto that too.

Anyone else have a American and whats you're thoughts? Was there stubborn rust colored markings on the bolt and how did you get them off? And did the action smooth up over time?

I haven't seen one mate, but my rabbit buyers brother bought a 22lr version a couple of weeks back, he has been known to wrap a rifle that wont co-operate with him around the bulbar on his ute in years past, I am thinking that this new Ruger of his may end up in a similar state. You can be the first to do a write up on one. I reckon it will do the job that you got it for, just don't expect too much out of it.

[lowndsie]

I just put two groups through it. One went into 1.5 and the other 1 inch. Would of been .5 if not for one flyer

Magazine is hard to load. Might be a trick to it I don't know about yet. Trigger is nice. Can't say I'm warming to the rifle yet but we'll see. It is what it is I guess.

[lowndsie]

Update on this rifle I'm quickly starting to hate. Ruger have NOT fixed the last round feeding issue! There's talk about the issue over the net with some modifications needing to be done to the plastic lips on the magazine. Considering the age of some of the posts and the fact that Ruger seem to be aware of it...I automatically assumed the issues would have been fixed by now.

The last round jams up and leaves a partially loaded round with it's tip stuck into the area where the locking lugs cam into.. Bloody joke. Apparently, "you get what you pay for" so in this case I must have paid for a part functioning rifle.

Any ideas what to do here? I don't really want to go grinding bits off the plastic mag if I can avoid it. Is the normal procedure to contact Nioa or the gunshop?

I should have saved for a few more months and got a tikka

[kjd]

Take it back for warranty.

[BP72]

Take it back for warranty.

+1 , it doesn't function correctly , they either fix it or money back

[lowndsie]

Excellent. I'll have to send the whole rifle back for the sake of a working magazine. Not to mention that it will no doubt miss the hunting trip that I purchased it for and leave my daughter without a rifle to use. No more Rugers for me. Over 14 months they've known about the problem.

[lowndsie]

Sorry guys.... I'm just a bit pissed off at the moment. I'm sure it'll all get sorted.

[bigfellascott]

I was about to ask how you Ruger went, no need now - bloody shame about the mag issues but good to be aware of the issues before buying one.

[The Raven]

Does the Ruger American use the same action etc as the Hawkeye?

I looked at one at a shop and found it a little gritty, about the same as my Marlin that is now running smooth.

It's hard to judge a new rifle until the bolt etc is run in. I was amazed at the difference, which makes me wonder how these 2 shot gun reviewers can tell so much about a new rifle.

[lowndsie]

It showed a bit of promise accuracy wise even though I only had one lot of factory stuff to test through it.

The barrel isn't free floated like they advertise either. In fact, I doubt I could free float it at all with it's current stock. It's pushing hard up against one side of the channel and at a guess, I'd have to remove way too much of the stock and be left with a paper thin channel on one side. I can live with it not being free floated due to it's intended use, but it'd be nice it you got what was advertised.

The trigger seems nice. Still a bit heavy even at it's lowest setting for my liking, but it's pretty much creep free. I'm not keen on the centre safety lever on the trigger blade either. It's probably just a matter of getting used to it.

The action also has this weird sound when you work the bolt. Kinda sounds like a zipper being worked. Rough finish on bolt and action.

The whole rifle just feels like it should be cheaper than it's already cheap price tag. They aren't something I would buy thinking I can replace the stock etc etc...it'll just always be what it is. For a few hundred more I could of got a Tikka which is a lot more than twice the rifle in the quality department.

[lowndsie]

Does the Ruger American use the same action etc as the Hawkeye?

I looked at one at a shop and found it a little gritty, about the same as my Marlin that is now running smooth.

It's hard to judge a new rifle until the bolt etc is run in. I was amazed at the difference, which makes me wonder how these 2 shot gun reviewers can tell so much about a new rifle.

Very different action mate. 3 lugs on the American, push feed, tang safety, remmy style extractor etc etc.. The over sized bolt body on the American is suppose to make it smoother, but I seriously doubt the one on mine will ever be smooth.

[bigfellascott]

I reckon a bit of metal polish or compound should get it smoothed up ok. To me this rifle sounds like the Rugers version of the Savage Axis or edge or whatever its called.

[Camel]

Lowndsie, the barrel floating may, just may, be fixed with a good bedding job. Try loosening your action screws, putting something cardboard around the barrel at the end of the stock, then tighten the screws again, this should put the barrel evenly in the channel of the stock. Pull the cardboard out and see if it stays in the middle of the channel.

Pity its stuffing you and your daughter around. That's never fun.

[kjd]

I'd send it back for the floating issue as well.